Ulugbek Madrasah

The only building remaining in Bukhara in the memory of the great ruler and astronomer Mirzo Ulugbek - Ulugbek Madrasah, whose construction was started in 1417 its founders were the best architects of the time - Najmiddin Bukhari and Ismail Isfahani.

Ulugbek means "Great ruler". He is the grandson of Tamerlane and his son Shahrukh, was born in 1393 in Sultaniye (Iran) during one of Timur's campaigns. His commitment to research, he showed an early age.

After Timur's death, the power in the empire of Tamerlane went to the father of Ulugbek - Shahrukh. Ulugbek settled in Samarkand - the capital of the Timurid empire. After Shahrukh moved the capital to Herat (now in Afghanistan) in 1409, sixteen-year’s Ulugbek was the ruler of Samarkand, and in 1411 he became the ruler of the undivided Transoxiana (Central Asia).

The young ruler wanted to turn the city into an intellectual center of the empire. In 1417 - 1420 he built a madrasa ("university" or "Institute") on Registan Square in Samarkand, and invited to teach there many famous scientists. In addition to the madrassas of Samarkand, he built a similar facility in Bukhara, believing that it will force the center of education in the area. Ulugbek himself was very interested in astronomy, and in 1428 built the great Observatory in Samarkand.

Construction of the Ulugbek Madrasah in Bukhara was launched in 1417. Later, in 1585 the building was renovated and faced with majolica.

Following the model of the madrasas began to build the rest of the madrasah in Central Asia. On the door of Ulugbek madrasa the inscription: "The pursuit to knowledge - the duty of every Muslim man and woman." It was cut and the other saying: "Above the circle of people who are aware of in the book of wisdom, let them be every moment opened the door for God's blessing."

Log in madrassas transverse corridor splits. At one end of the corridor was "darskhona" (study room) in the other - the mosque. On the second floor - a library. The facade is a two-tiered arcade and has two wings. On both sides it is shut Towers "guldasta".

The walls and arches are decorated very modestly. Madrasah ornaments decorated the astral nature of what is undoubtedly influenced worldview as an astronomer Ulugbek. A quiet monastic life was spent in prayers - in mosques, lectures at darskhana, conversations in shady galleries.

Currently, the madrasa is located Museum of restoration of Bukhara monuments.