The historic Bayezid Mosque in Didymoteicho, northeastern Greece, is set to reopen in November 2026, following a restoration programme funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility and national resources.
The project, valued at approximately €15 million according to recent statements by Greece’s Ministry of Culture, concerns one of the country’s most significant surviving Ottoman-era monuments. The mosque was severely damaged by a fire in 2017, and restoration work began in December 2022.
Ottoman heritage restoration extends across Greece
In July 2026, Greece reopened the restored Balizade Hasan Bey Mosque in Mytilene, Lesbos, commonly known as the Valide Mosque. Originally founded in 1620–1621, the building now serves as a museum space. Its restoration formed part of a broader package of nine cultural heritage projects delivered on the island, according to the Ministry of Culture.
In Ioannina, the restored Kaloutsiani Mosque and an Ottoman bath inside the city’s castle were handed back to the community in July, alongside the restored Kiafa Castle in Souli. Two further Ottoman-era monuments reopened in Veria in September: the 15th-century Orta Mosque and the 17th-century Twin Ottoman Bath. Both underwent restoration before being returned to public use.
Bayezid Mosque restoration has faced repeated delays
The Bayezid Mosque dates to the early 15th century and was inaugurated in March 1420, according to Greece’s Ministry of Culture. The 2017 fire destroyed much of its historic roof, requiring extensive reconstruction and conservation work.
The government’s Recovery and Resilience Plan lists a total project budget of €11.29 million, including €9.13 million in recovery funding. More recent statements from Culture Minister Lina Mendoni put the broader restoration expenditure at approximately €15 million, including national funding.
