Shengjul Hammam

The Shengjul Hammam was located in the Skopje Bazaar, next to Kurshumli Lodging. Alongside with the demolished Kazanjiler Mosque located on the south of the lodging, they formed an important urban complex.
There is no exact data on the time of construction of the Shengjul hammam. Its first founder is not known, although according to the information from the Muazin- hodja’s waqf, it can be stated that the hammam belonged to the waqf of a person named Haji Mehmed. Anyhow, the hammam was built in the XV century.
It is not known how the hammam got the name "Shengjul", an archaic word meaning: lively, cheerful, joyful. Literally translates to "cheerful, joyful rose." According to the data in the waqf, the water supply system built by Muezin-hodja for the fountain in the Dukhanjik mosque and for Kurshumli Lodging, supplied the Shengjul hammam with water too. After ceasing to function as an hammam, the building was used as a warehouse. As such, the 1963 earthquake shattered it, causing extensive damage, mainly to the changing area. The whole dome collapsed, along with parts of the walls. The Shengjul hammam a single bath. It was characterized by harmonious dimensions covering an area of 600 m2. The facades were very picturesque due to the way they were built and the use of building materials, stone and brick. The hammam was entered through an entrance placed on the south facade. Special attention was paid to this part, it was imposing and filled with rich decoration.
In addition to the large changing room, the Shengjul hammam was composed of the slightly heated space as well as the bathing rom. From the slightly heated area, the visitor of the hammam continues to the bathing room, which consisted of a central part with three extensions and three halvets (private bathing rooms) placed between the extensions. The halvet located on the northeast corner was the so-called "vruch" (meaning extremely hot) halvet. The Shenjgul hammam was extraordinary decorated.