ウチヒサル：カッパドキアの岩の要塞 🏰🇹🇷 #旅行 #探検 #トルコ

ウチヒサル：カッパドキアの岩の要塞 🏰🇹🇷 #旅行 #探検 #トルコ

carved from volcanic rock this is Uchasar Castle rising like a giant stone hive above Capidoshia Turkey for centuries people tunnneled into the soft rock creating homes storage and lookout points from the top you get the highest panoramic view in Capidoshia this castle was a village inside a

Uçhisar Castle: A Village Inside a Mountain

Welcome to the wind-swept heart of Cappadocia—where landscapes resemble the moon, and history is literally carved into stone. Rising above this magical terrain like a jagged crown is Uçhisar Castle, not a traditional fortress of stone walls and battlements, but a natural rock monolith, patiently hollowed out by human hands over the centuries.

From afar, Uçhisar looks like a giant termite mound or the ruins of some forgotten civilization. Up close, it’s even more impressive. It’s a mountain—soft volcanic tuff—transformed by generations into homes, chapels, pigeon lofts, storage rooms, and defensive lookouts. You don’t just visit Uçhisar Castle—you climb into it, explore it, and in a way, feel it breathe history.

The town of Uçhisar itself is peaceful and compact, just a short drive from Göreme, the popular hub for Cappadocia travelers. It’s far quieter than its neighbor, but that’s part of its charm. While the tour buses unload in Göreme and the hot air balloons fill the sky overhead, Uçhisar rests in a near meditative calm, perched like a sentinel over the valleys below.

The castle’s summit is the highest point in all of Cappadocia. That elevation once gave villagers a strategic advantage—seeing enemy armies from miles away. Today, it offers travelers a commanding 360-degree view. On a clear day, you can spot Mount Erciyes, a snow-capped volcano over 80 miles away, and the twisting beauty of Pigeon Valley cascading toward the horizon.

Walking through the carved-out chambers, it’s easy to forget you’re in a “castle” at all. There are no thrones or swords—just the echoes of daily life from a time when survival meant merging with the land. Families once made their homes here, with narrow tunnels connecting rooms like veins in a living organism. Some of the passages are so steep and tight, you have to duck or slide sideways to pass through.

And the pigeons—they were more than just fluttering neighbors. For centuries, pigeon droppings were harvested and used as fertilizer in Cappadocia’s vineyards. You’ll still see dozens of carved pigeon holes etched high in the rock walls, especially if you continue hiking down into Pigeon Valley.

Uçhisar is an ideal spot for watching the region’s famous balloon launches at sunrise. From the castle’s top or one of the many scenic terraces in town, you can sip a strong Turkish tea as dozens of colorful balloons drift silently across the surreal landscape. And after the climb, reward yourself with a hearty local breakfast—flatbread, olives, tomatoes, fresh eggs, and a view you’ll never forget.

For travelers chasing the highlights of Cappadocia, Uçhisar is often overlooked. But it shouldn’t be. It offers all the beauty and wonder of the region, minus the crowds. It’s a place where you can slow down, soak in the views, and walk through a mountain that once pulsed with life.

So if your travels bring you to central Turkey, take a detour to Uçhisar. Climb the stone. Feel the wind. Stand where villagers once stood, gazing out over a land that still inspires awe.

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