Welcome to the Park of the Week Newsletter for October 24, 2024. This week we’re featuring a park that does both–it’s one of the most unique natural and cultural sites in Turkey.
Göreme Historical National Park
Location
Göreme, Central Turkey
Claim to fame
Göreme Historical National Park was established to protect the area’s stunning natural features as well as it’s unique cultural heritage. Göreme was a community of early Christians in ancient Cappadocia, in what is today Turkey. To protect themselves from marauders, these early Christians dug homes, tombs, monasteries, and even intricate churches out of the local rock formations. They carved soft tuft (volcanic ash turned to stone) into an underground network of tunnels and buildings where they could hide, live, and safely practice their religion.
Reason to visit
Today the Göreme Valley, which sits below the massive volcanoes Mount Hasan and Mount Erciyes, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Turkey, bringing in visitors who want to see its hoodoos and beautiful natural features as well as those interested in its architecture and history. Visitors can even stay in ancient underground dwellings, some of which have been converted into hotels.
Wild Fact
Hot air balloon rides are one of the most popular activities in the Göreme Valley. Each day dozens of colorful hot air balloons decorate the skies over the ancient city’s pale, desert landscape. In balloons, tourists can float above the magical fairy chimneys and get a better view of the massive nearby volcanoes that made this strange place possible.
Want to learn more about Göreme Historical National Park? Check out the park’s website.
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