The Orient Express station in Istanbul is being transformed into a cultural island: what is planned.

Historical trading post in Istanbul

According to The Sun: The Sirkeci station in Istanbul, known as the former stop of the famous Orient Express, is planning to become a new tourist magnet.

Founded in 1890, this station served as a connection between Turkey and Europe.

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The station is currently preparing for a major renovation, transforming into a "cultural island." The project includes the renovation of the existing Railway Museum and the creation of a new Migration Museum.

There will also be art galleries at the station, and some original elements, including the facade and stained glass, will be restored.

“Sirkeci will not become a hotel or a shopping center. It will turn into a new stop for culture and arts with a Migration Museum, thematic museums, and galleries,” said Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

Moreover, passenger trains will continue to operate through the station, which will remain an “historic transportation point on the way to an important cultural route in Istanbul.”

The station was built on the orders of Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid in 1888 and opened two years later.

Historical Value and Cultural Heritage

Located on the European shore of the Bosphorus, the station welcomed the Orient Express, which connected Paris and Istanbul until 1977. It also previously connected other European cities, such as Thessaloniki in Greece, and served as a stop for Friendship trains until 2011.

This station even inspired Agatha Christie to write the novel “Murder on the Orient Express” and became a filming location for part of the 2017 film based on this work.

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Sirkeci is also known as the last stop on the Orient Express route.

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Currently, the station serves only as a switching service, but next year, the restoration of the Haydarpaşa station, closed in 2010, is planned as part of the "Station-Culture-Art" project.

In the future, there are also plans to launch a new high-speed train that will connect Europe and Turkey in just three hours.

Alamy The restoration of the Sirkeci station means not only a return to its historical roots but also the creation of a platform for the development of cultural initiatives in Istanbul. This project opens new perspectives for residents and tourists who will be able to enjoy history and art in this iconic place.