This cathedral site was probably the best cave site we visited. The path up the mountain into the various buildings/rooms is amazing and in great condition. The views of the historic site and the valley below it are stunning. You can easily picture why this site had historic religious significance as well as military value. You can also visualize in your head a caravan of camels loaded with treasure staying overnight here for protection (read the sign about this site that I posted for more details.) A very nice place to spend about an hour. Take your time, enjoy the views, and history. It was also less crowded than other places which is very nice too!

This is a unique cathedral. It used to serve as inn as well as a monastery. The view from this cathedral is also very unique. You can understand the history of this place without a guide too from the instruction boards located outside every room. You will need around 30 to 45 mins to cover this place. Be ready to climb a few stairs for the visit.

Selime Cathedral — Where Stone Whispers the Echo of Centuries At the very end of the Ihlara Valley, when the path seems to fade between dry hills and warm wind, an almost unreal sight appears: the Monastery of Selime, also known as the Selime Cathedral. Carved directly into volcanic rock, this vast structure feels more like a dream than something made by human hands. Walking through its corridors is like stepping into a world suspended between faith and survival. Centuries ago, Byzantine monks carved churches, kitchens, stables, and hidden passages into the stone. At its heart lies the “cathedral” — an enormous rock-cut church with columns sculpted from the mountain itself and faint frescoes that still cling to the walls. There’s a sacred silence in the air. Light filters softly through small openings, dancing across the worn surfaces. You can almost imagine the monks who once prayed here, the travelers who sought refuge, and the soldiers who later turned the monastery into a fortress. Every corner tells a story — even the shadows. From above, the view over the valley is breathtaking. The contrast between the blue sky, ochre cliffs, and human devotion etched into stone makes Selime Cathedral one of the most mysterious and hauntingly beautiful places in Cappadocia — a meeting point between nature and spirituality.

Selime Cathedral in Kayaaltı, Selime, near Güzelyurt in Aksaray, Turkey, is an impressive rock-cut monastery carved into the volcanic cliffs of Cappadocia. The surrounding landscape of fairy chimneys and valleys adds to its dramatic setting. A quiet, atmospheric stop that gives a real sense of Cappadocia’s historical depth.

Selime cathedral is in fact a complex structure that included a caravan passage, inn, cathedral, chapel, storage rooms etc. - a complete town in the rocks. This is the best preserve rock architecture we encountered in Cappadocia with eleborate rock carvings and frescoes, columns and tunnels from Byzantine period (8 thru 11 c.) The complex sits on the top of the hill and offers magnificent views over the valley. You can easily spent an hour there climbing all the tunnels and dead-ends and returning to the “red-arrow” route. For a speedy sightseeing either few pics and selfies 30 minutes may be enough.

I think it's worth driving past the Cathedral after visiting Ilhara Valley.. Most of the cave churches are similar. This one have quite alot of history so go with a local guide. The views from the Cathedral are spectacular!

Tucked at the end of the Ihlara Valley, Selime Cathedral isn’t just a historical site—it’s a cinematic descent into the sacred and surreal. Carved directly into the rock face, this 8th-century monastic complex feels like Cappadocia’s answer to Middle-earth: towering cave spires, echoing chambers, and stairways that spiral through centuries of devotion and defense. 🕍 From the cathedral’s vaulted ceilings to the monks’ quarters and stables, every crevice tells a story. The views from the top—over the valley and surrounding fairy chimneys—are breathtaking, especially in the golden light of late afternoon. ⚠️ Be ready for a bit of a climb and uneven terrain. Good shoes and a curious spirit are essential. And if you’re lucky, you might catch the wind whispering through the stone like a forgotten hymn.

Selime Sultan Tomb is located just across the road from the Selime Cathedral, which is one of the places of visits under the Cappadocia Green Tour. Selime Sultan Tomb is also known as Ali Pasha Tomb. It takes its name from Ali Pasha, a rich Aksaray Bey who was one of the locals of Aksaray and had large estates. It was told that Ali Pasha was killed by someone who had hostility towards him. He was then buried at the Selime Cemetery. A mausoleum was later built on the cemetery.

Can be seen on the side of the road as you visit Selime Cathedral. Nothing extraordinary, whilst it is historical.

Historical place where we can see chapel, churches, cathedral and monastery of early christianity era. This place is amazing cause they built monastery in a mountain.

Nice

Nice

(Translated by Google) There is a cemetery opposite Selime Cathedral. The tomb is in this cemetery and can be seen right across from the Cathedral. The door is locked, and when you get closer you can see the inside through the iron-pierced window. As far as I could see there were five tombs inside. Behind the tomb there is a stream and people are lighting barbecues and having picnics. (Original) Selime Katedrali'nin karşısında bir mezarlık var.Türbe, bu mezarlıkta ve Katedral'in hemen karşısında görünüyor zaten.Kapısı kilitli, demir delikli pencereden içerisi görünüyor yaklaşınca.Gördüğüm kadarıyla beş tane kabir vardı içerde.Türbenin arkasında çay akıyor ve insanlar mangal yakıyor, piknik yapıyor.

(Translated by Google) Selime Sultan Tomb in Selime Town actually belongs to Aksaray Bey Ali Pasha and his brother Ahî Ahmed. They lived in the 13th century and were taken out of the castle by a trap and killed. The other graves in the tomb are probably their relatives or important names of the period. A historical and simple building. It has an impressive atmosphere with its silence. It's worth stopping by if you happen to pass by. (Original) Selime Kasabası’ndaki Selime Sultan Türbesi asıl olarak Aksaray Beyi Ali Paşa ve kardeşi Ahî Ahmed’e ait. 13. yüzyılda yaşamışlar ve bir tuzakla kaleden çıkarılıp öldürülmüşler. Türbenin içinde ki diğer mezarlar da muhtemelen onların yakınları ya da dönemin önemli isimleri. Tarihî ve sade bir yapı. Sessizliğiyle etkileyici bir atmosferi var. Yolunuz düşerse uğramaya değer.

Ala Church is a large, impressive cave church in Cappadocia. This community church was built around 1000AD.

(Translated by Google) It is a historical church located on a hill overlooking the valley in Belisırma village. It is located in the same place as Bezirhane, next to each other. The village is magnificent, the church is different… The valley is fascinating in itself. Our country is not called the cradle of civilizations for nothing, we should appreciate it. Ihlara valley and the churches that are open to visitors throughout the valley are must-see places. Please let's not destroy historical artifacts! (Original) Belisırma köyü içerisinde vadi manzaralı bir tepede konumlandırılmış olan tarihi kilisedir. Bezirhane ile aynı yerde yan yana bitişik şekilde bulunmaktadır. Köy ayrı muhteşem, kilise ayrı… Vadi zaten başlı başına büyüleyici. Ülkemize boşa medeniyetler beşiği denmiyor, kıymetini bilmeliyiz. Ihlara vadisi ve vadi boyunca ziyarete açık olan kiliseler mutlaka görülmesi gereken yerlerden. Lütfen tarihi eserleri tahrip etmeyelim!

(Translated by Google) It's difficult to drive through the tourist area because everyone wanted to offer us a parking space. We didn't let ourselves be put off and drove straight to Ala Kilise, which we had overlooked last year. The church, dated between the 12th and 13th centuries, has a rectangular longitudinal plan with a single nave. The frescoes on the ceiling and walls of the building, in which the scenes of the Baptism, the Metamorphosis, the Three Hebrews in the Furnace, the Deesis, the Aziz and the Martyrs were destroyed by excessive moisture. We visited the church on June 28, 2022 and described it in detail in the “Travel report 99 Aksaray, Niğde” and supported it with photos. (Original) Es ist schwierig, durch das Touristenbereich durchzufahren, weil alle uns einen Parkplatz anbieten wollten. Wir ließen uns nicht irritieren und fuhren direkt zur Ala Kilise, die wir im letzten Jahr übersehen hatten, zu besichtigen. Die Kirche, datiert zwischen dem 12. und 13. Jahrhundert, hat einen rechteckigen Längsplan mit einem einzigen Kirchenschiff. Die Fresken an der Decke und den Wänden des Gebäudes, in denen die Szenen der Taufe, der Metamorphose, der drei Hebräer im Ofen, der Deesis, des Aziz und der Märtyrer durch übermäßige Feuchtigkeit zerstört wurden. Wir besichtigten die Kirche am 28.06.2022 und beschreibe es im "Reisebericht 99 Aksaray, Niğde" ausführlich und belege es mit Fotos.

(Translated by Google) Ala Church is one of the most impressive rock-cut churches in the Ihlara Valley. Located on the eastern slope north of Belisırma Village, this church was built in the 10th century and is a significant example of the Byzantine period. The frescoes inside depict scenes such as the birth of Jesus and his ascension. The church's exterior is striking, similar to the structures in Açıksaray. The nearby Bezirhane (Bezirhane) further delves into the region's history. Seeing this historic structure during your nature walk will be an unforgettable highlight of your trip. (Original) Ala Kilise, Ihlara Vadisi'nin en etkileyici kaya oyma kiliselerinden biri. Belisırma Köyü'nün kuzeyinde, doğu yamacında yer alan bu kilise, 10. yüzyılda inşa edilmiş ve Bizans dönemine ait önemli bir örnek. İçerideki freskler, İsa'nın doğumu, göğe çıkışı gibi sahneleri betimliyor. Kilisenin dış cephesi, Açıksaray'daki yapılarla benzer şekilde dikkat çekici. Yakınında bulunan Bezirhane, bölgenin tarihini daha da derinleştiriyor. Doğa yürüyüşü yaparken bu tarihi yapıyı görmek, gezinizin unutulmaz bir parçası olacak

(Translated by Google) Ehhh it will do. Prices could be a little more reasonable (Original) Ehhh idare eder. Fıyatlar bırazdaha makul olabilir

(Translated by Google) There are no instructions after the crossroads. As you follow the dirt path, it becomes a little higher than the road. It is a single room and has no distinguishing features other than the fact that part of the ceiling is decorated with motifs. (Original) Yol ayrımında sonra herhangi bir yönerge bulunmuyor. Toprak patikadan ilerleyince yola göre biraz yüksekte kalıyor. Tek odalı,tavanının bir kısmı motifli olması haricinde ayırt edici bir özelliği yok.

(Translated by Google) There is no church in the location (Original) Konumda bir kilise yok

Great place to go!

must visit

(Translated by Google) We visited on September 8th. A beautiful place to visit and see in Güzelyurt district of Aksaray, very close to the district center. Free parking is available at the entrance If your museum card is not valid, you can buy it for 60 TL. There is an underground city and a mosque inside, there is a spring water next to the mosque, which was converted from a church, you can go down and look there. There are many passageways in the underground city, we could only walk around some of them. They have illuminated certain parts. If you have time, be sure to stop by. There are other churches around. (Original) 8 Eylül tarihinde ziyaret ettik. Aksaray’ın güzelyurt ilçesinde gezilip görülmesi gereken güzel bir mekan ilçe merkezine çok yakın Girişinde ücretsiz otopark mevcut müzekart geçerli yoksa 60 TL’ye satın alabilirsiniz. içeride yeraltı şehri ve cami mevcut kiliseden çevrilmiş caminin yanında ayazma suyu var inip oraya da bakabilirsiniz Yeraltı şehrinde çok fazla geçiş yerleri var biz sadece bir kısmını dolanabildik belli kısımlarını ışıklandırmışlar Vaktiniz varsa uğrayın mutlaka. Etrafta başka kiliseler de mevcut.

(Translated by Google) Entry is free with a museum card. You can spend 1 hour to visit. Perfect. There is a sink next to the cafe across from it, it is free. Enjoy your visit. (Original) Müze kart ile giriş ücretsiz. 1 saat ayırıp gezebilirsiniz. Mükemmel. Karşısında kafe yanında lavabo var, ücretsiz. Keyifli gezmeler.

(Translated by Google) We stopped by because it was on our way back to Ihlara, and I'm glad we did. Within the valley are old Greek houses, a mosque converted from a church, a cistern, and a small underground city. Opposite these, there's an observation deck with ancient structures and churches, and the view is superb. A few kilometers further along the valley, by car, is another area with rock-cut structures. You can visit there too, but it didn't really interest us. You can enter with a museum pass. (Original) Ihlara dönüşü yolumuzun üzerinde olduğu için uğradık, iyikide uğramışız. Vadi içinde eski Rum evleri, kiliseden dönme cami, sarnıç ve küçük bir yer altı şehri var. Ayrıca bu saydıklarımın karşısında eski yapılar ve kiliselerin olduğu bir seyir terası var ve manzarası çok iyi. Vadi içinden araçla bir kaç kilometre devam ettiğinizde kayalara oyulmuş yapıların olduğu bir alan daha var isterseniz orayıda gezebilirsiniz, bizim pek ilgimizi çekmedi. Müze kart ile giriş yapabilirsiniz.

(Translated by Google) It's very beautiful, a must-see, close to Ihlara Valley. (Original) Çok çok güzel mutlaka gidilmeli ,Ihlara Vadisi’ne yakın

(Translated by Google) Stone houses in the silence of a valley, like the heart of time... (Original) Bir vadinin sessizliğinde taş evler, sanki zamanın kalbi gibi...

This spot was located near our hotel and we decided to give it a try. Everything was pretty good. The food was yummy, it came out pretty quick. service was good, the atmosphere was nice, just plenty of flies. Overall it was a good experience, nothing crazy. I enjoyed the food—but would I try it again? Probably not.

Amazing food! The tava and fresh bread can't be beat. Tried a few of the desserts and they were good too. Interesting to see the use of pumpkins for dessert.

Food is very good and service was great. Prices are very reasonable! Get the Galavera Tava 😋

Absolutely worth the drive to the small town of Guzelyurt to support a lovely restaurant. After leaving Cappadocia, we were looking for a nice place to eat and I am so glad we came here. The restaurant is family owned and the staff were so sweet and kind. The space is beautiful, clean, with big comfortable tables. The food was absolutely delicious, including their speciality dish of diced beef stewed with garlic and peppers. The other benefit of this restaurant is you get an amazing view of the snowcapped mountains just behind it.

A real local experience! Must order the special dish at least 1 1/2 hours ahead - it’s called Aksaray Pan - a nice slow cooked beef and vegetables along with yogurt and fresh made warm beautiful bread! Our guide suggested it and I was NOT disappointed!!!! It’s is a really local place and not crowded at all!

The place where you can feel love and kindness of people through food. Everything was delicious, but bread, tava, moussaka and rice pudding - wow!

Cute family-owned restaurant. Definetely try Gelveri kebap, it’s amazing! Highly recommended.

One of the most different cities in Turkey it used to be a village but after Aksaray became a province, This place is cool and cozy, it is quite interesting with details.

Part of Monastery Valley

Historical site.

Super

(Translated by Google) I can say that I liked it as an underground city and mosque, it goes down about three floors, I crawled in some places, I only went forward in the places where there was light, it is not a very crowded place, I think it is fun, the mosque was converted from a church, it seemed different to me, I liked the mosque too, it is not like normal mosques, I think the inside should be seen, I am posting the videos in a sped-up manner due to time constraints. (Original) Yeraltı şehri ve camisi olarak beğendim diyebilirim yaklaşık üç kat kadar aşağı iniyor bazı yerlerde sürünerek gittim, ışık olan yerlerde ilerledim sadece, çok kalabalık bir yer değil bence eğlenceli cami de kiliseden çevrilmeymiş bana değişik geldi camiyi de beğendim normal camiler gibi değil içi, görülmeli diye düşünüyorum vidyoları hızlandırılmış olarak atıyorum süre kısıtlaması dan dolayı.

(Translated by Google) It's located right next to the ticket office. I quite liked the area. However, the underground city is quite claustrophobic. It might be the most claustrophobic place in Cappadocia. It didn't feel very safe or controlled to me. After a while, I couldn't move forward in the underground city. I was afraid I'd get stuck in the hole I was supposed to go in. I'll visit again when I'm thinner. ✌️😅. Other than that, I liked it. (Original) Bilet gişesinin hemen yan tarafında bulunuyor. Bölgeyi oldukça beğendim. Ancak yeraltı şehri oldukça klostrofobik. Kapadokya'nın en klostrofobik yeri olabilir. Bana çok güvenli ve kontrol edilen bir yer gelmedi. Bir süre sonra yeraltı şehrinde ilerleyemedim. Girmem gereken deliğe sıkışıp kalmaktan korktum. Zayıflarsam tekrar ziyaret edeceğim✌️😅.. Haricinde beğendim.

(Translated by Google) And it's a place well worth visiting. It's a shame it's not better preserved and the administration hasn't protected the buildings there, at least the most representative ones. It's not difficult to get there from the village road. (Original) Y lugar que merece mucho la pena visitar. Es una pena que no se conserve en mejor estado y la administración no haya protegido las construcciones que hay allí, al menos las más representativas. No es difícil llegar desde la carretera del pueblo.

(Translated by Google) Carved church at an altitude of 150m from the road, 1.2 km away from the center of Güzelyurt. Detailed explanation is as follows: “HEARTBURLU (SAINT EPHTEMIOS) CHURCH Kalburlu Church, which is mentioned as St. Ephtemios Church in written sources, dates back to the 9th-10th centuries. It dates back to centuries. Kalburlu Church is carved into a very large rock mass, and the passage between the rooms in the church is provided through rock columns. There are arches between the columns. The red line paintings on the ceiling and columns have been erased. Kaiburlu Church, which has many large and small rooms, cells and arched structures around it, is the center of all these structures. The carved rosettes of different sizes and various decorations on the square panels at the entrance of the church attract attention. The arches on the entrance door of the Kalburlu Church have a rich architectural decoration made with relief technique. The naves are connected to each other by round arches on the east and west of a free pier in the middle. There is a baptismal basin in a niche covered with a barrel vault on the west wall of the south nave. A deep niche can be seen on the south wall, to the east of the door that provides entrance to the church. There is a seating bench in the northwest corner.” (Original) Güzelyurt merkezden 1.2 km uzaklıkta yoldan 150m yükseklikte oyma kilise. Detaylı açıklama da aşağıdaki gibi; “KALBURLU (AZİZ EPHTEMIOS) KİLİSE Yazılı kaynaklarda Aziz Ephtemios Kilisesi olarak adı geçen Kalburlu Kilise 9-10. yuzyıllar arasına tarihlenmektedir. Kalburlu Kilise çok büyük bir kaya kütlesine oyulmuş olup, kilisedeki mekânlar arası geçiş kaya sütunlar arasından sağlanmaktadır. Sütunların arası kemerlidir. Tavanda ve sütun üzerlerinde bulunan kırmızı çizgi şeklindeki boyamalar silinmiştir. Etrafında irili ufaklı çok sayıda oda, hücre ve kemerli yapı bulunan Kaiburlu Kilise bütun bu yapıların merkezi konumundadır. Kilise girişindeki kare panolarda bulunan farklı boyutta oyma rozetler ve çeşitli süslemeler dikkati çekmektedir. Kalburlu Kilisenin giriş kapısı üzerindeki kemerler, kabartma tekniğiyle yapılmış zengin bir mimari bezemeye sahiptir. Nefler, ortada serbest bir payenin doğu ve batısındaki yuvarlak kemerlerle birbirlerine bağlanmaktadır. Güney nefin batı duvarında beşik tonoz örtülu nişin içinde bir vaftiz teknesi bulunmaktadır. Güney duvarda, kiliseye girişi sağlayan kapının doğusunda derin bir niş görülmektedir. Kuzeybatı köşesinde ise bir oturma sekisi yer almaktadır.”

(Translated by Google) The unique but unfortunately neglected church of the Monastery Valley. It is highly likely that you will feel the tiredness of the years and, of course, the beauty at the same time. Even though the purpose of use has changed over the period until today, from the moment you enter, you find yourself in a historical texture that takes you into the depths of history and drags you into long thoughts and conversations about the conditions of the people living in the past at that time. The stream running parallel to the pathways of the Monastery Valley and the vegetation along it can also offer unique experiences for day campers. Currently known as Güzelyurt, formerly known as Gelveri, as the southwestern border of the Cappadocia Region, it promises you beautiful experiences with its historical texture and natural beauties. (Original) Manastır Vadisinin eşsiz ancak maalesef bakımsız kilisesi. Yılların verdiği yorgunluk ve pek tabii güzelliği aynı anda hissetmeniz kuvvetle muhtemel. Günümüze kadar gelen süreçte kullanım amacı farklılaşmış olsa da içeriye girdiğiniz andan itibaren sizi tarihin derinliklerine götüren ve geçmişte yaşayan insanların o dönemki koşullarına ilişkin uzun düşünce ve sohbetlere sürükleyen tarihi bir dokunun içerisinde buluyorsunuz kendinizi. Manastır Vadisinin patika yollarına paralel uzanan dere ve boylu boyunca uzanan bitki örtüsü de günübirlik kampçıların için eşsiz deneyimler sunabilir. Şimdiki adıyla Güzelyurt, eski adıyla Gelveri, Kapadokya Bölgesinin Güneybatı sınırı olarak tarihi dokusu ve doğal güzellikleriyle sizlere güzel deneyimler vaad ediyor.

(Translated by Google) It is a place that is difficult to reach but takes you into the depths of history. (Original) Ulaşması zor ama insanı tarihin derinliklerine alıp götüren bir yer.