Nevsehir

Where to Visit in Nevsehir

Nevsehir is a city and the capital district of Nevşehir Province in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. According to the 2020 census, the population of the city is 82,110. It is 290 km (180 mi) from the capital Ankara and lies within the historical region of Cappadocia.

The town lies at an elevation of 1,224 m (4,016 ft) and has a continental climate, with heavy snow in winter and great heat in summer. Although Nevşehir is close to the underground cities, fairy chimneys, monasteries, caravanserais and rock-hewn churches of Cappadocia, and has a few hotels, the modern town is not itself a tourist centre. In 2015 a huge underground city was discovered underneath its centre following demolition works intended to clear the central hillside of ramshackle modern housing.

Founded in 2007, Nevsehir University was renamed Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University in 2013. Nevsehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV) is 30 kilometres northwest of the town. The inter-city bus station is about 6 km southwest of the city centre. Two planned high-speed rail services should eventually link Nevsehir to Antalya, Konya, Kayseri and Ankara.

Prehistory and ancient history

The Hittites first founded the settlement of Nissa on the slopes of Mount Kahveci in the valley of Kızılırmak (the ancient  Halys). This town, along with the region, came under the rule of the Assyrian Empire around the 8th century BC, and was subsequently ruled by the Medes and then by the Persians during the reign of emperor Cyrus the Great in 546 BC. In 333 BC, Alexander the Great defeated the Persians and after his death, the surrounding area came under the rule of the dynasty of Ariarathes with Mazaka (present-day Kayseri) as its capital. The Cappadocian kingdom became a province- of the Roman empire in the reign of Emperor Tiberius.

Medieval history

The so-called underground cities found around Nevsehir may originally have been built to escape persecution by the pagan Roman authorities although others believe they date back to Hittite times. Many of the churches, hewn in the rocks, date from these early years of Christianity. Even when Theodosius I made Christianity the official religion of the empire, the caves offered protection for the local people during raids by the Sassanid Persians circa AD 604 and by the Islamic Caliphate from AD 647 onwards. When Iconoclasm became state policy in the Byzantine empire, again the caves around Nevşehir became shelters for those escaping persecution.

The castle on the hill in the middle of Nevsehir dates from the Byzantine period, when the region was on the frontline in the (holy) wars against the Islamic Caliphate.

At the Battle of Manzikert (present-day Malazgirt) in AD 1071, the Byzantine emperor Romanos IV was defeated by the Seljuk Sultan Alp Arslan which led to the occupation of Anatolia by the Seljuks by 1074. Along with the rest of the region, Nevşehir became part of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum, then fell under the rule of the Karamanid dynasty in 1328 and finally under Ottoman rule around 1487 AD when it was renamed Muşkara. It remained relatively insignificant until the early 18th century.

Modern history

The present-day city owes its foundation in the so-called Tulip Age to the grand vizier and son-in-law of the Sultan Ahmed III, Nevşehirli Damad İbrahim Pasha who was born in Muşkara and later took a great interest in its expansion. The small village with only 18 houses, formerly under the administration of the kaza of Ürgüp, was rapidly transformed with the building of mosques (the Kurṣunlu Mosque), fountains, schools, soup kitchens, inns and bath houses, and its name was changed from Muşkara to “Nevşehir” (meaning New City in Persian and Ottoman Turkish). In 1730 the grand vizier was assassinated by rebels in İstanbul but by then Nevşehir was firmly established as a town. The present-day city owes its foundation in the so-called Tulip Age to the grand vizier and son-in-law of the Sultan Ahmed III, Nevşehirli Damad İbrahim Pasha who was born in Muşkara and later took a great interest in its expansion. The small village with only 18 houses, formerly under the administration of the kaza of Ürgüp, was rapidly transformed with the building of mosques (the [[:c:|Kurṣunlu Mosque), fountains, schools, soup kitchens, inns and bath houses, and its name was changed from Muşkara to “Nevşehir” (meaning New City in Persian and Ottoman Turkish). In 1730 the grand vizier was assassinated by rebels in İstanbul but by then Nevşehir was firmly established as a town.

According to the Ottoman General Census of 1881/82-1893, the kaza of Nevşehir had a total population of 39,822, consisting of 30,370 Muslims, 8,918 Greeks, 477 Armenians, 36 Catholics and 21 Protestants.

Under the terms of the Convention Concerning the Exchange of Greek and Turkish Populations in 1923, the Turkish speaking Greek Orthodox community (Karamanlis) of Nevşehir was exchanged for Muslims from Osheni, Shak and Revani villages of Kesriye (today’s Οινόη, Κομνηνάδες and Διποταμία villages of Kastoria, Western Macedonia, Greece).

Kurşunlu Mosque, a unique early 17th-century mosque in the city centre which contains elements of Ottoman and Tulip period architecture. Nevşehir Castle and Kayaşehir. Meryem Ana Kilisesi, Mother Mary Church near Nevşehir Castle. The Hagios Georgios Church, also known as the ‘Çanlı Church’ near Nevşehir Castle. Green Valley – dotted with restaurants and gardens near Nar. Nevşehir Veterans Stadium. Nevşehir Football Stadium. Uçhisar, a rock-cut castle in Cappadocia. Churches of Göreme.

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Mustafapasa Village Sinassos

Mustafapasa Village Sinassos, formerly is a small town in the Ürgüp district of Nevşehir province, Turkey. At 38°35′N 34°56′E it lies to the west of Gomeda valley and is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) away from Ürgüp and 27 kilometres (17 mi) away from Nevşehir town. In 2011 its population was 3,000. The Mustafa Pasa after whom the modern town is named was Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the great […]

Rose Valley

Rose Valley (Gulludere) is located near Goreme. Rose Valley is the best place to see the fairy chimney formations in Cappadocia. And that makes The Valley a popular hiking route in Cappadocia for nature lovers. WHAT TO EXPECT? As in other valleys of Cappadocia, here you’ll find many churches, monasteries and shelter areas carved into the rocks. Travelers […]

Meskendir Valley

Meskendir Valley is bewitching sight, hidden among the rugged hills and steep valleys that make up the Cappadocia region in the heart of Turkey’s Central Anatolia. Meskendir Valley is known for its unusual rock formations, multi-coloured stone and moon-like landscape. The hue of the rocks is particularly striking under the bight rays of the sun. […]

3 Beauties Fairy Chimneys

3 Beauties Fairy Chimneys are located in Ürgüp, one of the places you should add to your Cappadocia travel list. As the name suggests, it consists of three fairy chimneys, two of which are large and one small. This nature monument is seen by many as a nuclear family. The address of the photographers in […]

Esentepe

Esentepe Village is located between the Uchisar and Goreme. Esentepe which offers an amazing collection of natural and cultural marvels. In simply strolling through the Esentepe Village you will be surprised at the peculiar ‘fairy chimney’ rocks that were naturally crafted by the elements. The magnificent landscape around Göreme has been formed from its solidified lava streams, its ash and tuff stone, […]

Ortahisar Castle

Ortahisar Castle (Turkish: Middle Castle), previously known by its Byzantine name Potamía, is a small town in the Ürgüp district of Nevşehir province, in Cappadocia, Turkey. Ortahisar has around 3.500 inhabitants and is located about 20 km east of the provincial capital, Nevşehir. Until the mid-2010s Ortahisar was rather off-the-beaten-track when it came to Cappadocian tourism. It is now much better known […]

Love Valley

Love Valley, also known as Baglidere Valley, is one of the most fantastic valleys of Cappadocia. Located between Avanos and Goreme road, the valley is named after the interesting fairy chimney formations, and being popular with the couples for marriage proposals. The soil of the region is very rich in minerals, which makes it an ideal place for growing fruits and […]

Goreme

Goreme is a village of around 2,000 people in Nevşehir province in Central Anatolia. It is well known for its fairy chimneys (Turkish: peribacalar), eroded rock formations, many of which were hollowed out in the Middle Ages to create houses, churches and underground cities. Göreme was formerly known as Korama, Matiana, Macan and Avcilar. Goreme sits at the heart of a network of […]

Red Valley

Red Valley is Cappadocia’s most beautiful natural wonder. Surreal rock formations, pinkish-red colors, and ancient cave churches make Red Valley a top destination in Cappadocia. Visiting The best way is to experience Red Valley is by hiking on foot. You can tour the area on horseback or mountain bike (rentals in Göreme), but walking is […]

Urgup

Urgup has traditionally been the tourism center of Central Anatolia's Cappadocia region, though nowadays nearby Goreme Town has become an equally important touring base. It used to be that Urgup was for upscale visitors and tour groups, and Göreme for backpackers, but that has changed. There are now excellent boutique hotels and inns in both towns, although Urgup does have many more of these. The center of Ürgüp (EWR-gewp, pop. [...]

Agzikarahan Caravanserai

Agzikarahan Caravanserai is a historic Seljuk-era caravanserai in Turkey. It is located in Ağzıkarahan village about 20 kilometers far from Aksaray city center. Agzikarahan caravanserai is considered one of the most exquisitely decorated examples of an average, non-royal-family-funded caravanserais. The building's foundation was formed in June 1231 under Sultan Ala ad-Din Kayqubad I and the [...]

Avanos

Avanos is a town and district of Nevşehir Province in the Cappadocia region of Central Anatolia, Turkey, located 18 km (11 mi) north of Nevşehir, the capital city of the province. In 2011 the population of Avanos town was 16,000. Historically known as Venessa, modern Avanos stands on the banks of the longest river of Turkey, the Kızılırmak (Red River), the ancient Halys. The district covers an area of [...]

Pigeon Valley

Pigeon Valley is a lovely valley located near Uchisar town named after the thousands of pigeon houses carved into the soft tufa since ancient times and offers another spectacular panoramic view over Cappadocia together with the spectacular views of the dovecotes. The valley takes its name from pigeons and valley ranks first among the popular, most known, and impressive valleys [...]

Selime Monastery

Selime Monastery one of the most unexpected surprises in Cappadocia is the wonderful rock-cut monastery in Selime, at the end of Ihlara valley, 28 km from Aksarai. Selime was home to Hittite, Assyrian, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Danişment, Seljuk and Ottoman civilizations. One of the most important aspects of Selime fortress-monastery was that many leading clergymen [...]

Devrent Valley

Devrent Valley, also called as “Imagination Valley” is one of the fantastic regions of Cappadocia. The valley is also one most popular places to see in Cappadocia that travelers may experience and enjoy the beautiful lunar landscape of Cappadocia, the most surreal landscape of the region. THINGS TO DO & SEE Devrent Valley is home to very interesting fairy chimney formations. Cappadocia’s famous fairy [...]

Pasabag Valley

Pasabag Valley, also known as “Monks Valley” is one of the most popular fairy chimneys areas of Cappadocia, situated between Avanos and Goreme. Pasabag Valley is also one most popular places to see in Cappadocia that travelers may experience mushroom shaped fairy chimneys with multiple stems and caps. TOP FACTS Pasabag, also known as the Monks Valley, is a unique destination in Cappadocia that is [...]

Cavusin Village

Cavusin Village is a touristic and charming village and one of the oldest settlements of the region situated along the Goreme-Avanos road in the heart of Cappadocia, Turkey. The village is known for its unique cave houses and stunning rock formations, making it a popular destination for visitors to the region. If you’re planning a trip to [...]

Uchisar

Uchisar is a village in Cappadocia, in Nevşehir province, Turkey. It is 7 kilometres east of Nevşehir, 12 kilometres west of  Ürgüp, and 10 kilometres south of Avanos. Situated on the edge of Göreme National Park, Uçhisar consists of an old village huddled around the base of a huge rock cone and a new one closer to the road that runs from Nevşehir [...]

Ihlara Valley

Ihlara Valley (often misspelled as Ilhara Valley), near Mount Hasan and Mount Melendiz (two of the three volcanoes of Cappadocia) is a canyon with a depth of approximately 100m and was formed by the Melendiz River thousands of years ago. It begins at Ihlara village and ends with Selime Monastery at Selime village after making 26 [...]

Kaymakli Underground City

Kaymakli Underground City; These troglodyte cave-cities were excavated as early as Hittite times, and expanded over the centuries as various marauding armies traversed Central Anatolia in search of captives and plunder. There are 36 underground cities in Cappadocia and the widest one is Kaymakli underground city, while the deepest is the Derinkuyu Underground City. Kaymakli underground city is built [...]

Derinkuyu Underground City

Derinkuyu Underground City; These troglodyte cave-cities were excavated as early as Hittite times, and expanded over the centuries as various marauding armies traversed Central Anatolia in search of captives and plunder. There are 36 underground cities in Cappadocia and the deepest one is Derinkuyu underground city, while the widest is the. Derinkuyu underground city is located in [...]

Zelve

Zelve Open-Air Museum, which once housed one of the largest communities in the region is an amazing cave town, honeycombed with dwellings, religious and secular chambers. Zelve is situated about 10 km out from Goreme on the Avanos road. Here, the Christians and Muslims lived together in perfect harmony, until 1924. Then Christians had to [...]

Goreme Open Air Museum

Goreme Open Air Museum resembles a vast monastic complex composed of scores of refectory monasteries placed side-by-side, each with its own fantastic church. It is obviously the first sight to be visited by any traveler in Cappadocia, standing as it does in the very center of the region with easy access from all directions. It is only [...]