GULSEHIR

The old name of Gülþehir, situated on the southern bank of the Red River, 20 km from Nevþehir, is Arapsun and in ancient times it was called "Zoropassos". The Ottoman Grand Vezier Karavezir Mehmet Seyyid Pasha did the same thing in Gülþehir as Damat Ibrahim Pasha did in Nevsehir and a külliye was built in the town which had only 30 houses. The complex consisted of a mosque, a madrassa and a fountain.

Açiksaray Ruins
This important area of ruins is situated 3km from Gülsehir. There are numerous rock cuttings including Roman tombs, and churches dating back to the 9th and 11th centuries in this important bishopric. The mihrab in "the Mescid of Haci Bektas-i Veli", it is called by locals, is interesting as it is a well preserved islamic building. To the west side of the mescid, with a squarelike plan, are some quite large niches.

Rock formations in the shape of mushrooms are unique to this area.