Safranbolu is a picturesque small town located 115 km/ 71 miles north-east of
Bolu.
From the 13th century till the 19th century,
Safranbolu was an important caravan post. The old
mosque, the
medrese and
hammams were built in 1322. The special architecture of the beautiful houses influenced the urban development of a large part of the
Ottoman Empire. The impressive architecture of their rooves have led them to be called "Houses with five facades". The houses are two or three storeyed consisting of 6 to 9 rooms. Each room is intricately detailed and have ample window space allowing plenty of light. The delicate woodwork and carvings, wall and ceiling decoration, the banisters and the indoor knobs....all come together to form an unmatched harmony of architectural aestetics. The most important houses called “
konak”(mansions) even have inner pools.
There are about 600 fountains in
Safranbolu.
The town has been declared by
UNESCO to be one of the
Eminent Cultural Heritages of the World.
The
Safranbolu Architectural Treasures and
Folklore Week takes place every year in September.
