Gülşehir: Rock Churches and Ottoman Architecture

Gülşehir brings together buildings in the town, an archaeological site and rock formations in the surrounding area. At the entrance to the town stands the two-storey Aziz-Jean Church; Karavezir Hamamı is a testament to Ottoman architectural history. Açıksaray, with its rock-cut rooms, tombs and churches, lies three kilometres from Gülşehir. The choice of destination therefore brings together a range of historical and landscape highlights.

Rock-cut architecture and trekking near Açıksaray

The Açıksaray archaeological site includes numerous rooms carved into tuff, Roman rock tombs, and rock churches dating from the 9th and 10th centuries. Açıksaray is considered an important episcopal centre. The site thus combines several features: rooms carved directly into the tuff, tombs from Roman times and churches from later centuries. This distinction in both age and architecture makes the place especially tangible for travellers interested in history: it is not a single building, but a variety of rock-cut rooms, tombs and religious buildings that shape the character of the site.

Açıksaray is primarily used for trekking; a seven-kilometre route also takes in the Çat Valley. This means the area has a clear focus on outdoor activities as well as its historic buildings. When planning a trip, the trekking focus can be distinguished from the individual churches and rock-cut rooms: the route is a separate option in the area, while the buildings shape the cultural and historical aspects of the choice.

The Mantarkaya rock formations are also located near Açıksaray, close to Gülşehir. They are considered a landmark of Gülşehir. As a landscape feature, they complement the area's archaeological attractions and offer a different focus from its churches and tombs.

Church architecture in the town

The Aziz-Jean Church stands at the entrance to Gülşehir and has two storeys. The lower storey includes a church, wine cellars, tombs, a water channel and rooms for staff. Upstairs is another church with scenes from the Bible. An inscription in the apse dates the church to 1212. The combination of two storeys with different rooms makes the church a clear architectural counterpart to the rock churches of Açıksaray; the inscription also provides a precise date.

Karavezir Hamamı: a building dating from 1778

Karavezir Hamamı is also in Gülşehir. Seyyit Mehmet Paşa, who was Grand Vizier and Silahdar in the Ottoman Empire, had it built in 1778. The building is divided into a changing room, a warm intermediate room and a hot room. The rooms are covered by domes of different diameters. The sequence of the three room types and the differently sized domes give the hammam a clearly articulated design that sets it apart from churches and rock-cut architecture. To visit, arrange an appointment in advance by telephone using the number provided by the Gülşehir municipality; confirm the appointment before travelling, as visiting arrangements may change.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Gülşehir, you can consider the buildings in town and the nearby Açıksaray area as different highlights. The Aziz-Jean Church and Karavezir Hamamı are in town; Açıksaray adds rock-cut architecture and trekking to the options. If you want to include a route in your travel plans, consider the seven-kilometre trail, which also takes in the Çat Valley.

Discover more destinations: Mazı, Kaymaklı, Kozaklı, Ürgüp, Avanos, Uçhisar, Nevşehir, Çavuşin

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