Zelve Valley is one of the most important valleys of Cappadocia. It is 3 km from Avanos, at the end of Paşabağ and at the end of the road. Zelve Ruin Place, which is composed of three vans, is also the place where the fairy chimney formations in Cappadocia are concentrated. There are 15 churches of the 8th and 9th centuries carved into the formation of hundreds of interesting fairy chimneys with pointed and wide bodies.

Although it is not known exactly when the settled life began, Zelve was especially important Christian center of the 9th and 13th centuries. At the same time, it is known that the first religious seminars were given in this region by the priests.

Zelve Valley

Zelve Open Air Museum

There is a monastery complex spread over three valleys of the Zelve Open Air Museum, where the most prominent rock carved living spaces are found. The churches with the 9th century structure belong to the beginning of the colonoclastic period.

However, along with the danger of rolling the rocks, the Turks lived here until the emptying of the region in 1953. From time to time the settlers in the region, where the rocks are still falling apart, have made their living places with soft tuff rocks.

On the left side of the first villa is a mosque converted from a church. The minaret is distinctive, the alchemy carved into the rock in the glass, a sign of this architectural tradition that dates from the 9th to the 1950s.

Just behind the glass is a millstone, standing in its original shape. Up and down sections of the valley rarely find numerous small churches with crosses and frescoes.

The rare pictures of Zelve are found in the churches on the left bank of the third vine. Known as the Byzantine, Greek, and Turks, they are home to the Balinese Balinese, Deer and Grapevine churches. These buildings, which are the most famous churches of the Cappadocia region, were made by carving the fairy chimneys of the entrance to the valley. This area also has a small mosque.

The old village, which was carved into the walls of the valley, remained in the Turks with the migration of the Greek settlers in 1924 to Greece. In 1952, the area completely emptyed due to the danger of the rocks, a new village named Aktepe was established in 2 km nearby.

Avanos Zelve

To explore these vans, which are among the places to visit in Avanos, you need a little adventure spirit and a hand lantern. It is quite difficult to climb the second valley, but it is not impossible.

On the way to Ürgüp-Avanos, there is a 2 km turnoff from Zelve. The road ends at Zelve Open Air Museum. You can visit the museum between 08:00 and 17:00.