Abandoned City of Varosha, Cyprus
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- Опубліковано 8 січ 2015
- Varosha is a ghost town just south of the Cypriot city of Famagusta. It is located within Northern Cyprus. Prior to the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, it was the modern tourist area of Famagusta. Its inhabitants fled during the invasion, and it has remained abandoned ever since.
In the 1970s, Famagusta was the number one tourist destination in Cyprus. To cater to the increasing number of tourists, many new high-rise buildings and hotels were constructed. During its heyday, the Varosha quarter of Famagusta was not only the number one tourist destination in Cyprus, but between 1970 and 1974, it was one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and was a favourite destination of celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Raquel Welch, and Brigitte Bardot.
The main features of the Varosha quarter included John F Kennedy Avenue, a street which ran from close to the port of Famagusta, through the Varosha quarter and parallel to Glossa beach. Along JFK Avenue, there were many well known high rise hotels including the King George Hotel, The Asterias Hotel, The Grecian Hotel, The Florida Hotel, and The Argo Hotel which was the favourite hotel of Elizabeth Taylor. The Argo Hotel is located near the end of JFK Avenue, looking towards Protaras and Fig Tree Bay. Another major street in Varosha was Leonidas, a major street that came off JFK Avenue and headed west towards Vienna Corner. Leonidas was a major shopping and leisure street in Varosha, consisting of bars, restaurants, nightclubs, and a Toyota car dealership.
Following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus on 20 July 1974, the Greek Cypriot army withdrew its forces to Larnaca. The Turkish army advanced as far as the Green Line, which is the present day border between the two communities. Just hours before the Turkish and Greek Cypriot armies met in military combat on the streets of Famagusta, the entire population fled, fearing a massacre. Many refugees fled south to Paralimni, Dherynia, and Larnaca. Paralimni has since become the modern day capital of the Famagusta province.
When the Turkish Army gained control of the area during the invasion, they fenced it off and have since barred admittance to anyone except Turkish military and United Nations personnel. The people living in Varosha hoped to return to their home when the situation calmed down, but the resort was fenced off by the Turkish military and soldiers were ordered to kill anyone who attempted to enter.
The UN Security Council Resolution 550 of 1984 ordered for Varosha to handed over to the administration of the United Nations, and was to be resettled by no other people than the inhabitants who were forced out. The Turkish state did not comply, but has held Varosha as a "bargaining chip" ever since in the hope of persuading the people of Cyprus into accepting a settlement of the Cyprus issue on their terms.
One such settlement plan was the Annan Plan, which the vast majority of Greek Cypriots rejected as unfair. It provided for the return of Varosha to the original residents, but this never happened because the plan was rejected by Greek Cypriot voters in a referendum, as the overall plan was considered unacceptable. The UN Security Council Resolution 550 states that it "considers attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the United Nations". Since 1974, entry to the district is forbidden by Turkey with the exception of the TSK personnel and the students of the girls' dormitory there.
The European Court of Human Rights awarded between €100,000 and €8,000,000 to eight Greek Cypriots for being deprived of their homes and properties as a result of the 1974 invasion. The case was filed jointly by businessman Constantinos Lordos and others, with the principal judgement in the Lordos case dating back to November 2010. The court ruled that, in the case of eight of the applicants, Turkey had violated Article 1 of Protocol 1 of the European Convention on Human rights on the right of peaceful enjoyment of one's possessions, and in the case of seven of the applicants, Turkey had violated Article 8 on the right to respect for private and family life.
As nobody has inhabited the area and no repairs have been carried out, all of the buildings continue to fall apart. Nature is reclaiming the area, as metal corrodes, windows break, and plants work their roots into the walls and pavement. Sea turtles have been seen nesting on the deserted beaches. - Авто та транспорт
That water is absolutely gorgeous!! It's a shame nobody's done anything with the place since the 70s
Very Bad memories i was there back in 1974 Never i will forget i was 11
My Dad was in Cyprus during the Turkish invasion, him and my family had to all be evacuated from Nicosia down to Limassol. Every time he tells me stories of what it was like, it's the most interesting thing I've ever wanted to listen to. I can't imagine what was going through peoples heads at the time, and seeing all this footage really makes me want to learn everything I can about it and what happened. I know that the abandoned airport is also off limits, I wish you could be granted certain access to at least some parts of it, it really does suck that all the history of that time (even though it wasn't that long ago), is just sitting there in rubble... It leads you to ask; will they ever bother to clear it up/take a look or even think about letting people or teams go in and see the remains.
Chris Demosthenous It is a really interesting place and what happened there was terrible, I would imagine one day in the future they may allow a tour bus to go around the abandoned city, if they did that it would be something.
I know what you mean, My dad was too at this time in Cyprus , he lived in a mixed little village near Larnaca. before he and his family had to be evacuated to famagusta. he was one of the last Cypriots that crossed the border because one day later it closed, and than as the border opened in the 2000s he was one of the first ( i was their too) who crossed the border again.
I was there when the Turks invaded, i was near the airport at Morphou gate guarding an ammunition compound when the Military Coup Started.
Oh I hope so! Açik Maraş! Open Varosha!
@@irishrailtrains you can come to varosha and see a small part of it , walk around streets and swim at the palm beach
If you think about it the person filming this did risked their life for this footage since soldiers who patrol the area are ordered to shoot intruders on sight
Thanks for sharing. Great video.
Went in to the city last Sunday, what a strange experience that was. To think of the place as a paradise for the jet set, then all of a sudden just panic as everyone got out of there. Its been looted years ago, theres nothing but shells of buildings left and the odd rusty car in a drive way, its a true time warp.
Wow what an amazing vidcam that was used in this clip, the pics are SOOOO CLEAR, really gives a sense of actually being there. The people who were forced out of not only their homes but a way of life, its just so very sad, I cant even imagine their pain and sense of loss...We having an old saying in Maori that is very fitting for this "ghost town"...
He aha te mea nui o tenei ao hurihuri?
He Tangata
He tangata
He tangata
What is the most important thing of this everchanging world
It is people
It is people
It is people
Спасибо. Отличный фильм. Эксклюзив! И камера отличная. Спасибо
Very interesting video!
Thank You !
And why a part of the beach is full of people ?
The buildings were new. The greekchipriot owners of hotels and houses lost a lot of money , and also their lives. In the old airport there are the comite which is working with the bones of disappear people
I’ve been here. Very eerie feeling to the place.
Very interesting!
Thanks Sean, I always wanted to know what the place was like, hopefully the place will reopen sometime.
Very beautiful varosha...now is a ghost town...so sad
It's not Varosha, the Turkish name of this ghost city is Maraş. 🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷
coisa mais triste de se ver
Hi brother, I would like to put this video in my channel. Along with the video I will put the credits in the description and I will talk about your channel to my subscribers!
Interesting place!
It is indeed !
pls story about salaminia tower
I'm here in Cyprus on holiday and took a trip across the buffer zone to the same spot you filmed this video from , I could clearly see people within the "forbidden zone" on he beach and also driving though the town center.
If you look closely at the beach at 5:15 on this video there are numerous people swimming in the water and walking on the beach also.
If the area is off limits who are all these people casually hanging around inside it?
Are they soldiers or just naughty people?
It’s used by the Turkish military illegally, watch this video 👉🏻 ua-cam.com/video/LkBimpcUOrw/v-deo.html
Varosha is now officially opened up and tourists are allowed to use the beach. I went to Cyprus recently and crossed over to meet some friends and we all went to the beach and drove around the old city. They are starting to renovate the area so hopefully in a few years time it will be back to its former glory. It's the clearest water I have seen in my life.
I wish all the Cypriot's go back 1 day to their property.
I bet the milk is often one of those fridges in a house with a sell-by date 1974
Who are those people at 5:12 I thought nobody was allowed to nter zone. Also why the tuks want that area for nothing anyway?
Jonathan Day it’s being used by Turkish military watch this video 👉🏻 ua-cam.com/video/LkBimpcUOrw/v-deo.html
There were many turks in the island and cypress government wanted to immigrate turks from the island. And they consult with United Nations. But UN didn't reply that consultation. So they attacked and slaughtered Turks and death toll of Turks exceeded 1000. Then Turkish Government discussed with Greece and (somehow) England. But they didnt agree with Turks and they organized an operation in the island with a password called 'Ayşe tatile çıkabilir' means 'Ayşe might go vacation'. Then all Greeks left the Varosha and Turkish Government assured for the Turks in the island.
Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson I think.
Good for the turtles.
Indeed, apparently they have been spotted on the beach within the city.
Y yo me pregunto: y toda esa gente que está en una playa JUSTO en el centro de Varosha??? Pero si esta prohibido entrar ahí, al menos tengo entendido eso... 5:16
Looks like a minecraft hunger games map
Varosha war die schönste Stadt in Zypern und ein Turismus Paradies
Planning to take a flight over to this area, & im going to investigate this abandoned city!
You should, its a very interesting place.
Do they have guards patrolling or anything? Or is it completely abandoned?
Yes, there are guards at certain points around the fence.
Irish Rail Trains I could be wrong, but isn't this place like extremely dangerous to explore? I watched a video on it that said the guards are trained to shoot anyone on sight.
I Pity Da Foo You are correct there, the guards do have orders to shoot any trespassers on sight, I also heard that there is plenty of wildlife living within the city, plus if you were to somehow get inside it would still be dangerous because most of the buildings in there are very weak and could collapse at any time, and you could be even attacked by any of the animals living in there.
merak ettim bir gün geleceğim
A crime against humanity and no one wants to sort this kind of shit out
Its a crying shame left like that
It is indeed, it should be reopened, there is no need to leave it like that.
I was in Cyprus in 74 during the invasion up to Dec 74 and I returned in May 2015 and went to see the place It was the in place for the rich to visit and top up their tans
I heard it was a wealthy place in its heyday, plenty of celebrities would come and visit. it just makes you want to go inside and have a look around.
Irish Rail Trains It was the in place but its off limits except to UN and the Turkish Armed Forces its off limits and they have orders to shoot you
Its one of the bargaining chips that both sides use
+Antony Sawyer well there is no order to shoot anyone
jerry1378 If you enter Varosha the Turks that stand guard have orders to use deadly force and use they will
The area was contolled by the Swedish Contingent of Unficyp. Those months were very interesting I watch a lot of battles in 1974 and it was very impressive when the Turks Jumped in.
No more nice hotels for the rich and famous to top up their tans
jerry1378 They were fun times in 74
Good old King George Hote.English breakfast and nice bloody mary.Excellent service and staff!!!Too bad.All gone!!!
Iam a proud Cypriot and this is a Fucken disgrace disrespect-.-
👀
There are people there on the beach that is total disrespect to the greek cypriots by the turkish goverment hopefully the u.s will sort turkey out sooner or later because turkey is walking a fine line at the minute politically with the united states!!
Has nothing to do with irish Rail 🙄
Eine 50 Jahre verrottete Stadt Varosha in Nord Zypern
How I can wonder about PC'ness at this point, but seeing a Turkish flag flying there is repellent. It was acquired by the most barbaric of means.
Because Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus invited Turkish army to protect the Turkish Cypriot from the Greek barbers, that's why you can see the Turkish flag there. 🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷🇹🇷Yaşasin Türkiye Cumhuriyet
It makes no dam sence to me. It's stupid what are they going to do with the town? I hope the United States can bring this town back
The United States doesn't have the authority to do anything. The United Nations has declared it a grey area not knowing who exactly it belongs to. It was originally owned by Turkey then Britain invaded and took it and then sold it to Greece. The Turks came and took it back. So the Turks are using it as a poker chip as leverage against the Greeks. As of 2001, The United Nations have ordered Turkey to allow some of the original inhabitants to come back to Varosha so it is not 100% abandoned anymore. But still at least 80% of it is abandoned. Many people are afraid to come back or have nothing to come back to as most of the buildings there are uninhabitable. But as far as the Us intervening and giving it back to the Greeks they can't.
overthefalls kitty I've been there before on holiday and stayed at the Greek side. I went to go see this for a day, from what I understand is that Cyprus was originally a Christian Greek island but the Turks living there didn't like being treated like 2nd class citizens so they brought up a army and invaded the ghost town today. In my opinion they could have settled this without causing so much trouble.
For everyone who is saying that the Turkish government is disgusting and terrible for taking Varosha, in the 1920's the British took it from Turkey! Then they sold it to Greece. Technically Varosha and the area around it belongs to the Turkish. The United Nations cannot techinically make Turkey give it back to Greece because it has no authority to do so. But as of 2001 the UN has forced Turkey to allow the former residence to come back. Most haven't come back. If you look closely at the video, you will see people playing on the beaches. About 80% of the island is still abandoned but some people have gone back to start over and live there. They are not however allowed to do business or make money there as any money would have to go to the Turkish government. Theyare only allowed to live there. Turkey is using Varosha as a poker chip against Greece.
overthefalls kitty, Lol you are aware it was originally Greek owned right before the Ottoman Empire invaded Cyprus centuries ago? Turks and Islam have been taking other people's lands for centuries.
Kitty Bot ignorant. Cyprus was Greek centuries ago. The Turks invaded more than once and if such a great government had a brain they'd be pissed at the British but they are little bitches not brave enough to pick that fight so attack the innocent it is. And yes, just how much of you great Turkey is Greek? Hhhmmm. I wonder how it got there.
And since when cyprus belong Turkey .......the story of this land doesnt start from ottomans empire........grow up ........
So if its yours.... how in the hell the Greeks was all over the place ..
Learn some history before you talk.
The Land was Greek you took it after the fall of byzantine empire .....but the people there is Greeks ......and will always be.
@@jacobfy9696 You are wrong man. Before Greek the Egyptian lived in Cyprus in 8000 years ago and after Egyptian physician captured and lived there, also before white European the red skin Indian lived in America and Canada etc... With your logic all these lands should return to their real owners.
blame EOKA for all this. don't blame turkey