NEVSEHIR

AREA: 5.467 km²
POPULATION: 289.509 (1990)
TRAFFIC CODE: 50

DISTRICTS: Nevşehir (center), Acıgöl, Avanos, Derinkuyu, Gülşehir, Hacıbektaş, Kozaklı, Ürgüp.

Nevsehir is the capital of the Cappadocia region and is a perfect starting point for extensively visiting the area. The first settlements date back to 3000 BC; its oldest name was "Nyssa." The city also has some interesting remains from the Seljuk period, such as the castle which stands at the highest point of the city. The Kursunlu Mosque has an impressive complex of buildings and a medresse surrounding it which dates back to 1726. The museum displays a rich collection of the local finds.

Gulsehir, and Hacibektas which is the town where Haci Bektas Veli settled in the 14th century, and set up his own Bektas Dervish order which was based on love and humanism. Hacibektas is famous for its onyx souvenirs.

GOREME NATIONAL PARK (CAPPADOCIA)

Cappadocia has one of the most interesting and spectacular landscapes in the world. About three million years ago the volcanoes of Mt. Erciyes and Mt. Hasan covered the surrounding plateau with volcanic tuff as a result of their violent eruptions. The natural effects of wind, water and rain eroded this area into a spectacular, surrealist landscape of rock caves, capped pinnacles and fretted ravines in colors ranging from warm tones of red and gold to cool tones of green and gray.

Dating back to 4000 BC; the earliest people used to live in Goreme, known as Cappadocia, in dwellings dug into the rock. Christianity came to the region, and chapels, churches and monasteries were constructed in the rocks. At Derinkuyu, Mazi and Kaymakli, cities were developed underground in order for the inhabitants to hide from raiders. There is another underground city -Ozkonak- which is also open to the public. They are really amazing to visit, and give a sense of the way people must have felt while living underground.

Urgup, 20 kms east of Nevsehir, is a lively tourist center and has all the characteristics of the region. Besides this, it is the center of a wine producing region and every year in October an International Wine Festival is held. It is an excellent place to stay to tour the sights in daytime and to find amusement in discos and bars at night. In Urgup you can see how people once lived in houses carved into the rock along the narrow streets. This is a good place for buying carpets and kilims, as many varieties are offered. Pancarlik Valley, the Mustafapasa (Sinassos) and Cemil villages, with their traditional stone houses, the Taskinpasa and Sahinefendi villages where the 2th century Kirksehitler Church is located, and the Devrent and Catalkaya Valleys are famous for their fairy chimneys.

The Goreme Open Air Museum, 8 km northwest of Urgup, is a monastic complex of rock churches and chapels decorated with frescoes. The churches of Elmali, St. Basil, St. Barbara, Yilanli, Karanlik, Carikli, and Tokali are of particular interest and their frescoes are very well preserved. Many pilgrims still visit the churches. The cities of Goreme and Uchisar provide a bewitching scenery of cones and chimney formations. Uchisar Fortress is the highest point and the view from its top is enchanting. In Cavusin you will find the monastery of St. John the Baptist. The attractive town of Avanos is famous for its handicrafts, especially pottery, and you may try this craft yourself in one of the many studios. Soganli has a picturesque beauty with dozens of chapels, churches, halls and tombs. The Byzantine development of fresco art can be observed from the 8th to the 13th centuries in Soganli.

The town of Ortahisar is carved out of rock. The churches in the Balkan Valley are some of the oldest. Kizilcukur Valley is strikingly beautiful during sunset. You should not miss that marvelous picture.

Cappadocia is a land which seems to be a fantasy. Words are useless to describe the beauty and charm of the region; you must experience it for yourself. It will certainly take a particular place in your memories and in your photograph album.

SITES OF INTEREST: Göreme Historical National Park, Uçhisar, Zeland, Ortahisar, Çavuşin and Ürgüp historical settlements, Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu underground cities, Peribacaları, St. Basil at Ürgüp, Tavşanlı, Karaçalı, Elmalı churches, Başmelek Monastry, Nevşehir and Ürgüp castles, Hacı Bektaş Veli Dervish Lodge, Avanos Grand Mosque, Damat İbrahim Pasha, Taşkın Pasha and Karavezir mosque complexes, Kaya, Alaeddin, Kızılkaya village, Aşçıbaşı mosques and Taşcami (Stone Mosque), Beylik Hanı (inn), Sarıhan, Kozaklı hot springs, Nevşehir, Hacıbektaş and Ürgüp Museums, Göreme and Zeland open air museums.

Camps

Özer Camping
Nevşehir Ürgüp Yolu Üzeri
Tel: (384) 213 12 59

Dilek Camping
Göreme / Nevşehir
Tel: (384) 271 23 96

Göreme Motel Camping
Göreme / Nevşehir
Tel: (384) 271 25 23

Kapadokya Camping
Göreme / Nevşehir
Tel: (384) 271 23 17

Panorama Camping
Göreme / Nevşehir
Tel: (384) 271 23 52

Koru Mocamp
Üçhisar / Nevşehir
Tel: (384) 219 21 90

Dinler Camping
Ürgüp / Nevşehir
Tel: (384) 213 14 28

Çiftlik Camping
Üçhisar / Nevşehir
Tel: (384) 219 24 94

Kaya Camping
Ortahisar / Ürgüp
Tel: (384) 343 31 00

Ada Camping
Avanos / Nevşehir
Tel: (384) 511 24 29

Gülşehir Camping
Gülşehir / Nevşehir
Tel: (384) 411 30 28

Berlin Camping
Göreme / Nevşehir
Tel: (384) 271 22 49

Mercan Camping
Göreme / Nevşehir
Tel: (384) 271 22 19

Paris Motel & Camping
Ortahisar / Ürgüp
Tel: (384) 343 21 01

Provincial Cultural Directorat

Tel: (384) 213 42 60
Fax: (384) 213 70 45

Cultural Centers
 

Hall with 184 seating capacity for plays, conferences etc.
480 m² Exhibition Hall
480 m² Library
690 m² Museum

Contact Address: Hasan Emmi Türbesi Yanı
350 Evler Mah. No: 5 - Nevşehir
Tel: (384) 213 54 50
Fax: (384) 212 43 38

State Fine Arts Gallery Directorate
 

Kültür Merkezi
NEVŞEHİR
Tel: (0 384) 213 17 26
Fax: 213 42 60

Museums

Nevşehir Museum
Address: (384) 213 14 47
Fax: (384) 212 43 38

Hacıbektaş Museum
Address: Nevşehir Cad. Hacıbektaş - Nevşehir
Tel: (384) 441 30 22

Ürgüp Museum
Address: Kayseri Cad. No: 39 Ürgüp - Nevşehir
Tel: (384) 341 40 82

 Historical Sites and Ruins

Nevşehir Museum
Zeland - Avanos - Aktepe
Çavuşin Church - Avanos -
Çavuşin
Kaymaklı underground city -
Kaymaklı Town
Derinkuyu underground city -
Derinkuyu
Açıksaray - Gülşehir
St. Jean Church - Gülşehir
Özkonak underground city - Avanos
Özkonak Town
Mazi Underground City - Ürgüp
Tatlaring Church - Acıgöl
Pashabağları - Avanos - Çavuşin

Ürgüp Museum
M. Pasha Churches - Ürgüp - MustafaPasha
Pancarlı Church - Ürgüp - MustafaPasha
Üzümlü Church and Çev. - Ürgüp - Ortahisar
Hallaç Monastry - Ürgüp - Ortahisar
St. Teodore Church- Ürgüp - Yeşilöz

Hacı Bektaşi Veli Cultural Museum
Suluca Karahöyük - Hacıbektaş
İlicek Tumulus- İlicek Village
Kayaaltı Tumulus - Kayaaltı Village
Abdal Castle - Kızılöz Çiftliği
Kalehöyük (tumulus) - Karaburma

Registered Immobile Cultural and Natural Heritages in Nevşehir

Sites
Archaeological Sites: 93
Urban Sites: 11
Natural Sites: 15
Historical Sites: -
Other Sites
Archaeological and Natural Sites: 4
Archaeological and Urban Sites: 2
Historical and Natural Sites: 4
Historical and Natural Sites: 1
Natural and Urban Sites: 1
Total: 131
Cultural (at Single Construction Scale) and Natural Heritages: 928
TOTAL: 1059

Significant Days

Local Days of Celebration:

Commemoration Day for Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli
Hacıbektaş
16-18 August

Arrival of Atatürk at Hacıbektaş
Hacıbektaş
22-23 December

Province Status of Nevşehir Celebration
Nevşehir
20 July

Festivals:

International Avanos Tourism Handicrafts Festival
Avanos
18-20 August

Ürgüp Grape Harvest Festival
Ürgüp
3-5 or 4-6 October

Wine Competiton
Ürgüp
2-6 June