Recently the underground cities at Kaymakli Underground City and Derinkuyu Underground City near Nevşehir have been opened up for tourists. These also were early Christian centers and must have housed several thousand people in the eighth and ninth centuries. They extend downward in the earth for at least eight floors in a maze of tunnels and rooms and were easily defended by blocking the entrance with large rocks.
The sheer mechanics of organization, supply, and administration of such communities are staggering. A short, interesting description of life in such a place can be found in Xenephon’s Anabasis. In relating the retreat of the Greek army of Ten Thousand from Babylon to the Black Sea he describes a village in which they were entertained briefly in the winter:
“The houses here were underground, with a mouth like that of a well, but spacious below; and while entrances were tunnelled down for the beasts of burden, the human inhabitants descended by a ladder… It was here also that the village chief instructed them about wrapping small bags round the feet of their horses and beasts of burden when they were going through the snow; for without these bags the animals would sink in up to their bellies.”
Derinkuyu and Kaymakli,
An unique experience! The huge underground city is full of history and good old survival technics. Highly recommended to go with a good guide, to avoid getting lost and understand what and how every room was being used. The Christians lived here for a long time and the daily livelihood were well planned, designed and built. Once you surfaced, plenty…
We went by bus from Nevsehir to Derinkuyu, (about 45min long every hour ). Very easy so you don't need to find a tour before to visit the underground city. I don't think it is worth having a guide because there are 3 or 4 floors that you can visit (the guide at the entry of the city will tell…
This is incredible from historical point of view. How it was designed and built thousands years ago, with water supplies lying underneath and vents to provide air, with all the storage and living spaces. We never felt claustrophobic or that there was not enough air. We visited two underground cities – Kaymakli and Derinkuyu and each one is worth seeing…
Even though visitors are admitted only to a limited proportion of this underground network of caves, tunnels and ventilation shafts, it is amazing. And the implications of actually inhabiting the caves are tough to fully appreciate. Just be careful to bend very very low in places and not to think about being confined in a small space.
This was the first stop of our south Cappadocia tour. When we arrived, around 10:30 AM, there wasn't much of a crowd and our guide let us in quick. We were a group of 3 couples. Two people had to leave 5 minutes in. If you're claustrophobic, have breathing difficulties, or have related allergies then you won't be able to…
This was somewhat interesting, a entire city built underground however after seeing all the beauty in this region and staying in a cave hotel, visiting Derinkuyu Underground City did not feel as special. I would not recommend Derinkuyu Underground City to families with small children, the elderly, anyone with difficulty walking stairs or anyone with an upper respiratory illness/asthma. There…
This is an amazing site. The effort that has must have been required and the size and depth of this underground city is remarkable.
We visited as a part of a tour and the place was mobbed as they all seemed to be there at the same time. We had to wait for other tours to move along to see…
15tl for this entry.About 1hr is sufficient time. The first half there is no need to get a guide as you are only looking at what was once a city so it's mainly just hollowed out tunnels and rooms.Having said that, towards the end of visit you will go down some steep stairs (which are one way proves challenging when…
This Underground City was absolutely incredible and amazing. It is something not be be missed.
Great place!! a must see. The underground city where people hid for days at a time. Many stories under the ground. The water cistern, ventilation shaft, praying chamber, kitchen, torture chamber, animal shed, stone doors-all well planned and laid out systematically.
Not recommended for the claustrophobic or very obese.