FAIRY LAND CAPPADOCIA

The Late Hittite Kingdom (1200 BC – 700 BC) called the region of Cappadocia, KATWATNA, meant to be “the Lower Land”. When the Cimmerians ended the Phrygian sovereignty in 676 BC, the Medes came onto the scene (585 BC) and then the Persian Kingdom which divided the Kingdom into semi-autonomous satrapies and provinces. In the ancient Persian language, they called Cappadocia,

KATPATUKA,
which meant
“Land of the Good Breed Horses”

Today KAPADOKYA (CAPPADOCIA) is accepted one of the World’s seven wonders, one of those rare regions in the world where the works of man blend unobtrusively into the natural surroundings. Dwellings have been hewn from the rock as far back as 4000 BC. During Byzantine times Chapels and Monasteries were hollowed out of the rock, their ochre-toned frescoes reflecting the hues of surrounding landscape. Even today troglodyte dwellings in rock cones and village houses of volcanic tuff merge harmoniously into the landscape. The area is covered by wonderful valleys where the weather has eroded the stones into peaks, cones and obelisks called “Fairy Chimneys”.

UNESCO World Heritage Site National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia

While conservation plans and protection measures are in place for individual sites, it is recognised by the principal parties responsible for site management that an integrated Regional Plan for the Cappadocia Cultural and Tourism Conservation and Development Area is required to protect the World Heritage values of the property. Adequate financial, political and technical support is also required to secure the management of the property.

A this stage I all ask you to help us to preserve and conserve Cappadocia, by making a short visit to our sites. As you may noticed we need development to be able to protect this unique masterpiece of Land as a World Heritage value for the coming generations.

Thank you, for your consideration.