Located about 4 kilometres from Göreme, Uçhisar is Cappadocia’s highest town. It is known for its impressive castle of natural rock which protected the inhabitants in the face of successive invasions, mainly by the Arabs. The skies above it seem permanently occupied by hot-air balloons flying over a valley dotted with the curious, quirky ‘fairy chimneys’.
Uçhisar’s castle stands at an altitude of 1,400 metres, and can be seen from almost every corner of central Cappadocia. Without a doubt, the castle is Uçhisar’s star attraction, but it is also well worth taking a stroll around this captivating village of stone houses with Arab-influenced façades, sure to delight photography enthusiasts. The place offers beautiful views and, it must be said, it is much quieter than neighbouring Ürgüp and Göreme.
The History of Uçhisar
Throughout its history, Uçhisar has witnessed many battles and a succession of civilisations. And all have used the town’s natural castle as their great defensive ally. The Romans, the Hittites, the Byzantines and the Ottomans all prized this beautiful town and its natural rock fortress. We also need to remember that Uçhisar is a key location on the Mediterranean’s main trade routes.
Uçhisar’s rock castle
Uçhisar Castle stands at Cappadocia’s highest point, so it was a valuable strategic location to the peoples who have passed through here down the ages. It has been excavated over many centuries and its structure, arranged over several levels, resembles a honeycomb — with a multitude of tunnels, stairways, rooms and cavities, including a secret space that leads to the water supply. It also provides a window to Cappadocia’s history. In fact, there are some who claim that the castle is 60 million years old.
Whether this is true or not, Uçhisar’s castle is an extraordinary example of troglodyte architecture. It offers completely different views depending on where you stand: from one side you can see the side of the castle with its hanging houses and, from the other, the nests of the pigeons. Inside the castle there are several cave dwellings that people used as homes and for storage. The best time to visit this fortress is either early in the morning or in the evening when you can enjoy the impressive sunset. The castle offers a bewitching view of the whole of Cappadocia, as it includes everything from the remarkable fairy chimneys to the neighbouring valleys and the surrounding geological formations. It is for good reason that Uçhisar is known as ‘the roof of Cappadocia’.
Pigeon Valley
The valley of Uçhisar is known as ‘Pigeon Valley’ thanks to the huge number of dovecotes, thousands and thousands of them, that have for centuries been carved into the rock and painted white. It should be noted that the residents used pigeons as a means of communication and the birds’ excrement provided manure for growing crops. The valley, home to fig trees, wild flowers and eagles, is a genuine wonder of nature. It is up to 100 metres deep and stretches for 4 kilometres between Uçhisar and Göreme.
A brilliant way to enjoy Pigeon Valley is from a hot-air balloon. Hot-air balloon trips are one of the most popular activities among tourists who visit Cappadocia.
