The Location of Safranbolu and Its Neighbouring Provinces, Sub-provincesand 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, Cankiri, Bolu; and the sub-provinces are: Karabuk, Eflani, Ulus, Bartin, Arac, Eskipazar, Bulak, Tokatli, Gayiza (Incekaya), Danakoy, Ciftlik, Kirpe (Duzce), Yazi, Konari, Yuruk, Akveren, Ogulveren, Davutobasi, cercen, Hacilarobasi, Bostanbuku, Karit, Baskoy, Kilavuzlar and Kapullu are some of the villages in the same region. Among these Bulak, Tokatli, Gayiza, Danakoy, Yazi, Konari, Yuruk, Karit, Bostanbuku and Kilavuzlar are of special significance to Safranbolu (Safranbolu Map). Yuruk village has long been an important centre close to Safranbolu, with its large houses and the labour it supplies to Istanbul, primarily in bakery.
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, “kufunk”, a porous, lightweight stone is used as infill in the wood-frame construction and also for building chimneys; being easily sawed into shape.
Adobe
Although every type of soil could be used in making adobe, those made out of the soil brought specifically from Koprucek were preferred.
Tiles
Roof tiles were hand-shaped in the villages of cercen, Bostanbuku and camlica, and burnt in kilns.
Wood .
Looking at the houses in Safranbolu we can see that very good quality wood has been generously used. Even today, more than half of the surrounding area is covered with forests. We can definitely say that this ratio was much higher in the old days. Today, 38 percent of the trees within the Karabuk Forestry Management Area are firs, 30 percent beeches, 20 percent pines and 9 percent oaks.
Wood used in construction is mainly fir and pine; walnut and poplar have also been used sparingly. Orders for the required wood for buildings were made to mountain villages such as Gayiza, Tokatlikoy, Danakoy, Karaevli, Susundur, Aricak and Baskoy. They shaped the lumber which they had already felled with axes, and then fastening them to sides of mules brought it down mountain trails. Oxen pulled down the thicker trees. Wood was cut either with hand saws or at saw-mills. In the first half of the 20th century there were three saw-mills in Danakoy.
Mortars Lime: Good quality lime is produced from the blue limestones in the area which are burned in the forest land near Gayiza.
Mud mortar: It is produced from every type of soil in the same way as adobe clay is prepared.
Historical Buildings of Significance
No records have yet been encountered regarding any buildings from the Byzantine times in Safranbolu. Probably, the Hagios Stephanos church (Ulucami) in Kirankoy was built by Theodora. The Eski Cami mosque may have been transformed from a Byzantine church. The remains of buildings belonging to the Turks start from the Candarogullari period. These have undergone various repairs and transformations through time. Only the most significant buildings are listed below.
Religious Buildings
There are around 30 mosques. The oldest one is the Suleyman Pasa Camii (Eski Cami) mosque from the Candarogullari period (14th century). The other most important ones are Koprulu Mehmet Pasa mosque (1662), Izzet Mehmet Pasa mosque (1779).
Educational Buildings
The Suleyman Pasa Madrasa (14th century) of which only the foundations exist today, is the only educational building worth noting.
Social Buildings
Cinci Hoca Hani (Cinci Hodja Caravanserai 17th century), Eski Hamam (Old Baths 14th century), Yeni Hamam (New Baths, 17th century). In addition to these buildings, approximately 180 fountains and 15 bridges can be listed. Looking at these structures, we can assume that Safranbolu began to gain signifiance in the 14th century. It attracted the attention of some prominent statesmen starting from the 17th century through the 18th century; and since then, with the increase in its own economic power, continued to add many more buildings, mostly small mosques and fountains, to the existing stock.
