Historical buildings of Niğde and the majestic view of the Aladağlar Mountains.
Revealing the hidden historical treasures and magnificent natural texture of Niğde, this three day intra-city route offers a unique adventure for both history enthusiasts and adventure seekers. The first day of the route begins at the foothills of Aladağlar national park, which makes you feel the power of nature with its imposing peaks. Following your nature walks here, you will return to the center of Niğde to have the opportunity to examine the rich archaeological collections inside Niğde Müzesi. Towards the end of the day, with your visit to Gökbez Kaya Kabartması, which carries the marks of the ancient period, you will witness the region's millennia old understanding of art.
The second day features an intensive exploration program where you will trace defense architecture and ancient settlements. Lüle Kalesi, rising on a rocky hill, and the ruins of Gökbez fortress that you will reach shortly after, reveal the strategic importance of the region in the past. After these historical walls, while walking through the settlement areas of Zeyve Höyük and Eski Porsuk, whose history dates back to the eras before Christ, you will catch clues about the daily lives of Anatolia's oldest inhabitants. Spread over wide plains, these ancient settlements prove how important a transit point the Niğde geography was for civilizations.
The final day is completed with an experience where archaeological discoveries deepen. While trying to decipher the Porsuk Inscription carved into the rocks, you will be caught up in the mysterious atmosphere of the Hittite and Late Hittite periods. Then, you will visit the Çatalkale region and examine the early settlement forms of humanity at the Köşk Höyük excavation site, which has caused great repercussions in the archaeological world with its multi-layered structure. At the finale of the tour, you will wander through the ruins of Kestel, one of the centers of mining in ancient times, and complete these three full days by seeing how old and deep-rooted a past Niğde has not only in terms of agriculture but also industrially.