Turkey's State Council halts renovation of Nevşehir Castle in Cappadocia

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The Ankara Branch of the Chamber of Architects previously took legal action against the designation of the Castle of Nevşehir and its environs in Cappadocia, a world heritage site according to UNESCO as well as an archeological protected site, by a Presidential decision in 2020.

The 6th Chamber of the Council of State has halted the execution of the Presidential decision no. 2035 dated January 7, 2020, which was published in the Official Gazette no. 31002 on January 8, 2020 and designated the Castle of Nevşehir and its environs as a "Renovation Site".

Commenting on this recent court ruling, Ankara Branch Chair of the Chamber of Architects Tezcan Karakuş Candan has underlined that "the entire Cappadocia region faces the risk of construction."

Recalling that "several interventions were made to disturb its authenticity and natural structure," she has noted that "under the name of excavation and cleaning, the Castle of Nevşehir and its environs were deprived of its multiculturality and the works found in the area were destroyed."

Indicating that the expert report has also found that designating the related area as a renovation site without putting forward objective, technical and scientific reasons is inadmissible, Karakuş Candan has said that the Council of State has given a ruling in compliance with this report.

According to Candan, in the justification of the ruling, the uniqueness and the word heritage status of the area have been underlined and it has been shown that the area must be meticulously protected.

About the Castle of Nevşehir

The castle of Nevşehir stands on the hilltop overlooking the old neighborhoods of Nevşehir. The majority of historians claim it was a Medieval Castle and built by the Seljuks around 1100. The Castle was built to protect the trading routes from the East and the South. (EMK/SD)