Safranbolu

UNESCO World Heritage Site

City of Safranbolu
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
Type	Cultural
Criteria	ii, iv, v
Reference	614
UNESCO region	Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription	1994 (18th Session)

Safranbolu
District
A street in historical Shoe-makers market of Safranbolu
Location of Safranbolu within Turkey.
Safranbolu Location of Safranbolu
Coordinates:
Country	Turkey
Region	Black Sea
Province	Karabük
Government
• Mayor	Necdet Aksoy (AKP)
Area
• District	999.99 km2 (386.10 sq mi)
Elevation	485 m (1,591 ft)
Population (2012)
• Urban	43,060
• District	55,170
• District density	55/km2 (140/sq mi)
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code	78xxx
Area code(s)	370
Licence plate	78
Climate	Cfa
Website	www.safranbolu.bel.tr

Safranbolu (from Greek: Σαφράμπολις) is a town and district of Karabük Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. It is about 200 kilometres (120 mi) north of Ankara and about 100 km south of the Black Sea coast, or more precisely about 9 km north of the city of Karabük. Former Turkish names of the town were Zalifre and Taraklıborlu and in Greek Theodoroupolis, Θεοδωρούπολις (i.e. city of Theodorus or female Theodora) and latter Saframpolis, Σαφράμπολις. It was part of Kastamonu Province until 1923 and Zonguldak Province between 1923 and 1995.

According to the 2000 census, the population of the district is 47,257, of which 31,697 live in the town of Safranbolu. The district covers an area of 1,000 km² (386 sq mi), and the town lies at an elevation of 485 m (1,591 ft).

The Old Town preserves many old buildings, with 1008 registered historical artifacts. These are: 1 private museum, 25 mosques, 5 tombs, 8 historical fountains, 5 Turkish baths, 3 caravanserais, 1 historical clock tower, 1 sundial and hundreds of houses and mansions. Also there are mounds of ancient settlements, rock tombs and historical bridges. The Old Town is situated in a deep ravine in a fairly dry area in the rain shadow of the mountains. The New Town can be found on the plateau about two kilometers west of the Old Town.

The name of the town derives from 'saffron' and the Greek word 'polis' (city), since Safranbolu was a trading place and a center for growing saffron. Today saffron is still grown at the village of Davutobası which is 22 km east of Safranbolu and probably one of the best quality saffrons in the world.

Safranbolu was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1994 due to its well-preserved Ottoman era houses and architecture.

Gallery

• Safranbolu general view-1.jpg

  General view

• Safranbolu general view-2.jpg

  General view

• Safranbolu general view-3.jpg

  General view

• Safranbolu general view-4.jpg

  General view

• Safranbolu kemerler.jpg

  Roman constructions on brook under the buildings and streets at historical center

• Safranbolu street.jpg

  Street in historical center

• Safranbolu dere.jpg

  Brook under the buildings and streets at historical center

• Safranbolu Pansiyon-Local pension in Safranbolu.jpg

  Safranbolu Pansiyon

• Safranbolu traditional houses-3.jpg

  Traditional houses

• 

  Traditional houses

• Safranbolu traditional houses-2.jpg

  Traditional houses

• Safranbolu 082 neat.jpg

  Traditional houses

A panorama from historical city

A panorama from historical city

Sister cities

• Elabuga, Russia.

Notable natives

• Türker İnanoğlu, film producer.
• İzzet Mehmed Pasha, 18th century Ottoman Grand Vizier.
• Karabaşzade Hüseyin Efendi (Cinci Hoca) - Mentor of Sultan İbrahim
• Ali Gümüş, President of Association Internationale De La Presse Sportive (International Sports Press Association, or AIPS) Wrestling Commission, Journalist and author.

See also

• Amasya
• List of World Heritage Sites in Turkey

External links

• Safranbolu travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Governor's official web site
• UNESCO World Heritage - Safranbolu
• One Day Trip in Safranbolu
• Safranbolu: A Town of Traditional Houses