Want to discover a historic environment that will not leave you indifferent? Here is Göreme National Park and the rock sites of Cappadocia, in central Turkey! A unique place, characterized by its geology, but also by its human history. Discover an overview of this popular tourist spot.
Göreme National Park and the rock sites of Cappadocia are located in Turkey, west of the city of Kayseri. This site is characterized by the presence of rock sanctuaries (which bear witness to the use of Byzantine art), but also dwellings, underground villages and troglodytes which represent a mode of human habitation used since prehistoric times.
The place takes the form of a landscape developed by centuries of erosion, surrounded by a chain of extinct volcanoes, with valleys, rocky sections and peaks with a very particular shape, which are nicknamed the ” fairy chimneys! This area is considered one of the most important rock ensembles in the world thanks to its troglodyte villages, churches and underground cities. The environment mixes Christian sanctuaries and Byzantine art, to create a unique atmosphere instead. It is even possible to fly over this fascinating landscape in a hot air balloon!
The park links the troglodyte human habitat to extraordinary natural reliefs. The place continues to change naturally, as the process of rock erosion always produces new “fairy chimneys”, and polishes the surrounding rocky landscape. The place is protected and maintained to welcome the curious, and the many spots to admire the park and the mountainous surroundings are exceptional.
Article updated on 7 December 2022
