At first glance, it looks like something straight out of a fairy tale. Rows of elegant castles stretch across the hills, complete with towers, grand windows and luxurious facades.
Yet despite its magical appearance, almost nobody lives there.
The abandoned development known as Burj Al Babas is located near the Turkish town of Mudurnu, between Istanbul and Ankara. It has become one of the world’s most famous ghost towns and a symbol of an ambitious project that never fulfilled its promise.
Developers originally planned to build more than 700 luxury villas designed to resemble European castles. The project targeted wealthy buyers, particularly from Middle Eastern countries, and promised an exclusive lifestyle surrounded by nature.
Construction began in 2014 and quickly attracted global attention. Images of hundreds of nearly identical castles spread across social media and news outlets around the world.
However, as the project expanded, Turkey’s economy entered a period of instability. The national currency lost value, financial problems grew, and the company behind the development eventually declared bankruptcy.
Although hundreds of villas were largely completed on the outside, many were never finished internally. Planned amenities such as shopping areas, wellness centers and leisure facilities were left unfinished.
Today, the empty streets and endless rows of identical castles create an almost surreal landscape that attracts photographers, tourists and urban explorers from around the world.
Despite occasional reports about possible redevelopment, most of the villas remain unoccupied.