Halveti Tekke, Rahovec

The Great Tekke in Rahovec belongs to the Halveti order. This sacred Islamic building is located in the center of the town of Rahovec. The Halveti Tekke in Rahovec was built in 1732. The founder of this tekke is Sheikh Sylejman Baba Rahoveci, who passed away in 1771.
The tekke complex consists of several main units: the tekke with spaces dedicated to the followers of the Halveti Order; two tombs (tyrbe) where the spiritual leaders of the tekke are buried; the courtyard and the service spaces.
The tekke building has an irregular floor plan, containing the Sheikh's room, the room where the believers meet the Sheikh, the prayer hall – the Semahane, and the library, which holds a rich collection of old books and manuscripts. To the south of the tekke is attached the tomb, which forms the facade of the complex facing the main road. The front facade consists of nine windows with semicircular openings, and is unplastered, so the structure of regularly carved stones can be seen. The tekke is built of stone, while the roof was originally covered with stone slabs, a traditional material characteristic of Rahovec and the region, which were later replaced with clay tiles.
The interior of the tekke has a high ethnological value and is rich in traditional tekke elements, such as: old books and manuscripts, tools, musical instruments, etc. Its construction is made of stylized and well-crafted wood. It was built by local master builders. In the prayer room – the semahane, there is a niche marking the mihrab, which is decorated with ceramic tiles with geometric motifs. During different periods the tekke has undergone various interventions to adapt it to modern conditions.