Karaagac Old Train Station

Architectural information about the oldest station building, which was built when the railway first came to the region, before the construction of the building, which is known as Edirne’s old train station today and which is still present, can be reached from the images on the postcards that have reached our time. It is from the information obtained that the first station building was built in 1872, there was another station building at the place where today’s Edirne Station is located, even the opening ceremony was held here, and this building was used as a social facility affiliated to Trakya University in the 90s.

Although the exact design date of the station building, which is the work of Architect Kemalettin Bey, is not known, it must have been built in the first years of the Constitutional Monarchy. The start date of its construction is also not certain. It is stated that it was in the years 1911-1912 or 1912-1913. Although it was generally completed in 1914, it was first It was put into service only in 1930 due to the end of World War II and various political developments. It was repaired in 1959 and the interior was rearranged. When it was moved to the new station building, which was built due to the change of the Edirne-Istanbul line, the structure in Karaağaç was abandoned on October 4, 1971, and served as an outpost during the 1974 Cyprus operation. It was purchased by the Ministry of Finance on 16 June 1977 to be transferred to the newly established State Engineering and Architecture Academy in Edirne. It was used by Trakya University including the guesthouse, classroom and rectorate, and today it serves as the Faculty of Fine Arts. Other units connected to the railways are also used for the purpose of various departments of the university.

The unit of measurement used in the plans of the building is the scale. The plan designed by Architect Kemalettin belongs to the project, which was copied over the original in 1959 and prepared for repair and modification. Nearly all of the building has been changed in line with the needs, independent bathroom units have been added to all of the lodgings, waiting rooms, restaurant, luggage and ticket office places have been changed on the lower floor.