10.11.2025 02:43
The house where the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was born in Thessaloniki was opened with a ceremony attended by the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, following the completion of its restoration. Minister Ersoy stated, "Our priority while carrying out this restoration work was to return the house to its original state as it was when Atatürk was born. In this regard, our main focus was on the condition of the house as it was transformed into a museum in 1953."
The house where the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, was born in Thessaloniki in 1881 has been restored by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The Atatürk House was opened today with a ceremony attended by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, one day before the 87th anniversary of the Great Leader's passing.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Tourism of Greece Anna Karamanli, General Director of Modern Monuments and Technical Works of Central Macedonia Dimitris Zygomalas, President of TIKA Abdullah Eren, representatives of political parties and members of parliament, Western Thrace deputies, and guests. After the reading of the National Anthem and the Greek National Anthem, a promotional film about the Atatürk House was shown.
"IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SHOW LOYALTY TO ATATÜRK AND TO STAND BY THE REPUBLIC" Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Ersoy said, "We commemorate with respect and gratitude Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who was born in this house 1.5 centuries ago, on the 87th anniversary of his departure from us. The meaning that Mustafa Kemal holds for us goes beyond being a statesman. The strong bond we have established with him carries deeper meanings beyond his leadership. The efforts that have brought us together here today are a testament to our loyalty to the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, and our respect for his sacred memory. We must not forget that showing loyalty to Atatürk, standing by the Republic, and protecting its values is also a responsibility towards our country and our future. The most effective way to show this loyalty is to embrace his thoughts and ideas and to move forward confidently in the light of these values. The relationship a nation establishes with its past also determines its future. For this reason, we will continue to uphold the legacy entrusted to us by staying committed to the understanding that sovereignty belongs unconditionally to the nation, under the leadership of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, while adhering to independence, freedom, democracy, and the Republic. Similarly, the house where Atatürk was born, the places he lived, and his belongings carry traces of his life. Therefore, as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, we are also striving to keep the sacred memory of our great leader alive in a manner befitting him, based on our commitment to our past, culture, and history. Every step taken, every decision made, and every action taken during the most challenging moments of history, as well as the places and means that facilitated these decisions, hold an important place in the memory of our nation. The house where Atatürk was born is not just a simple building. Preserving this house, where the first steps of the journey to the Republic were taken, in its original form and passing its story on to future generations is of vital importance. Each of these is a unique part of our exceptional heritage that speaks to us today and in the future, guiding us and helping us understand the past better," he said.
"IT WAS IN THE CONDITION OF 1953" Minister Ersoy stated that they initiated a collaboration with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) for the restoration of the Atatürk House, saying, "The Atatürk House in Thessaloniki was built before 1875 and passed into the ownership of Ali Rıza Efendi and Zübeyde Hanım in 1878. Ali Rıza Efendi built a two-story new house to the west of the existing house on the same plot in 1879, and this house was transferred to Zübeyde Hanım, while the old house remained with Ali Rıza Efendi. Mustafa Kemal was born in this house in 1881, and his father Ali Rıza Efendi passed away in this house. On November 10, 1953, the day Atatürk's remains were moved to Anıtkabir, this house was opened as a museum. After 1953, maintenance and repair works were carried out in this building at various times. As a ministry, we made extensive plans for the restoration and exhibition arrangement of the house in 2022 and started the work on December 19, 2024. Throughout the process, we closely monitored the entire process. As part of the restoration of the Atatürk House, wooden constructions in both the interior and exterior have been renewed, the storage room and bath have been restored to their original state, the general maintenance of the roof has been completed, and the general maintenance of the walls in the garden and the stone paving of the courtyard floor have been completed. The new state of the Memorial House consists of the Atatürk and Family Themed Room, Zübeyde Hanım's Room, Ethnographic Exhibition, History of the House Themed Area, and the library. The project was designed so that the basement of the building tells the history of the house, the middle floor provides ethnographic information, and the upper floor narrates Atatürk's years in Thessaloniki. In other words, our priority while carrying out this restoration work was to return the house to its original state at the time it was transformed into a museum in 1953," he said.
"A PART OF THE BELONGINGS RETURNED TO THE HOUSE THEY BELONGED TO" Minister Ersoy stated that the restoration was carried out by TIKA, saying, "In addition to 12 artifacts registered in the inventory of the Ankara Republic Museum Directorate, a replica of the Presidential Seal brought from the Thessaloniki Atatürk House, as well as two artifacts registered in the inventory of the Edirne Museum Directorate, have also been successfully completed by the Ankara Restoration and Conservation Regional Laboratory Directorate. Additionally, the conservation processes of 50 items of fixed assets brought from the Thessaloniki Atatürk House and 1005 books, which are kept in the Kırşehir Museum Directorate, have been completed, and all these artifacts are now ready for exhibition. As you know, after the Balkan Wars, Zübeyde Hanım left her house and came to Turkey. Some of the belongings she brought with her have now returned to this house, to which they originally belonged. Items from Mustafa Kemal's infancy, personal belongings of Zübeyde Hanım, and special family items and furniture, such as Ali Rıza Efendi's prayer beads, have returned to the Thessaloniki Atatürk House after many years. We believe that the return of these artifacts, which have been exhibited in Turkey at various times in the past, to the house they belong to will greatly contribute to the atmosphere of this house.
Lastly, I would like to briefly mention other objects and documents that will be displayed in the museum. These include lesser-known photographs of Atatürk, the inheritance of Ali Rıza Bey, Ottoman archive documents dated 1878 proving that the Atatürk House was purchased by Ali Rıza Bey and Zübeyde Hanım, a Greek document dated 1925 showing the transfer of the Atatürk House from Zübeyde Hanım to the National Bank of Greece after the Exchange, plans, projects, and previously unknown photographs found in the archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Thessaloniki Consulate, a painting of the Atatürk House by painter Rahmi Pehlivanlı, a video recording of Celal Bayar's visit to the Atatürk House, and the works of Kemal Zeren will also be among the exhibits in the museum," he said.
Ersoy, stating that as a ministry, they care about the healthy preservation of cultural assets belonging to Turks, no matter where they are in the world, said, "The Thessaloniki Atatürk House is one of the best examples of this. You may remember that our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Thessaloniki in 2003 during his tenure as Prime Minister and visited Atatürk's birthplace. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was the first Turkish Prime Minister to visit Atatürk's house, said at that time, 'I hope this house will be a symbol of peace between Turkey and Greece.' Today, we repeat the same message in the strongest way. I wish the Restoration and Exhibition-Arrangement Project, which has transformed the Thessaloniki Atatürk House, visited by thousands of our citizens every year, especially on November 10, back to its state in 1953, to be beneficial. I believe that with the personal belongings returning to their home, the atmosphere of 1881 and beyond will be revived here. On this occasion, I once again respectfully commemorate the founder of our Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, on the 87th anniversary of his passing, and I greet you with my warmest feelings," he expressed.
"ANNUAL VISITOR NUMBER EXCEEDED 500 THOUSAND" Turkey's Ambassador to Athens, Çağatay Erciyes, stated, "Being here today carries great spiritual significance for us. Because the Atatürk House is not just a historical building in Thessaloniki. This house is a symbol of an undying light and an unending hope in the hearts of every Turk. This house symbolizes both our gratitude to our ancestor and the peace, friendship, and hope carried into the future. When looking at the history of the Thessaloniki Atatürk House, it has been a concrete token of Turkish-Greek friendship and mutual respect between the two countries. The annual visitor number of the Atatürk House exceeding 500 thousand contributes to the cooperation we carry out between Greece and culture and tourism and facilitates the deepening of this cooperation. We will continue to preserve this special historical site within the boundaries of our Consulate General in a manner worthy of our ancestor's memory, reinforcing Turkish-Greek friendship and cooperation," he said.
"GREECE AND TURKEY ARE NOT JUST TWO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES" Greek Deputy Minister of Tourism Anna Karamanli stated that she attended the ceremony representing Tourism Minister Olgay Kefalogianni, expressing, "I am very happy to be present at the reopening ceremony of the Atatürk House, which is a symbolic place in the history of our city. I sincerely welcome Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism Mr. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Deputy Minister Mr. Yazgı, Members of Parliament Mr. Sırakaya, Zorlu, and Topsakal, and all the members of the delegation to our country. Greece and Turkey are not just two neighboring countries. The two countries share a long historical journey filled with challenges but also harboring hopes for the future. The current dynamism in our bilateral relations strengthens our belief that our two peoples can move forward together towards common prosperity and progress based on good neighborly relations and principles of international law. Thessaloniki has always been a crossroads of cultures, religions, and ideas with its open and creative identity. It continues to attract visitors from all over the world with its cosmopolitan structure and is strengthening its role as a city holiday destination with its strong cultural identity. Personally, being here holds great significance for me as Thessaloniki is my birthplace; a city with deep and lasting ties to me. Tourism, as one of the most dynamic sectors of the global economy, is the driving force of stability and progress. It brings people and cultures closer together, creates opportunities, supports local communities, and promotes sustainable development. The increase in the flow of visitors between our countries significantly contributes to the development of our regions, the spread of prosperity, and the strengthening of friendship and trust relations. As the Ministry of Tourism, we systematically work to promote collaborations based on mutual respect, sustainability, and innovation. Because we believe that tourism is not only an economic activity but also a tool for living together in peace and dialogue. Today's event once again reminds us of the power of culture to transcend borders and create areas of common memory and understanding," she said.
With the ribbon cutting by Minister Ersoy and protocol members, the opening of the Atatürk House was held. After the opening, Ersoy and his companions toured the house.