The Bell Houses are wood and stone structures over 350 years old which are located in the famous Turkish Rivieraat the foot of the Taurus Mountains in Antalyaare in fact the architectural jewel of the region because they are also sustainable constructions and an unmistakable example of local Turkish architecture in this area of the country.
Button Houses. Türkiye | Image courtesy of Turkey Tourism
There are about 300 Bell Houses that have remained practically intact for 350 years, in them a unique and most striking architectural texture is combined thanks to the combination of the wooden framework and stone masonry walls, a construction system that is obvious because at first glance, from the outside, it is see perfectly the wooden framework (wood obtained from the cedars of the region) filled with stone. Do you wonder how this structure was maintained? He did it without mortar or cement, only with the tar from the region.
Button Houses. Türkiye | Image courtesy of Turkey Tourism
Can you imagine why they are called Button Houses? The reason is simple: the visible parts of the wooden frame look a lot like buttons; Another important detail of these houses is not obvious but it is the ultimate reason for their durability: they are climate sensitive houses because they have very thick walls so that they keep heat inside during winter and also stay cool in summer.
The Bell Houses are unique in Anatolia, they organize their interior on two floors, leaving the ground floor to be used as a barn and the upper floor as a home; you will also love to know that some of these houses have been restored as boutique hotels so that you can stay in a century-old house that is representative of the local architecture, enjoying all the additional comforts and charms of a charming boutique hotel.
Altinbesik Cave National Park | Image courtesy of Turkey Tourism
to complete your visit to ormana and not stay only in architectural matters, you can also enjoy scandalous natural places such as Altinsbeisk cave which keeps the largest underground lake in Turkey and the third largest in the world, is in the Altinbesik Cave National Park and it is the first and only cave national park in Turkey, especially famous for its karst topography and significant pine forests; the plain Eyniflocated next to this spectacular cave park, is another must-see in the area because it was part of the historic Silk Road; Here you will discover historical vestiges such as the Erymna Ancient Cityfrom Roman times.
