Belgrad Forest Under Snow : A Serene Beauty [Photos]

In January 2012, on a Sunday, it suddenly started snowing very heavily. After a while, the electricity went out. There wasn’t much to do at home, so knowing how beautiful Belgrad Forest looks under the snow, I decided to go there to take some photos. The forest was only a five-minute walk from my house. The snowfall was heavy, but it wasn’t biting cold; in fact, the weather was quite pleasant – extremely mild and not at all chilling. The snowflakes were large and soft, which often happens when it snows in mild weather.

Belgrade Forest (also known as the Belgrad Forest) is located near Bahçeköy, which literally means ‘garden village.’ Bahçeköy is one of the Northern Villages of Sarıyer, Istanbul. It was formerly part of the Byzantine Petra District. In the 19th century, the village was within the forest, but Bahçeköy now sits at its edge as it receded due to development.

Bahçeköy Nursery Under Snow

Bahçeköy Plant Nursery Under Snow, January 2012
A picturesque view of Bahçeköy Nursery blanketed in snow, located at the edge of Belgrad Forest (Belgrade Forest). The snow-covered trees and neatly lined seedlings create a serene winter landscape. The nursery, usually vibrant with greenery, transforms into a peaceful haven, with soft snow enhancing the calmness of the scene.

Bahçeköy Nursery has been the seedling production and distribution center of Turkey’s Provincial Directorate of Environment and Forestry since 1944. The nursery, where expert personnel work alongside forest engineers, hosts a wide variety of tree species.

Residents of Istanbul can purchase seedlings at very affordable prices and benefit from the expertise of professionals. As you stroll through the environment adorned with every shade of green, you’ll feel as if you’re in an oxygen tent.

Bahçeköy Nursery also significantly contributes to the natural wealth of Turkey through its laboratory work. The nursery covers 83 acres, with 43 acres dedicated to seedling cultivation.

Generally, coniferous trees (spruce, fir, cypress, arborvitae, juniper species) and ornamental plants (aucuba, euonymus, boxwood, hydrangea, mountain medlar, viburnum) are produced. There is also limited production of grafted seedlings (blue spruce, blue cedar).

It is located right inside Bahçeköy, which can be accessed via the Maslak-Sarıyer road. The left side of the road leading to Belgrad Forests is entirely part of the nursery.

Bahçeköy Plant Nursery Under Snow, with palm saplings in the foreground. January 2012
A serene winter scene at Bahçeköy Nursery, with palm saplings in the foreground lightly dusted in snow. Rows of plants and trees are covered in soft white snow, and the surrounding forest creates a peaceful backdrop. The contrast of the tropical palms with the heavy snowfall adds a unique touch to this tranquil landscape.
Snow-covered pine tree saplings at Bahçeköy Nursery with Belgrad Forest in the background.
Snow-covered pine tree saplings at Bahçeköy Nursery with Belgrad Forest in the background.
A peaceful winter scene of Bahçeköy Nursery covered in snow, with young pine saplings in the foreground and a backdrop of snow-covered trees from Belgrad Forest
A peaceful winter scene of Bahçeköy Nursery covered in snow, with young pine saplings in the foreground and a backdrop of snow-covered trees from Belgrad Forest. The dense snowfall adds to the serene atmosphere, with layers of white blanketing the landscape and giving the nursery a calm, wintry charm.
A serene winter scene of Belgrad Forest near the Bahçeköy entrance
Bahçeköy Nursery and Belgrad Forest near the Bahçeköy entrance, covered in a thick blanket of snow. The snow-laden trees and bushes create a peaceful and quiet landscape, with misty hills barely visible in the background. The untouched snow emphasizes the calm and natural beauty of the forest in winter.

Belgrad Forest Under Snow

Two stray dogs walk along the road to the Belgrad Forest Bahçeköy entrance
Two stray dogs walk along the road to the Belgrad Forest Bahçeköy entrance, their fur lightly dusted with snowflakes. Despite the snowfall, their well-fed state and the mild weather keep them comfortable as they explore their surroundings. The peaceful winter scene captures the calm atmosphere of the day, with the dogs showing no signs of cold. I would like to take this opportunity to mention that I feed stray animals in Bahçeköy, including cats, dogs, and other animals. I also handle their vaccinations, treatments, and neutering. However, I am in need of support for these efforts. If you’d like to help, you can support me through my Patreon account.
A beautiful stray dog
A beautiful stray dog
Bahçeköy entrance of Belgrad Forest
Bahçeköy entrance of Belgrad Forest. It’s about a 5-minute walk from my house.
Belgrad Forest under snow - a tunnel of trees. January 2012
After entering Belgrad Forest, a tunnel of snow-covered trees welcomed me, with heavy snowfall blanketing the branches. The arching trees created an almost mystical atmosphere, as the snow softly fell, adding to the peaceful winter scene.
Belgrad Forest under snow
The woods under the snow are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep…
[Robert Frost (March 26, 1874 – January 29, 1963) the American poet]
The famous bridge in Belgrade Forest, under snow
The top of the dam in front of an artificial pond has been turned into a lovely bridge. This spot is a favorite place for newlywed couples to take photos.
The famous bridge in Belgrade Forest, under snow
The artificial pond is more noticeable from this angle.
The famous bridge in Belgrade Forest, under snow
Small dam, bridge, and pond.
A small pond in Belgrad Forest
A pond in the Belgrad Forest
BElgrad Forest under snow - Mahmut 2 Pond
Behind the dam wall across the way is the Mahmud II Pond (Turkish: 2. Mahmud Bendi). It is named after Mahmut II, the 30th Ottoman Sultan (July 20, 1785 – July 1, 1839, Istanbul)
Belgrad Forest under snow - The dam wall of Mahmud II Pond
The dam wall of Mahmud II Pond
Belgrad Forest under snow
Belgrad Forest under snow. The road below is the connecting path between the Mahmud II Dam and the forest entrance.
Belgrad Forest under snow
The quiet landscape, with its snow-covered branches and gentle slopes, creates a peaceful and serene atmosphere, capturing the beauty of nature during winter.
Belgrad Forest under snow. A tunnel of snow-covered trees arches over the road.
A tunnel of snow-covered trees arches over the road.
Belgrad Forest under snow - Neşet Suyu Road
This road leads to Neşet Suyu Nature Park (Neşet Suyu can be translated as Neşet Stream). The park is located 6 km (3.7 miles) northwest of Bahçeköy and adjacent to Falih Rıfkı Atay Nature Park, covering an area of 67.47 hectares. It was established in 2011 and is one of the nine nature parks within Belgrad Forest. The protected area is named after Professor (Ottoman Turkish: Müderris) Neşet Bey (1881-1924). To the southwest of the nature park is the Büyük Bent (Great Dam), located on the Kırkçeşme water canal. Additionally, there is a Deer Breeding Farm here.
Belgrad Forest under snow
Proof that the photos are not black and white: Despite the falling snow and winter conditions, the ivy, which has remained green, has wrapped around the tree trunks.
Belgrad Forest under snow - Neşet Suyu Road
Another view of Neşet Suyu Road.
A quiet, snow-covered path winds through Belgrad Forest
A quiet, snow-covered path winds through Belgrad Forest. The untouched white blanket creates a serene and peaceful atmosphere, inviting exploration in the midst of winter’s beauty.
The lovely dogs of Belgrad Forest
The lovely dogs of Belgrad Forest
The lovely dogs of Belgrad Forest
If you plan to visit Belgrad Forest, don’t forget to bring some treats for these adorable dogs. They will be very happy.
Bahçeköy plant nursery under snow
On my way back to Bahçeköy from Belgrad Forest, I took a few more photos of the nursery.
Bahçeköy plant nursery under snow
The nursery looks like a winter wonderland. It’s a rare and lucky event to see it like this.
Bahçeköy plant nursery under snow
This photo gives a better idea of the intensity of the snowfall.
Snow-covered pine saplings stretch across Bahçeköy Nursery, with the dense, snow-laden trees of Belgrad Forest in the background. The heavy snowfall creates a peaceful winter scene, blanketing the landscape in white. Two people walks through the nursery, adding a sense of scale to the vast, snow-filled expanse.
Snow-covered pine saplings stretch across Bahçeköy Nursery, with the dense, snow-laden trees of Belgrad Forest in the background. The heavy snowfall creates a peaceful winter scene, blanketing the landscape in white. Two people walks through the nursery, adding a sense of scale to the vast, snow-filled expanse.

Belgrad Forest

The Belgrade Forest (Turkish: Belgrad Ormanı) is a mixed deciduous forest lying 15 kilometers (9.5 miles) northwest of Istanbul, Turkey. Geographically, the forest is located at the easternmost point of the Thracian Peninsula. It stretches between the Black Sea and the Bosphorus. Forest terrain is divided between Sarıyer and Eyüp districts. Several historical reservoirs lie within the forest.

Although its elevation above sea level is not very high, Belgrad Forest is a region that receives heavy rainfall and exhibits transitional characteristics between Central European and Mediterranean climates. This feature of the forest allows different plant species to grow together in the same area. The vegetation of the forest mainly consists of deciduous trees and shrubs. Sessile oak (Quercus petraea) is the dominant tree species in the forest.

Topuzlu Bendi, Belgrade Forest, Istanbul (June 2021)
Topuzlu Dam in Belgrad Forest (also known as Bahçeköy Dam or Mahmud I Dam) is estimated to have been built in 1750. It’s the closest dam to my house – just a 5-minute walk away.

During the Ottoman Empire, the forest area was much larger than it is today. Maps of Istanbul from 1822 show that Belgrad Forest covered an area of 13,000 hectares. Although it has been reduced to 5,442 hectares today, it still supports a rich diversity of plant, bird, and mammal species, including deer and wild boar.

Belgrade Forest is under protection and is one of the most visited recreational areas of Istanbul.

In the forest, there are some Ottoman dams still remaining, which were all built over a period of 150 years.

According to common belief, the Belgrade Forest was named after a Serbian village that was forcibly relocated to the forest to manage the city’s water supply system during Ottoman times. The people of the village were captives from Suleiman’s (the Magnificent) Serbia campaign. Apparently, they were known for being good at that sort of thing, and the sultan decided he’d prefer to have no one but the best looking after his aqueducts and dams.

The water from the Belgrade Forest dams ended up along the European Bosporus shore all the way down to Besiktas (you can still see the remnants of the aqueducts in Bahcekoy) before terminating in the famous Taksim Square, where it was then distributed further. This is actually how Taksim got its name – “Taksim” is Turkish for “distribution”.

Aqueduct of Bahcekoy, Istanbul - 2017-01-28

Related: The Aquaduct of Bahçeköy

How to go to Belgrade Forest?

The forest is in the Sariyer district; accessible by busses to Bahcekoy (153 from Sariyer, 42T from Baltalimanı, 42HM from Haciosman station – the subway’s last station). If you get off from the bus at the last stop in Bahçeköy and walk about 200 meters, you’ll reach the entrance to Belgrad Forest.

The forest also Contains Atatürk Arboretum, and the ruins of Belgrad village, an 18th-century summer getaway for the Istanbul ex-pat crowd. The main goal of the Atatürk Arboretum is to serve the faculty and the students of Istanbul University’s Forestry Department including the relevant agencies of the Ministry of Forest and Water Management, forest engineers, landscape architects, domestic and foreign scientists as well as nature lovers in their research work.

The arboretum covers an area of 296 ha (730 acres) southeast of Belgrad Forest. It contains the 1818-built Kirazlı Dam (Turkish: Kirazlıbent) and a 1916-establıshed plant nursery.

Although located within Belgrad Forest, the entrance to Atatürk Arboretum is not the same as the one for Belgrad Forest. The arboretum is situated on the Bahçeköy-Kemerburgaz road. To reach the arboretum, you should get off the bus at the ‘Kemerburgaz Yolu’ stop and walk about 300 meters in the direction of Kemerburgaz.

Snow-covered Belgrade forest and Topuzlu dam

Related: A walk in the snow-covered Belgrade Forest

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Özgür Nevres
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