Rize's serender culture as a component of regional gastronomic heritage

Abstract

This paper examines the transformation of traditional serender structures in the Rize region of Türkiye from food storage facilities into multidimensional cultural assets within the contexts of gastronomy and tourism. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through semistructured interviews with craftsmen, users, tourism stakeholders and local authorities. The findings reveal that serenders have evolved beyond their original function and now represent a complex socio-cultural element associated with cultural heritage, craftsmanship, local economy and tourism. The study highlights the importance of preserving both the physical structures and the associated traditional knowledge for sustainable cultural heritage management.