The historic Bey Hamam, the oldest surviving Ottoman bathhouse in Thessaloniki, and the largest Ottoman bath complex in Greece, has reopened to the public following the completion of extensive restoration works, the Greek Culture Ministry announced this week.
As part of ongoing ministry efforts to preserve and promote Thessaloniki’s cultural heritage, 1.5 million euros went into the project.
Photo: Greek Culture Ministry
Also known as the “Paradise Baths”, it was the first public building constructed in the city in 1444 by Sultan Murad II following the Ottoman conquest, and remained at the heart of Thessaloniki’s social and commercial life for more than five centuries. The monument is today one of Thessaloniki’s most important historic landmarks, showcasing Ottoman architecture. The bathhouse, which ceased operations in 1968, was used later as an exhibition space.
Photo: Greek Culture Ministry
Today, the site is fully accessible and will serve as a cultural venue hosting exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural activities, and as a symbol of the city’s diverse history.
During the inauguration this week, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni highlighted the importance of the monument as part of Thessaloniki’s rich cultural heritage, noting that the Ministry has been implementing the city’s largest monument restoration program in recent decades.
“We are investing in showcasing the city’s multi-layered historical identity, creating cultural routes that connect its Byzantine, Ottoman and modern monuments into a single cultural landscape,” she said. She added that the goal is for “monuments to regain life, become accessible and familiar to citizens, and function as living spaces of culture, knowledge and creativity.”
