Burj al Babas, Ghost town in Bolu Province, Turkey.
Burj al Babas is an unfinished villa complex in Bolu Province featuring 732 identical structures with Gothic towers and pointed arches. Each three-story building stands in uniform rows across hilly terrain near Mudurnu, with structures remaining in various stages of completion.
Construction started in 2014 by Sarot Group with plans to create a luxury thermal resort attracting wealthy buyers from the Middle East. The project declared bankruptcy in 2019, leaving 583 incomplete buildings that remain empty today.
The abandoned site has become a place for photographers and urban explorers attracted by the unreal scene of unfinished castles. The people of Mudurnu see this place as a warning against too much growth and often tell visitors stories about this failed dream.
The site sits halfway between Istanbul and Ankara and requires advance permission for visits as security personnel monitor the premises. Unauthorized access is prevented, though photographers sometimes gain permission to document the abandoned structures.
Thermal springs beneath the property reach temperatures of 150 degrees Fahrenheit (68 degrees Celsius) and were meant to supply spa facilities within the planned resort. These natural resources remain untapped and lie undisturbed beneath the empty building shells.
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