Restoration begins for Walking Mansion

YALOVA - Anatolia News Agency

After the restoration, in April the Walking Mansion opens for public use.

A restoration project has begun on a historical structure known as the “Yürüyen Köşk” (Walking Mansion), named for when Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, had it moved to prevent a sycamore tree from being trimmed.

Located in the northwestern province of Yalova, the mansion was last restored in 2006 and subsequently opened for public use. Some parts of the historical mansion have been restored twice to date but have become damaged again due to humidity and salt water, according to Yalova Mayor Yakup Koçal, who said the mansion will reopen to the public in April.

The mansion was originally constructed in 1929. Atatürk saw the mansion during a yacht trip and rested under the shadow of a sycamore tree growing beside it. The branches of the tree had begun to damage the mansion over time, and the gardener proposed trimming them. However, Atatürk ordered the mansion be moved instead. It was moved four meters to the east.