AVANOS – Turkey

In the Zelve Valley, which houses large and pointed fairy chimneys, you can see many ancient structures. You can come across monasteries, cave houses, and churches made by human carving. While touring the Zelve Open Air Museum, you can also consider trekking through the rugged areas of the valley. Paşabağ Valley, also known as the Valley of the Priests, covers a very large area surrounded by mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys. The valley, which is frequented by many tourists, is one of the regions where the world famous fairy chimneys are the most intense and prominent. As can be understood from its other name, in ancient times, Christian clergymen lived and served as missionaries in Paşabağları. The priests, who retreated here, have created living spaces and religious shrines in the valley throughout their lives. There is also a historical carved church estimated to have been built 1000 years ago. The church among the mushroom-headed fairy chimneys will make its visitors feel its mystical feelings. After entering the valley, you can see many retreats. Paşabağ Valley is located in Zelve Ruins, which is very easily accessible. The area known as the old religious center is 5 kms from Avanos and 1 kms from Paşabağ.

Özkonak Underground City is an ancient city built into the northern slopes of Mt. Idis about 14 km northeast of Avanos. The city has many strata made up of volcanic granite. Its larger areas are connected to each other by tunnels, and it contains a pipe communication system reaching each of its levels. Each carved room had ventilation provided by further piping when the city was sealed during sieges.The city was probably built by the people of Byzantine Cappadocia, although the age is uncertain and could be older.
Unlike the other underground cities in this area, there were holes above the tunnels used for dumping hot sand on the enemy. Just like Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu, Özkonak has a water well, ventilation system, winery and moving stone doors.

Cappadocia has hundreds of cave churches with beautiful fresco paintings from the 9th and 10th centuries. Byzantine Christians carved out of the soft volcanic rock these monasteries and churches as sacred spaces to worship Jesus. These cave dwellings and underground cities have been used for many purposes over the centuries, including as monasteries, churches, and homes.

Saruhan Caravanserai is located within the borders of Avanos district of Nevşehir.This caravanserai, built in 1249 during the period of Izzettin Keykavus II., bears the traces of Seljuk architecture. Saruhan Caravanserai, which became an important part of the caravanserai trade routes planned in a classical structure, was built with light brown, yellow and pink cut stones. This building, which spreads over an area of ​​approximately 2000 square meters, is a single storey but has a magnificent entrance door. Five doors open to the courtyard of the caravanserai, which has a mixed type of architecture, three doors are the main door and they have a visual quality that can be considered as a work of art.

Yeni, Kayseri Cd. 6.Km, 50500 Aktepe/Avanos/Nevşehir
+90 384 511 3795
info@saruhan1249.com

Avanos is famous for handicrafts that have been created here for generations, such as pottery and carpets. The craft of pottery had been taught from father to son until the 1980s when it began to decline. Due to the lack of interest, family potters are slowly vanishing. Some of the more famous potters in Avanos have taken upon themselves to share their craft knowledge by creating studios and traveling throughout Turkey to educate those interested in learning the trade. Many of them welcome people with open arms to watch pottery demonstrations and visit their studios.

Guray Ceramic Museum, where you can see the world-famous old ceramics and pottery closely, was built as a result of carving and restoring the underground caves. The museum contains historical artifacts from centuries before Christ. Guray Museum consists of 3 separate sections according to the works exhibited. In the first part of the Antiquities Hall, the 20th-century items belonging to 5000 years before Christ. You can see the valuable ceramics and pottery made until the Ottoman Period. In the Second Modern Works Section, you can have a look at the artworks of the great ceramic masters who have lived and are still alive recently.  The tradition of pottery, which has been ongoing for 5 generations, is performed in a pottery workshop on the museum.

Yeni, Dereyamanlı Cd., 50840 Avanos/Nevşehir
+90 384 511 2374

Artisans offer demonstrations of how pottery is created, often by working on the potter’s wheel. it is also a time of education for children who can thus get closer to the art of pottery and its long tradition.