9 December 2013


Derbent fortress is painted on the building of the city of Safranbolu.

Derbent, Russia

Derbent fortress is painted on the building of the city of Safranbolu.

Within the framework of the project “Heritage of Eurasia” particular highlight of Derbent city – Citadel Naryn -Kala was painted on one of the buildings of the city of Safranbolu (Turkey).

The project “Heritage of Eurasia” was initiated by the Eurasian secretariat of the Organization of World Heritage Cities (OWHC). The main idea of ​​the project is to draw on the end facades of houses of World Heritage Cities, images of other World Heritage Cities’ heritage sites. The main objectives of the project are:

  • ensuring public awareness about the heritage of Eurasia;
  • establishing friendly relations between the cities of Eurasia Heritage;
  • ensuring public awareness of the Organization of World Heritage Cities among Eurasian population;
  • promoting of World Heritage sites, formation public attitudes towards heritage as the world’s greatest value.

Benefits of participation in the project are obvious. First, the project is unique in its kind and corresponds to the actual trend CityToCity, which implies mutual assistance and friendship between cities. Second, project clearly demonstrates that heritage sites are not only the highlights of the city or the country, are the province of all mankind. It is gratifying that the project gives to the participating cities architecture’s a unique character and decorates gray faceless buildings. Beautiful facades will give the residents and tourists of the city a positive mood.

According to statistics, tourists tend to visit the sights that they have already heard about. And how it will be pleased to photographed against the backdrop the image of their own city in another country..

First participants of the project are Derbent (Russia) and Safranbolu (Turkey).

Derbent is  the most ancient city in  Russia. History of the settlement is 5,000 years old, and the city celebrates its 2000 anniversary in 2015. Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003. Under the protection of powerful city walls, well preserved ancient mosques and madrasas, temples and minarets, magnificent medieval bath and caravanserai, a huge underground reservoir and ancient fountains, impressive Khan’s palaces and mausoleums are immersed in the greenery seven hundred years old sycamores.

The known history of Safranbolu, located near the Black Sea coast or Anatolia dates back to 3000 BC. Initially, being a city of the Roman province of Paphlagonia, Safranbolu has sheltered through its history many civilization including the Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman Empires. In 1994, Safranbolu was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the excellent examples of classical Ottoman architecture.

Both cities are members of the Organization of World Heritage Cities and enthusiastically embraced the idea of ​​participation in the project. Safranbolu has already painted on its walls one of the most beautiful cities in Russia, and presented his picture to the world community in the 12th World Congress of the OWHC in Oaxaca (Mexico). Relatively soon Derbent will paint on his walls the Turkish city of Safranbolu.

In the future it is planed participation of all World Heritage Cities of Eurasia and the world cities in the project. The city of Denpasar (Indonesia) is already preparing their facades for drawings.