Safranbolu

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City of Safranbolu*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Traditional houses in old town
State Party  Turkey
Type Cultural
Criteria ii, iv, v
Reference 614
Region** Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription 1994  (18th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.
** Region as classified by UNESCO.
Safranbolu
—  District  —
A street in historical Shoe-makers market of Safranbolu
Location of Safranbolu within Turkey.
Safranbolu is located in Turkey
Safranbolu
Location of Safranbolu
Coordinates: 41°15′N 32°41′E / 41.25°N 32.683°E / 41.25; 32.683
Country  Turkey
Region Black Sea
Province Karabük
Area
 - District 1,000 km2 (386.1 sq mi)
Elevation 485 m (1,591 ft)
Population (2000)[1]
 - District 47,257
 - Density 47.26/km2 (122.4/sq mi)
 - Urban 31,697
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 - Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 78xxx
Area code(s) 370
Licence plate 78
Website www.safranbolu.bel.tr

Safranbolu is a town and district of Karabük Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Its location can be roughly described as about two hundred kilometers north of Ankara and about a hundred kilometers south of the Black Sea coast, or more precisely as about 9 kilometers north of the city of Karabük. Former Turkish names of her were Zalifre and Taraklıborlu and in Greek Saframpolis, Σαφραμπολις. According to the 2000 census, population of the district is 47,257 of which 31,697 live in the town of Safranbolu.[1][2] The district covers an area of 1,000 km2 (386 sq mi),[3] 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, since Safranbolu was a trading place and a center for growing saffron.Today saffron is still alive at the village of Davutobası which is 22 km east of Safranbolu and probably one of the best quality saffron 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.

Asmazlar konak interior

Contents

[edit] Gallery

General view

General view

General view

General view

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

Street in historical center

Brook under the buildings and streets at historical center

Safranbolu Pansiyon

Traditional houses

Traditional houses

Traditional houses

[edit] Sister cities

[edit] Notable natives

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Turkish Statistical Institute. "Census 2000, Key statistics for urban areas of Turkey" (in Turkish) (XLS). http://www.die.gov.tr/nufus_sayimi/2000tablo5.xls. Retrieved 2008-11-22. 
  2. ^ GeoHive. "Statistical information on Turkey's administrative units" (in English). http://www.xist.org/cntry/turkey.aspx?levels=Karadeniz. Retrieved 2008-11-22. 
  3. ^ Statoids. "Statistical information on districts of Turkey" (in English). http://www.statoids.com/ytr.html. Retrieved 2008-11-22. 
  4. ^ Elabuga and Safranbolu become sister cities

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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