Turkey is full of beautiful and intriguing towns, villages, and cities that have attracted travellers for hundreds of years.
Safranbolu, in the north of the country, is one of those towns that sit in Turkey’s Black Sea region near Karabuk and a few hundred kilometres from the iconic city of Ankara.
Once one of the key features of the Ottoman Empire, today Safranbolu is a World Heritage Site, one of key importance in the history of Turkey.
Furthermore, it is also one visited by thousands of travellers every year who flock to Safranbolu to find out more about Turkey’s history.
According to Unesco, the city of Safranbolu is an official World Heritage Site. They explained: “From the 13th century to the advent of the railway in the early 20th century, Safranbolu was an important caravan station on the main East-West trade route.
“The Old Mosque, Old Bath and Süleyman Pasha Medrese were built in 1322. During its apogee in the 17th century, Safranbolu’s architecture influenced urban development throughout much of the Ottoman Empire.”
They added that it consists of three distinct districts, Cukur, Kirankoy, and Baglar. Cukur is the inner city and marked out by two rivers that turn it into a triangular shape. Meanwhile, Kirankoy used to be a non-Muslim area with houses made of stone in contrast to the wooden properties in Cukur.
The third district, Baglar, translated means ‘the Vineyards’ and is mainly made up of single houses with large gardens. According to Unesco, this used to be the summer resort section of Safranbolu.
Some of the most popular things to do and places to visit in Safranbolu relate to its history. There is a selection of historical sights including the Kaymakamlar Museum, the Metalworker’s Bazaar, the Cinci Hani and the Izzet Pasa Cami.
The Cinci Hani is a caravanserai built in the 17th century which has hotel rooms as well as a café and restaurant. Nearby is the Izzet Pasa Cami, one of the largest mosques constructed during the Ottoman Empire.
Originally built in 1796, it was then subsequently restored in 1903 and its design was reportedly influenced by European buildings.
Tourists also have the option to climb the Hirdirlik Tepesi Safranbolu, a lookout point where people can gaze across the city and admire its architectural beauty.
Writing about the experience on Tripadvisor, Erdem S said: “It is one of the best places to see the weather, history, environment and all places of safranbolu at once.”
Gulcan O added: “Safranbolu little old town full of history and it is one of the world heritage sites. Walk around the beautiful cobble streets and you can enjoy traditional Turkish food and coffee for really good prices.
“Don’t forget to buy Turkish delight and Saffron while you are there as this is the home town for Saffron and Turkish delight. [SIC]”
