Zelve Valley
Zelve Valley, once the largest community in the region with hundreds of cave dwellings, is now a deserted rock village with collapsed houses, sacred sections, pigeon houses, and astonishing fairy chimneys with slender tips and thick bodies. Christians and Muslims lived in harmony in this valley until 1924.
First, Christians were forcibly deported to Greece, and later in the 1950s, Muslims had to leave the valley due to collapses. The last inhabitants of the valley established another village called Yeni Zelve or Aktepe slightly to the north.
Today, Zelve, where collapses and erosion continue, actually has three valleys. The First Valley contains the Church with Inscriptions, a rock-cut mosque currently accessible from the Second Valley, a large monastery complex, and houses surrounding a spacious square. In these houses, one can see carved stone beds and burial closets.
A tunnel accessed by an iron staircase across from the monastery enables passage from the First Valley to the Second Valley. The bell tower-like minaret on the rock-cut mosque is one of the significant examples demonstrating how Christian architectural structures influenced Muslims in Cappadocia.
At the entrance of the Second Valley, on the right side, there is the Deer Church, the last part of which is also at risk of collapsing. On a wall of this church that is now exposed, a fading deer, a cross, and two fish can be observed. All three symbols are among the most important ones in Christianity.
In the section close to the beginning of the Third Valley, which has collapsed in recent years, there is a mill that was in use until the 1950s. Just above the mill, the Fish Church with two fish depicted in faded colors on its apse facade and the Grape Church with interestingly portrayed grape clusters on its apse can be found.
Zelve Valley, one of the first religious centers of Christians in Cappadocia where the initial religious seminars took place, is one of the best places to perceive the lifestyle in cave dwellings and is worth visiting.
⇒ Go Turkey / Cappadocia
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