The fact that Safranbolu succeeded to preserve traditional Turkish community life's all characteristics until now gave the town the 'Capital of Conservation' title. About 1.500 of Turkey's 50.000 cultural and natural assets that need to be protected is in Safranbolu. The town's success in keeping intact its rich cultural heritage as a whole made Safranbolu a 'Word City' and it has been added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in December 17, 1994.
Safranbolu was known as 'Paplogonya' in Homers' Iliad. Although the region's history dates from 3000 BC, Safranbolu's urbanization time is still unknown.
The first civilizations known in the region were the Gaspas and the Zalpas, both neighbors of Hittites. Hittites, Phrygians, Lydians (indirectly), Persians, Hellenistic Kingdoms (Pontians), Romans (Byzantine), Seljukians, Chobanids, Isfendiyarids and Ottomans did consecutively dominate the region. Safranbolu was taken by Seljukian Sultan II.KılıçArslan's son Muhittin Mesut Şah in 1196 and therefore entered to Turks' dominion.
Throughout historical process, Safranbolu belonged to Chobanids between 1213-1280, to Isfendiyaridsbetween 1326-1354 and to Ottomans after 1423.
During its history Safranbolu reached its cultural and commercial peak during Ottomans period. The fact that it was an important stopover on the Istanbul-Sinop trade route in the 17th century made the region's commercial life develop and the city prosper.