History of the Municipality

According to the Konya Vilayet Salnâmesi (Provincial Yearbook of Konya), the establishment date of Ürgüp Municipality is 1874.

In this yearbook, under the heading "Ürgüp District", which was established in 1874, both the District Governorship (Kaymakamlık) and the Municipal Organization (Belediye Teşkilatı) are mentioned, along with the names and titles of the officials.

The First Municipal Council, consisting of six Muslim and Greek members, included:

• President: Yesari Efendi
• Member: Hacı Süleyman Efendi
• Member: Ömer Efendi
• Member: Süleyman Lütfi Efendi
• Member: Nikola Ağa
• Member: Üftad Efendi
• Member: Kiryako Ağa

Municipal Building

In the center of Ürgüp, to the west of Cumhuriyet Square, there were two marketplaces (bedesten), one large and one small (both now demolished). The municipal building was located on the upper floor of the small bedesten, overlooking the shops facing the square. It covered an area of approximately 250 m². The entrance faced Yeşilağa Hill, starting from Cumhuriyet Square.

During the tenure of Veli Göktan, who was elected mayor in 1946, municipal services continued in this building. However, he initiated the construction of a new municipal building, which is still in use today. Upon his re-election in 1950, the new building was completed and inaugurated the same year.

Over time, several modifications were made to the municipal building. During the tenure of Mayor Mehmet Aktürk (2019), the building was renovated without altering its silhouette to meet modern needs. The updated building was reopened for public service in July 2020.

Acknowledgment

We extend our gratitude to our esteemed fellow citizens who have shared valuable historical documents and information about Ürgüp’s history:

• Prof. Dr. Hasan Hüseyin Dilaver (Researcher & Author)
• Ahmet Özarslan (Retired Judge)
• Ali Akuzun (Retired Colonel)
• Mustafa Kaya (Retired Educator)