Safranbolu, a town in Turkey’s northern Karabük province, is famous for its Ottoman-era buildings that include frame houses, mosques, inns, Turkish bathhouses, fountains and shrines. It has been intently preserved since it was declared a historical site by the Ministry of Culture’s Higher Committee for Immovable Historical Artifacts and Monuments on Oct. 8, 1976.
Turkey protects 1,125 of about 50,000 cultural and natural assets in Safranbolu. Following the ministry’s declaration, the town attracted the attention of academic circles. In addition, the documentary “Safranbolu’da Zaman” (“Time in Safranbolu”), directed by Süha Arın, was shot there beguiling visitors with its historical atmosphere. The movie received the Golden Orange Award for the Best Short Film at the 14th Antalya Film Festival in 1977.
Thereafter, the spellbinding town was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List on Dec. 17, 1994, which changed its identity. The area’s abandoned historical mansions that are the most important building blocks of Turkish urban culture were given function, deteriorated cobblestones were rebuilt, monumental buildings were restored, and nearly-forgotten handicrafts were revived.
