Rising 90 meters above the surrounding town, Ortahisar Castle is a geological and historical marvel carved from soft volcanic tuff. Historically used as a defensive stronghold during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods, the castle is honeycombed with tunnels, rooms, and corridors that once provided refuge for the local population. A unique feature of the castle and the surrounding village is the use of its rock-cut chambers as natural cold storage for citrus fruits and potatoes, thanks to the constant cool temperatures within the stone. Visitors can ascend a series of steep staircases to the summit, which rewards climbers with breathtaking 360-degree views of the Hallaçdere Valley and the snowy peak of Mount Erciyes. The site remains a testament to the region’s ingenuity in adapting architecture to nature.
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