GÖREME
  GENERAL INFO
Göreme, which hide among fairy chimneys, is the heart of Cappadocia. First period settlement within the region reaches to Roman period from Christianity. Ortahane, Durmus Kadir, Yusuf Koc and Bezirhane churches in Göreme, houses and shafts engraved from rocks till to Uzundere, Bağıldere and Zemi Valley carries the mystical side of history today. Göreme, in which there are lots of fairy chimneys and churches, is declared as an open air museum. Tokalı Church, Priestesses and Priests Monastery, Saint Basil Chapel, Elmalı

Church, Saint Barbara Chapel, Yılanlı (Saint Onuphrius) Church, Karanlık Church, Çarıklı Church, El Nazar Church, Saklı Church, Mother Mary (Kılıçlar Kuşluk) Church, Saint Eustathios Church and Durmuş Kadir Churches within its territories are valuable to visit places. Valleys, composed of tuff rocks between Göreme Valley and Aktepe, are known as Büyük and Küçük Kılıçlar. There is Kılıçlar Church within the valley, which has an impressive appearance with tunnels, fairy chimneys in which water ways are passing by and interesting shaped rocks.

Göreme Open Air Museum : Göreme is a wide open air museum, in which there are Fairy Chimneys and lots of churches. Very interesting churches, which are within one of the most important centers of Christianity, Göreme, are under protection.

Göreme National Park :
Location: Goreme National Park is just outside the village of Goreme, 12km east of Nevsehir and in the heart of Cappadocia, in Central Anatolia.
Transportation: Goreme village is easily accessible by road from all directions, especially through Nevsehir. The Ankara – Adana highway approaches from the northwest, the Aksaray – Nevsehir from the southwest, and the Kayseri – Urgup highway from the northeast. The national park can be reached on foot from the village.
Highlights : The national park consists of valleys with the world-famous rock formations of Cappadocia, the conical shaped rocks shaped over centuries out of eroded volcanic stone, and known as Fairy Chimneys. In addition to the fascinating landscape formed by the volcanic tuff and cave dwellings, there are also important Byzantine churches, which reflect the history of religious art in that period. Because of the geological characteristics of the area, and the fact that it was secluded, people living here could hide themselves away from the various battles taking place, as well as from the authority of the central administration. Monastery life in the area began in the 3rd and 4th centuries, and grew quickly. There are the remains of monuments, churches, chapels, dining halls, monk cell alcoves, depots, and wine production places all decorated with frescos. The nearby villages of Urgup, Avcilar, Uchisar, Cavusini and Yeni Zalve still reflect traditional life and agricultural practices of Goreme’s past. That, and the unique morphological structure of Goreme, is the main attraction to the area.
Facilities: The best time to visit the area is between March and November. Trekking routes are clearly marked around the valley and there are many hotels, pensions and restaurants in the area, especially in Goreme village.