Cappadocia restoration reaches five chimneys on 24 September

Cappadocia restoration reached the final stage for five vulnerable fairy chimneys in Göreme, Turkey, on 24 September 2026. The work concerns formations affected by erosion, environmental conditions, time and human activity.

The announcement links the restoration directly to the landscape that draws visitors to the region, where valleys, pinnacles and rock-hewn sites form part of a protected cultural and natural setting.

Restoration reaches five fairy chimneys in Göreme

The Culture and Tourism Ministry began the project two years ago in the Göreme area of Nev?ehir. Work is being coordinated by the Cappadocia Area Presidency, the authority responsible for the conservation operation.

Five fairy chimneys requiring repair have reached the last stage of restoration, according to Cappadocia Area President Ayd?n Cem Aslanbay. The work is intended to prevent further deterioration of fragile formations, while earlier maintenance had already been carried out on two other fairy chimneys.

Protection work on seven formations was reported on 24 September 2026. The latest intervention covered five formations, following work on two others in the UNESCO-listed region.

Cappadocia landscape gives the restoration wider context

The World Heritage property is officially known as Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia. UNESCO describes a volcanic landscape shaped by erosion into mountain ridges, valleys and pinnacles known as fairy chimneys or hoodoos.

The property extends between Nev?ehir, Ürgüp and Avanos and includes Göreme National Park, rock-hewn sanctuaries and the underground cities of Kaymakl? and Derinkuyu. That wider setting explains why a repair project focused on five formations in Göreme concerns both visitor scenery and the protected heritage landscape.

UNESCO records that the Göreme valley and its surroundings contain rock-hewn sanctuaries with evidence of Byzantine art from the post-iconoclastic period. The World Heritage listing therefore places the current conservation work alongside historic dwellings, churches and underground settlements rather than treating the fairy chimneys as isolated scenery.

The UNESCO World Heritage listing identifies the protected property and its component sites. The listing also places the landscape on the central Anatolian plateau, where erosion has shaped the distinctive rock forms.

Scaffolding removal is planned after the restoration

Aslanbay said most of the work on the five fairy chimneys had been completed by 24 September 2026. He said scaffolding currently visible in Göreme would soon be removed, while other formations considered at risk would receive preventive intervention.

The statement does not announce a closure of the wider site or a change to access arrangements. It does, however, give travellers a current visual detail: conservation scaffolding may remain around parts of the Göreme landscape while the project moves towards completion.

Visiting Cappadocia: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The restoration update concerns five fairy chimneys in Göreme and was reported on 24 September 2026.
• Scaffolding in Göreme is due to be removed soon, but the announcement does not state that the wider protected area is closed.
• Cappadocia lies in central Turkey, with the World Heritage property extending between Nev?ehir, Ürgüp and Avanos.
• The terrain consists of eroded valleys, ridges and pinnacles, alongside rock-hewn sanctuaries and underground cities.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Cappadocia

What has changed at Cappadocia?

Restoration of five vulnerable fairy chimneys reached its final stage on 24 September 2026. Scaffolding in Göreme is due to be removed soon.

Where is Cappadocia and how do you get there?

The World Heritage property lies on the central Anatolian plateau between Nev?ehir, Ürgüp and Avanos. The protected area includes Göreme National Park and several underground cities.

What is Cappadocia?

Cappadocia is a protected volcanic landscape shaped by erosion into valleys, ridges and fairy chimneys. Its World Heritage property also contains rock-hewn sanctuaries, historic settlements and underground cities.