The Burana Tower, located in the Chüy Valley on the outskirts of Bishkek, is a minaret that forms part of the remains of the city of Balasagun (9th century). It is the setting for a legend reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty: a witch warned a king that his daughter would die when she turned eighteen, so the king built a tall tower to house his daughter. However, on her eighteenth birthday, a spider bit the young girl and she died as predicted. No Prince Charming here ….

Credits: Zoé Toulouse (France)

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