Güzelyurt

For other places with the same name, see Güzelyurt.

Güzelyurt
District
Location of Güzelyurt within Turkey.
Country	Turkey
Region	Central Anatolia
Province	Aksaray
Government
• Governor	Ramazan Yıldırım
• Mayor	Kudret Özeş (AKP)
Area
• District	322.25 km2 (124.42 sq mi)
Elevation	1,485 m (4,872 ft)
Population  (Template:Turkey district populations)Template:Turkey district populations
• Urban	Template:Turkey district populations
• District	Template:Turkey district populations
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code	68xxx
Area code	0382
Licence plate	68
Website	www.guzelyurt.gov.tr

Güzelyurt, formerly Gelveri, is a town and district of Aksaray Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, at a distance of 45 km (28 mi) from the city of Aksaray. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 16,836 of which 3,775 live in the town of Güzelyurt. The district covers an area of 322 km² (124 sq mi), and the average elevation is 1,485 m (4,872 ft).

This is an area of great natural beauty and historical importance, part of the ancient region of Cappadocia, near the much-visited Ihlara Valley.

History

Cappadocia has an important place in the history of Christianity and Gregory of Nazianzus lived in the area. A historically large Greek population existed in the area until the 1924 population exchange (see Cappadocian Greeks), when they were replaced with the Turks from Thessaloniki and Kavala.

Places of interest

Güzelyurt is known for having three underground cities and over 50 churches carved into the rocky volcanic landscape including:

• Ihlara Valley
• Monastery Valley, "Manastır Vadisi"
• Fairy Chimneys, "Peri Bacaları"
• Antique Greek houses
• Ahmatlı Church
• St. Anargiros Church, "Sivişli Kilise"
• Koç Church
• Cathedral of Selime
• The rock monastery of Selime, one of the largest religious buildings in Cappadocia.
• Red Church, "Kızıl Kilise" - a 5th or 6th century church in the village of Sivrihisar
• Analipsis Church, "Yüksek Kilise" (High Church) on the hill of Analipsis. Stone age relics have been found nearby.
• St. Gregorius Church, "Kilise Cami" - another rock-hewn church, in use today as a mosque
• St. Spyridon Church, "Kızıl Kilise" - another red church in the vicinity of Güzelyurt.

Other places of interest include...

• The tomb of Selime Sultan in the village of Selime.
• Linseed House, "Bezirhane" in the village of Belisırma.
• Ziga thermal springs, "Ziga kaplıcaları" is located in the village of Yaprakhisar very close to Ihlara Valley.
• A recently discovered underground city is situated in Gaziemir village of Güzelyurt.

Image gallery

• 
  Ihlara Valley
• 
  St. Gregorius Church
• 
  A church in Ihlara Valley

See also

• Cappadocian Greeks
• Cappadocia

References

• Falling Rain Genomics, Inc. "Geographical information on Güzelyurt, Turkey". Retrieved 2008-04-02.
• Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. "General information on Güzelyurt, Aksaray" (in Turkish). Retrieved 2008-04-02.
• Governorship of Güzelyurt, Aksaray. "Touristic areas in Güzelyurt". Archived from the original on June 19, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-02.

External links

• District governor's official website Template:Tr icon / Template:En icon
• District municipality's official website Template:Tr icon
• Aksaray governor's office Template:Tr icon / Template:En icon / Template:Fr icon
• A touristic map of Güzelyurt district