Yerebatan Cistern Reopens to Visitors, Free Entry for Turkish Citizens Until End of June

Following maintenance work, the Yerebatan Cistern has reopened. Turkish citizens can visit free of charge until the end of June, after which the Museum Card will be required...

Scraper SystemJune 06, 2026, 01:35 PM

Yerebatan Cistern Reopens to Visitors, Free Entry for Turkish Citizens Until End of June

The General Directorate of Foundations announced that the registration process of the structure on behalf of mazbut foundations has been completed within the scope of Article 30 of the Foundations Law No. 5737, and that after the evacuation procedures, the cistern has been taken over by the Foundations administration.

Levent Çetin, Deputy Regional Director of Foundations, emphasized that all stages of the process were carried out within the relevant legislation and stated that archival records and expert reports regarding the historical position of the Yerebatan Cistern within the Ottoman foundation system were taken into account.

Çetin noted that evaluations determined the structure to be subject to foundation law and said: Follow our news on Google Add us to your favorites to instantly access the latest news and breaking developments via Google.

Add us as a preferred source on Google: "Cultural assets created through foundations that have, by any means, passed into the ownership of the treasury, municipalities, special administrations, villages, or other public legal entities and their institutions, economic enterprises, and subsidiaries shall be transferred to the mazbut foundation.

In our research and expert reports; when examining the 1921 Imperial Foundations Ministry memorandums and the 1926-1928 cadastral records, it is indisputably revealed that the Yerebatan Cistern was directly part of the Ottoman-era Fatih Sultan Mehmet Han (Hagia Sophia) Foundation and Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Han (Forty Fountains) Foundation water system and the flowing water-charity network.

Therefore, as mandated by law, the cistern was registered to its original foundations and, as of June 2, 2026, the evacuation process was completed and the structure was handed over to our General Directorate," he said.

LEGAL PROCESS COMPLETED, CISTERN REOPENED TO VISITORS

Following the evacuation process, technical inspections identified some maintenance and repair needs at the site. After the necessary work was swiftly completed, the Yerebatan Cistern was reopened to visitors today at 9:00 AM. Levent Çetin stated, "Our primary priority is to protect, preserve, and pass this historic structure to future generations in accordance with the foundation deed conditions."

FREE ENTRY FOR TURKISH CITIZENS THROUGHOUT JUNE

Regarding visiting conditions, it was announced that Turkish citizens can visit the Yerebatan Cistern free of charge until the end of June. After this period, local visitors will continue to access the cistern under the Museum Card application.

EVALUATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF FOUNDATION LAW

Clarification was also provided regarding some opinions suggesting that "the structure originates from the Byzantine period and cannot be associated with foundation law." The statement emphasized that cultural assets constructed, repaired, or operated with foundation resources are considered within the foundation system according to the relevant provisions of the Foundations Law No. 5737.

Çetin commented on the matter: "The second paragraph of Article 30 of the Foundations Law No. 5737 clearly states that ownership of a work is considered to have arisen through a foundation not only if it was directly endowed but also if it was constructed, repaired, or added to with foundation resources.

As is known, many iconic cultural assets inherited from the ancient and Byzantine periods after the conquest of Istanbul were protected through conquest law and the Ottoman foundations established. For centuries, the administration, comprehensive restorations, repairs, and maintenance of these historic structures were fully carried out with the budgets and resources of Ottoman foundations.

The Yerebatan Cistern is one of the most concrete examples of this approach; it was operated, maintained, supplied with foundation waters, and served as a center distributing water to foundation charities within the Ottoman foundation system for centuries.

Therefore, the fact that these and similar structures date back to ancient times does not change the reality that they have been preserved by foundations for centuries, nor does it negate the foundation law applied to them," he said.

SIMILAR REGISTRATION PROCESSES CONTINUE

Officials stated that since 2008, a total of 1,191 immovable cultural assets have been registered on behalf of mazbut foundations under Law No. 5737 and added to the inventory of the General Directorate of Foundations. Specifically in Istanbul, 638 immovable properties from various public institutions have been registered on behalf of foundations through similar legal processes.

JUDICIAL PROCESS IS BEING MONITORED

It was stated that lawsuits filed by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and developments in the appeal process are closely monitored by the legal departments of the relevant institutions, and actions are taken with respect for judicial decisions. Deputy Regional Director of Foundations Levent Çetin reiterated that the primary priority is the protection of cultural heritage and ensuring visitors can experience the structure without interruption.

Yerebatan Cistern Reopens to Visitors, Free Entry for Turkish Citizens Until End of June

Following maintenance work, the Yerebatan Cistern has reopened. Turkish citizens can visit free of charge until the end of June, after which the Museum Card will be required...