Goreme Open Air Museum

There are many artifacts in the Göreme Valley National Park Open Air Museum, which should be included in the Cappadocia trip. First of all, it should be known that museums have an important historical place. Of course, there are works worth seeing in open-air museums, which have a different importance in terms of art history. Göreme Open Air Museum has managed to attract all the attention with its churches that can be visited and 11 different dining halls. The churches that can be visited openly are listed as follows;
• Buckled Church
• Carikli Church
• The Dark Church
• Snake Church
• St. Catherine’s Chapel
• St. Barbara Chapel
• Elmali Church
• St. Basil’s Chapel
• Girls and Boys Convent
The churches listed above are divided into 2 different categories. These works, which were categorized according to their era and the architecture used, were examined as Serpentine Churches and Columned Churches. The Serpentine Churches are generally exemplified as the St. Catherine and St. Barbara Chapels with wall sections, the Nuns Monastery and the Serpentine Church. Other churches, on the other hand, attract attention with their paintings, which generally give place to integrity. Çarıklı Church, Elmalı and Dark Church are known as columned churches.

Göreme Açık Hava Müzesi, ülkemizin ve elbette dünyanın gözde turistik bölgelerinden olan Kapadokya’da bulunuyor. Göreme merkeze 2, Ortahisar ve Çavuşin’e ise 3 km uzaklıkta yer alan Göreme Milli Parkı, Ürgüp’e 6, Nevşehir’e ise 13 km mesafededir. Bölgeye ulaşım, Kapadokya’nın herhangi bir bölgesinden karayolu ile sağlanabilir.

Two different airports can be used to go to Göreme Open Air Museum, namely Göreme National Park. One of them is Kayseri Airport and the other is Nevşehir Cappadocia Airport. Nevşehir Cappadocia Airport is 30 km from the city center. It is 43 km from Göreme. There is a distance of 76 km from Kayseri Erkilet Airport to Göreme. To reach Göreme Valley, one must travel through the Cappadocia region. Visitors from many parts of Turkey come to Göreme, which is located on the Kayseri – Nevşehir highway. There are direct buses to Nevşehir. Those who want to reach the region can also use the minibuses departing from Nevşehir bus station towards Göreme.

Göreme Open Air Museum entrance fee is updated periodically. Currently, you can enter the open-air museum by paying 100 TL. The figure is valid for the year 2021 – 2022. It will be added to our article after the entrance fee in 2023 becomes clear.

When we look at the history of Göreme Open Air Museum, MS. We can see that it dates back to 2 centuries. The region is also extremely important in terms of Christian history. For a while, Christians preferred the Göreme region to be protected in wars. In addition, the clergy of the period were in seclusion here.
Due to its history, you can come across churches, chapels and shelters in Göreme. After Christ; It is known as the place where the three great religious men Gregorios, Basileios and Kaisareia lived.
Until the 13th century, it was one of the most important settlements in Anatolia. Göreme Open Air Museum is; It was used as a training ground. The techniques used in the churches in the region are; It is proof of a very active period in terms of art.

Göreme Open Air Museum is home to many churches and chapels. There are works built in different periods in the Museum, which has important influences from Byzantine architecture. There are more plain traces in the structures that date back to older times. However, with the reign of the Roman Empire in the region, the frescoes became more complicated. It is noteworthy that the frescoes drawn with red paint still preserve their originality.
When you look at the figures drawn on the frescoes, you can see that a significant part of them is related to Christianity. Especially birth, baptism, apostles, Virgin Mary are the main figures of the frescoes. You can see many fakes of the Bible in churches and chapels.

Göreme Open Air Museum Churches List and Features

Göreme Open Air Museum Churches attract attention with their different features. If we take a look at the churches listed above;
• St. Barbara Chapel
• Elmali Church
• St. Basil’s Chapel
• Girls and Boys Convent
• Buckled Church
• Carikli Church
• The Dark Church
• Snake Church
• It is in the form of St. Catherine’s Chapel.
There are many different features that distinguish churches from other structures. These;
• There are personal names next to the figures.
• The subjects covered in the frescoes are the subjects that Christianity foresees.
• In churches where two types of techniques were painted, the painting applied on the rock and the fresco technique with the correction of the rock surface draws attention.
• Although the images processed in churches are similar to each other, their color tones are different.
• Göreme region was frequented by Christians between the 4th and 13th centuries. For this reason, it became an important center of Christianity and left many works.
• The domes, vaults, top covers, apse and columns in the churches were all carved into the rock.
• Lime mortar, volcanic tuff, straw and face smoothed walls were used in the architecture of these churches.
• The names of the churches are made up of local names like the other churches in their region.

Although Tokalı Church is outside the open-air museum, it can be visited by people who buy a museum ticket. The Tokalı Church, which is the oldest and largest rock church in the region, is thought to have been built in the 10th century. This church, which consists of 4 different parts as the chapel, the new church, the old church and the church, draws attention.
Very beautiful chapels in Tokalı Church, where the most beautiful Virgin Mary fresco of the region is located, are also worth seeing. In the Tokalı Church, where you will feel the fine art of Byzantium, there are also St. John the Baptist and Hz. Meeting of Jesus, killing of Prophet Zechariah and Hz. You can also witness scenes such as the ascension of Jesus into heaven. Finally, another striking feature of the church is the extensive use of blue and red colors.

In the Çarıklı Church, which is said to have been built at the beginning of the 13th century, Hz. There are different scenes depicting the crucifixion of Jesus. While there are many frescoes in the church, the most important feature of this church is that the figures are depicted as large and long. In this church, which takes its name from the depictions of sandals, Hz. There are also pictures depicting the ascension of Jesus into heaven.
There are 2 different main columns in Çarıklı Church. Other existing columns stand shaped at the corners of the walls. On the main dome of this church, which was built with 3 apses and 4 domes, the ‘Lord Jesus or Lord of the Universe’ is depicted, which is very common in the Orthodox sect. On the south apse, there is a bust of the angel Michael. There are depictions of Deesis in the main apse, and depictions of the Child Jesus and Mary on the northern apse.
The different subjects covered in the Carikli Church frescoes also draw attention. Just below this church, where the women are in an empty tomb, the entrance to Jerusalem, baptism, betrayal, the 3 astrologers, the New Testament and saints are discussed. The last supper that Jesus and the apostles had before they were captured is also depicted.

There are 11 tombs inside the St. Catherine’s Chapel, which has a central domed chapel. The most important rumor about this chapel, which was built with a free cross plan; Hz. Saint Catherine, who saw Jesus in her dream, later went to Hz. It describes Anna, an Egyptian monk who finds Jesus’ ring on her finger. It is stated that Anna built this chapel out of respect for St. Catherine. While examples of traditional cross architecture are seen in the chapel, it is noticed that the figures are only in the sacred section called Naos. This chapel, which also has geometric reliefs, is among the places to visit in Göreme Valley National Park.

As the name suggests, the Dark Church, which receives light from only a small window, has ensured the preservation of the depictions and painting in it thanks to this feature. In other words, it has managed to survive until today because it was not destroyed. It is also known that the church, which can be entered through a passage with stairs, became more popular after it was restored. There are many depictions of the Torah and Judaism, apart from Christianity, in the Dark Church, whose murals look like 3D. On the main dome, the depiction of the father, son and holy spirit draws attention. Those who want to visit the church can enter by purchasing a separate ticket from the open-air museum entrance.

The Yılanlı Church, one of the most important churches in the region, is thought to have been built in the 11th century. There are many Jesus depictions in this church, which consists of a dining hall, a kitchen and a cellar. This church, which is entered from the north, also has frescoes of Saint Onuphrus. The Yılanlı Church, whose construction was left unfinished, was built with a barrel vault and in a rectangular shape. While there are tombs in the southern part, many depictions draw attention in the eastern part.

The construction of the Chapel of St. Barbara, built in the 11th century, was attributed to Barbara of Egypt. Egyptian Barbara is a person who was killed and considered a martyr because her father was a Christian. When the chapel walls are examined, there are no human depictions, but geometric supports with mythological animal depictions are seen. An inscription described as a prayer is also located on the wall. The western, northern and southern arms of this cross-shaped chapel are barrel vaulted. In the center of the dome, Hz. There is a portrait of Jesus.

Elmalı Church, which is perhaps the most important place to see Göreme Open Air Museum, has a cross plan. There are 9 domes in Elmalı Church, which comes before you with unique decorations and a wonderful architecture. The fact that the domes became the symbol of different religious teachings also distinguishes this church from the others. The frescoes in Elmalı Church, which was restored in 1990, were not interfered with, but the church paintings were actually painted appropriately. The entrance of this church, which is thought to have been built in the middle of the 11th century, is on the south side.
The decorations in this church, which hosts many depictions of Jewish and Christian rituals, are often depicted on the wall. Geometric shapes and crosses are colored red.

There are 3 apses in the cradle-vaulted St. Basil’s Chapel. St. Theodore on the north wall of St. Basil’s Chapel, which is one of the 11th century works, and Hz. There is a depiction of Jesus, Child Jesus and Mary, and St. George on horseback on the south wall. Dedicated to St. Basil, this chapel is divided into columns from the main parts of the church. It can also be said that there is a chapel that is frequently visited in the region.

Only 2 floors of this monastery, which has 7 floors in total, can be visited. There are many tunnels between the floors of this monastery, which is at the left entrance of the Göreme Open Air Museum. In case of any danger, bolt stones were used to close the mouth of the tunnels. There is a kitchen and dining hall on the 1st floor, while a dilapidated chapel is on the 2nd floor. The section with 3 apses on the 3rd floor is closed to visitors due to its insecurity.
Only the ground floors of the 4-storey section located opposite the monastery and closed due to erosion are open to visitors. On the ground floor, it is possible to see several rooms. Also known as the Monastery of Boys and Girls, this structure is thought to have been built in the 11th century.

There are many churches and chapels within the Göreme Open Air Museum. It is stored in an area of approximately 40 thousand square meters.
• The Monastery of Nuns, also known as the Monastery of Girls, is the first area you will visit at the Göreme Open Air Museum. Holes were built in the rocks. It has 7 floors in total, but only 2 floors can be visited. There are even tombs in the areas that were built as a complete living space and are closed to visitors. Also opposite is the Monastery of the Priests. However, the Monastery of the Monks was built in a much simpler way and only one room is allowed to be visited after the erosion.
• St. Basil’s Chapel is named after St. Chapel, one of the most important religious figures of Christianity. The chapel, which was built in the 11th century, reflects the artistic understanding of the period very successfully. Like many works built during this period, you can come across frescoes drawn with red paint in St. Basil’s Chapel.
• Elmalı Church takes its name from the apple figure in the frescoes in the church. It was built as a rock church and integrated with Cappadocia. There are scenes from the Bible in the church.
• St. Barbara Church, which is one of the important symbols of Göreme Open Air Museum, was built in the 11th century. The drawings in the church are quite different from their counterparts. Although the quality of the drawings is low, they have been the subject of much debate. Not all of the figures are understood.
• Yılanlı Church is a building dedicated to important Christian saints. It represents Theodore and George being killed by a snake. The drawings, which are also the subject of legends, have added a different atmosphere to the church.
• After visiting the structures in Göreme Open Museum, you can browse the shops and buy gifts for your loved ones. There are also various places to relax and have a snack or drink tea and coffee.

Where is Goreme Open Air Museum Map