Under the visionary leadership of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, the routes of the Silk Road, which has thousands of years of historical depth, are being revived on the Ankara-Bolu-Sakarya line. This important project, which was implemented under the name of “Silk Road Culture Route”, aims to reveal the rich cultural heritage of the region, support local development and pass on this historical route to future generations. Following the first consultation meeting held at the end of April with the participation of district mayors on the route, a comprehensive tour was organized to promote the project.
A delegation consisting of journalists, social media content producers and project stakeholders set out on a two-day discovery journey accompanied by Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş and his wife Nursen Yavaş. The first day of this meaningful tour, which started with a tour bus departing from Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, included visits to important stops on the Silk Road: Nallıhan, Göynük, Geyve and Sapanca. Participants visited a total of 14 different historical and cultural destinations in these four districts and witnessed the natural beauties, historical structures and local flavors of the region up close. On the return route of the tour, a total of 16 different points were visited, including the historical texture of Mudurnu, the authentic atmosphere of Beypazarı, the natural beauties of Güdül and the quiet life of Ayaş, revealing the richness of this line of the Silk Road. Thus, a total of 30 important destinations on the Silk Road were introduced under the guidance of Mayor Mansur Yavaş.
One of the most special stops of the Silk Road Culture Route was undoubtedly Beypazarı, the hometown of ABB President Mansur Yavaş. Coming to the district with his delegation, President Yavaş was met with warm and intense interest from the people of Beypazarı. Yavaş, who provided detailed information to the press members about the Silk Road Route project, emphasized that the project is not only the revival of a cultural heritage, but also provides significant support for local development in the region. Yavaş, who drew attention to the fact that this important step taken to transfer the cultural heritage to future generations will also accelerate regional tourism, said, “Despite the rainfall today, there are quite a few tourists here. We want the entire route on the Silk Road to be the same. Our aim is for all districts on the Silk Road from Ayaş to Sapanca to introduce their own cultures, and we want our people, and everyone living in Türkiye, to get to know this beautiful culture. Because the more tourists go to these places, the more they shop here, the more they will have contributed to this culture in some way.”
Mayor Yavaş also touched upon the historical texture of Beypazarı, stating that in the past some homeowners wanted to demolish these structures, but thanks to their registration, this historical heritage has been preserved and today it constitutes an important source of income for the local people. Yavaş continued his speech by touching upon the long-term goals of the project, saying, “Our goal is to protect our culture. While protecting our culture, we also want to pass it on to future generations and provide employment. We will create the ‘Silk Road Route’. We will apply to UNESCO for this. We made this decision recently. This was perhaps the most important decision of the trip.” This statement was evaluated as an important step for the project to be recognized and protected internationally.
During the two-day introductory program, participants had the opportunity to get to know the fascinating natural beauties of the region on the Silk Road route. Many cultural heritage sites were visited, from the unique Bird Paradise of Nallıhan to the mysterious atmosphere of İnönü Caves, from the magnificence of the historical Süleyman Paşa Mosque in Göynük to the century-old historical bridge in Geyve. This trip, where local flavors were experienced, cultural events were closely observed and traditional handicrafts were examined, revealed that the Silk Road was not only a historical trade route but also a rich cultural mosaic. With this meaningful initiative by Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, the Ankara-Bolu-Sakarya line of the Silk Road will be revived, contributing to both the local economy and adding significant value to Türkiye's cultural richness.
