April 18th marked World Heritage Day, an occasion to reflect on our shared cultural heritage that transcends borders and brings countries and people closer.

Over the years, the European Union has supported many cultural heritage projects in Türkiye. They cover a broad spectrum ranging the tangible cultural heritage, such as archaeological sites, monuments, and natural riches, to intangible heritage, such as language, music, dance and art.

Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut

The Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut prizes the fact that the EU attaches great importance to the protection of the common cultural heritage. “We have been able to add to establishing cultural and scientific bridges between the EU and Türkiye with many joint projects,” he says. The EU is keenly aware of the importance of Türkiye's efforts to protect its cultural heritage after the devastating February earthquakes.

Turkish Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Institute in Gaziantep

One of the projects supported by the EU is the Turkish Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Institute, implemented by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality. It is the first institute in Türkiye to have an archeometry laboratory.

Turkish Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Institute

Revitalisation of the Tourism Sector in Adıyaman

Another EU-backed project in Adıyaman was carried out by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Industry and Technology. The project has aimed to develop the tourism potential of Adıyaman city and province which boasts the world-famous Mount Nemrut National Park and is the site of the historical Kingdom of Commagene.

The world-famous Mount Nemrut National Park is located in the province of Adıyaman.

Sinop Historic Prison

The EU supports the Sinop Historic Prison renovation project, one of Türkiye's historical pearls in the Black Sea region where the fortification walls will be restored soon; the site may reopen to the public still this year. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye intends to include the Sinop Historical Prison and Museum on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Sinop Historic Prison may reopen to the public this year.

Heritage Alive in İzmir

Our City İzmir Association has received EU backing for a project to protect and promote cultural heritage focusing on the Agora of Smyrna and the Jewish Quarter in İzmir Kemeraltı, which also drew partners from Katanya University and Santagata Foundation from Italy, and Asia Minor Aigaleo Foundation from Greece. The EU and Our City İzmir Association have also supported a heritage project implemented by the Izmir Jewish Community Foundation. Restoration plans of Hevra and Foresteros synagogues were prepared. Simple repair works are being carried out in the Signora Synagogue. The two organisations implement together another project, the Despertar İzmir (Awakening in Ladino language), aiming at strengthening the Izmir Jewish Community through Inclusive Leadership. The other project funded by the EU in İzmir is supporting civil society’s role in the conservation of cultural heritage.

Heritage Alive is focusing on the Agora of Smyrna and the Jewish Quarter in İzmir Kemeraltı.

Common Cultural Heritage Grant Programme

A separate grant programme has supported cross-border dialogues, networking and establishing partnerships between civil society organisations in Türkiye and the EU. It involved 21 project in areas such as cinema, documentary films, urban history, design, cultural routes, traditional Islamic art, storytelling and oral history, wooden heritage, restoration of ancient artefacts, clothing, photography, puppet art/theatre and archaeology.

The European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018

Commissioned by the EU Delegation, the SEEDS documentary from 2018 relates the journey of wheat − the founding seed of civilisation, from Anatolia to Europe. It reveals that certain information accepted to be true so far has now changed in light of new data obtained through scientific research. Click here to watch the documentary.

Stories about EU-Türkiye cooperation