Tag Archives: Safranbolu

Safranbolu & Tolkali Gorge

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05/08/25

Nothing fantastic, but a lovely day.
Awoken at 6.00 by a freight train, friendly driver hit his horn, not so lovely. Googled and there is a passenger train on this line 3 times a week. It was built in 1936 to connect a port with the coal field east of Ankara. Different wagons so now shifting a lot of different stuff. And frequently as trains every 2 hours 24/7. And they were seriously long and slow.

Drove to Safranbolu. It’s a UNESCO city. On the silk route. Most visit Turkey sites, list it as a must do.

Nice as original Ottoman buildings and cobble streets, which were actually slippery due to use. We could have feasted on saffron flavoured Turkish delight samples as we passed shops, but we shared a kofte dish. A cat attacked Corrie and drew a little blood.

The houses are original and most now seem to be either shops, hotels or restaurants
I went into an Ottoman house. The same as we saw in Albania … men and women celebrated weddings in different rooms
My fave part was actually not in the guidebooks – a small park with miniature clock towers from across Turkey

Short drive to a Tokatli Gorge. A short gorge walk, accessed via rickety steps, a glass viewing platform and an aqueduct.

J not happy with heights, but suffered the Crystal Terrace. The sign on the glass by his knees, forbade ‘prancing
Short but pretty gorge walk
The aqueduct that used to feed Safranbolu. The centre part had been filled in.

We stayed the night in the car park near the aqueduct and watched folk go through the broken gate to cross it and pose for selfies. Interestingly, a big sign displays the ambulance number.

We were joined by a young Turkish couple and daughter in their camper. With his basic English and Google Translate, they gave us lots of tips for the N coast.