ZELVE OPEN AIR MUSEUM

One of the most popular locations in Cappadocia, the Zelve Open Air Museum has been created with the combination of three valleys. When you explore these valleys you will also get a deeper understanding of the life of the inhabitants from the Byzantine era. The area also features some brilliant rock structures and cave paintings here.

Dating back to the Byzantine-era, this Zelve monastery comprises four churches, several rooms, passages, and fairy chimneys that are connected by a tunnel and are carved into the rocks. It was only in 1967, part of the best itinerary for Turkey, that Zelve monastery was converted into an open-air museum.

The churches here are sans of any fresco paintings and look so raw. Today, the museum sprawls over 1.5 kilometres and has many unexplored trails. This open air museum saw the maximum crowd when Suzen Aksu, a Turkish Madonna, held a concert here.

There is a gift shop and a cafe near the museum to shop for souvenirs. This is one of the least explored Places to visit in Cappadocia and awaits even more exploration. 

Location:

Aydınlı Mahallesi, Yavuz Sk. No:1 D:No:1, 50180 Aktepe/Avanos/Nevşehir, Turkey

Price:

1.28$ | 8 TL

Timing:

8.00 am - 6.15 pm Mon - Sun

Best Time to Visit:

April - June; September & October

Highlights

• Go hiking all the way up to the famous Zelve Open Air Museum which is made up after combining three different valleys
• Witness the remains of what used to be the traditional life of the inhabitants from the Byzantine era
• Learn about the history of the museum that was once a monastery and understand more about the inhabitants of the place.
• Later moved over to the Aktepe, or the Yeni Zelve, due to various environmental problems such as erosion
• Take a closer look at the beautiful cave paintings and rock structures that are a prime feature in this open air museum
• Head to the nearby gift shop from where you can buy souvenirs to remind you of your visit here
• Relax at the onsite café for a quick bite of cake or other refreshments and beverages