The Story of the Walking Mansion
When Atatürk goes to the farm one day, he encounters a gardener who is trying to cut the branches of the great plane tree right next to the mansion. He immediately calls the gardener and asks why. The answer of the gardener in charge is as follows: The branches of the tree have grown, leaning against the wall of the building.
Walking Mansion – Yalova
Unsatisfied with the answer he received, Atatürk gives an unthinkable order: “The tree will not be cut, the building will be shifted.” The task is transferred to Istanbul Municipality. Municipal Science Affairs Roads Bridges Branch takes responsibility. Chief Engineer Ali Galip Alnar comes to Yalova with his technical staff and starts working.
Walking Mansion – Yalova
On August 8, 1930, the soil around the building was excavated with great care and the foundation level of the building was descended. Tram rails brought from Istanbul are laid. By working inch by inch, the building is placed on the rails inserted under the structure. Now it has come to the stage of moving the building away from the tree by sliding it on the rails. On a beautiful and warm summer evening, together with the Great Leader Atatürk, under the supervision of his brother Makbule Atadan, Deputy Governor Muhittin Bey, Entrusted Science Director Ziya Bey and Cumhuriyet Newspaper Chief Correspondent Yunus Nadi, the building is shifted around 4.80 meters.
Walking Mansion – Yalova
This extraordinary and risky job was completed on August 10, 1930, and the great plane tree was saved from being cut down. Since then, the name of the mansion has remained as the Walking Mansion.
Walking Mansion – Yalova
The Walking Pavilion is a square planned, wooden frame structure. It is surrounded by columns. There is a small room, living room, toilet-shower and a meeting room with a sea view covered with crystal glasses on the ground floor of the mansion, whose entrance door is on the east. On the upper floor, which is accessed by wooden stairs from the right of the entrance door, there is a rest room, bedroom, toilet-bathroom opening to a small sofa, and there is a door leading to the terrace at the end of a short corridor in the north direction. At the request of Atatürk, the kitchen was not built in the mansion.
Walking Mansion – Yalova
The mansion has been counted among the Cultural and Natural Assets to be protected by the decision of the Ministry of Culture, Real Estate, Antiquities and Monuments High Council, and its registration has been made. In 2006, it was restored by Yalova Municipality and opened to visitors.
Source: Yalova Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, Yalova Municipality