Gülşehir brings together rock architecture and building history at two distinct locations: in the town and nearby. Aziz-Jean Church and Karavezir Hamamı are in Gülşehir; Açıksaray adds a nearby archaeological site to your stay. If you are looking for hotels in Gülşehir, you can decide whether to focus mainly on the town’s buildings or also include the rock landscape and trekking in your itinerary.
Açıksaray: Archaeology and Landscape
The archaeological site of Açıksaray lies three kilometers from Gülşehir. Numerous rooms are carved into the tuff, along with Roman rock-cut tombs and rock churches dating from the 9th and 10th centuries. Açıksaray is considered an important episcopal center. The complex therefore includes more than just churches: rooms, tombs, and places of worship represent different aspects of architecture carved into the rock and form a distinct point of interest alongside the buildings in town.
Açıksaray is used mainly for trekking; a 7 km route also includes Çat Valley. The route and valley provide a concrete connection to the landscape alongside the archaeological perspective. The Mantarkaya rock formations, considered a landmark of Gülşehir, are also located in the Açıksaray area.
Churches from Different Periods
The two-story Aziz-Jean Church stands at the entrance to Gülşehir. The lower level includes a church, wine cellars, tombs, a water channel, and rooms for staff. The upper level contains another church with scenes from the Bible. An inscription in the apse dates the church to 1212. The rock churches of Açıksaray and the two-story Aziz-Jean Church can be compared as architectural forms.
A chronological comparison can help you choose the focus of your stay: the rock churches in Açıksaray date from the 9th and 10th centuries, while the inscription in Aziz-Jean Church gives the year 1212. In terms of location, the church in town and an archaeological complex nearby represent different periods of architecture and history.
Karavezir Hamamı: Building History and Visit Planning
Another historic building in town is Karavezir Hamamı. Seyyit Mehmet Paşa had it built in 1778; he was a grand vizier and silahdar in the Ottoman Empire. The hamam comprises a changing room, a warm transitional room, and a hot room. The rooms are covered by domes of different diameters. The sequence of rooms can be followed from the changing area through the transitional space to the hot room; the domes add another architectural feature to the layout.
A visit must be arranged in advance by telephone using the number provided by the Gülşehir municipality. Check this requirement before traveling so you can plan your visit around your stay.
Discover more destinations: Ortahisar, Hacıbektaş, Yeşilöz Köyü, Kaymaklı, Ürgüp, Ayvali, Tuzköyü Belediyesi, Kozaklı
For the broader travel overview: Nevşehir.
