Enjoy Nature and History with
Unique Castles in Cappadocia
Enjoy Nature and History with Unique Castles in Cappadocia
Castles are hilly buildings with bastions built in order to provide security to the cities, harbors, and straits on strategic roads that the enemy might have come across in ancient times. Leaders have built castles in different forms to keep themselves and their people safe throughout history. The most important features of these structures are that they consist of high walls and giant sheltered gates that are difficult to pass. The fortresses, which are rising magnificently in terms of architecture, have also taken their place in the geography of Cappadocia. 3 castles of the region to visit;
Uçhisar Castle
Uçhisar Castle goes beyond the ordinary since it is not like the classic castle surrounded by walls. It consists of two pointed fairy chimneys adjacent to each other. This ancient castle is actually the highest fairy chimney that can be seen from all over Cappadocia. It is the only place where you can see the region as a bird's eye view.
Starting to be carved in the Roman period, living space was created. A large number of rooms, houses, shelters, warehouses, cisterns, graves and cellars were built with the method of carving. The castle, which is located in a place with high strategic importance for thousands of years, consists of many floors and underground cities. It is known that there was life in and around the castle until 1960's. Since many valleys in the region are a place where the impressive view of Hasan and Erciyes Mountains can be watched, visitors are flocked especially when the sunset is approaching.
Underground tunnels inside are closed to visitors. After passing the first entrance tunnel, you can go up to the summit of the castle using the stairs on the outer part. At the peak, you can see the tombs from the Byzantine Period and enjoy the fascinating Cappadocia view.
Ortahisar Castle
Located in Ortahisar town of Cappadocia region, the castle opens its doors to tourists as a natural skyscraper. The castle, one of the first examples of the multi-storey settlement of the world, is surrounded by steep valleys on three sides. The first settlement of Ortahisar Town started in this castle, and as the population increased, 2-storey houses were built descending from the slopes in steps. It was carved by the first people for protection and asylum in ancient times. Later, it was used as a shelter in the times of the Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans.
It is one of the tallest buildings in Cappadocia with an altitude of 1,200 meters and a height of 86 meters. There are interconnected tunnels, carved rooms, and corridors inside the castle. Ortahisar Castle is a point that everyone who wants to experience an exquisite view of an island with its historical influence should not miss.
İshak Castle
İshak Castle, which is located opposing Ortahisar Castle, is a large tuff rock mass formed naturally by itself. It is understood that there is an underground tunnel of 500 meters between Ortahisar Castle and İshak Castle and efforts are underway to reveal it.
İshak Pasha, one of the Ottoman army commanders, stayed in this castle for some time while walking with his army, and it was called “Ishak Castle" with reference to the pasha.