As you walk uphill from the center of İnebolu toward the historic neighborhoods, you’ll come across a quiet gem surrounded by some of the finest examples of our traditional civil architecture: The only historic bathhouse in İnebolu that has survived to the present day is Çeşme Hamam. Nestled among the unique wooden houses and narrow streets that surround it, this historic structure stands in quiet solitude; today, it is used as a warehouse and does not yet serve as a tourist attraction. Once operated by Hamamcı Kadı Salih Reis—who became legendary for carrying ammunition on his shoulders despite his advanced age during the years of the War of Independence—the doors of this bathhouse are now closed to the secrets of the past. Together with the historic stone house rising right next to it—which was also the home of Hamamcı Kadı Salih Reis—it continues to live on, withdrawn yet steadfast, wearily but upright, patiently awaiting the day when it can freely recount the secrets and memories of the past.
The dilapidated state of the Çeşme Hamam—which, beneath its dome, holds the spirit of the heroes of the Road to Independence and the history of İnebolu’s trials and tribulations—evokes a deep sense of longing in those devoted to history and cultural heritage. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the beautiful wooden houses surrounding it, every stone of this bathhouse stands as a living testament not only to local architecture but also to a unique love of country. One can only hope that this historic treasure, hidden away in the neighborhood, will soon shake off the dust that covers it and begin to whisper the story of its glorious days to future generations…