FROM MAYOR….
During the history,importance of Cappadocia Region and Ortahisar that hosted for
plenty of civilizations isn’t discussed.
Our town is 5 km to Ürgüp,and 18 km to Nevşehir .It is one of the favourite center of
our visitors who visit our region with its castles,churches,natural formations and
mystical atmosphere.
Words aren’t enough to tell Ortahisar,but you can understand it by living.
Ortahisar town is waiting you with Ortahisar Castle that is the biggest fairy chimney of
Cappadocia,Red valley which has got attractive sunset,natural cold stores which
contribute to our country’s economy.
You can’t say that you had Cappadocia trip without climbing Ortahisar castle,visiting
culture museum,walking in the valleys,watching sunset in Red valley.
HISTORY OF ORTAHİSAR
We haven’t got written records about foundation of Ortahisar Town.But we can
understand that it has been settlement place since old ages from plenty of historical
remains.
Natural castles which are impossible to reach from outside are important places for
shelter and housing for trade caravans during the period of Hittite.
During Roman period,these shelters were used for settlement place.After Roman
period,Byzantine,Seljuk and Otoman states used for the same purpose.
Ortahisar has got properties in the neighborhood.its importance is increasing thanks to
plenty of settlement places that are carved into the rocks and churches.
it became an important place at every period of history ,also it kept its importance
during Byzantine and Otoman periods.
So people of these periods built many monastries and hundreds of settlement places on
the lands of Ortahisar.
When Hibe Dede whose name came from Horasan prospers came and settled down here
with eight brothers,Ortahisar became a Turkish Town.
As a crowded family,according to common belief about this family;Hibe Dede and his
brothers came here from Horasan.When they came here,population of this town started
to increase.Previously they settled down near ‘Atlık,Dere Yatağı’ and bottom of the
castle.
People built new houses for growing population of this family,so present Ortahisar
Town occured.
ORTAHİSAR CASTLE
Ortahisar castle is that one of the first and multi-storey settlement place of world
witnessed the use of shelter and housing of historical silk caravans’.
The huge fairy chimney carved by Hittite for the first time that was used by
Roman,Byzantine,Seljuk,and Ottomans.
Ortahisar Castle has got approximately 85 m height that rooms were built in layers of
carved and ladders, and tunnels connected with each other.Also it has got rooms used
for warehouses and temples.it was built for supplying every kinds of needs.
As castle is in the center of Cappadocia region and town center,transportation is quite
easy.You can climb this castle thanks to alterations.it presents attractive and unique
Cappadocia Landscape.