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Gülağaç: the secret treasure of Cappadocia
Among the district’s important tourism attractions is Aşıklı Höyük, a settlement mound located near Kızılkaya village. It was opened to tourism in 2009, and its visitors have the chance to glimpse life as it was thousands of years ago in the Aşıklı Höyük houses.
“With its history dating back about 10,000 years, Aşıklı Höyük is the first known settlement in the Cappadocia region. It was also home to important developments in the region, including the first agriculture, the first mining and the first operation involving trepanning,” Halim said.
He also noted that there is another excavation site near Aşıklı Höyük, Güvercinkayası. It is the first known example of a fortified city in Anatolia.
Early inhabitants in the region mined for obsidian, a hard, glass-like volcanic rock very useful to early man as it could be chipped to a razor-sharp edge, from Gülağaç, Halim recounted. “Scientists have found that obsidian, which was mined from the northern side of Nenezi Mountain in our district, was used in the region 10,000 years ago. The obsidian that was mined here was used to make many tools. Tools made out of the stone are thought to have been used in the first trepanning,” he said.
Underground city, carved rock structures
Gülağaç also has an underground city and structures made out of carved rocks. “One of the largest underground cities of the Cappadocia region, Çukurören, is located in the district’s village of Gülpınar. Çukurören is home to various structures, including barns for animals, meeting halls, a church, wells and tunnels. This underground city will be an asset for Cappadocian tourism. Also, we have another underground city in the village of Saratlı. Saratlı’s underground city is an important stop for tourists who travel from Nevşehir to Aksaray and Ihlara. We will also include Sofular Valley, which is located in the town of Sofular, in our regional touristic assets. The valley attracts attention due to its churches, monasteries, carved rock houses and tombs. We also have a number of historical houses in the town of Demirci,” Halim explained.
A crater lake between mountains
Gülağaç also has a crater lake, Acıgöl, which is hidden between the mountains. Halim said the lake enchants its visitors year-round with its beautiful view. “Acıgöl [which literally means ‘bitter lake’ in English] takes its name from the sulfur in the water. It is surrounded by carved rock structures and fairy chimneys. Also, because of the area’s geothermal resources, there will be a hot spring center here in the near future,” he added.
Halim further noted that Gülağaç has other lakes, including the Kayı and Balıklı lakes. The Mamasın Dam is connected to the Karasu Stream, which is another important natural beauty in the district.
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