Pierre Loti Hill in Istanbul (The Best Source in 2024)
Pierre Loti Hill is a popular spot, thanks to its viewing terrace and café, which offers stunning views of the Golden Horn, Eyup, and Istanbul.
The observation deck is at an altitude of 53 meters above sea level. You can get here by cable car or on foot. Within walking distance of Pierre Loti Hill is the city’s main Muslim temple – Eyup Sultan Mosque, which is highly revered among locals and pilgrims.
History of Pierre Loti Hill
The name of Pierre Loti hill and observation deck is closely related to the French navigator and writer Julien Viot (1850-1923). He became famous for his colonial novels about life in exotic countries, which he wrote under the pseudonym Pierre Loti.
Pierre Loti’s first novel, ‘Aziyade,’ told the love story of a French officer and a young Turkish woman. The novel was based on the author’s experience; he met his love, the Turkish woman Aziade, in Istanbul. Many events in the book take place in the streets of this city.
The author loved Istanbul, stayed in the Eyup district, and often visited the cafe on the hill. While drinking a cup of coffee here, he could think for a long time, looking at the magnificent Golden Horn.
In addition to simple sympathy, Pierre Loti often openly supported Turkey’s policies during the Balkans and the First World War and criticized his native France as an invading country. In 1920, Pierre Loti was given the title of ‘Honorary Citizen of Istanbul;’ a street in the city and a cafe on the hill were named after him. Later, the observation deck and the mountain began to be named after him.
It’s nice to come here in fine weather and have tea and coffee on the terrace overlooking Istanbul.
Pierre Loti Cable Car
You can reach the Pierre Loti observation terrace from the foot of the hill or by cable car.
TF2 Eyup-Pierre Loti cable car is a city transportation branch with only two stations, Eyup and Pierre Loti. Authorities opened it in 2005 to facilitate access to the observation deck and solve the parking problem next to it.
The length of the cable car is 384 meters, the number of cabins is four, the one-way travel time is three minutes, and the number of passengers in a house is up to eight. Istanbul Card pays for the cable car journey as a single trip in public transport. There are also machines to renew the transport pass.
How Do I get to Pierre Loti?
Pierre Loti Hill locates in Eyup. There is a city bus stop opposite the cable car station. It can reach by buses numbered 36CE, 99Y, 48E, and other buses from the Sultanahmet area.
Why is Pierre Loti famous?
Pierre Loti is a French novelist and naval officer known for his exotic and imaginative works. He is best known for his novel ‘Aziyade,’ which is set in Istanbul and tells the story of a young French officer who falls in love with a young Ottoman woman. Loti was a famous and influential author in his time, and his novels were known for their vivid descriptions of far-flung places and their exploration of themes such as love, longing, and the clash of cultures. Loti’s works also influenced Western perceptions of the Middle East and the Ottoman Empire.
