Photo: Dosseman (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Source Temenni Hill
A hill in central Ürgüp, notable for a Seljuk-period tomb and clock tower. From the top there are panoramic views of the town of Ürgüp and the surrounding valleys.
View on map10 places to visit in the Ürgüp district of Nevşehir: Three Graces Fairy Chimneys, Devrent (Imagination) Valley and Temenni Hill. Plan your trip to Ürgüp with local food, practical tips and transport information.
Ürgüp is a district of Nevşehir province, and tourism is its main source of income. The district covers an area of 587 km², and the average altitude of the district centre above sea level is 1,068 metres.
History
Ürgüp is one of the important settlements of the Cappadocia region, which has hosted many civilisations throughout history. In antiquity the settlement was known as Osiana (Assiana); in the Byzantine period it was called Prokopi, a name thought to derive from Prokopios, son of the Byzantine Emperor Maurikios. With the spread of Christianity in the Roman and Byzantine periods, Ürgüp became a religious centre; churches and monasteries carved into the rocks of the area bear witness to this period.
Conquered by the Seljuks after the Battle of Malazgirt in 1071, Ürgüp developed commercially and culturally during the period of the Anatolian Seljuk State and was endowed with various pious foundation buildings. In the Ottoman period it remained a district centre attached to the Niğde sanjak. Ürgüp, which is notable for its multicultural character, was home to Turks as well as Greek and Armenian communities. Under the 1924 population exchange, the Greek population was sent to Greece, and Turkish migrants from Western Thrace settled in their place.
Ürgüp was attached to Niğde province, then in 1933 to Kayseri province, and in 1954, with the creation of Nevşehir province, to Nevşehir. Thanks to tourism, which developed especially after the 1980s, it has become a regional centre of attraction.
Places to Visit
- Temenni Hill: On the hill overlooking the town centre are Seljuk-period tombs and a viewing terrace, with panoramic views of the town.
- Turasan Wine House: Turasan, which reflects Ürgüp’s long viticulture history, is one of Cappadocia’s best-known wine producers; wine tastings and production tours are held.
- Ürgüp Erhan Ayata Horse Museum and Beautiful Horses Exhibition: A museum established by Ürgüp Municipality, emphasising Cappadocia’s identity as the “Land of Beautiful Horses”, with a horse-themed collection of around 800 pieces.
- Ürgüp Museum: A small museum telling the history of Ürgüp and its surroundings through its archaeological and ethnographic collections.
- Three Graces Fairy Chimneys: This trio of fairy chimneys, one of the symbols of Cappadocia, is among the most photographed spots in Ürgüp.
- Ürgüp Town Hammam: A historic hammam from the Ottoman period, restored and opened to visitors.
- Mazı Underground City: An underground city about 15 km from Ürgüp, one of the best-preserved underground cities in the region, with a multi-level structure carved into the rock.
- Gomeda Valley: Combines nature and history with hiking trails, distinctive vegetation and rock formations.
Sister Cities
The Ürgüp Municipality has signed sister city protocols with the following cities:
- Larissa, Greece (18 July 1996)
- Dillenburg, Germany (23 January 1999)
- Vitebsk, Belarus (4 October 2001)
- Kireas (Prokopi), Greece (21 October 2003)
- Mtskheta, Georgia (3 June 2004)
- Matera, Italy (2 December 2011)
- Ömnödelger, Hentiy, Mongolia (1 August 2014)
- Bayan-Adarga, Mongolia (5 February 2016)
- Pamukkale, Türkiye (July 2020)
- San Miguel de Allende, Mexico (8 January 2021)
- Kırıkhan, Türkiye (3 March 2023)
- Talas, Türkiye
History and Culture
In antiquity Ürgüp was known as Osiana, and in the Byzantine period as Prokopi. Ürgüp was conquered by the Seljuks after Malazgirt in 1071. It was attached to Kayseri province in 1933. After the 1924 population exchange, Turkish migrants from Western Thrace settled in place of the Greek population. Thanks to tourism, which developed after the 1980s, Ürgüp has become a regional centre of attraction.
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