Turkey's historic windmills to be rotated for tourism

Hindered by bureaucratic obstacles in the past, Turkish authorities now look to preserve the windmills and return their charm, according to a report in Turkish Daily News (TDN) on Monday.

The deplorable situation of historical windmills in Bodrum, which have been used for 400 years and are visited by thousands of tourists each year, has inspired the creation of a new foundation that plans to take the problem to the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

To advocate for the eight decrepit windmills, which have drawn reaction from both tourists and guides, the Bodrum Peninsula Promotion Foundation, or BOYTAV, will prepare and present a project to the Culture and Tourism Ministry, reported the Dogan News Agency.�

Mehmet Kocadon, chairman of BOYTAV, said: “Because of bureaucracy, windmills could not be condemned and taken under protection until now. We will change the deplorable situation of the windmills with our projects. Municipalities have also started working for condemnation.”

Eight windmills will be taken under protection. BOYTAV has started preparing projects for the restoration of windmills located in the hills of Haremtan, Yalikavak Geris, Ortakent-Yahsi, Turgutreis and Golturkbuku. Kocadon and the mayor of Ortakent-Yahsi indicated that they would once more bring in tourism to the windmills currently suffering from broken yaws made of wood and iron, crumbling walls and stolen iron doors.

“The windmills, protected for 400 years by our grandfathers and ancestors, and which make the flour and bread of the peninsula until 40 years ago, are now in a deplorable situation. Our municipalities in Bodrum urgently started working for condemnation endeavors,” said Kocadon.

“As soon as we solve the bureaucratic problems, we will condemn the windmills; at least the ones visited every day, and bring them into cultural tourism again. For the restoration of the historical windmills that have an important role in people's lives since the establishment of antique Bodrum city, both as a foundation and through advocating with the municipalities, we will provide each municipality to renovate at least three of them.”

Mazlum Agan, Bodrum's mayor from the Republican People's Party, or CHP, noting that currently only one windmill in Yalikavak is being renovated and made active again by the municipality, said: “We have applied to the Treasury four years ago with our project for restoration, preparation of a beautiful excursion spot and a countryside coffee shop, but we could not receive a response to our application yet. We are also willing to provide the protection and safekeeping of our historical and cultural properties. We are frequently trying to clean the windmills and keep them clean with the facilities of municipality.”

Catherine Rosemary, 44, a British historian-archeologist who has been bringing tourists to Bodrum for 20 years, could not hide her astonishment during her visit to the windmills. “I have been coming to Bodrum for 20 years, and bringing and guiding wealthy and famous tourists. I don't want to bring those tourists back without showing the eight historical windmills located in the place where you can see the best view of Bodrum. But I don't know what to say when I see the deplorable situation of the windmills.”

She said she had written several times to the district governorships and the municipality but I could not receive even an answer until now. “I don't understand why you don't protect your history and keep these areas clean. This picture really doesn't fit to Bodrum. Sometimes I change the tour route in order not to show tourists this unpleasant view.”