There exists a town on this planet that was under construction as part of a $200 million project, filled entirely with castles and devoid of other signs of life.
No inhabitants, no bustling activity, just emptiness.
Situated in Turkey, Burj Al Babas resembles a scene out of Disney World but carries a much gloomier ambiance.
This ghost town is located near Mudurnu, a small town in the northern part of the country, approximately a two-hour drive from the Black Sea.
In the village, there are 587 abandoned miniature castles, though there was an initial plan for 732 three-story luxury villas.
Despite its intended opulence when construction began in 2014, the place now lacks any semblance of luxury.
Each castle was to include a jacuzzi on every one of its three floors, along with underfloor heating.
The original brochure sent to prospective customers mentioned a large domed structure at the center of the site, which would house a shopping center, health and beauty facilities, a mosque, and a cinema.
However, midway through the project, the developer Sarot Group ran out of funds and declared bankruptcy with a debt of $5 million.
The aim was to attract affluent tourists looking to purchase holiday homes under the Turkish sun, with prices ranging from $370,000 to $530,000.
If all units sold at the minimum price, Sarot Group would have earned $270 million. However, this vision never materialized, and by 2019, the decision was made to abandon the site entirely.
Initially, 2,500 workers were hired with the goal of completing the project within four years, and early signs were positive as half of the castles were sold before construction was finished.
But in 2018, sales came to a sudden halt, attributed to falling oil prices and instability in Turkey, leading Sarot Group to bankruptcy.
Despite this, the mayor of Mudurnu, Mehmet İnegöl, remained optimistic about the project’s completion, although to date, no house has been finished.
The local residents were opposed from the beginning, and it’s easy to understand why.
When construction began, they were outraged by the gothic appearance of the castles, arguing that they didn’t match the local aesthetic and would stand out in the countryside.
They were also angry about the developers chopping down trees and causing environmental damage.
Will we ever see the Burj Al Babas come to completion?