Pancarlik Valley, also known as Pancarlik Church Valley, is located to the south of Ortahisar and can be reached by taking the road from Urgup to Mustafapasa. Traveling south from Mustafapasa to Soganli, visitors will see a turning on the right that leads to the Pancarlik Valley, one of Cappadocia’s many under-visited valleys.
The Pancarlik Valley is a hidden gem of Cappadocia, with undulating ridges of pink rock and dollops of meringue-like white rock, creating a unique and breathtaking landscape. The valley is home to three rock-cut churches, with the most important being the Pancarlik Church. This monastic church is housed inside a group of rock cones and features well-preserved frescoes.
The Pancarlik Church has one nave, one apse, and a flat ceiling that is completely covered with frescoes. The frescoes are painted on a green background, and most of them feature scenes from the Bible that follow one another in sequence. Portraits of saints in insets border these scenes on both sides. The frescoes are well-preserved, with reds and greens predominating in the upper part of the small apse and large parts of the north and south walls. Visitors can admire these frescoes through the grille gate, even when the church is locked.
The church dates back to the first half of the 11th century and was likely used by monks as a place of worship and meditation. Its unique location, hidden away in the Pancarlik Valley, adds to its mystique and allure. Visitors who make the effort to seek out this hidden gem of Cappadocia will be rewarded with stunning views and a glimpse into the region’s rich history and culture. To reach Pancarlik Valley, visitors can take a taxi or private tour from the city center or take a bus to Mustafapasa and then a short taxi ride to the valley.
