When I went to Cappodocia, the central region of Turkey whose landscape resembles the American Southwest, I stayed in the town of Goreme, which is famous for the “painted churches” at the Goreme Open-Air Museum. From behind my hotel, Sultan Cave Suites, I could easily see Uchisar Castle (pictured above), which is in the next town over in Uchisar. I knew I had to visit this intriguing structure carved out of a massive rock formation before I left the area for Vienna.

As the highest point in the region, Uchisar Castle an excellent place to watch the sunset (which is quite difficult in Goreme because it’s in the valley). But we ended up visiting it in the afternoon on our last day in Cappodocia. Because we were pressed for time, we took a taxi which cost us €15 each way for the 10-minute ride. (If possible, try to take the bus which I believe is only around €1 each way.) At sunset, Uchisar Castle often gets crowded. But during the day, there were only a few other people there, which was great.

It costs only TL3 to enter the castle, which was used by the Byzantine army in the 15th and 16th centuries. There isn’t too much to see on the inside, just some barren rock rooms that look similar to those in the cave dwellings in Goreme and even to the rooms in Kaymakli Underground City. Indeed, the outside of the castle is much more impressive. So really, visiting the castle is all about walking up to the top via the outside stairs to take in the magnificent views of Pigeon Valley and Rose Valley.