Restoration of a 200-year-old historical bathhouse in Yozgat is nearing completion

Restoration works in the historical Başçavuş Çifte Hamam, also known as the ‘Burning Bath’ among the public, built by Ahmet Ağa, the son of Halil Ağa, the head usher of Çapanoğlu Süleyman Bey in Yozgat in 1825, have come to an end. Following a fire in the boiler room of the bath in the 1978s, rendering it unusable and hence named as the ‘Burning Bath,’ the 199-year-old historical Başçavuş Çifte Hamam continues to be one of the significant cultural heritages of the city. Restoration activities carried out by the Sivas Foundations Regional Directorate aim to restore the bath to its former glory. The bath, which is being restored while staying true to its original architecture, will soon be opened to the public, and the decision on its future use will be made jointly by the governorship and the foundations regional directorate. The historic Başçavuş Çifte Hamam, with its historical texture, will make a significant contribution to the cultural and touristic value of Yozgat.
Yozgat Governor Mehmet Ali Özkan, Sivas Foundations Regional Director Cemal Karaca, Yozgat Deputy Mayor Serdar Açıkgöz, and Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism Hüseyin Çiftçi visited the restoration works at the burning bath to inspect on-site and receive information from the company officials.
“Historical buildings are gradually coming to light,” said Governor Mehmet Ali Özkan of Yozgat, emphasizing their efforts to reveal the historical beauties in Yozgat. He expressed gratitude to everyone involved in bringing the city’s values to life and mentioned the ongoing restoration works at the historical bath.
Due to the risk of damage to the structure and texture caused by the evaporation of water inside the bath, it is being researched how the building can be utilized in different functions rather than as a bath. The optimal way to utilize the building while preserving it is being explored, and decisions will be made accordingly over time.
According to Sivas Foundations Regional Director Cemal Karaca, the restoration works of the bath, which started in August 2022, cost 11.5 million Turkish Liras. Karaca emphasized the importance of the historical building’s preservation, mentioning the final touches being made to the structure. The future function of the bath will be determined by a decision from the General Directorate and the governorship, with the necessity of the city being a crucial factor in the decision-making process.