Belgrad Forest - Free Audio Guide

Belgrad Forest (Belgrad Ormanı) is a large mixed deciduous woodland on the northern outskirts of Istanbul, of historical importance for its role in supplying the city with water and its association with a 16th‑century settlement of people relocated from Belgrade. Dating to the Ottoman era, the area retains a network of dams, aqueducts and masonry waterworks that shaped Istanbul’s infrastructure, while later botanical initiatives such as the Atatürk Arboretum testify to scientific and cultural investment in the terrain. Culturally, the forest has long functioned as an urban green refuge that has inspired artists, writers and naturalists and served as a centre for forestry and ecological study. Principal attractions are historic waterworks, reservoirs, extensive trails, diverse native flora and fauna, and cultivated plant collections that together represent a significant element of the city’s environmental and historical patrimony.