Jandarma Müzesi

About Jandarma Müzesi

The Jandarma Müzesi, listed on the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's Turkish Museums portal as Ankara Türk Jandarma Müzesi, is the museum of the Turkish Gendarmerie. It stands on the campus of the Gendarmerie and Coast Guard Academy (Jandarma ve Sahil Güvenlik Akademisi) in Ahlatlıbel, on the southern side of Çankaya towards Beytepe and İncek. The idea for the museum emerged in 1995, preparatory work began in 1996, and it opened on 21 November 2005. Its stated purpose is to show the historical and technical development of the gendarmerie from its foundation to the present day, to collect and protect the military heritage linked to the force, and to pass that heritage on to future generations. In July 2007 it was given the status of a first-class military museum. The displays run in chronological order over two floors. The ground floor is given over to the Ottoman period, while the first floor holds the galleries of the Republican era. Weapons, uniforms, photographs and information panels trace how the gendarmerie organisation developed over time. Practical notes: the Ministry of Education's out-of-school learning guide lists the museum as open on weekdays and closed at weekends, with free entry, step-free access and guided tours. Because the museum is inside an academy campus, visitors leave an identity document at the entrance in exchange for a visitor badge, and food and drink cannot be taken in. Official listings give slightly different opening times, so it is worth phoning ahead before making the trip out to Ahlatlıbel.