Cifte Minareli Madrasah, one of the most significant and respected theological schools in Anatolia, is located opposite Erzurum Castle with its famous Clock Tower. The name of the madrasah translates as "double minarets", which is a direct reference to the main architectural feature of the building - two 26-metre-high fluted minarets that frame the main facade.
The madrasah was built by the Seljuks in the late 13th century. There are several opinions as to when exactly the structure was erected. On the portal of the building is indicated 1271 year and mentioned the customer of the madrasah - the daughter of Seljuk Sultan Key-Kubad I named Huand Khatun. In her honour the madrasah is often called Hatuniye.
Historians believe that in fact the two-storey building, consisting of 37 rooms and a mosque hall, was erected a little later, because it was built in the image of the Gek madrasah in Sivas, which is dated 1271.
In the centre of the madrasah there is a courtyard of 26X10 metres, around which are built buildings with living and student rooms, a mosque adjoins the courtyard from the west, and in the southern part of this space is the largest mausoleum in Anatolia, where the remains of Huand Khatun, the founder of the school, were discovered.
The double door of the madrasah is decorated with plant elements typical of Seljuk buildings. The brick minarets are decorated with glazed tiles. There are stone panels on both sides of the entrance. The plaque on the right side shows a double-headed eagle. The motif on the left side was probably not completed.
