YÜRÜYEN KÖŞK

One day, when Atatürk visited the farm, he encountered a gardener trying to cut the branches of the Great Plane Tree located right next to the Mansion. He immediately called the gardener over and asked the reason. The gardener replied, “The tree's branches have grown and are leaning against the building.” Not satisfied with the answer, Atatürk gave an unimaginable order:
“THE TREE WILL NOT BE CUT, THE BUILDING WILL BE MOVED.”

The Istanbul Municipality Department of Roads and Bridges took responsibility. Chief Engineer Ali Galip Alnar came to Yalova with his technical team and began the work. On August 8, 1930, the ground around the building was carefully excavated down to the foundation level. Tram rails brought from Istanbul were laid. The building was slowly placed on the rails, inch by inch.

On a beautiful and warm summer evening, under the supervision of the Great Leader Atatürk, his sister Makbule Atadan, Acting Governor Muhittin Bey, Public Works Director Ziya Bey, and Cumhuriyet newspaper’s chief reporter Yunus Nadi, the building was moved approximately 4.80 meters. This extraordinary and risky operation was completed on August 10, 1930, and the Great Plane Tree was saved from being cut down.

Since that day, the mansion has been known as the “Walking Mansion” (Yürüyen Köşk).
It was restored in 2006 by the Yalova Municipality and opened to visitors.

Transportation

The Walking Mansion is only 5 minutes away from Yalova city center and is located on the coastline with an excellent view.