As the sun rises over the fairy chimneys in the early hours of the morning, hundreds of hot air balloons take to the skies, soaring above the valleys and hills of one of the country’s most famous regions. This is the sight most travelers come to see in central Turkey, in a place that seems like a landscape from another planet.
While Cappadocia may be famed for its natural volcanic formations that have created a surreal landscape, its historical and cultural significance lies in how civilizations have used these landscapes for millennia, creating incredible villages, castles, and churches from the tuff. Here are four sites to visit in the region that offer a different perspective on how humans have manipulated and harnessed this magical place.
1. Hike Uçhisar Castle
As one of the highest points in the valleys of Cappadocia, this ancient volcanic rock formation was turned into a fortress as early as the Hittite period (2,000 BCE) and is still used to this day. Standing at the base of the castle, I could imagine why this place played such an important role throughout the region’s history, with many different empires and peoples seeking refuge in this hollowed-out rock. As I walked through, the cool stone immediately brought the temperature down, as if I had stepped into another world. Wandering through the hall felt like a cave lit with warm lighting, thanks to the lights that dotted the way.
Walking out onto the first staircase alongside the edge of the castle, I began my ascent. While from below it doesn’t appear as high, from the ledge it definitely gives the impression that you are above the world. Coming out onto the viewpoint, hundreds of small inlets and valleys spread out before me. The town of Uçhisar sloped down the hill, and the sandstone rocks transform into fairy chimneys that dot the hills. Out in the distance, I could see the other towns of the area, themselves poking out against the never-ending sea of valleys, appearing as harsh cracks in the earth.
The village of Uçhisar is much quieter and calmer than Göreme, which functions as the central hub for tourism in the area. Exploring the town’s small alleyways on my walk down, I passed numerous artisan shops, cafes, and tea houses that looked out over the views below, with wooden tables and carpets decorating them in a traditional Turkish style.
2. Visit Göreme’s Rock-Cut Churches
Gazing up at the ancient paintings just above my head, I could not believe they were over a thousand years old, appearing as if they had just been completed that year. Hundreds of rock-cut churches dot the landscape of this region, with very early Christians from the 9th to 11th centuries taking refuge in them, carving directly into the volcanic rock because of its soft texture.
Inside each church, there were vivid depictions of the New Testament, with the classic Byzantine-style faces looking back at me. There is an air of mysticism in each one, with Gregorian chants being played and almost complete silence from visitors. With domes, chapels, and apses all covered in ancient paint, I tried to imagine what their lives must have been like, taking refuge often in these caves as invaders or foreign empires swept through.
3. Hike Through Zelve Valley
Zelve is one of my favorite valleys in Cappadocia, offering a much more relaxed, quiet experience than other valleys closer to Göreme. Standing at the base of the valley, rock formations with dug-out cave dwellings loom over you on both sides, giving a true sense of scale of how large they are. From the bottom, it is incredible to imagine the hours it would have taken to create these homes, courtyards, and tunnels. The inhabitants who lived here didn’t just create simple caves; they carved out stairs, hallways, and inner courtyards that felt like actual homes.
This valley was used until the 1950s, with abandoned homes, churches, and mosques still standing in hidden corners scattered amongst the caves. Zelve Valley shows what daily life would have been like living in these caves, with smoke-filled walls from ovens, carved-out seats, and large tables in each cave.
4. Explore Derinkuyu Underground Village
Hidden deep beneath the surface is an underground world that has existed for centuries. Derinkuyu is a hidden village dug deep into the earth, with hundreds of passageways, homes, and churches. The city extends several levels underground, where thousands of people once lived, with ventilation shafts, food storage rooms, animal stables, and kitchens. As someone who has claustrophobia, I’ll never forget walking through the city, each step feeling heavier and heavier as I walked down steps leading into its depths. I couldn’t believe the number of rooms the city contained, which reminded me of a sci-fi show about underground cities such as these.
One of the most striking features of the city is the large stones intended to seal off certain sections in the event of an invasion. Indeed, when they needed to, the city could become completely hidden, and invading armies would never know they were walking above thousands of people. The scale and complexity of this city still baffles me to this day, even though I have decided that one visit was enough for me.
Conclusion
If Cappadocia is on your bucket list, don’t forget to experience these magical places that provide an overview of its rich history and human stories. While hot air balloons are an absolute must-do activity and one of my favorite memories that I will treasure forever, these destinations can bring you into contact with what makes this place so unique and rare in the history of our world.
<p>The post Cappadocia Beyond the Hot Air Balloons: Cultural Experiences in Turkey’s Most Magical Region first appeared on Travelbinger.</p>