Gülşehir: Rock Architecture and Hamam

For a trip to Gülşehir, the historic highlights can be clearly distinguished: Aziz-Jean Church and Karavezir Hamamı are in town, while the archaeological site of Açıksaray is nearby. When looking for a hotel in Gülşehir, you can decide whether your trip should focus mainly on the town’s buildings or also take in rock architecture, landscapes and trekking in the surrounding area.

Rock Architecture and Landscapes at Açıksaray

Açıksaray is about three kilometres from Gülşehir. The archaeological site includes numerous rooms carved into tuff, Roman rock tombs, and rock churches dating from the 9th and 10th centuries. It is considered an important episcopal centre. The remains date from different periods: the tombs are Roman, while the rock churches date from the 9th and 10th centuries. Together, they offer a glimpse of a range of archaeological features: rock-cut rooms, tombs and churches.

The Mantarkaya rock formations, regarded as a landmark of Gülşehir, are also located in the Açıksaray area. They add a landscape feature to the historic rock architecture. Açıksaray is mainly used for trekking; a 7 km route also takes in the Çat Valley. This means you can choose this focus not only for its archaeological remains, but also for the combination of trekking and the valley. The two figures therefore describe different things: about three kilometres is the distance from Açıksaray to Gülşehir, while seven kilometres is the length of the route that also takes in the Çat Valley.

Aziz-Jean Church at the Entrance to Town

The two-storey Aziz-Jean Church is located at the entrance to Gülşehir. Its lower level comprises a church, wine cellars, tombs, a water channel and rooms for staff. The upper level contains another church with scenes from the Bible. An inscription in the apse dates the church to 1212. Its layout, the subject matter of the upper level’s images and its date can therefore be considered as distinct aspects of the building.

Karavezir Hamamı and Its Sequence of Rooms

Karavezir Hamamı is a different type of building in town. It was built in 1778 by Seyyit Mehmet Paşa, who served as Grand Vizier and Silahdar in the Ottoman Empire. The hamam consists of a changing room, a warm intermediate room and a hot room; domes of different diameters cover the rooms. Unlike the two-storey Aziz-Jean Church, with its biblical scenes, the hamam’s architectural layout is defined by its three-part sequence of rooms and its domes. The dates also provide a concrete comparison: the inscription in the church’s apse dates it to 1212, while the hamam was built in 1778.

To visit Karavezir Hamamı, you must arrange an appointment in advance by telephone through the Gülşehir Municipality. Check this arrangement again before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Ürgüp, Derinkuyu, Hacıbektaş, Tuzköyü Belediyesi, Kozaklı, Ayvali, Ortahisar, Boğaz

Go to the main travel overview: Nevşehir.