Many fountains were constructed during the Ottoman period to provide running water but now lie in ruins. The Foundation for the Promotion and Protection of the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ÇEKÃœL) has begun restoring the Esat Paşa Fountain, which is still used by villagers in the Eceabat area


During Ottoman times, wealthy Muslims built structures as a way of giving alms or performing good deeds for society. As water plays an important and symbolic role in Islam, many built fountains to provide running water to areas that had no water. Generally, an inscription giving the date and name of the person who had commissioned the fountain is visible somewhere on the fountains, honoring the benevolent patrons.

Though many fountains can be found from the Ottoman period, in cities like Istanbul, they are no longer functional. The situation is not the same outside Turkey's main cities. People are more dependent on the fountains that provide water from springs and other water sources, though the fountains aren't necessarily very elaborate. Unfortunately, over time, many of these fountains have been neglected and fell into disrepair, as no one knew how to repair them or the water sources dried up.

One example of this is the historic Esat Paşa Fountain three kilometers south of the village of Yalova in Çanakkale's Eceabat district. The historic fountain, still used by the villagers, has suffered various kinds of damage over time. The pieces that have been decorated with the outline of a crown on the fountain's arch and the moldings on its walls have been destroyed. Because only small repairs have been made to the structure, it remains true to the original, making the fountain even more valuable as a historic remnant.

The project of rehabilitating Esat Paşa Fountain has been taken up by the Foundation for the Promotion and Protection of the Environment and Cultural Heritage (ÇEKÃœL) in cooperation with the Eceabat district office. In order to identify the repair work that needed to be carried out on the historic fountain, Eceabat's district officer, Muhterem İnce, and ÇEKÃœL Foundation's Çanakkale representative, architect İsmail Erten examined the site.

As part of the repair work, the ruined upper parts of the side walls and the high portion in the middle will be fixed. Additionally, anything added during minor repairs that destroyed its original characteristics will be removed. The environment around the fountain will be straightened out and the landscape will be designed. The use of the fountain and the area around it will increase, allowing visitors from outside the region to enjoy it. Most importantly the Esat Paşa Fountain is part of Turkey's cultural heritage that will be passed on to future generations.