Cappadocia is known not only for its fairy chimneys and hot air balloons, but also for its valleys lined up one after the other . In the valleys , each of which has its own unique topography , people once sheltered, fought, produced, retreated, worshiped… Exploring in the valleys of Cappadocia , which reveals all this experience today, must be priceless for curious eyes. Among the dozens of valleys in Cappadocia, Zelve Valley is among the prominent valleys of Cappadocia, such as Ihlara Valley, Paşabağları, Kızıl Valley, Aşk Valley, Soğanlı Valley, Devrent Valley, Zemi Valley, Güllüdere Valleys, Üzengi Valley .
Zelve Valley is one of the two open-air museums in the Cappadocia region . Another is Göreme Open Air Museum . Zelve Ruins was one of the important settlements and religious centers of the Histians between the 9th and 13th centuries . It is important in terms of the fact that the first religious seminars were given to the priests here. Until the recent past, in parallel with the history of Cappadocia , it was inhabited by various civilizations. The rock-carved dwellings , dovecotes , churches and monasteries, a mosque, a mill , a long tunnel connecting the two valleys, and fairy chimneys unique to Zelve are enough to count the valley among the most special and most visible places of Cappadocia.
Zelve on the steepest slopes of Aktepe
Within the triangle of Ürgüp, Avanos, Göreme , Aktepe Mountain occupies a large area, resembling the letter U. Like Çavuşin village, Kızıl Valley, Devrent Valley, Güllüdere Valleys and Paşabağları , Zelve Valley also lies at the foot of Aktepe Mountain. Aktepe made some torpedoes to Zelve and laid Zelve right in the middle of this letter U, on the northern slopes, which are the steepest slopes. You can see the most beautiful forms of fairy chimneys in Cappadocia in Zelve Valley . The bodies of the fairy chimneys found here are wide and their ends rise with a point. So much so that the French traveler Paul Lucas , who was once assigned to examine Anatolia, referred to fairy chimneys as “pyramid houses” .
were carved into fairy chimneys and large rock masses in Zelve Valley , as in every corner of Cappadocia . It is not known when the life style , also called troglodyte life, continued in caves and shelters carved into the rocks , started in Zelve Valley, but it still continues in most parts of Cappadocia. It continued in the village of Zelve until it was completely evacuated in 1954 for security reasons . Now the inhabitants of this village continue their lives in the village of Aktepe , not far from here, on the Ürgüp – Avanos highway . Zelve, on the other hand, is content with daily visitors as an archaeological site .
Zelve consists of not one but three valleys.
Zelve consists of three interconnected valleys . It is the smallest of these three valleys, which is on the far left according to the entrance area. Within this small valley are many habitats and a mill that has been preserved almost intact. The wheat grinding stone called seten in the mill attracts a lot of attention. Even though the set is a bit foreign, the “mortal stone”, which does the same job , will be more familiar to the ears. In the past , forging was done on hollow stones called dibek or soku to peel the husk of wheat . People would line up around these stones and hit these stones with wheat in their hands, one by one. Although they are not used, you can still see these stones in old houses in Cappadocia . Seten is a more advanced version of the sting. Later, this job was taken from humans and given to animals. When an animal turns the top round stone, the wheat in the hollow stone at the bottom is pounded. The system consisting of these two stone pieces is called seten . Apart from the mill, there are Balıklı and Üzümlü Churches and a winery in the valley.
Balikli and Uzumlu Church
Balıklı and Üzümlü Church consists of two parts. Fish and grapes on its walls It is called by this name because of its reliefs . It is thought that the chapel section is dated to the 10th century and the church section is dated to earlier periods. Cross motifs and other motifs carved on the rock ceiling and walls of this church with three apses are iconoclast indicates the period . During this period, which lasted from 726 to 843 with a pause of 28 years, all existing depictions of icons were opposed, and instead of these depictions, figures without icons were painted . Especially large cross motifs; He took the place of Jesus , Mary , Saints and Apostles .
The fertility of Cappadocia is pigeons
Zelve Valley is in the middle and a 30-meter tunnel stretches between it and the third valley. There are also many settlements and Holy Cross churches here. There are relief cross motifs in the interior of the church, large niches on the walls and tombs on the floor . There is an inscription on the main door that is very difficult to read .
The village square and village mosque where people used to gather are located in the third valley. The mihrab of the mosque was carved into the rock and its walls were built using local cut stone during the Ottoman period. In this valley, there is a monastery and a Direkli Church carved into a rock mass resembling a dome . The residential area here is quite large. You can also see pigeon houses carved into very high rocks in Zelve Valley. The construction of these dovecotes, which you can encounter in every part of Cappadocia, is usually dated to the 19th and early 20th centuries, and most of their exteriors are decorated with ornaments representing fertility . Once upon a time, Cappadocia was a pigeon paradise. Fertile pigeon manure would give life to the soil. Although not as much as before, pigeons are very important for the people of Cappadocia today .
the Zelve Museum , you will see several day-to-day businesses spread out in harmony with the valley. As you approach Zelve, you can start to smell pancakes . If you wish, you can explore the areas outside the borders of the museum before or after the museum tour , relax in the gazebos, drink your tea in the samovar and have a pleasant meal in the open air . So, if you have the time, you can have a long rest and discovery session at Zelve.
There is an entrance fee to Zelve Ruins. Don’t forget to take your museum card with you when you come to Cappadocia , or get a museum card as soon as you arrive . Because Cappadocia , with its beauties stretching as far as possible, carries natural and cultural values that have been protected at every step. There are 5 museums and 14 archaeological sites just within the borders of Nevşehir province . If you have a maximum credit card , be sure to show it to the museum officer at the entrance, it will replace the museum card for the next month and will allow you to enter museums and archaeological sites for free .
Where is Zelve Valley?
Zelve Valley, which consists of three valleys side by side , covers the north-facing skirts of Aktepe Mountain , which is located in the Ürgüp, Avanos and Göreme triangle. The valley stretches from the slopes of this mountain towards Avanos and is located within the borders of this district. It is located very close to Göreme town, Çavuşin village and Paşabağları . Zelve Open Air Museum and Zelve Ruins are located in Zelve Valley .
Where is Zelve Ruins? How to go to Zelve Ruins?
Zelve Ruins is also known as Zelve Open Air Museum . Considering its natural heritage and archaeological structure , it has been declared an open-air museum . It is located in the Zelve Valley. Located within the borders of Avanos district, Zelve Ruins is located 2 kilometers inland from the Göreme – Avanos highway to the east. It is one kilometer away from Paşabağları on the same route.
Zelve Open Air Museum or Zelve Ruins by renting a car , by taxi or by using the city minibuses . However, minibus services to this region do not take place from every town and very often. Depending on the proximity of your location, for example, if you are staying in Göreme or Çavuşin, you can provide a pleasant transportation to Zelve Ruins on foot or by renting a bicycle . Of course, apart from these, you have the opportunity to get to know Zelve Ruins more accurately and in detail with a Cappadocia tour you will participate in. If you have your own vehicle , you can use the map above to reach Zelve Open Air Museum .
