Derinkuyu Underground City is an ancient multi-level underground city of the Median Empire in the Derinkuyu district in Nevşehir Province, Turkey.
Extending to a depth of approximately 60 m, it was large enough to shelter approximately 20,000 people together with their livestock and food stores.
It is the largest excavated underground city in Turkey and is one of several underground complexes found across Cappadocia.
One of the heavy stone doors. They have a height of 1–1,5 m, 30–50 cm in width and weigh 200–500 kg. The hole in the centre can be used to open or close the millstone, or to see who is outside.
It was opened to visitors in 1969 and to date, about half of the underground city is accessible to tourists. The underground city at Derinkuyu could be closed from the inside with large stone doors. Each floor could be closed off separately.
The city could accommodate up to 20,000 people and had all the usual amenities found in other underground complexes across Cappadocia, such as wine and oil presses, stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, and chapels. Unique to the Derinkuyu complex and located on the second floor is a spacious room with a barrel vaulted ceiling. It has been reported that this room was used as a religious school and the rooms to the left were studies.
Between the third and fourth levels is a vertical staircase. This passage way leads to a cruciform church on the lowest (fifth) level.
The large 55 m ventilation shaft appears to have been used as a well. The shaft also provided water to both the villagers above and, if the outside world was not accessible, to those in hiding.
History
First built in the soft volcanic rock of the Cappadocia region, possibly by the Phrygians in the 8th–7th centuries B.C according to the Turkish Department of Culture, the underground city at Derinkuyu may have been enlarged in the Byzantine era. During the Persian Achaemenid empire the city was used as a refugee settlement. There are references to underground refugee settlements built by the Persian king Yima in the second chapter of the Zoroastrian book Vendidad. Therefore many scholars believe that the city may have been built by the Persians. The city was connected with other underground cities through miles of tunnels.
Some artifacts discovered in these underground settlements belong to the Middle Byzantine Period, between the 5th and the 10th centuries A.D. It is speculated that the number of underground settlements, generally used for taking refuge and for religious purposes, increased during this era.
Derinkuyu Underground City, Cappadocia,
Probably the most fascinating site in Cappadocia. Effectively it's a human ant farm from pre history, burrowing deep below the ground. Only the top eight floors are open to the public but it goes much deeper and is connected to other underground cities in the area.
We were amazed by the cave dwellings, the churches, and the long history associated with this region. Unlike anyplace in the world! We were lucky to be able to explore the area. The only difficulty was the heat – 106 degrees. Probably more pleasant in June or September!
I found the landscape of Cappodocia to be amazing and so worthwhile to see; to experience well take a hot air balloon ride!
Amazing cappadoccia. We stayed in a cave hotel – super!
And travelling around and seeing the sights,could hardly believe that towns, roads, stables had all been built underground.
Its certainly worth the travel.
A highlight in the Cappadocia, no photos can describe the fantastic views you will encounter, of course take enough time to explore, to discover, to imagine the panorama you will see here.
8 to 9 floors under the earth you would think they reached hades!!
Selfsufficient, air shafts, storage space for months, the round doorwhich could be opened only from the inside, intelligent people.As one has to crouch and crawl most of the time I'm wondering if they were really short people or those who persicuted them were too tall
Derinkuyu is the largest of all the underground cities in the region. It has 7 floors underground that are open to visitors as compared to 4 floors open at Kaymakli. We took a guided tour and we fascinated by the various rooms shown to us. Its certainly worth visiting.
My visit to Derinkuyu Underground City was something that I just could not have imagined. This is truly a city of tunnels and underground caverns that are mysterious as well as a remarkable engineering feat. The construction of this maze of tunnels has to be seen to be truly appreciated.
Fantastic – do not miss seeing one of the underground cities while you are in Cappadocia, although think twice if you are very tall, wide or unsteady on your feet.
We spent three days in this area. It is truly spectacular. There are many things to do and see. The balloon flights are fabulous. Pictures do no do them justice, The cave ruins and underground cities really make you think and picture how early civilization lived.