The architect who designed this village must surely have been a fan of Walt Disney films. But the world of fantasy doesn’t always speak the same language as the business world. The citizens of Bolu, Turkey, are well aware of this, where the village Burj al Babas has been transformed into an expanse of ghost castles. But what happened?
The area of Burj Al Babas Villa covers about 300,000 square meters of surface, is located close to a forest, which has been partially demolished to allow the construction of 732 real estate units, a mosque and a large shopping center. The initial project started in 2014 was to build a village with prestigious homes inspired by the castles of the Loire, to provide luxury accommodation for foreign buyers. An enchanted place where you can spend your holiday, among mosaics, swimming pools, fountains, Turkish baths and wellness and beauty centers. Just think that each castle has an area of 325 meters, consists of three floors, a cylindrical turret and a dormer window. The most prestigious homes overlook an artificial lake.
But what was supposed to be a Walt Disney-style fairy tale became an episode of the Walking Dead. Today this village is completely uninhabited. Something went wrong and the project has run out of funds and stopped since 2015. Investors have been held up by a bankruptcy ruling for a $ 27 million debt accrued for the construction of the Burj Al Babas. Before the bankruptcy, 587 homes were completed, sold at exorbitant prices ranging from $ 370,000 to $ 530,000.
