The Village: Ortahisar, Turkey
Ortahisar is a village of 14,262 people. It is located in the Ürgüp district of Nevşehir Province, in Cappadocia, Turkey – about 20 km east of the provincial capital, Nevşehir.
Ortahisar Castle
The historic village of Ortahisar is best known for the enormous 300-foot rock-castle at its center, rock-cut cave dwellings, and several beautiful ancient churches.
Called Sivrikoya by the locals, this enormous fortress is built at the top of a giant fairy chimney rock formation. The current structure dates to the 8th or 8th century late-Byzantine era, but experts believe it was built on top of an earlier ancient Hittite fortress.
Rock-Cut Structures
Turkey’s Red Valley is especially known for its unique structures built into and carved from the stone formations and caves in the area. The caves provide an ideal environment for storing agricultural goods – particularly citrus fruit grown in the area.
The abandoned Hallaç Manastırı monastery (also known as the wool fluffer’s or hospital monastery) features 10th and 11th century frescos. Today it is not only a tourist site but also serves as a pigeon roost for the collection of guano for area farmers.
The area also features many traditional family homes built into the rocks and caves. These surprisingly comfortable abodes have housed generations of families.
