The European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) will organize the European Heritage Days in Türkiye for the fourth time on September 20–21. During the event, Ankara’s major historical buildings and museums, as well as embassies normally closed to the public, will welcome visitors. Art historian Cemre Gökpınar emphasized the importance of the guided embassy tours, noting that many of the embassies along Atatürk Boulevard play a significant role in shaping the city’s skyline. “These buildings carry both traces of their countries’ cultural heritage and unique architectural features,” Gökpınar said.
FATİH EFE ŞİŞMAN
The Council of Europe launched the European Heritage Days in 1985, and the European Union joined in 1999. The program came to Ankara in 2022 under the slogan “You Will Love Ankara.” This year marks the fourth edition in Türkiye, now expanded to include not only Ankara but also Istanbul and Izmir. The program features guided tours of European embassies, usually closed to the public, along with access to historic sites and museums. Various foundations, universities, and associations contribute with guided walks, exhibitions, and concerts.
HISTORIC BUILDINGS OPEN THEIR DOORS
Gökpınar stressed that the main goal of European Heritage Days is to unite people around shared European values and highlight cultural intersections that connect nations through historical monuments and heritage:
“On these days, many of Europe’s most important museums, palaces, and heritage sites host gatherings, events, and talks. In France, for example, the Palace of Versailles opens to the public free of charge. Similar events take place in capitals such as Rome and Berlin. In Türkiye, EUNIC leads the process by bringing together institutions like the French Cultural Center, the Goethe-Institut, and other partners. Each year, rotating chairmanships coordinate the events in Ankara and Istanbul. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s museums, as well as other cultural venues, host a wide range of activities.”
TRACES OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
This year, landmarks in the Ulus area such as the Ziraat Bank Museum, İşbank Economic Independence Museum, State Museum of Painting and Sculpture, and Erimtan Museum will open their doors alongside the embassies of France, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Denmark, Italy, Ukraine, and the Netherlands. Gökpınar highlighted the value of embassy participation: “These buildings reflect both the cultural heritage of their countries and their architectural identity. Through architecture, art, and culture, Europe’s shared values become easier to understand.”
THE EMBASSY QUARTER
Gökpınar underlined that the embassies concentrated along Atatürk Boulevard have made a lasting contribution to Ankara’s urban memory and skyline:
“Historically, the area now known as the ‘Embassy Quarter’ took shape after the proclamation of the Republic, thanks to land incentives. Starting in 1924, many embassies settled in this district. Before the Republic, embassies were located in Istanbul, but the new law offering land incentives encouraged them to move to Ankara. Diplomatic missions chose their plots and built embassy buildings with the support of these incentives.”
BUILT IN HAMBURG, BROUGHT TO ANKARA
The German Embassy provided the first example. In 1925, German craftsmen constructed a wooden structure in Hamburg, shipped it by sea to Istanbul, and then transported it by train to Ankara, where it was assembled as the Chancellery. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk visited the building and suggested that the same technique could serve other public projects. This pioneering project paved the way for the construction of other embassies in Ankara. Soon after, France, Italy, Poland, and Austria launched their own projects. From the 1930s to the 1960s, embassies along Atatürk Boulevard helped shape the capital’s skyline. Austria, France, Italy, and Germany introduced their national architectural styles to Ankara, leaving a lasting mark both aesthetically and in terms of modern urban development.
THE FRENCH EMBASSY LAND WAS PURCHASED FROM YAKUP KADRİ KARAOSMANOĞLU
Sharing details about the French Embassy, which opened its doors for the interview, Gökpınar explained:
“The French Embassy was designed in a monumental style to reflect France’s stature. Henry Prost, who also designed Istanbul’s city plan, worked as a consultant for the project. Architectural similarities exist between today’s French Embassy in Ankara and the one in Belgrade. Inside, traces of leading French interior designers and artists of the era remain visible. Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu, a novelist and parliamentarian, sold the land for the current French Embassy. La Prat prepared the project between 1934 and 1937 to reflect France’s monumental architectural style. French designers of the era also guided the creation of furniture and decorative elements inside. In 1955, a bilateral agreement named the street in front of the Embassy ‘Paris Street,’ while the street in Paris where the Turkish Embassy is located became ‘Ankara Street.’ This symbolic gesture highlighted the cultural ties between the two countries. The French Embassy, which combines Art Deco and classical architecture, stands out among embassies in Ankara. With its design and history, it remains one of the highlights of European Heritage Days.”
More details are available at https://www.avrupamirasgunleri.com/.
