The luxury resort of Burj Al Babas was supposed to boast 732 glittering “mini-castles” nestled in the mountains of western Turkey, but the project has turned into an unmitigated disaster. Share this article Share this article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy link Link copied Bookmark this Comment
In a picturesque area of Turkey, what was supposed to be a paradise for Disney princesses with a host of turreted holiday residences has been left unattended.
Burj Al Babas is a failed mega-project that now looks more like a creepy ghost town than a luxury holiday destination.
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Situated near the Black Sea, the settlement includes 587 miniature fortresses that were intended to become the region's main tourist attraction.
However, funding was cut off and the whitewashed settlement was left completely abandoned.
The Mirror reports that the property was valued between £330,000 and £440,000.
According to CNN Traveller, the developer Sarot Group sought to pay homage to the historical royal dynasties of Europe when creating the project.
For the wealthy elite, tired of Monaco and the south of France, this paradise promised it all: Mediterranean weather on the tops of neo-Gothic towers with stunning views of the picturesque Turkish forests.
Situated in the Roman spa village of Mudurnu, famous for its thermal springs and supposed 'healing waters', all properties were to be equipped with underfloor heating and Jacuzzis on every floor.
However, after construction began in 2014 and with an expected completion date of 2018, Sarot Group was forced to declare bankruptcy.
Local residents were no less outraged when they saw the appearance of the properties and the methods of work of the developers.
Regional media reported that many locals were unhappy that the forts bore no resemblance to surrounding buildings, especially historic Ottoman-style residences. The lawsuit against the developers alleged that the company was damaging the environment and cutting down trees.
As a result, Turkey's economy collapsed and developers found themselves in debt to the tune of £24 million.
The future of the project looks bleak after investors and buyers pulled their funds out of the £200m venture in 2019.
Despite the serious problems, Sarot Group remained optimistic about completing the project, The New York Times reported. However, the pandemic dealt a further blow, leaving the project completely abandoned.
The ghost town is filled with partially built villas, none of which were completed. Burj el Babas now stands motionless, frozen in time, with no sign of life.
Burj Al Babas consists of more than 700 multi-storey castles, half of which have already been sold by 2019.
Controversial Gothic architectural elements such as flying buttresses, pointed arches and ribbed vaults were meant to reflect the castles that lined the roads near the Roman spa town of Mudurnu.
The developers chose a vast valley at the foot of the mountains in northwestern Turkey to attract Arabs from the Persian Gulf. Each home has magnificent views of nature.
Moreover, the city is now littered with abandoned building materials.
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