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5 places to visit in the Ağaçören district of Aksaray: Ağaçören Castle, Saratlı Yeraltı Şehri and Ağaçören Grand Mosque. Plan your trip to Ağaçören with local food, practical tips and transport information.

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The district covers an area of 407 km² and its altitude is 1,224 metres. Its population is 7,480.

Tarihçe

The district area was used as a settlement by the Hittites in the 3rd–4th centuries BC and came under the Byzantines as part of the Cappadocia region. It was later under the rule of the Anatolian Seljuks, the Karamanids and the Kadı Burhaneddin Principality. In 1989 it was re-attached to Aksaray as a district by law; it had been a bucak (sub-district) of Şereflikoçhisar in Ankara province.

Coğrafya

The district lies in the south of the Middle Kızılırmak section of the Central Anatolia Region, bordered by Sarıyahşi to the north, Ortaköy to the east, Aksaray central district to the south and Şereflikoçhisar district to the west. Although the settlement area is a plateau, the district centre is built on a hill. The dominant vegetation is steppe, and willow, poplar and oleaster grow along the riverbanks.

Tarihçe ve Kültür

The district area was used by the Hittites in the 3rd–4th centuries BC and then remained in the Cappadocia region. After 1071 the Oghuz began settling in the region. Following the fall of the Anatolian Seljuks, the area remained under the Karamanids and the Kadı Burhaneddin Principality. The name of the Panlı sub-district was changed to Ağaçören in 1964. Ağaçören was re-attached to Aksaray as a district by Law No. 3578 on 15 June 1989. The area was not occupied during the armistice period, but it received many migrants from occupied areas.

Öne Çıkan Bilgiler

The history of the district of Ağaçören goes back to the 5th millennium BC, the Chalcolithic Age. The region bears traces of many civilisations, from the Hittites to the Byzantines and from the Seljuks to the Ottomans.

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Places to Visit in Ağaçören

  • 3 Historic
  • 1 Religious
  • 1 Nature
Historic

Ağaçören Castle

This castle on the hill near the district centre was built in the Seljuk period. From the castle ruins, the Ağaçören plain and the surrounding mountains can be seen.

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Historic

Saratlı Yeraltı Şehri

This underground city in the village of Saratlı, near Ağaçören, is one of the lesser-known underground settlements of the Cappadocia region. Its multi-storey structure and narrow tunnels meant it was used as a refuge in the early Christian period.

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Religious

Ağaçören Grand Mosque

Built in the Ottoman period, this mosque is the most important religious building in Ağaçören. It has local architectural features in its stonework and minaret.

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Nature

Ağaçören Plateaus

The highland pastures in the southern parts of the district are cool in summer and have green meadows, making them suitable for nature walks.

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Historic

Taşkale ve Kilise Mevkii

Locations within the district boundaries where finds from earlier periods have been unearthed.

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Places to Visit Around Aksaray Province

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While you are in Ağaçören, you can also see the highlights of Aksaray province. These places are in other districts.

  • Ihlara Valley — A canyon 14 km long and in places 100–150 metres deep, formed as the Melendiz Stream eroded the lavas of Mount Hasan; it begins at Ihlara and ends at Selime.
  • Selime Cathedral — A cathedral carved into the rock in the village of Selime at the northern end of the Ihlara Valley, its interior divided into three naves by two rows of columns; it is the largest religious building in the valley.
  • Sultan Han — A caravanserai in the Sultanhanı district, commissioned by the Anatolian Seljuk Sultan Alâeddin Keykubad I and completed in 1229; its architect was Muhammed bin Havlan of Damascus.
  • Ağzıkara Han — The covered section of the caravanserai in the village of Ağzıkarahan was completed in June 1231 and its courtyard in February 1240. The han, notable for its rich decoration, has been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage status as part of the "Seljuk Caravanserais on the Denizli–Doğubayazıt Route".
  • Aşıklı Höyük — The mound near the village of Kızılkaya saw continuous settlement between 8200 and 7500 BC. The people of Aşıklı were among the first hunter-gatherers in the region to adopt settled life; humanity's transition from nomadism to settlement can be traced here.
  • Acemhöyük — A mound measuring 800 × 700 metres at Yeşilova, 18 km north-west of the city; an important trading centre that had its heyday in the Assyrian Trade Colonies Period (1950–1750 BC).

Practical Information for Visiting Ağaçören

Suggested time
1 day
Best time to visit
Spring and autumn
Places to visit
5 places

What to Eat in Ağaçören

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  • Arabaşı Çorbası

    Arabaşı is prepared by adding a mixture of flour and yoghurt to chicken stock, and is the traditional winter soup of Ağaçören.

  • Tandır Kebabı

    Tandır kebabı, made by slow-cooking lamb for hours in a clay tandır oven, is the most popular meat dish in Ağaçören.

  • Mantı

    Mantı, small pieces of dough filled with minced meat and cooked, is served with yoghurt and garlic sauce.

  • Tarhana Çorbası

    Tarhana dough is prepared in summer, dried and stored for winter. It is an indispensable flavour of Ağaçören's winter tables.

Culture, Local Products and Economy of Ağaçören

  • Kapadokya Yeraltı Mirası

    Ağaçören is part of the underground city tradition of the Cappadocia region. Saratlı Underground City is an important example of this heritage.

  • Kırsal Yaşam Kültürü

    A traditional rural way of life based on farming and livestock continues in Ağaçören.

  • El Sanatları

    Kilim weaving and wool craftsmanship continue in Ağaçören as traditional handicrafts.

Local Products

  • Buğday — Wheat grown on the Ağaçören plain is the region's main agricultural product.
  • Pekmez — Grape and mulberry molasses (pekmez) is produced using traditional methods. It is consumed as an energy source in the winter months.
  • Süt Ürünleri — In Ağaçören, where livestock farming is important, cheese, yoghurt and butter are produced using traditional methods.

Economy

Ağaçören's economy is based on farming and livestock. Wheat, barley and sugar beet are grown on the plain. Small and large livestock farming is an important source of income. The district is one of the smallest in Aksaray, and the migration of young people affects the economy.

How to Get to Ağaçören

Ağaçören is 50 km from Aksaray city centre and is reached by road. There are regular minibus services from Aksaray. The nearest airport is Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport.

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Ağaçören: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the places to see in Ağaçören?

The main places in Ağaçören are: Ağaçören Castle, Saratlı Yeraltı Şehri, Ağaçören Grand Mosque, Ağaçören Plateaus and Taşkale ve Kilise Mevkii.

What to eat in Ağaçören?

Arabaşı Çorbası, Tandır Kebabı, Mantı and Tarhana Çorbası are the standout dishes on Ağaçören's tables.

What is Ağaçören famous for?

Ağaçören is known for wheat and the Cappadocia underground heritage. Wheat grown on the Ağaçören plain is the region's main agricultural product.

How do I get to Ağaçören?

Ağaçören is 50 km from Aksaray city centre and is reached by road. There are regular minibus services from Aksaray. The nearest airport is Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport.

How much time should I set aside for a visit to Ağaçören?

Suggested visit length: 1 day. Best time to visit: spring and autumn.

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