Explore Istanbul in the footsteps of James BondIt is the assurance to travel and discover typical places in the past full of history. It is also, once such a trip is completed, a complex exercise to propose a coherent division of the city. A geographical breakdown is perhaps the most interesting way to discover these places; In particular, it shows that sometimes — And this is the case here. — The same place could be used in two films.
Close to the Grand Bazaar, which everyone would cite as the most emblematic location of Bond in Istanbul, is located the Büyük Valide Han.
Büyük Valide Han – Istanbul – Faith
Loyalty: ★★★★ – Access: ★★☆
In Istanbul Ottoman, the Hans were real urban caravans : both hostels for merchants of passage, warehouses for goods, workshops, offices and living places — a kind of crossing between hotel, market and business center of the time. In the heart of the Turkish capital, there are still, according to sources, between 150 and 200 historic buildings of the Han type. Some still have tiny workshops for making or making jewellery. This is the case with Büyük Valide Han.
Coming on foot through the effervescence of stambouliot streets from the Grand Bazaar, we arrived by the same door as Patrice and Bond on motorcycle. The street is now marked with billboards and colorful signs that distort the site a bit. Besides, throughout our trip to the capital in the footsteps of James Bond, we noticed that almost all the signs had changed since the shooting of Skyfall…
Once the magnificent portal bearing the mention « Büyük Valide Han » It crosses a corridor and is immediately attracted to the staircase on the left. This is where the motorcycles are heading towards the roofs of the Grand Bazaar... It should therefore be noted that the film makes us believe that the Büyük Valide Han is actually part of the Great Bazaar.
The staircase is strictly identical The movie. It is simply noted that the steps were partially covered with cement to facilitate the passage of the motorcycles during the shooting.
Upstairs there is immediately the exit of the staircase visible on the screen. Note that the place is freely accessible. On this floor, the Valide Han offers a show of advanced disrepair : the corridors are dirty, sometimes in very bad condition, but if you are curious, you can still discover small workshops where artisans work metal.
A stunning view of the Golden Horn ... But we're not alone!
Further on, there is an imposing wooden door giving access to roofs. It is here that you must pass to find one of the views of the city used as a settlement plan in The World Is Not Enough.
This access is now closed, and it must be negotiated for a few tickets. There is even a website with a contact via WhatsApp — Turks seem to only work with WhatsApp — But we didn't try. Our interlocutor explained that the place had become a regular passage for instagrammers — and you can understand it when you discover the view — and that access to the roof had therefore been somewhat regulated.
Once the door is crossed, then a few steps climb, one discovers a absolutely beautiful view on the roofs of Istanbul, towards the Galata, his famous tower and the Gold horn. The exact plan of the film. We stayed for a long time enjoying this moment suspended on the heights of Istanbul. Magic.
Une fois redescendus, on peut également se rafraîchir dans un petit café offrant une vue magnifique, très proche de celle du toit.
Enfin, dans la cour, on retrouve les premiers plans de la poursuite en moto après le passage de la porte (dans la chronologie du film). Là aussi, beaucoup de changements du côté des échoppes, mais les bâtiments historiques, eux, sont restés inchangés.
Ne manquez pas votre passage au Büyük Valide Han — littéralement « le han de la grand-mère » — fondé en 1651 par Kösem Sultan, l’une des femmes les plus puissantes de l’histoire ottomane. Vous y découvrirez un lieu authentique, où deux James Bond se sont croisés à deux pas du Grand Bazaar.
Merci à Thomas Gleitsmann
This blog shares my travel experiences, from unavoidable destinations to the most original and exclusive places. Each article is the result of careful work and a real time investment. If you use this information elsewhere or for your own adventures, consider citing your sources and thanking – that's what I do myself, and it's always fun.
Julien Abauzit (JaBoz)
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