Erdemli Valley in Kayseri is waiting to be discovered
The canyon-shaped valley, formed as a result of stream erosion by the lava erupted by Mount Erciyes when it was an active volcano, within the borders of Erdemli District in Yeşilhisar district, hosts dozens of rock-carved churches and structures dating back to the Byzantine period.
Located 65 kilometers from the city center, 10 kilometers long Erdemli ValleyAmong the prominent structures of the city are the Palace Monastery Church, St. Eustathios Church, St. Nicholas Church and Chapel, Michael Church, Twelve Apostles Church, Forty Martir Church, Single-Naved Church and Bear Church.
On the walls of the buildings in the valley, which are thought to have been used in the 10th and 13th centuries, there are scenes on the subject of the Bible and the Torah, some floral and geometric decorations, and single figures such as saints, saints, bishops and apostles.
Erdemli Valley, which has received some innovations such as a welcome and promotion building, walking path and environmental lighting within the scope of the project initiated by Kayseri Governorship to bring it to tourism in 2022, is waiting for its guests.
Yeşilhisar District Governor Ahmet Ali Altıntaş said that Erdemli Valley is located in the middle of wide plains where agriculture was intensively carried out during the Byzantine period and previous years.
Explaining that wealthy people have lived here since the 10th century, Altıntaş said, „We can understand this from the techniques and workmanship used in the buildings in the region. They were built by masters known to have come from Istanbul, using the most important techniques of the period.“
Altıntaş pointed out that there are many documents showing that life in the Erdemli Valley is mostly shaped by the management of agricultural business in the region and the marketing of products.
Stating that this region differs from many living spaces built in the same period with its agriculture-based economy, Altıntaş said, „Just to the south of this region, places where agricultural workers can stay and warehouses where they can store their products have been built. These show us how intense the agricultural traffic in the region is.“
Reminding that the Governorship initiated a project for the development of tourism in Erdemli Valley, Altıntaş said, „Until our Governor Gökmen Çiçek came here, there was only a recreation area here. With the work that started after that visit, a welcoming building was built at the entrance of the valley. Transportation into the valley was done from the stream bed. This brought people to the end of the valley.“ Therefore, a walking path was built here. Our guests can now go to the end of the valley without getting their feet wet. Again, within the scope of the project, the valley was illuminated. Security cameras were installed to ensure security. The pile of earth inside the Palace Monastery, one of the most important structures of this place. „It was cleaned with the joint work carried out with the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, and the monastery was made visitable,“ he said.
Altıntaş stated that last year they hosted a small number of guests due to both the ongoing work and the new launch of promotional activities, but this year the number will increase.
„THE FUTURE IS VERY BRIGHT HERE“
Stating that the promotional activities have started to yield results and that they are hopeful about the summer period, Altıntaş said, „We can observe that groups fill this place on weekends when the weather is good. We can say that this place has started to be discovered by foreign tourists. In order for this place to host more guests, agencies need to give more importance to the region. Regarding this „Our negotiations are continuing in Kayseri-Cappadocia region. Guests coming to the Kayseri-Cappadocia region should not leave without seeing Erdemli Valley. I think the future of this place is very bright,“ he said.
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Erdemli Valley is a historical site in Kayseri, Turkey, known for its rock-carved churches and structures dating back to the Byzantine period. The valley was formed through stream erosion caused by lava from Mount Erciyes, an active volcano in the past.
Located 65 kilometers from the city center, Erdemli Valley spans 10 kilometers and is home to several notable structures such as the Palace Monastery Church, St. Eustathios Church, St. Nicholas Church, Michael Church, Twelve Apostles Church, Forty Martir Church, Single-Naved Church, and Bear Church.
The valley showcases intricate carvings on the walls depicting biblical and Torah scenes, floral and geometric decorations, as well as figures of saints, bishops, and apostles. In an effort to promote tourism, improvements such as a welcome and promotion building, walking paths, and environmental lighting have been added to the valley.
District Governor Ahmet Ali Altıntaş highlighted the agricultural history of Erdemli Valley, noting the presence of wealthy residents and skilled craftsmen from Istanbul during the Byzantine period. The region’s economy was mainly driven by agriculture and the marketing of agricultural products.
The Governorship’s tourism development project aims to attract more visitors to the valley, with infrastructure enhancements and promotional activities already showing positive results. Altıntaş expressed optimism about the future of Erdemli Valley as a popular tourist destination, especially for foreign tourists visiting the Kayseri-Cappadocia region.
