Historic Town of Beypazari Situated approximately 100 km west of the capital city Ankara, Beypazarı is a district with a long-standing history and abundant natural beauty. Over the centuries, it has been under the control of various civilizations and empires including the Hittites, Phrygians, Galatians, Romans, Byzantine Empire, Seljuk Turks, and Ottoman dynasties. During the Seljuk period, Beypazarı was a significant commercial hub on the Silk Road connecting Constantinople and Baghdad, while in the Ottoman era, it functioned as a military-administrative center. One of the most picturesque areas of Beypazarı is the Inozu Valley, located to the north of the town. This region is rich in natural flora and architectural heritage, featuring numerous man-made caves carved into the rocky slopes on both sides. These caves were utilized as dwellings, churches, and burial sites during Roman times and are believed to have also served as cenotaphs and rock-cut churches from the early Byzantine period when religious ceremonies were conducted there. The vineyards and fruit orchards spread across the slopes of Beypazarı, along with the unique wine cellar houses nestled at the valley’s base, are defining aspects of the local viticulture lifestyle. The area is rich in water sources such as streams, underground water, and hot springs, which contribute to its fertile lands and support economic activities like irrigated farming. These natural advantages played a key role in the establishment of the town of Beypazarı. At the heart of Beypazarı's urban structure lies the 200-year-old bazaar, a lively market that was among the largest in the region during the Ottoman era. Interestingly, the town’s name, "Beypazarı", is derived from the word "bazaar." The traditional Turkish houses in Beypazarı exhibit a unique design in their exterior, interior, and central layout. These three-story homes commonly have stone foundations, while the upper floors are made of either stone or adobe bricks. The ground floor, with its stone flooring, serves various functions, whereas the first and second floors are carefully arranged as primary living areas. The exterior sections of the houses comprise a sequence of rooms with a sofa area in front, and staircases are often located either centrally within these spaces or integrated into the sofas. Rooms that face the garden or street are generally positioned at the front, while smaller rooms are set at angles along the walls. Service rooms may be present on this floor or absent, and rooms with internal sofas are situated on either side of the main sofa areas. Different floors are connected by stairways. Beypazarı stands as a remarkable example of 19th-century Ottoman urbanism. It reflects the administrative, ecological (notably the Inozu Valley), aesthetic, economic (centered around the bazaar), technological (house architecture), and sociocultural characteristics of its era. The district preserves well-maintained Seljuk and Ottoman religious buildings, along with valuable traditional Turkish houses that showcase distinctive internal and external spatial arrangements, unique materials, structural features, interior design details, and street patterns harmonizing with the natural environment. In 2020, the Historic Town of Beypazarı was officially placed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. If you have any questions or need further information, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or simply send us a message on Whatsapp, and we will get back to you promptly.