The twisted tale behind Turkey's deserted community of castles

Political turmoil - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's immense spending on infrastructure projects, which required heavy loans from foreign banks, has been criticized for its role in the country’s massive foreign debts. As the value of the lira fell, foreign investors began to pull out of the projects, and the construction industry was hit hard.

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Social impact - While Turkey had previously started to become a hot travel spot, the tourism sector also suffered big losses in 2016 due to a series of bombings, diplomatic tension with Russia, and a failed coup attempt.

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The rug pulled out from under their feet - Though there’s money left in the Burj al-Babas budget, the project’s developer, Sarot Group, has already sought bankruptcy protection.

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This isn’t the end - Though they applied for bankruptcy, they won the right on appeal to continue trading so they can complete the contracted houses.

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The problem isn't unique to Turkey - Around the world cities and projects have been facing the same hardships, resulting in many abandoned properties and half-finished luxury destinations, but none perhaps as eerie looking as this.

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Symbols of the nation's economic plight - The abandoned villas reveal the dark underside of Turkey’s fairy-tale boom.

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There are solutions underway - The Turkish government has reportedly promised to build more transport links to the region, including a high-speed rail line between Istanbul and Ankara, with the aim of increasing interest in the northwestern region.

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There is hope -

As the country heads toward a recession, the Burj al-Babas' architects remain hopeful that the development will open by October 2019.

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Location - The castle-like homes sit empty around the Roman spa town of Mudurnu, at the base of Turkey's northwestern mountains.

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Luxury community - Burj al-Babas was designed to attract foreign buyers, who would presumably purchase these places as a vacation home.

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The style - Perhaps what adds to the eeriness is that the homes all look the same, with their blue-grey roofs and Gothic traits, calling to mind Disney castles.

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Their inspiration - According to the NY Times, the project’s developer, Sarot Group, drew on landmark buildings in Istanbul, including the Galata tower (pictured) and the medieval Maiden’s tower.

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Criticism - Though they say they also drew on British and American architecture, many critics argue the appearance as looking nothing like the nation’s style.

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Not just castles - The plan also includes a central shopping mall which is supposed to resemble the United States Capitol.

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And the necessary enchanting nature - Lakes and gardens will reportedly link the whole neighborhood, which spans over 250 acres.

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Magical healing water - The location was selected for its hot springs, which reportedly boast healing properties. Developers intended for the local hot springs to heat each home.

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It has a US$200 million budget - A lot of money was granted for this project, showing just how much investors were banking on the plan working.

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It would have paid off eventually - The homes go for US$370,000 to US$500,000 each, clearly a price that only invites the eyes of wealthy Middle Eastern clientele.

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They’re offering more than 730 villas - Of which approximately 350 were actually sold to Arab investors.

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The plan for the rest - According to the developers, the unsold castles would be divided into rented apartments or timeshares.

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Incentives - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered citizenship to foreigners who own a property in the country worth more than US$250,000 for three years.

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It’s a significant cut - That’s a quarter of the previous value required, which previously sat at US$1 million.

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The castles are also customizable - Homeowners can choose from three different layouts, and they have an option to install an indoor pool and an elevator.

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True luxury - The villas will have a Jacuzzi on each level! Each mansion also has its own garden.

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Quite crowded for a kingdom - There is notably quite little space between the buildings, and the question of privacy has reportedly been a bit of an obstacle for buyers.

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When problems started to arise - Turkey’s economic downturn began due to a few factors, including the decline of the nation’s currency.

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The rug pulled out from under their feet - Though there’s money left in the Burj al-Babas budget, the project’s developer, Sarot Group, has already sought bankruptcy protection.

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This isn’t the end - Though they applied for bankruptcy, they won the right on appeal to continue trading so they can complete the contracted houses.

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Symbols of the nation's economic plight - The abandoned villas reveal the dark underside of Turkey’s fairy-tale boom.

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There is hope -

As the country heads toward a recession, the Burj al-Babas' architects remain hopeful that the development will open by October 2019.

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The twisted tale behind Turkey's deserted community of castles

A haunting abandoned kingdom

02/09/19 | StarsInsider

TRAVEL Curiosity

Calling all aspiring kings, queens, princes, and princesses: your castle awaits! If you have half a million dollars and a lot of optimism, that is.

In Turkey’s northwestern region lies a neighborhood of Disney-like miniature castles, fitted with steeples, grand balconies, multiple stories, and absolutely zero people. Laid out like a suburb, this dystopian kingdom of none nestled between dark forests has a deeply eerie feel to it.

But it started out with lavish hopes and grand dreams.

The Yerdelen brothers, construction entrepreneurs from Istanbul, were equipped with Turkey’s real estate boom when they started drawing up plans for what looks like a full-size Legoland display. They aimed high, pitching 700 castles, and felt confident in the natural draws of the lush land and Mediterranean climate.

Imagined as a luxury community, they aimed to attract wealthy Arabs from the Gulf countries, even naming the development the Burj al-Babas Thermal Tourism Company to boost their appeal.

They broke ground in 2014, employing 2,500 workers and progressing quickly, with the goal of completing the project in just four years. Along the way, however, they were hit with various economic and political obstacles that ground this multimillion-dollar project to a halt.

The chateaux-like villas now stand abandoned and unfinished, in what is quite the opposite of a fairy tale for their developers and investors.

Check out the gallery to see some impressive photos of the haunting buildings, and learn more about what lies in store for the strange, self-contained suburb of empty dream homes.