Anatolie centrale — Nevşehir et vallée d’Ihlara, Aksaray, Türkiye
Cappadoce centrale
Warning: Risk areaThe notebook of Cappadoce centrale
Find the essentials in front of the mountains.
Central Cappadocia combines the valleys carved in the tuff around Göreme with the underground shelters of Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı. The rock churches, the ancient villages and the canyon d Provide several bases or road movements to connect its remote areas.
At your own pace
Identity summary
4 to 6 days
Spring · Autumn
Recommended car
Heritage · Nature · Volcano · River
Limited accessibility
Modular rhythm
General presentation
Cappadoce centrale
Central Cappadocia combines the valleys carved in the tuff around Göreme with the underground shelters of Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı. The rock churches, the ancient villages and the canyon d Provide several bases or road movements to connect its remote areas.
To understand what Central Cappadocia is, you must look to the Valleys and rock sites of Göreme, the open air museum of Göreme and Uçhisar and its fortified rock. These places give us a view of a territory marked by heritage, natural spaces, volcanic landscapes and riverscapes and allow us to move from emblematic sites to more intimate stages.
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For a stay of 4 to 6 days, it is better to balance visits and travel times. Also to be anticipated: increased vigilance and ihlara belongs to the Aksaray sector: include its canyon in the chosen geography. A car is usually the easiest way to connect the different sectors. However, some sites require more walking, elevation or preparation.
Strengths and constraints
Strengths
- Valleys and rock sites of Göreme
- Open-air museum in Göreme
- Uçhisar et son rocher fortifié
- Underground town of Derinkuyu
- Underground town of Kaymaklı
- Valley of Ihlara
- Zelve Outdoor Museum
- Cheminées de fée de Paşabağları
Before you choose
- Enhanced vigilance.
- Ihlara belongs to the Aksaray area: include its canyon in the chosen geography.
- Close underground galleries; route to choose according to mobility and tolerance to enclosed spaces.
Places worth visiting
A selection to start dreaming and organizing the stay — not an exhaustive list of everything there is to see.
Nature
Vallées et sites rupestres de Göreme
Around Göreme, erosion cut the tuff into ridges, cones and valleys. Housing and sanctuaries dug into the rock show how communities have adapted this volcanic landscape to their needs.
Museum
Musée de plein air de Göreme
This monastic ensemble gathers churches carved in the tufa, whose painted decorations tell of biblical episodes. Tokalı and Karanlık are among his major landmarks. The museum is a specific place, distinct from the village of Göreme.
Heritage
Uçhisar et son rocher fortifié
The ancient village of Uçhisar is closed around a large, ejected rocky cone, whose name evokes an outer citadel. Its stone houses and surrounding reliefs give a inhabited reading of the landscape of Cappadocia.
Heritage
Ville souterraine de Derinkuyu
Under the present city, Derinkuyu retains underground habitat over several levels. Galleries and halls testify to the collective organisation of a refuge, with spaces suitable for storage and daily life underground.
Practical tips
This information helps know if the destination matches the planned trip before starting a fuller search.
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