Güzelyurt
Encyclopedia
Güzelyurt, formerly Gelveri, is a town and district of Aksaray Province
in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey
, at a distance of 45 km (28 mi) from the city of Aksaray
. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 16,836 of which 3,775 live in the town of Güzelyurt. The district covers an area of 322 km² (124 sq mi), and the average elevation is 1485 m (4,872 ft).
This is an area of great natural beauty and historical importance, part of the ancient region of Cappadocia
, near the much-visited Ihlara Valley
.
lived in the area. There was a Christian (Greek) community in the area right up until the population exchange of 1924, when they were replaced with the Turks from Thessaloniki
and Kavala
.
Other places of interest include...
Aksaray Province
Aksaray Province is a province in central Turkey. Its adjacent provinces are Konya along the west and south, Niğde to the southeast, Nevşehir to the east, and Kırşehir to the north. It covers an area of 7,626 km²...
in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, at a distance of 45 km (28 mi) from the city of Aksaray
Aksaray
Aksaray is a city in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey and the capital district of Aksaray Province. According to 2009 census, population of the province is 376 907 of which 171,423 live in the city of Aksaray. The district covers an area of , and the average elevation is , with the highest...
. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 16,836 of which 3,775 live in the town of Güzelyurt. The district covers an area of 322 km² (124 sq mi), and the average elevation is 1485 m (4,872 ft).
This is an area of great natural beauty and historical importance, part of the ancient region of Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
, near the much-visited Ihlara Valley
Ihlara Valley
Ihlara is a township with own municipality in Aksaray Province, Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is situated at about from the province seat of Aksaray and near the town of Güzelyurt. The township is famed for the nearby valley of the same name, Ihlara Valley, which is a long gorge cut into volcanic...
.
History
Cappadocia has an important place in the history of Christianity and Gregory of NazianzusGregory of Nazianzus
Gregory of Nazianzus was a 4th-century Archbishop of Constantinople. He is widely considered the most accomplished rhetorical stylist of the patristic age...
lived in the area. There was a Christian (Greek) community in the area right up until the population exchange of 1924, when they were replaced with the Turks from Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
and Kavala
Kavala
Kavala , is the second largest city in northern Greece, the principal seaport of eastern Macedonia and the capital of Kavala peripheral unit. It is situated on the Bay of Kavala, across from the island of Thasos...
.
Places of interest
Güzelyurt is known for having three underground cities and over 50 churches carved into the rocky volcanic landscape including:- Ihlara ValleyIhlara ValleyIhlara is a township with own municipality in Aksaray Province, Central Anatolia, Turkey. It is situated at about from the province seat of Aksaray and near the town of Güzelyurt. The township is famed for the nearby valley of the same name, Ihlara Valley, which is a long gorge cut into volcanic...
- Monastery Valley, "Manastır Vadisi"
- Fairy Chimneys, "Peri Bacaları"
- Antique Greek houses
- Ahmatlı Church
- St. Anargiros Church, "Sivişli Kilise"
- Koç Church
- Cathedral of Selime
- The rock monastery of Selime, one of the largest religious buildings in CappadociaCappadociaCappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
. - Red Church, "Kızıl Kilise" - a 5th or 6th century church in the village of Sivrihisar
- Analipsis Church, "Yüksek Kilise" (High Church) on the hill of Analipsis. Stone age relics have been found nearby.
- St. Gregorius Church, "Kilise Cami" - another rock-hewn church, in use today as a mosque
- St. Spyridon Church, "Kızıl Kilise" - another red church in the vicinity of Güzelyurt.
Other places of interest include...
- The tomb of Selime Sultan in the village of Selime.
- Linseed House, "Bezirhane" in the village of Belisırma.
- Ziga thermal springs, "Ziga kaplıcaları" is located in the village of Yaprakhisar very close to Ihlara Valley.
- A recently discovered underground city is situated in Gaziemir village of Güzelyurt.
