By: Alex
Turkey boasts many famous attractions, such as Cappadocia with its cave dwellings, the magnificent Blue Mosque, and the Bosphorus Bridge spanning Europe and Asia. Soon, if photography enthusiasts get the chance to visit Bolu Province in northern Turkey, they might want to check out the newly built “ghost town” of Burj Al Babas.
▲photo by Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images
This “ghost town,” located about a three-hour drive from the capital Istanbul, naturally has no ghosts—but it is full of fairytale vibes, as each villa was modeled after the Sleeping Beauty Castle from theme parks. Unfortunately, the developer ran out of funds, leading to the project’s abandonment and its current ghost-town status.
According to reports, developer Sarot Group originally planned to start construction in 2014 on 732 castle-style villas, along with swimming pools, Turkish baths, health and beauty centers, a shopping mall, and a mosque. The target clientele were wealthy individuals from the Middle Eastern Gulf region. Although 350 villas have been sold so far, the project has accrued $7.5 million in bad debt and owes $27 million in liabilities. The court has since issued a bankruptcy ruling and immediately halted all construction.
▲photo by Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images
Netizens have expressed unanimous disbelief over the billionaires’ taste: “Who would want to live here?”, “All the castles look the same—you’d easily get lost,” “With an entire street of luxury castles, where’s the fairytale feel?” Many even thought the photos were Photoshopped at first glance.
▲photo by Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images
▲photo by Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images
▲photo by Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images
▲photo by Adem Altan/AFP/Getty Images
▲ Castle illustration displayed on the official website.
▲ Castle illustration displayed on the official website.
Source: Bored Panda