Extensive restoration and modernisation works have been completed at the Ulugh Beg Madrasa and the Tilya-Kori Madrasa in Samarkand, renewing their permanent museum displays and restoring their interior spaces. The re-exhibition offers a contemporary and insightful interpretation of Samarkand’s historical and cultural legacy, as well as that of the Timurid era — a period when the city flourished as one of the leading centres of science, education and the arts.
At the Ulugh Beg Madrasa, visitors can explore more than 50 rare manuscripts by eminent scholars such as Al-Biruni, Ibn Sina, Mirzo Ulugh Beg and Ali Qushchi, alongside scientific instruments and archival materials that highlight Ulugh Beg’s legacy as a pioneering astronomer and educator of the 15th century. The exhibition at the Tilya-Kori Madrasa traces the history of the Registan Square ensemble and its architectural grandeur, enriched with digital reconstructions and interactive installations. Many of the exhibits have been meticulously restored by both French and local conservation specialists.
The redesign of the museum spaces was undertaken by the French architectural practice Wilmotte & Associés, which has harmoniously combined the authenticity of Eastern traditions with contemporary international museological standards, creating a dialogue between heritage and modernity within Samarkand’s most iconic monuments.