From Ihlara Valley to Seljuk caravanserais, starting at Neva Apart
Monastery Valley, Güzelyurt
Right below Güzelyurt, a quiet valley lined with rock-cut churches, chapels and dwellings — a peaceful Cappadocian walk.
The Monastery Valley (Manastır Vadisi) begins inside the town of Güzelyurt and runs north, its slopes filled with rock-cut churches, chapels and dwellings. Compared with Cappadocia’s busy valleys, it offers a quiet, authentic walk.
The valley holds the densest traces of Güzelyurt’s Christian past: starting at the Kilise Camii in town, the walk winds between rock-cut buildings towards Güzelyurt Pond.
History
Güzelyurt and its surroundings are where the monastic tradition championed by Gregory of Nazianzus spread in the 4th century. The valley takes its name from the many monasteries and churches on its slopes. The town’s Greek community continued to use some of them until the 1924 population exchange.
What to see
Rock-cut buildings and churches line the valley. A large share of Güzelyurt’s more than 50 churches are in and around it.
- Kalburlu Kilise (“Sieve Church”, Church of St Euthymios)
- Kömürlü Kilise, dedicated to St Anargyros, near the Kalburlu church
- Rock-cut dwellings, chapels and dovecotes
- Kilise Camii (Church of St Gregory) at the head of the valley
The walk
The valley walk follows a mostly flat path; allow 1.5–2 hours to look at the buildings and take breaks. Start in the town centre, head towards Güzelyurt Pond and return the same way.
Getting there from Neva Apart
Neva Apart is in Aksaray city centre, a few minutes’ walk from the Zinciriye Madrasa and the Grand Mosque; the distances below are measured from our aparthotel.
The Monastery Valley is in the centre of Güzelyurt, about 45 km from Neva Apart — a 45–50-minute drive.
Tips for your visit
Some rock-cut buildings are neglected; avoid dark spaces or those at risk of collapse. Bring water and a hat — shade is limited.
For a detailed route, read our guide to Güzelyurt and the Monastery Valley.
Other places nearby
- Güzelyurt (Gelveri) – A hill town tied to Gregory of Nazianzus, with stone mansions, rock-cut churches, underground cities and the Monastery Valley — one of the most authentic towns in Cappadocia.
- Red Church (Kızıl Kilise) – Near Sivrihisar village in Güzelyurt, a 6th-century church of reddish volcanic stone — one of the oldest churches in Cappadocia with a dome on a windowed drum.
- Ihlara Valley – A 14 km canyon carved by the Melendiz River into the tuff of Mount Hasan, with frescoed rock-cut churches, a green valley floor and Aksaray’s best-known hiking trail.
- Belisırma Village and Riverside Restaurants – Halfway along Ihlara Valley, with riverside restaurants on the Melendiz, rock-cut churches and a name it has carried since 1476 — the hikers’ rest stop.
Sources
Image credits
- Panoramic view towards the Monastery Valley and the Church Mosque in Güzelyurt – Nurbanu Karaman, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Rock-cut buildings in the Monastery Valley of Güzelyurt – Klaus-Peter Simon, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Frequently asked questions
Other places nearby
Aksaray Museum
Home to a 10,500-year-old skull bearing the earliest known brain surgery, the Ihlara and Çanlı Kilise mummies and the Luwian Aksaray Stele — 10,000 years of local history.
- On foot: 35–40 min
- By car: 7–10 min
Güzelyurt (Gelveri)
A hill town tied to Gregory of Nazianzus, with stone mansions, rock-cut churches, underground cities and the Monastery Valley — one of the most authentic towns in Cappadocia.
- By car: 45–50 min
Ihlara Valley
A 14 km canyon carved by the Melendiz River into the tuff of Mount Hasan, with frescoed rock-cut churches, a green valley floor and Aksaray’s best-known hiking trail.
- By car: 40–45 min