The Mausoleum of Ataturk - Anitkabir Anıtkabir is a monumental tomb dedicated to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and visionary leader of the Republic of Turkey. The project to build this memorial originated from the Turkish nation’s desire to honor their esteemed leader. An international design competition was organized, and the winning proposal came from Professor Emin Onat. Approaching Anıtkabir from Tandoğan Square, visitors encounter the stairway leading to the Independence and Freedom Towers, two of the ten towers symbolizing the core values of the Turkish nation and state. At the entrance of the Independence Tower, there is a relief depicting a youth wielding a sword, accompanied by the Seljuk coat of arms, which signifies Turkish power from a historic era. Additionally, an eagle is displayed, representing the nation’s strength and honoring the army that played a crucial role in the founding of the Turkish Republic. The Independence Tower prominently features a relief of a young warrior holding a sword at its entrance. The Seljuk coat of arms reflects the enduring strength of the Turkish people from ancient times. This symbolism also pays tribute to the military defenders who contributed to the nation’s creation. The eagle embodies power and resilience for the country. Situated to the left of the main entrance of Anıtkabir, the Freedom Tower contains an interior relief depicting a horse alongside a young female angel clutching what appears to be a Declaration of Freedom. Inscribed on the monument are Atatürk’s inspiring words: "Throughout our history, we have always stood as a nation symbolizing freedom and independence." Facing the Freedom Tower stands a sculptural group of three figures. One figure holding a book represents the youth of Turkey, the helmeted figure symbolizes the soldiers, and the third figure signifies the farmers. Opposite this group is another statue set where the outer figures raise wreaths of wheat and lift an urn skyward, praying for divine mercy on Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. The central female figure, wiping tears from her face, expresses the deep grief of the Turkish people over Atatürk’s passing. The Lions' Road, decorated with 24 lion statues, guides visitors toward the mausoleum complex. In the era of the Hittite Empire, lions were emblematic of strength and guardianship. Moreover, Hittite art frequently portrays lions in pairs. At the conclusion of the Lions' Road, there is a spacious gathering area. On the left side stands the Defence of the Rights Tower, dedicated to the organizations established across the country following World War I to resist foreign occupation. The tower displays a relief of a youth ready to confront an invader with his sword, accompanied by the inscription "stop" on the wall. Anıtkabir, the grand mausoleum of Atatürk, is an impressive monument located atop Rasattepe Hill in Ankara. Spanning 700,000 square meters, it was constructed to honor Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, a visionary leader, and courageous soldier. The concept for the mausoleum was born from the Turkish people's desire to commemorate their revered leader. Following an international design competition, Professor Emin Onat was selected as the architect and supervised the monument’s construction, which lasted nine years and was completed in 1953. When arriving at Anıtkabir from Tandoğan Square, visitors are welcomed by two prominent towers — the Independence Tower and the Freedom Tower — which embody the core values and existence of the Turkish nation and state. The Independence Tower features a relief depicting a young warrior holding a sword, alongside the Seljuk coat of arms, symbolizing the historic strength of the Turkish people. An imposing eagle adorns the tower, representing the nation's power and resilience. Meanwhile, the Freedom Tower displays a relief of a young female angel clutching a declaration of freedom, accompanied by Atatürk’s inscription affirming that Turkey has always stood as a symbol of freedom and independence throughout its history. Positioned before the Freedom Tower is a sculptural group illustrating three figures — one holding a book symbolizing Turkey’s youth, another wearing a helmet representing the soldiers, and a third embodying the farmers. Opposite this grouping, a second set of statues portrays three women mourning the loss of Atatürk. The Lions' Road, lined with 24 lion statues, guides visitors toward the mausoleum grounds and reflects the themes of strength and protection commonly found in Hittite art. At the conclusion of the Lions' Road, visitors arrive at a spacious open plaza, with the Defence of Rights Tower situated to the left. This tower honors the organizations united under the leadership of President Atatürk. Facing the Defence of Rights Tower stands the Mehmetçik Tower, which depicts a soldier departing from home to join the battle, with walls inscribed with Atatürk’s quotes about soldiers and women. The Victory Tower contains the caisson that transported Atatürk’s coffin from Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul to Sarayburnu. It displays Atatürk’s words reflecting on historic victories, and the walls are decorated with frescoes inspired by traditional kilim patterns. A long courtyard runs through the center of the monument, where the sarcophagus of İsmet İnönü—the second president of Turkey and Atatürk’s loyal comrade-in-arms—is located, commemorated with a castle erected in his honor. The porch façade of Anıtkabir features the Peace Tower, which presents a relief of village farmers being protected by Turkish soldiers. Walls bear Atatürk’s quotes emphasizing peace and condemning the devastation of war. Visitors can also view two official cars used by Atatürk for ceremonies and state duties between 1935 and 1938. Anıtkabir stands as an awe-inspiring monument, a deserving homage to a remarkable leader. The Grand National Assembly Tower, also called the 23rd April Tower, is a monument dedicated to celebrating the historic 23 April 1920 holiday. The tower’s relief shows a woman standing, holding a document inscribed with the opening date of the Grand National Assembly. In her other hand, she grasps a key symbolizing the official opening ceremony. The tower’s wall also bears a quote from Atatürk highlighting the significance of the Grand National Assembly as the sole legitimate representative of the true Turkish State. Anıtkabir, the Mausoleum of Atatürk, is a deeply meaningful landmark for the Turkish people. One of its remarkable elements is the Flag Staff, a 33-meter-high flagpole crafted from a single piece of metal, proudly flying the Turkish flag. Manufactured in the United States, this flagpole is the tallest one-piece flagpole in all of Europe. At the monument’s base, symbolic reliefs depict timeless ideals such as national defense, victory, peacekeeping, and the foundation of civilization. These include a torch symbolizing civilization, a sword for offense, a helmet representing defense, an oak branch denoting victory, and an olive branch standing for peace. The Victory Reliefs are another significant feature of Anıtkabir. Positioned on both sides of the stairs ascending to the Mausoleum, these reliefs illustrate key moments in Turkish history. The right side displays the Sakarya Campaign, while the left side shows another critical episode. Together, these scenes reflect the unity and cooperation of all segments of society in overcoming enemy forces and ensuring security for the nation. The Mausoleum, commonly referred to as Anıtkabir, is a rectangular edifice supported by columns on all four sides. On its front facade, to the left side, Atatürk's address to the Turkish Youth is engraved, while on the right side, his speech commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Republic is displayed. The Hall of Honor stands as the most important area within Anıtkabir and the Mausoleum itself. This is the site of Atatürk's tomb, surrounded by some of the monument’s most sacred features. The hall is decorated with "words to the Army" and İnönü’s homage to Atatürk, where he declares, "The Fatherland is indebted to you." The walls and floor are clad in marble, contrasting with a ceiling painted in an intricate kilim pattern. At the end of the hall, by a large window, rests Atatürk's tomb, carved from a single piece of marble, unadorned, with his actual burial site located beneath on the ground floor. This area is enriched with soil brought from every region of Turkey, creating a symbolic landscape. Beyond the Hall of Honor, visitors will find the Republic Tower and the Art Gallery. The Art Gallery exhibits oil portraits of Atatürk, stamps and coins featuring his likeness, and his private library. These spaces complement the Mausoleum by offering deeper insight into Atatürk’s life, his accomplishments, and his lasting impact on Turkish society. If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or simply message us via Whatsapp, and we will reply promptly.