Population: 2,500
Just 7km north of Nevşehir, the Cappadocian village of Çat is nevertheless off the main road which means that it has remained relatively undiscovered despite sitting at the mouth of a wonderful valley where a path runs alongside a brook overlooked by great sweeps of rock studded with pigeonhouses.
The village itself lacks specific attractions although the small mosque in the old part is indeed cut into a big rock as its name – Büyük Kaya Cami – would suggest. It is said to date back to 1725 although must have been rebuilt several times over the centuries. In the surrounding streets a few old stone mansions with fine windows rub shoulders with much smaller houses, suggesting that this was always one of the poorer Cappadocian settlements.
The Çat Vadisi (valley) is well signposted from the central square and is accessed via a stone path and steps. The path beside the stream follows level ground but can be boggy after rain.
The valley aside, the scenery around Çat is simply superb with some amazing fairy chimneys and all manner of other rock formations that really do give meaning to the cliched “moonscape” claims made for Cappadocia.
Sleeping
There are, as yet, no hotels in Çat; the nearest are in Nevşehir and Nar although for a more attractive choice of options you should stay in other Cappadocian hotspots such as Göreme or Ürgüp.
Transport info
Dolmuşes leave the Meteris junction in the centre of Nevşehir for Çat every hour on the hour during daylight hours.
