1 Oct 2015

Büyük Valide Han - Grand Bazaar, Istanbul


In the pre-title sequence of Skyfall, Bond chases Patrice through Istanbul on a motorcycle. Before driving up on the rooftops of the Grand Bazaar they drive over a large courtyard in close connection with the more famous part of the bazaar. In the previous scene we learn that the place where Bond and Patrice enter is called Büyük Valide Han. In the picture it is evident that the crew has filled the stairs with sand in order for the stunt men to drive up the stairs more easily. Due to the promotional agreement with Heineken, crates with Heineken can be seen to left.


At this location you find the place where Patrice is cut off by a van and instead drives up the stairs that lead up to the second floor. The location is still very recognizable and few tourists find this place since it is located in the periphery of the bazaar area.

Patrice driving towards the Han.

Büyük Valide Han is one of the oldest Hans in the bazaar. It dates back to the 17th-century and has accommodated traveling merchants for over 350 years. It also stored the Oriental and European wares from the wooden ships moored in the Golden Horn.

Steps can be found to the right in the archway 
If you walk through the archway and continue for a minute or two, you will come out where Bond and Patrice are driving in, namely at the entrance to Büyük Valide Han.



The chase was filmed from different angles. Bond and Patrice are driving into the Han from the other direction than they are coming from in these last two pictures, before going up the stairs.





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