Mudurnu is a small town with houses that stem from Greek-style architecture. It has a very fine and well-restored hamam and a good mosque. During the 16th and 17th it was the Solingen of Turkey, widely renowned for the quality of its steel knives. I went there on a day trip from Bolu, which can be easily done by dolmuş. The countryside along the road was beautiful so I decided to return to a spot halfway, where I took some pictures while climbing a hill.

The city council seems to be aware that the remaining houses should be kept and restored. Thanks.

Regarding ‘Greek style architecture’:

Prior to the First World War, one third of Anatolia’s population was Christian (5 million out of 15 million): predominantly ‘Rum’ (Greek orthodox) in the west and along the Black Sea coast, predominantly Armenian in the east and southeast, and mixed Rum/Armenian in most larger towns. Those people lived in houses. This fact explains why many 19th century houses of Western and Northern Turkey can be labeled ‘Greek style’ as well as ‘late Ottoman’. In this context ‘Greek style’ means: built by and for Greek-Orthodox Anatolians, eventually including European neo-classical style (which anyway represents a small percentage of it).

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.