UNESCO World Heritage in Turkey

• Ani: Forgotten Armenia
• Aphrodisias: City of Love
• Aslantepe: The Lion Hill
• Bursa and Cumalıkızık: Ottoman power
• Çatalhöyük: Stones of the Stone Age
• Divriği: Small town with a great mosque
• Diyarbakır: The battered pride of the Kurds
• Ephesus: The big player on the Aegean
• Göbekli Tepe: More than 12,000 years under its belt
• Gordion: The Phrygian capital
• Hattuşa: City of 1000 gods
• The wooden hypostyle mosques of medieval Anatolia
• İstanbul: Historic Areas of İstanbul
• Göreme National Park: Cappadocia's lunar landscape
• Nemrut Dağı: The mountain calls
• Pamukkale: The wonder of the white terraces
• Pergamon: By cable car to the royal city
• Safranbolu: Half-timbered idyll in the Pontic Mountains
• Selimiye Mosque in Edirne: Sinan's masterpiece
• Troy: Schliemann's battlefield
• Xanthos: Sarcophagi high in the air

Historic Areas of İstanbul

The 7.66 km² World Heritage Site comprises four areas:

the Archaeological Park at the eastern tip of the old town (with Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia),

the Süleymaniye quarter with the Süleymaniye Mosque (built 1550–57; a work of the architect Sinan (he also designed the Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, see below.),

the Zeyrek quarter (with the Zeyrek Mosque),

the 20 km long Theodosian Land Walls in the west of İstanbul's old town.

Website: https://istanbul-tourist-information.com/

No. 356 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/356)

Year: 1985

Criteria: i, ii, iii, iv

Istanbul is strategically located on the Bosphorus peninsula between the Balkans and Anatolia, the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. It was successively the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire and has been linked with major events in political history, religious history and art history for more than 2,000 years. The city lies on a peninsula surrounded by the Golden Horn (Haliç), a natural harbour, to the north, the Bosphorus to the east and the Sea of Marmara to the south. The historic peninsula on which the former Byzantium and Constantinople developed was surrounded by ancient walls, originally erected by Theodosius in the early fifth century.

The outstanding universal value of Istanbul lies in its unique integration of architectural masterpieces that reflect the meeting of Europe and Asia over many centuries, and in its incomparable skyline formed by the creative genius of Byzantine and Ottoman architects.

The unmistakable and characteristic skyline of Istanbul was built up over many centuries and includes Hagia Sophia, whose huge dome reflects the architectural and decorative masterpiece of the 6th century, the Fatih complex and Topkapi Palace from the 15th century – which was continuously extended until the 19th century, the Süleymaniye and Sehzade mosques, works of the chief architect Sinan that reflect the peak of Ottoman architecture in the 16th century, the Blue Mosque from the 17th century and the slender minarets of the New Mosque near the harbour, completed in 1664.

The four areas of the property are the Archaeological Park at the tip of the historic peninsula; the Süleymaniye quarter with the Süleymaniye Mosque complex, the bazaars and the vernacular settlement around it; the Zeyrek settlement area around the Zeyrek Mosque (the former Pantocrator Church); and the area along both sides of the Theodosian Land Walls with remains of the former Blachernae Palace. These areas display architectural achievements of successive imperial periods, including the 17th-century Blue Mosque, the Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Mosque, the 16th-century Şehzade Mosque complex, the 15th-century Topkapi Palace, the Hippodrome of Constantine, the Aqueduct of Valens, the Justinianic churches of Hagia Sophia and St. Irene, the Küçük Ayasofya Mosque (the former Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus), the Pantocrator Monastery founded under John II Komnenos by Empress Irene; the former Church of the Saviour in Chora with its mosaics and paintings from the 14th and 15th centuries; and many other exceptional examples of various building types, including baths, cisterns and tombs.

Criterion (i): The Historic Areas of Istanbul include monuments regarded as unique architectural masterpieces of the Byzantine and Ottoman periods, such as Hagia Sophia, designed in 532–537 by Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus, and the Süleymaniye Mosque complex, designed in 1550–1557 by the architect Sinan.

Criterion (ii): Throughout history the monuments in Istanbul have exerted considerable influence on the development of architecture, monumental arts and the organisation of space in both Europe and the Near East. Thus the 6,650-metre land wall of Theodosius II, with its second line of defence built in 447, was one of the leading references for military architecture; Hagia Sophia became the model for an entire family of churches and later mosques, and the mosaics of the palaces and churches of Constantinople influenced both Eastern and Western art.

Criterion (iii): Istanbul bears unique testimony to the Byzantine and Ottoman civilisations through its large number of high-quality examples of a wide range of building types, some with associated works of art. These include fortifications, churches and palaces with mosaics and frescoes, monumental cisterns, tombs, mosques, religious schools and bath buildings. The vernacular houses around important religious monuments in the Süleymaniye and Zeyrek quarters provide exceptional evidence of the late Ottoman urban pattern.

Criterion (iv): The city is an outstanding ensemble of monuments and architectural and technical ensembles that illustrate very significant stages of human history. In particular, Topkapi Palace and the Süleymaniye Mosque complex with its caravanserai, madrasa, medical school, library, bath building, hospice and imperial tombs are outstanding examples of ensembles of palaces and religious complexes of the Ottoman period.

The Historic Areas of Istanbul include the key attributes that convey the outstanding universal value of Istanbul, namely those parts of the city that had been spared major changes and deterioration in the 19th and 20th centuries and were already protected by national laws at the time of inscription.

The vernacular wooden houses in the Süleymaniye and Zeyrek quarters were classified as endangered at the time of inscription. Despite the threat of pressure for change, many efforts have since been made to preserve and reinforce the timber structures within the site. Changes in the social structure within the area have also affected the use of these structures. The urban fabric is threatened by lack of maintenance and pressure for change. The municipality is trying to rehabilitate the area in order to revitalise its run-down parts. The revitalisation of the Süleymaniye and Zeyrek quarters is a long-term project that requires a long and careful process of cleaning, conservation and restoration. The Süleymaniye complex has retained its structural and architectural integrity, apart from some minor changes in the commercial part of the complex. The Zeyrek Mosque, originally the Pantocrator Church, has been struck by several earthquakes.

The integrity of the main monuments and archaeological remains in the four historic areas is largely intact, but they are endangered by the lack of a management plan. The management plan, which is in the approval process of the competent authority, is intended to address all problems and gradually resolve the issues within the site.

The setting of the Historic Areas of Istanbul and the outstanding silhouette of the city are threatened by development.

The ability of the monuments and vernacular houses to truthfully express the outstanding universal value of the Historic Areas of Istanbul has been impaired to some extent since inscription with regard to their design and materials. Conservation and restoration work in the setting of the historic peninsula is directed and monitored by the central and local authorities as well as newly established institutions, using the financial resources provided by the legislative amendments.

The location and striking skyline of the historic peninsula continue to express the outstanding universal value of the property. However, the ability of the wider maritime setting to continue to do so depends on development not impairing views of the skyline.

The historic areas of Istanbul are legally protected by national conservation laws. There are no specific planning laws for the protection of World Heritage Sites. The management structure for the protection and conservation of the properties includes the shared responsibilities of the national government (Ministry of Culture and Tourism, General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums, General Directorate of the Pious Foundation), the local administration and several state institutions. Approval from the Conservation Council must be obtained for physical interventions and functional changes to registered buildings and conservation areas.

The Site Management Directorate for the cultural and natural sites of Istanbul was established in 2006 within the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality to coordinate management planning processes for the World Heritage Sites of Istanbul. The work of the Directorate is supported by an advisory board and a coordination and supervision board. A site manager has also been appointed. In addition, a department has been set up at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism that coordinates the management issues of World Heritage Sites in Turkey and cooperates with the competent authorities in implementing the World Heritage Convention and the Operational Guidelines.

The first conservation plans for Zeyrek, Süleymaniye and the Land Walls were drawn up and approved in 1979 and 1981. A new conservation plan that includes the World Heritage Sites was endorsed by the Council of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and submitted to the Conservation Council for approval. The impressive skyline of the historic peninsula with Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Süleymaniye is preserved through planning measures. The legal protection and management structures are sufficient to ensure the proper conservation of the sites. As part of the "European Capital of Culture" campaign, the national government provided large funds for restoration and conservation projects within the site, in addition to the annual budgets of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Special Provincial Administration of Istanbul, the General Directorate of the Pious Foundation and the local administration.

In the historic areas, finding a balance between change and preservation is a delicate issue. The management plan, currently being prepared in cooperation with all stakeholders and in accordance with the relevant laws, will address this issue. It will cover the traffic and transport plan for the city, the urban regeneration strategy and tourism management, and provide an appropriate framework to ensure that construction and infrastructure projects respect the outstanding universal value of the property. It will also include guidelines for conservation, standards for restoration and rehabilitation, management responsibilities, accessibility, visitor management, guidelines for enhancing the perception of the place, improving the quality of everyday life, risk management, awareness-raising and training.

• Brief synthesis
• Integrity
• Authenticity
• Protection and management requirements

Aphrodisias

The Tetrapylon in Aphrodisias. The gateway to the temple precinct of Aphrodite was built under Emperor Hadrian

The ruins of the ancient city of Aphrodisias lie in south-western Turkey. Among the surviving structures are a theatre, a stadium and temples, e.g. the Temple of Aphrodite and the Sebasteion. The nearby marble quarries led to the founding of an important school of sculpture. Website: https://turkishmuseums.com/museums?l=4&s=Aphrodisias

No. 1519 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1519)

Year: 2017

Criteria: ii, iii, iv, vi

Aphrodisias lies in south-western Turkey, in the fertile valley of the Morsynus river, in the ancient region of Caria. The serial property consists of two components. The first component comprises the archaeological site of Aphrodisias along the city walls surrounding the city; the second component comprises the marble quarries north-east of the city. Aphrodisias was founded in the early 2nd century BC as a city-state. An orthogonal street grid defines the pattern of the city; only a few buildings, such as the Temple of the goddess Aphrodite, are not aligned with the grid. Since the city shared a close interest in the goddess Aphrodite with Sulla, Julius Caesar and the Emperor Augustus, Aphrodisias developed a close relationship with Rome. It received a privileged "tax-free" political status from the Roman Senate and developed a strong artistic, sculptural tradition during the imperial period. During Roman rule many elaborately decorated buildings were erected, all made of local marble.

The cult of Aphrodite was the most important cult of Aphrodisias. The sanctuary of Aphrodisias had a distinctive cult statue of Aphrodite that shaped the identity of the city. The Aphrodite of Aphrodisias combined aspects of a local Anatolian, archaic fertility goddess with those of the Hellenic Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. This characteristic image has been found from Anatolia across the Mediterranean, from the city of Rome to the Levant. The importance of the Aphrodite of Aphrodisias persisted well beyond the official imperial acceptance of Christianity; the temple did not become a church until around AD 500.

The proximity of the marble quarries to the city was a main reason why Aphrodisias became an outstanding production centre for high-quality marble sculpture. Sculptors from the city were famous throughout the Roman Empire. They were known for their virtuoso portrait sculpture and statues of gods and Dionysian figures in the Hellenistic style. In late antiquity (4th–6th century AD) the sculptors of Aphrodisias were in great demand for marble portrait busts and statues of emperors, governors and philosophers in the major centres of the empire – for example in Sardis, Stratonikeia, Laodicea, Constantinople and Rome. At that time they were the best marble statue carvers of their age. The techniques used, the quality of local artistic design and the production of advanced portrait sculpture gave Aphrodisias a unique place in the Roman world.

Another important aspect of Aphrodisias was its cosmopolitan social structure (Greek, Roman, Carian, pagan, Jewish, Christian), which is set out in detail in the site's 2,000 surviving inscriptions.

Criterion (ii): The exceptional production of marble sculpture at Aphrodisias combines local, Greek and Roman traditions, themes and iconography. It is visible throughout the city in an impressive variety of forms, from large decorated architectural blocks to larger-than-life statues to small portable votive figures. The proximity of good quarries with both pure white and grey marble was a strong catalyst for the city's rapid development into a well-known centre of marble carving and marble carvers. The skills of the sculptors of Aphrodisias were in demand in the Rome area, where some of the finest surviving works – for example from Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli – bear signatures of sculptors from Aphrodisias. These sculptors were important participants in the art market of the empire between the 1st and 5th centuries AD.

Criterion (iii): Aphrodisias occupies an outstanding place in the study of sculpture in the Roman world. Its quarries and sculpture workshops made it an important art centre, famous for the creativity and technical skill of its sculptors. Aphrodisias has one of the few known and systematically excavated sculpture workshops of the Roman Empire, which offers a more comprehensive understanding of the production of marble sculpture than any other place in the Roman world.

Criterion (iv): Aphrodisias is an exceptional example of the built environment of a Greco-Roman city in the interior of Asia Minor. Several of its monumental marble buildings display unique architectural and design features. The Sebasteion, an elaborate cult complex for the veneration of Augustus and the Julio-Claudian emperors, represents a distinctive integration of Hellenistic, Roman and Aphrodisian artistic traditions. The "Archive Wall" in the theatre is a well-preserved collection of official imperial documents on the status of the city under the empire. The theatre also has an early example of a stage building with an aedicular façade. The stadium has an unusual architectural form with two curved ends, known as an "amphitheatre", and is the best-preserved example of its kind in the ancient world. The conversion of the Temple of Aphrodite into a cathedral around AD 500 is unique among conversions of temples into churches in its technical and transformative impact. The Tetrapylon, the striking entrance to the outer sanctuary of Aphrodite, has survived with its elaborate and exquisitely carved architectural ornament.

Criterion (vi): In antiquity Aphrodisias was famous as the cult centre of a version of Aphrodite that combines aspects of an archaic Anatolian fertility goddess with those of the Hellenic goddess of love and beauty. The Aphrodite of Aphrodisias appears in marble figures from the site of Aphrodisias as well as from many other places around the Mediterranean. This spread of the cult image is strong evidence of the regional and supra-regional importance of the cult.

The property includes all the elements required to express its values and has suffered neither significant geomorphological changes nor intensive human settlement since antiquity. The boundaries of the property ensure a complete representation of the attributes that convey the outstanding universal value of both the city and the marble quarries. The property has been placed under legal state control, and appropriate policies and measures have been proposed within the conservation and management plans to maintain the integrity of the site.

The authenticity of the serial property is demonstrated by its quarries, monuments and sculptures, some 2,000 surviving inscriptions, a thoroughly studied history and an extensive body of published research. Conservation and restoration work at Aphrodisias has been carried out in accordance with the Venice Charter, respecting the original designs and building materials. The landscape around Aphrodisias has been exposed neither to modern development nor to mass tourism.

Legal protection of the property has been ensured since 1978 by the Law on the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Property No. 2863 for the ancient city and since 1981 for the quarries. Decision No. 5580 of the Aydin Regional Conservation Council in 2016 strengthened the legal protection for the quarries. Legal protection should be extended to the entire buffer zone. Patrols by the local gendarmerie should be extended to include both the quarry and the buffer zone.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism with its central and local branches and the excavation team are mainly responsible for the conservation, protection, promotion and management of the site. The integration of the local community into the management system of the property needs to be strengthened.

The archaeological site is excavated, researched and conserved by the excavation team authorised annually by the government, and its work is regularly monitored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

A conservation plan for the district was prepared and approved in 2002 by the Aydin Regional Conservation Council. A complete 3D inventory of the quarry walls should be carried out to create a baseline record of their condition. There is a need to formulate and implement monitoring indicators for the quarry component as well as to implement remedial measures.

The Aphrodisias Management Plan, prepared under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism with the support of the Geyre Foundation, was approved on 17 September 2013, and its implementation is monitored by the advisory board and the supervision and coordination committee as well as by the site manager appointed by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Both the conservation and management plans should be updated to reflect the extent of the property at the time of inscription.

Floods in winter and forest fires in summer are the greatest natural risks to the property. To prevent flooding, a drainage plan should be implemented quickly within the walled city.

In addition, a fire-fighting plan and fire-fighting training should be developed. During fire-fighting, mobile water tanks should be set up in the city.

• Brief synthesis
• Integrity
• Authenticity
• Protection and management requirements

Archaeological Site of Ani

In the 10th century Ani was the capital of Armenia with more than 100,000 inhabitants. Among the surviving remains are the ruins of several churches and the city wall. Website: https://turkishmuseums.com/museum/detail/2108-kars-archaeological-site-of-ani/2108/4

No. 1518 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1518)

Year: 2016

Criteria: ii, iii, iv

Archaeological Site of Ani UNESCO World Heritage Kars Turkey

Arslan Tepe

The archaeological excavation site of Arslan Tepe ("Lion Hill") lies near the city of Malatya (640,000 inhabitants) in Eastern Anatolia. A settlement existed here from 6,000 BC, most recently the capital of the Hittite kingdom of Melid. The finds, e.g. sculptures from the Lion Gate, are exhibited in museums in Ankara and in Malatay. Website: https://turkishmuseums.com/museum/detail/2142-malatya-arslantepe-archaeological-site-and-open-air-museum/2142/4

No. 1622 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1622)

Year: 2021

Criteria: ii, iii, vi

Bursa and Cumalikizik: the cradle of the Ottoman Empire

The city of Bursa (3.1 million inhabitants) is regarded as the cradle of the Ottoman Empire. The seven sites in Bursa include four mosque complexes (Orhan, Hüdavendigar and Muradiye mosques as well as the Green Mosque), a bath house and the Osman Gazi Mausoleum with the tomb of Osman I (1258–1324 or 1326), the founder of the Ottoman Empire named after him.

The village of Cumalıkızık (approx. 8 km east of Bursa) is meant to convey the impression of an Ottoman village.

Website: https://turkishmuseums.com/museums?l=4&s=bursa

No. 1452 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1452)

Year: 2014

Criteria: i, ii, iii, iv, vi

The World Heritage Site consists of eight sites in Bursa and Cumalıkızık.

Neolithic Site of Çatalhöyük

«Çatalhöyük was one of the very first proto-urban communities in the world, and its inhabitants experienced what it means when many people gather in one place for a long time.»

Approx. 40 km south-east of the Anatolian city of Konya (inhabitants) lie the ruins of the Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük on two mounds. One of the oldest known settlements is Çatalhöyük in present-day Turkey. The settlement arose about 9500 years ago in southern Anatolia and reached its heyday around 1000 years later, from about 6700 to 6500 BC. At that time up to 3500 people at times crowded together with animals in the Stone Age town on an area of around 13 hectares – equivalent to a square with sides of 360 metres. Some researchers even assume 8000 inhabitants. Later the population declined sharply, and around 5950 BC the settlement was abandoned.

The photo above shows part of the excavation site, which has been covered by a protective shelter since 2008.

The finds are exhibited in a small museum on site and above all in the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations in Ankara. Website: http://www.catalhoyuk.com/

No. 1405 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1405)

Year: 2012

Criteria: ii, iv

Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği

The town of Divriği (10,600 inhabitants) lies in Central Anatolia. In the east of the town stands a rectangular building complex (built around 1228/29): the northern part is occupied by the Great Mosque, the southern part by the former hospital. Outstanding features are the stonemasonry of the portals and the wood carvings of the pulpit (minbar; around 1240).

Website: http://www.divrigiulucamii.com/en/

No. 358 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/358)

Year: 1985

Criteria: i, iv

The Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği lie on the slopes below the castle of Divriği in the province of Sivas in eastern central Turkey and form a remarkable building that combines a monumental hypostyle mosque with a two-storey hospital with a tomb. The mosque was founded by the Mengücekid emir Ahmed Shah after the victory of the Seljuks over the Byzantine army at the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071. From the outside the mosque is dominated by the hexagonal dome with a pointed roof over its mihrab (prayer niche), a dome over the ablution basin in the centre of the prayer hall and elaborately carved monumental stone portals to the north and west. Inside, four rows of four piers form five naves covered by a variety of elaborately carved stone vaults. The adjoining hospital, the Darush-shifa, was founded by Ahmet Shah's wife Turan Melek and designed in 1228-1229 by the architect Hurrem Shah. It is entered through a monumental, elaborately carved stone portal on the west, which leads into a double-height atrium consisting of four massive piers supporting a dome with an oculus over a central basin, around which the patients' rooms are arranged.

The highly developed technique of vault construction and a creative, exuberant type of decorative sculpture – especially on the three doorways, in contrast to the unadorned walls inside – are the unique features of this masterpiece of Islamic architecture. The variety of carved decoration indicates that it was executed by different groups of craftsmen. The main feature of the designs shown on the portals is their uniqueness: each differs from the other decorations. Besides the portals, all the bases, shafts and capitals of the columns as well as the inner surface of the dome and vaults were decorated in a distinctive and unique style. There are no other examples of the three-dimensional and intricate geometric styles and flowing plant figures. The vaults of the hospital are comparable in their scientific achievement to those of the prayer hall of the mosque and display the same magnificent unity as the Great Mosque.

Criterion (i): This cultural property is a unique artistic achievement and in itself represents one of the most beautiful buildings of Islamic architecture.

Criterion (iv): The Divriği Mosque is an outstanding example of a Seljuk mosque in Anatolia, since it has neither a courtyard nor colonnades nor an open ablution basin, but organises all religious functions in an enclosed space, possibly because of the harshness of the climate. The adjoining hospital is a charitable foundation and, thanks to a princely order, makes an already exceptional ensemble even more interesting.

The Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği are intact and retain the key attributes that display outstanding universal value. The stone ornaments are vulnerable to the effects of the atmosphere, humidity and salt, and the building is vulnerable to drainage problems. The surroundings of the complex are also vulnerable to the effects of the surrounding development.

As part of the ongoing expropriation procedures for private property in the immediate surroundings of the Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği, initiated in 2009 by the Governor of Sivas, several buildings have been demolished in order to minimise the impact of the surrounding development on the historic setting. In addition, after completion of the second phase of the expropriation programme, a landscaping project to create footpaths and visitor facilities will begin.

The complex of the Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği has been restored several times. According to inscriptions, extensive restorations were carried out between the 15th and 19th centuries. In the 20th century work was carried out to prevent material decay and mitigate structural problems. The property nevertheless retains its authenticity in terms of form, substance, design and materials.

The Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği are protected by Law No. 2863 on the "Conservation of Cultural and Natural Property". Under this law it was registered in 1989 by the Kayseri Conservation Council as a "monumental building". In addition, a protection zone has been established around the property to control potential development nearby. Through the provisions of Law No. 2863, the "Committee for Monumental Buildings, Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği" was set up to support and direct conservation work.

The property has a management system for the protection and conservation of its attributes that takes account of the threats and vulnerabilities of the property. The property has undergone a building and structural survey programme in which the construction and condition of the building are examined and assessed in depth. The resulting analysis report contains comprehensive information, including possible structural problems, load-bearing capacities and soil analyses, and identifies elements requiring attention or repair. The data obtained are used for drawing up the building's strengthening and rehabilitation project as well as for its regular maintenance.

• Brief synthesis
• Integrity
• Authenticity
• Protection and management requirements

Diyarbakır Fortress and Hevsel Gardens Cultural Landscape

The Turkish city of Diyarbakır (1.75 million inhabitants) lies in southeastern Anatolia on the west bank of the Tigris. The old town is surrounded by a 5.7 km long city wall with 82 towers (4th century) and protected to the north-east by the citadel. The 7 km² cultural landscape of the Hevsel Gardens extends between the old town and the Tigris. Website: https://turkishmuseums.com/museums?l=4&s=Diyarbakir+

No. 1488 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1488)

Year: 2015

Criteria: iv

UNESCO World Heritage panorama of the city walls and the Tigris plain - Diyarbakir - Turkey

Ephesus

Ephesus was one of the largest cities of the Roman Empire. The ruins lie approx. 70 km south of Izmir. The façade of the Library of Celsus was rebuilt in 1970–78. The Temple of Artemis was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Website: https://www.ephesus.us/ephesus/ephesus_unesco_list.htm

No. 1018 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1018)

Year: 2015

Criteria: iii, iv, vi

Ephesus Library of Celsus UNESCO World Heritage

Göbekli Tepe

The approx. 15 m high Göbekli Tepe ("potbelly hill") lies near the city of Şanlıurfa (until 1983: Urfa; 2.15 million inhabitants) on the Turkish-Syrian border. Here there was a circular cult site (9,000 BC) of a society that, directly after the last Ice Age, was one of the first in the world to switch from hunting to agriculture. Website: https://www.dainst.org/projekt/-/project-display/21890

No. 1572 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1572)

Year: 2018

Criteria: i, ii, iv

Ruins of Hattusa

The World Heritage Site consists of two sites near the village of Boğazkale (1,200 inhabitants) in the province of the Black Sea region:

Hattuša was the capital of the Hittite Empire from the 17th to the 12th century BC. Parts of the 6.6 km long city wall have been reconstructed (see photo).

Yazılıkaya (2 km north-east of Hattusa) was a sanctuary of the Hittites. It consists of rock chambers with numerous reliefs.

The cuneiform tablets found at Hattusa are part of the UNESCO Memory of the World (see below). The Czech Friedrich Hrozny succeeded in deciphering them. As an Indo-European language, Hittite is related to German, among others: e.g. "watar" means water. Website:

https://goturkiye.com/blog/hattusa-the-ancient-capital-of-the-hittites

No. 377 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/377)

Year: 1986

Criteria: i, ii, iii, iv

Reconstructed section of the city wall of Ḫattuša UNESCO World Heritage

Wooden hypostyle mosques of medieval Anatolia

The serial UNESCO World Heritage Site consists of five mosques in Anatolia. The building shell is of stone; inside, wooden columns support the flat ceiling and balconies. The timber structure is elaborately carved. One example is the Mahmut Bey Mosque (14th century) in the village of Kasaba.

No. 1694 (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1694)

Year: 2023

Criteria: ii, iv

Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia

In the course of the early Christian settlement of Cappadocia, a large number of churches, dwellings and entire underground cities were dug as rock-cut structures into the tuff of the landscape.

Criteria met for World Cultural and Natural Heritage: i., iii., v., vii.

Outstanding universal value

Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia lie on the Central Anatolian plateau in a volcanic landscape that erosion has shaped into a succession of ridges, valleys and pinnacles known as "fairy chimneys" or hoodoos. They extend across the region between the towns of Nevşehir, Ürgüp and Avanos, the sites of Karain, Karlık, Yeşilöz, Soğanlı and the underground cities of Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu. The area is bounded to the south and east by chains of extinct volcanoes, with Erciyes Dağ (3916 m) at one end and Hasan Dağ (3253 m) at the other. The density of its rock-cut cells, churches, cave villages and underground cities within the rock formations makes it one of the most impressive and largest cave complexes in the world. Although it is of interest from a geological and ethnological point of view, the incomparable beauty of the decoration of the Christian sanctuaries makes Cappadocia one of the leading examples of the post-iconoclastic period of Byzantine art.

It is believed that the first signs of monastic activity in Cappadocia date back to the 4th century, when small communities of hermits following the teachings of Basil the Great, Bishop of Kayseri, began to inhabit rock-cut cells. In later periods, to resist Arab invasions, they began to join together in cave villages or underground cities such as Kaymakli or Derinkuyu, which served as places of refuge.

Monasticism in Cappadocia was already firmly established in the iconoclastic period (725-842), as shown by the decoration of many sanctuaries, which contained a strict minimum of symbols (mostly carved crosses or crosses painted in tempera). After 842, however, many rock-cut churches were dug in Cappadocia and richly decorated with colourful figurative painting. Those in the Göreme valley include Tokalı Kilise and El Nazar Kilise (10th century), St. Barbara Kilise and Saklı Kilise (11th century) as well as Elmalı Kilise and Karanlık Kilise (late 12th – early 13th century).

Criterion (i): Because of their quality and density, the rock sanctuaries of Cappadocia represent a unique artistic achievement and offer irreplaceable testimony to the post-iconoclastic period of Byzantine art.

Criterion (iii): The rock dwellings, villages, monasteries and churches preserve the fossilised image of a province of the Byzantine Empire between the 4th century and the arrival of the Seljuks (1071). They are thus the essential remains of a civilisation that has disappeared.

Criterion (v): Cappadocia is an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement that has become vulnerable through the combined effects of natural erosion and, more recently, tourism.

Criterion (vii): In a spectacular landscape that dramatically demonstrates the forces of erosion, the Göreme valley and its surroundings offer a world-renowned and accessible display of hoodoo landforms and other erosional features of great beauty, which interact with the cultural elements of the landscape.

Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia, which have been extensively used and modified by humans for centuries, are a landscape of harmony combining human interaction and settlement with dramatic natural landforms. Some cones and pillars have been damaged by earthquakes, but this is regarded as a natural phenomenon. Overuse by tourists and vandalism have been reported, and some incompatible structures have been introduced.

The erosion processes that have shaped the characteristic conical rock structures will continue to create new fairy chimneys and rock pillars. Because of the speed of this process, however, the natural values of the property may continue to be threatened by unsustainable use. The cultural features, including the rock-cut churches and related cultural structures, are threatened mainly by erosion and other negative natural processes combined with mass tourism and development pressure, and can never be replaced. Threats Some of the churches mentioned by early scholars such as C. Texier, H.G. Rott and Guillaume de Jerphanion no longer exist.

The property meets the conditions of authenticity, since its values and their attributes, including its historic setting, form, design, materials and workmanship, adequately reflect the cultural and natural values recognised in the inscription criteria.

Given the technical difficulties of building in this region, where structures are carved out of the natural rock and architecture is created by removing material rather than assembling it into the elements of a building, the underlying morphological structure and the difficulties of handling the material inhibited the creative impulses of the builders. This conditioning of human effort by natural conditions remained almost unchanged through successive periods and civilisations and influenced the cultural attitudes and technical skills of each subsequent generation.

The World Heritage property Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia is legally protected under Law No. 2863 on the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Resources and Law No. 2873 on National Parks. The entire area between the towns of Nevşehir, Ürgüp and Avanos is designated as a national park under Law No. 2873. In addition, natural, archaeological, urban and mixed archaeological and natural conservation areas, two underground cities, five cave villages and more than 200 individual rock-cut churches, some of which contain numerous frescoes, have been entered in the register of immovable monuments and sites under Law No. 2863.

The legal protection, management and monitoring of Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia fall within the remit of national and regional government authorities. The Nevşehir and Kayseri Regional Conservation Councils are responsible for keeping the register of monuments and sites, including carrying out all tasks related to the legal protection of monuments and listed buildings and the approval of restoration work. They also assess the regional and conservation plans drawn up by the competent national and/or local (i.e. municipal) authorities.

Studies to revise and update the existing 1981 land-use and conservation plan (Long-Term Development Plan for Göreme National Park) were completed in 2003. The main planning decisions proposed were that conservation areas should be protected as they were declared in 1976. Minor adjustments on the edges of settlements and spatial development of towns within conservation areas such as Göreme, Ortahisar, Çavuşin, Ürgüp and Mustafapaşa will be strictly controlled. In other words, the plan proposes to restrict the physical growth of these towns to newly established zones. Hotel development will take account of the limits set for room capacities. In addition, the plan proposes that the local authorities should be instructed to review land-use decisions for areas reserved for tourism development in the town plans.

The preparation of plans for the urban and/or mixed urban-archaeological conservation areas in the historic sections of Göreme has been completed. They contain zoning criteria as well as the rules and guidelines for the maintenance and restoration of listed buildings and other buildings that are not registered but are located in the historic zones. Similar planning studies are available for the towns of Ortahisar and Uçhisar. Once completed, a plan for the urban conservation area in Ürgüp will be available. All relevant plans are continuously kept up to date.

For the underground cities of Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu, appropriate facilities to improve the understanding of the World Heritage have been completed; they are needed for Göreme and Paşabağı.

Monuments threatened by erosion, including the El Nazar, Elmalı and Meryemana (Virgin Mary) churches, have been listed as monuments requiring priority treatment. Special measures for their protection, restoration and maintenance are required at site level.

While conservation plans and protective measures exist for individual sites, those mainly responsible for managing the site recognise that an integrated regional plan for the Cappadocia Culture and Tourism Conservation and Development Area is needed to protect the World Heritage values of the property. Adequate financial, political and technical support is also required to ensure the management of the property.

• Brief synthesis
• Integrity
• Authenticity
• Protection and management requirements

Monumental tomb on Nemrut Dag(ğı)

Mount Nemrut Dağı (2,150 m) lies in the south-eastern Turkish province of Adıyaman. On the summit the Persian-Greek king of Commagene, Antiochus I, had a monumental tomb (hierothesion) built in the 1st century BC. It consists, among other things, of a 45 m heaped-up scree mound, three terraces and several sculptures. Among the surviving remains are the huge statues of the west and east terraces. Website: http://nemrud.nl/

No. 448 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/448)

Year: 1987

Criteria: i, iii, iv

Thrones and heads of gods on the east terrace UNESCO World Heritage

Ruins of Xanthos with the Sanctuary of Latona

The ruins of Xanthos with the Sanctuary of Latona lie in the south-western Turkish province of Antalya.

Xanthos was the capital of the Lycian League. Among its numerous buildings is the Nereid Monument of Xanthos (around 390 BC). Since 1969 it has stood partially reconstructed in the British Museum in London.

The temple precinct of Letoon lies from Xanthos by a sacred spring. Several ruins stand there: three ancient temples (Leto, Artemis, Apollo); to the north a theatre and stoa, to the south a monastery.

Website: https://antalyatouristinformation.com/de/sehenswurdigkeiten/geschichte/xanthos/

No. 484 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/484)

Year: 1988

Criteria: ii, iii

Old Town of Safranbolu

The old town of Safranbolu (51,000 inhabitants, Black Sea region) lies in the valley; the new town on the plateau. In the old town there are hundreds of Ottoman half-timbered houses, several mosques, 5 Turkish baths (hamam) and three caravanserais. Approx. 7 km to the north the İncekaya Aqueduct (18th century) crosses the Tokatlı valley. Saffron is indeed grown in the surrounding area, but whether the name Safranbolu derives from it is considered doubtful.

Info: https://wikitravel.org/en/Safranbolu

No. 614 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/614)

Year: 1994

Criteria: ii, iv, v

Archaeological Site of Troy

The archaeological site of Troy lies in western Turkey near the Dardanelles (the link between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea). A settlement (Troy I) arose at this favourable location by about 3000 BC at the latest. Destruction was followed several times by reconstruction, so that a mound of ruins with several layers was formed (Troy I–X), whose settlement only ended in the 5th century AD. Excavations were carried out in the 19th century by the Englishman Frank Calvert and from 1870 by the German treasure hunter Heinrich Schliemann. In 1873 Priam's Treasure was discovered.

Website: https://turkishmuseums.com/museum/detail/2020-canakkale-archaeological-site-of-troy/2020/4

Troy is known from the "Iliad" by the Greek Homer. In it he tells of the ten-year siege of the city of Troy by the Greeks. They succeed thanks to a ruse: the Greeks feign a retreat and leave behind a large wooden horse, the "Trojan Horse". The Trojans bring this trophy into the city. At night Greeks climb out of the belly of the horse and open the city gates.

The Troy Museum (approx. 800 m east of Troy) provides information about the history. Website: https://turkishmuseums.com/museum/detail/2021-canakkale-museum-of-troy/2021/4

No. 849 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/849)

Year: 1998

Criteria: ii, iii, vi

Selimiye Mosque in Edirne

The city of Edirne (170,000 inhabitants) lies in the far north-west of Turkey on the border with Bulgaria and Greece. From 1362 until the conquest of Istanbul (1453) Edirne was the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

The Selimiye Mosque was built there in 1569–75. The architect was Yusuf Sinan (1490–1588). He is regarded as the most important architect of the Ottoman Empire. Sinan himself is said to have called the Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul his journeyman's work and the Selimiye Mosque his masterpiece. UNESCO has declared both World Heritage (see above).

Characteristic of the mosques of the Ottoman Empire are, among other things, the very slender minarets on a round ground plan, consisting of a shaft, a surrounding balcony and a conical roof. The four minarets in Edirne are each 71 m high.

Info: https://placesofpeace.eu/die-route/edirne/?lang=de

No. 1366 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1366)

Year: 2011

Criteria: i, iv

Pergamon and its Multi-Layered Cultural Landscape

Pergamon, approx. 80 km north of İzmir, was the capital of the Pergamene kingdom in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. World-famous is the Pergamon Altar, which stands on Berlin's Museum Island. Noteworthy are, among other things, the Asklepieion and, at around 190 m, the widest bridge of antiquity. The Library of Pergamon is considered the second-largest of antiquity. Website: https://turkishmuseums.com/museum/detail/2093-izmir-bergama-pergamon-acropolis/2093/4

No. 1457 (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1457)

Year: 2014

Criteria: i, ii, iii, iv, vi

Pergamon model UNESCO World Heritage

Gordion

The archaeological site of Gordion near the village of Yassıhüyük (west of Ankara) comprises a citadel mound, the ruins of houses and fortifications and more than 100 burial mounds. In the 8th and 7th centuries BC Gordion was the capital of the Phrygian kingdom.

Gordion is known for the Gordian Knot: King Gordias founded the city and wound ropes on a chariot into a large knot. Whoever untied this knot would become ruler of Asia Minor. In 333 BC Alexander the Great "untied" the knot by cutting through it with his sword.

No. 1669 (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1669)

Year: 2023

Criteria: iii