Selime Cathedral

Selime Cathedral tickets: which one to buy

Selime Monastery, often called Selime Cathedral, is carved into the rock at the northern end of the Ihlara Valley in Cappadocia, central Turkey, above the village of Selime, and a small admission is charged; it is covered by the Museum Pass Cappadocia. It is the largest rock-cut religious complex in Cappadocia, and it is usually visited on the classic green tour of the region, which combines a hike through the Ihlara Valley along the river, the Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı underground city and lunch by the river.

The site was used as a filming location, and it is said to have inspired scenes in Star Wars. Climbing into the complex requires scrambling over rock and through tunnels, so good shoes are essential, and it is not suitable for visitors with limited mobility. The views over the valley are spectacular. A torch or phone light is useful in the darker rooms of the complex.

Visiting Selime Cathedral: what to see

The monastery was carved out of the soft volcanic tuff between the eighth and thirteenth centuries, and it includes a church, living quarters, kitchens, stables and a large hall, arranged on several levels in the cliff face, connected by passages and stairs. The church, the so-called cathedral, is a large basilica with three naves divided by pillars carved from the rock, with an apse and a gallery, and its walls preserve fragments of frescoes, including scenes from the life of Christ, though many have faded. The kitchen has a high chimney carved into the rock, blackened by smoke. A caravanserai may have operated here, since the monastery stood on the route of the Silk Road.

The whole complex looks like a castle of rock rising above the village, with windows and doorways cut into the fairy chimney formations. The rock formations around it are dramatic and strange. The complex's upper levels include a gallery overlooking the church, reached by carved steps. The large hall, possibly used for gatherings or as a refectory, has a high ceiling and carved niches. The stables at the bottom level have carved troughs. The rock walls show traces of the tools used to carve the spaces. The views from the top of the complex extend over the valley and the village. Pigeon houses, carved into the cliffs nearby, were used to collect fertiliser for the fields. The site's rooms are connected by narrow passages, and some require crawling.

Selime Cathedral opening hours and the best time to go

The site is open daily, with longer hours in summer. Cappadocia's summers are hot and dry, and spring and autumn are the best seasons for hiking and exploring the rock sites. Winter is cold and snowy, and the rock surfaces can be slippery. Tour groups arrive in the middle of the day, so early morning or late afternoon visits are quieter, and the light on the rocks is best in the late afternoon.

Hot air balloon flights over Göreme at sunrise are the region's other famous activity. Allow about an hour for Selime, and combine it with a walk through the Ihlara Valley. Derinkuyu underground city, about forty minutes' drive away, descends eight levels below ground and could shelter thousands of people.