Museum to exhibit historical clock towers in Turkish towns

SAFRANBOLU - Anatolia News Agency

The miniatures of historical clock towers from all around Turkey are being created by skillful masters. AA photo

A new museum project to be established in the central Anatolian province of Karabük’s Safranbolu district, famous for its historical houses, will bring together miniature models of unique clock towers that exhibit traces of Ottoman architecture from around Anatolia.

Miniatures of clock towers ordered to be built throughout Anatolia in 1901 for the 25th anniversary of the Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid II’s accession to the throne will be on display at the open-air Anatolia Miniature Clock Towers Museum.

The museum is currently under construction over a 1,000-square-meter area next to the Safranbolu Clock Tower, itself built by Sadrazam İzzet Mehmet Pasha in 1797. The exhibition will include miniatures of 12 clock towers from the northwestern province of Balıkesir to the eastern province of Erzurum.


Important for tourism

Safranbolu District Gov. Gökhan Azcan said the decision to establish a museum was made during the Safranbolu Clock Towers and Timers Symposium last year, organized for the anniversary of the establishment of the Safranbolu Clock Tower by İzzet Mehmet Pasha.

Azcan said the museum would be very important for tourism in the region. “One of the oldest clock towers in Turkey is in our district. Last year, during the symposium, Turkey’s historical clock towers were discussed and presentations were given about their features,” he said.

“In the final declaration of the symposium, it was decided the miniatures of these clock towers should be created. A project was subsequently developed by the Karabük University and Karabük Governor’s Office. The 1-meter to 3-meter miniatures of selected clock towers will be featured in our museum, giving people not only the chance to see them but the opportunity to learn their stories.”

Azcan said the miniatures were nearing completion and the museum would be open soon. Clock towers on display at the museum will include those from Safranbolu, Balıkesir, Erzurum, Niğde, Adana, Samsun, Dolmabahçe, Şanlıurfa, Antalya, İzmir, İzmit and Göynük.