The Valley of Love and the fairy chimneys

The fairy chimneys of Cappadocia are large natural pillars formed in volcanic rock. The top is usually capped by another type of rock, which is more resistant to erosion. The combination of these two elements is what gives them their distinctive phallic shape.

So how did these fairy chimneys come about? In Turkey's Amur valley, these rock formations are of volcanic origin. The resistant basalt layer that forms the cap covered a more crumbly layer of debris from an earlier eruption (more than 10 million years ago). This softer, more fragile rock was shaped over the centuries by water infiltration and erosion. This is how the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia came into being. Some of them are now up to 40 metres high, and have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Far from rational scientific explanations, the formation of the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia is also the subject of several legends. Passed down from generation to generation, these stories tell of an ancient time when men and fairies lived in perfect harmony in the valley. However, to preserve the blood of both species, intermarriage was forbidden. But one fine day, a man and a fairy fell in love. To prevent this union, the fairy queen turned all her fellow fairies into pigeons, leaving the fairy chimneys abandoned... Today, this story continues to fascinate young and old alike, adding a touch of poetry to this unique landscape.

The nearest town to the Amur Valley is Göreme, one of the most visited villages in Cappadocia. Göreme is the main gateway to the valley. There are a number of excursions on offer, accompanied by local guides, to enable you to appreciate the full richness of this unique place.

The easiest and quickest way to reach Göreme from Istanbul (400 km) or Ankara (300 km) is by domestic flight. However, for economic and ecological reasons, you can also choose to make the journey by bus or hire car, in which case you will need to be patient. The capital of Cappadocia, Kayseri, is** around 70 kilometres from Göreme**, and the journey by car will take just under an hour.

To fully appreciate the beauty of the Amur Valley, we recommend you book a hot-air balloon flight. From the sky, this breathtaking landscape takes on a whole new dimension and invites you to daydream. As with guided tours, many local companies offer first flights in a hot-air balloon, departing from Göreme orAvanos, another nearby town.

As with the rest of Cappadocia, the best time to visit the Amur Valley is from May to September. It should be noted, however, that the summer months are the most popular with tourists. To avoid the hordes of tourists and to explore the site in complete tranquillity, it is therefore advisable to avoid the months of July and August. You'll also benefit from milder weather, with cooler temperatures (the sun beats down hard at the height of summer).

As we mentioned earlier in this article, the ideal place to discover the Amur Valley is Göreme**, the gateway to this natural site**. This tourist town is packed with accommodation to suit all types of traveller: hotels, hotel houses, troglodyte dwellings...