Nevşehir Province (Turkish: Nevşehir ili) is a province in central Turkey with its capital in Nevşehir. Its area is 5,485 km2, and its population is 317,952 (2024). Its adjacent provinces are Kırşehir to the northwest, Aksaray to the southwest, Niğde to the south, Kayseri to the southeast, and Yozgat to the northeast. Nevşehir includes the area called Cappadocia – a tourist attraction in Turkey. The town of Göreme is also located in Nevşehir. Nevşehir was declared a World Peace City by the United Nations.
Cappadocia once included the area now covered by this province. This province is notable for the fairy chimneys of Göreme, the Ortahisar (middle fortress), and a number of old churches from the Byzantine period.
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History
Archaeology
An approximately 5,000-year-old three-story underground town which referred as "Gir-Gör" (Enter and See) by locals was revealed in Avanos in 2019. The five-kilometer-long city consisted of three floors, homes, tunnels, places of worship and a small human figurine. According to the locals, the site was considered a source of "healing water" and "Caesar's bath."
Nevşehir Province contains numerous underground settlements, including Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı, which are among the largest underground cities in Cappadocia and are considered major archaeological and tourist sites.
Sports
A multiday track running ultramarathon of desert concept, called Runfire Cappadocia Ultramarathon, is held since 2012 annually in July. The race tours 244 km (152 mi) in six days through several historic places across Cappadocia reaching out to Lake Tuz.
Districts
Nevşehir province is divided into 8 districts (capital district in bold):
Acıgöl
Avanos
Derinkuyu
Gülşehir
Hacıbektaş
Kozaklı
Nevşehir
Ürgüp
Places of Interest
Göreme Open Air Museum
Uçhisar Castle
Göreme Historical National Park
Uç Güzeller, "The Three Beauties" fairy chimneys in Ürgüp
Love Valley
Zelve Open Air Museum
Red and Rose Valley
Ortahisar Castle
Mustafapaşa
Meryem Ana Kilisesi, Mother Mary Church near Nevşehir Castle
the Hagios Georgios Church, also known as the 'Çanlı Church' near Nevşehir Castle
Avanos, known for its clay pottery.
St. John the Baptist Chapel
Aynalı (Fırkatan) Church
Açık Saray Museum
Derinkuyu Underground City
Kaymakli Underground City
Tatlarin Underground City
Haji Bektash Veli Complex