The Evaluation of Architectural Tourism Potentials of Greek Heritage Structures Remained after the Population Exchange in Niğde’s Settlements

Abstract

The population exchange between Turkey and Greece was decided in1923 as a result of Lausanne Treaty. By this decision, non-Muslim Greeksliving in Turkey and Muslim Turks living in Greece were mandatorymutual migration. The immigrants left their architectural heritage thatwas built with cultural, ethnic and faith values in the settlements wherethey were born and grew. Many religious structures (churches,monasteries, chapels), civil buildings (housing, education, health, trade,accommodation, social), technical and economic structures (mills, ovens,bridges, fountain) remained after Greek-Turkish population exchange invarious regions of Turkey.Besides to being the witness to history each of the original heritagestructures that reflect Greek immigrants’ economic, social conditions,cultural wealth and belief have architectural tourism potentials. Withinthe scope of the study, the architectural tourism potentials were evaluated by selecting the Uluagac Greek School, Fertek Church, HancerliLaundry and Church Fountain as a sample among the different buildinggroups located in the Uluagac, Fertek and Hancerli settlements locatedin Nigde/Turkey. The analyzes for the selected buildings were conductedaccording to the determinants of architectural tourism potential(architectural and environmental factors, targeted tourist).The dataobtained from the analysis were synthesized architectural tourism withcultural, ethnic, religious and ancestral tourism and suggestions weredeveloped.