State support policy concerning the conservation of traditional architectural heritage in Safranbolu, Turkey

There are many settlements worth preserving in Turkey; Safranbolu, a World Heritage property since December 1994, is one of the most important among them. The town is a typical Ottoman city that has survived to the present day, the historical settlement interacting with its prominent natural and topographical features. This paper examines the financing tools for the restoration and maintenance of the vernacular architectural heritage in Safranbolu. The purpose of this paper was to present and evaluate the effects of grant-aided subsidies and loan systems held by the central government, on the protection, conservation and restoration of the traditional architectural heritage in Safranbolu.