TURKEY TRAVEL GUIDE
The
Location of Safranbolu and Its Neighbouring Provinces, Sub-provinces
and Villages Safranbolu is a sub-provincial centre in the north-western Black Sea region, located at the cross-section of the 41°16' northern latitude and 32°41' eastern longitude. According to the present administrative system the neighbouring provinces are: Zonguldak, Kastamonu, Çankiri, Bolu; and the sub-provinces are: Karabük, Eflani, Ulus, Bartin, Araç, Eskipazar, Bulak, Tokatli, Gayiza (Incekaya),Danaköy, Çiftlik, Kirpe (Düzce), Yazi, Konari, Yürük, Akveren, Ogulveren, Davutobasi, Çerçen, Hacilarobasi, Bostanbükü, Karit, Basköy, Kilavuzlar and Kapullu are some of the villages in the same region. Among these Bulak, Tokatli, Gayiza, Danaköy, Yazi, Konari, Yürük, Karit, Bostanbükü and Kilavuzlar are of special significance to Safranbolu (Safranbolu Map).
Yürük village has long been an important centre close to Safranbolu, with its large houses and the labour it supplies to Istanbul, primarily in bakery.
HISTORY
The environs of Safranbolu have been an area of settlement ever since the Paleolithic Age. There are three large tumulus around Eflani. Homeros refers to this area as Paphlagonia. After the Persian and Hellenistic periods it became an even more densely populated region during the Roman and Byzantine eras.The 24 tumuli in the Safranbolu-Eflani region various rock-tombs,reliefs and a Roman temple in the village of Sipahiler, south of Safranbolu, are among the tangible evidence of these periods. There is no trace of either the Roman or the Byzantine era within the city of Safranbolu; neither is there any refence to its name during these periods. The historian Leonard suggests that Safranbolu could be the old Germia, while according to Ainsworth, as the city was formerly named Zafaran Boli, it could well have been Flaviopolis which literally has the same meaning: city of saffron. Osman Turan writes that the city was named Dadybra before it was taken over by the Turks.
After the Turks came to Anatolia, the history of Safranbolu developed in relation to that of Kastamonu. This region was first occupied by the Turks at the the 12th century, during the reign of the Danismentliler. Later it was recaptured by the Byzantines, but the Çobanogullari settled here at the beginning of the 13th century. At the start, the Çobanogullari were loyal to the Seljuks, then, Ilhanlilar. The chieftain of Çandarogullari from the tribe of Kayi, established at Eflani towards the end of the 13th century, was also loyal first to the Seljuk to the Ilhanlis; was independent for a short period at the beginning of the 15th century, and stayed in power until 1461, then becoming loyal to the Ottomans. The name of the city is believed to be Zalifre or Zalifra during that period. Eski Cami, Süleyman Pasa Madrasa and Eski Hamam (Old Baths) in Safranbolu are from the period of the Candarogullari. All through these periods and later in the Ottoman era, Kastamonu has always been the regional centre. Starting from the Çandarogullari period, for a long time under the Ottoman rule Safranbolu was referred to as Tarakli Borlu. The names Zagfiran Borlu and later Zagfiranbolu were used from the start of the 18th Century onwards
Documentary research on the history of Safranbolu during the Ottoman period is very scarce. Some names may emerge when we look at its historical buildigs; Cinci Hoca, Köprülü Mehmet Pasa, Izzet Mehmet Pasa being among the prominent people who have left their mark on Safranbolu.
Sources of Building Materials
Stone
The stone used in building construction is obtained from the limestone rocks in the area. This hard, blue stone is utilized also for the manufacture of good quality lime. Another local material, "küfünk", a porous, lightweight stone is used as infill in the wood-frame construction and also for building chimneys; being easily sawed into shape.
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