Description of the attraction
Zelve is an ancient Roman settlement. The beginning of the settlement of the complex is attributed to the 2-5 centuries of our era. In the 11-13th centuries, Christians came here and turned a number of residential caves into cells and churches, and a monastery arose, whose churches are Yuzyumlu ("Church of grapes", 8-9th centuries), Balyky ("Fish") and Geyikly (" Deer ") - survived to this day. Until the twenties of the 20th century, before the "population exchange" between Greece and Turkey, the Greek diaspora lived here. It was a very small town. People lived here in the fifties of the 20th century, until the danger of a rock collapse arose. Then the residents were moved a couple of kilometers further (now the village of Aktepe, or Yeni Zelve). The houses, once located on both slopes of the valley, were completely deserted in 1952. Since 1967 Zelve has been working as a museum.
Zelve is of volcanic origin, like the entire region of Cappadocia. Even in our time, the volcano of the ancient Mount Argei is considered active. This mountain, whose height is 3971 meters, has another name, in the local dialect it sounds like "Erciyas Dag". It is inhabited by local peoples, rises above all the surrounding hills and is visible from afar.
In the crevices and rocky walls, a settlement of rather ancient origin has taken refuge. The dwellings were carved in tuff, and the spaces opened by the waters were also used. These huge caves had entrances located at great depths. Small masonry houses were built there in a later era. The community that lived here - first Christians and then Muslims - had an important demographic significance, and also demanded the creation of all kinds of services. We have received confirmation of the unusual way of life that these people led in the bowels of the earth.
Zelva can be described as three gorges, dug by rock houses, tunnels, churches. Rock settlements begin on the approach to Zelva, and the most inhabited part in antiquity is now a museum. Here you can see churches, as well as places for collecting groundwater, a room with a flat roof and a ledge that served as a bench, a mill, a firmly planted stone disk that served as a millstone, which rotated in a drum carved right into the mountain rock.
There are practically no frescoes in local churches, despite the fact that the complex existed as a monastery for several centuries after the ban on icons was lifted, that is, Zelva remained a supporter of iconoclasm. In total, there are fifteen churches of the 9-15th centuries. The largest of the churches of the open-air museum is the "Church of the Grapes" or "Uzumlu Kilisesi", and the other church, "Geyikli", is distinguished by its simple architectural design.
The ruins of a small Ottoman mosque are located near the left wall. At the moment, only a mihrab and a prayer hall, partially carved into the rock, remain from it, which testifies to the preserved local tradition in architecture. In order to explore the complex, you need a flashlight and a huge thirst for adventure. On the right along the way, at the end of the valley, you can see the honeycomb of doors leading to the inner rooms by an iron staircase. If you find yourself at the top, then the main problem will be the passage inside: some caves can only be climbed by dubious stone steps, in others - by crawling through large holes in the floor (grope for ancient supports for arms and legs). Sometimes you have to jump to the lower levels that are quite far away. A separate adventure awaits you in the tunnel between the two valleys on the right (if you have your back to the parking lot). It can be traversed only if you have nerves of steel. It is not recommended to do this to people who are not physically prepared and sick with claustrophobia, but if you are energetic and not afraid of heights, you will get great pleasure from it.
