Eerie abandoned village built for super rich tourists now a haven for dark tourism

In rural Turkey, lies an eerie ghost town which had aspirations of becoming a luxury hotspot. Burj Al Babas, near the Roman spa town of Mudurnu, not too far from Turkey's Black Sea coast, was an ambitious one-of-a-kind project costing around £150 million, featuring hundreds of Disney-esque castles.

The resort was meant to include more than 700 three-story castle villas, and many were sold after going on the market for between £291,000 and £417,000. While the impressive castles are identical from the outside, buyers could choose between different layouts and decors, and reportedly, the luxurious villas came with a jacuzzi on every floor. Construction on the project, aimed at wealthy clients from the Middle East, began in 2014, but it later ran into trouble.

In 2018, as the Turkish economy faltered, sales began to stall, and in November of that year, the developers, Sarot Group, were hit with a court-ordered bankruptcy ruling.

Today, Burj Al Babas stands unfinished, but many remain intrigued by the graveyard of luxury set in beautiful countryside.

It has become something of a haven for those interested in dark tourism, drawn in by the spooky atmosphere of the abandoned castles.

Burj Al Babas is empty and not open to visitors, but that hasn't stopped some from making the journey, which is said to be tricky.

One travel vlogger once said in a 2022 video: "Getting there and getting in isn’t the easiest of tasks.

“There are building materials everywhere; there is a reason they don’t let people in.

"If you are here, watch where you step, because it’s a construction site with open wiring, so be careful.”

The estate, overlooking the Black Sea, was supposed to be the epitomy of luxury, with amenities including Turkish baths, fitness centres, cinemas and shopping areas.