Çiğdemli Village in Sivas Declared Heritage Site Amid Roof Collapse Risks

Çiğdemli (formerly Tuğut) village in the Divriği district of Sivas Province, Turkey, is known for its 800‑to‑1,200‑year‑old stone houses built from locally quarried rock. The tightly clustered dwellings feature tunnels and bridges, and were cited by Evliya Çelebi as a large, cultivated settlement. The village was recently designated a protected “Sit Area” because of its unique medieval architecture.

Local residents say that recent heavy rains have begun to damage the stone structures, with some buildings at risk of collapse. Inhabitants such as Şengül Güller, Gülbeser Girgil and Cengiz Özer describe the houses as naturally cool in summer and warm in winter, equipped with built‑in shelters, and note growing tourist interest despite the deterioration.