Kayaköy: The Silent Story of the Stone Houses
Imagine hundreds of stone houses on a hillside, right next to Fethiye’s deep blue sea, as if time had stood still. This is Kayaköy! Once a place where children’s voices echoed through its streets, it now awaits visitors as a vast open-air museum, silent and breathtakingly beautiful.
Who Once Lived Here?
The history of Kayaköy stretches back thousands of years, to ancient times. During antiquity, this village, known as Karmylassos, was home to many different cultures including the Lycians, Romans, and Byzantines. More recently, during the Ottoman period, Turks and their Greek neighbors lived together here for many years.
In 1923, an agreement known as the population exchange was made, requiring the mutual relocation of populations between Türkiye and Greece. As a result, the Greek residents of the village moved away. Those who came to replace them were unable to adapt to the local living conditions, and the village gradually emptied, taking on its present-day silent appearance as a “Ghost Town.”
(Generated by Artificial Intelligence.)
Houses That Never Blocked Each Other
The houses here have a remarkable feature: none obstructs the view or sunlight of the house behind it. Built in perfect alignment along the slope, each home offers its occupants an unobstructed view of the valley through its windows.
(Generated by Artificial Intelligence.)
Most of these stone houses are about 50 square meters in size — roughly the size of your classroom — and charmingly compact. Although their wooden doors and windows have long since disappeared, their stone walls remain sturdy and intact. Within the village, you will find not only homes but also schools, large churches, and small chapels (places of worship).
World Village of Friendship and Peace
Kayaköy is more than just piles of stone. UNESCO has declared it a “World Village of Friendship and Peace” in recognition of the culture of coexistence that once flourished here. This place whispers to children around the world how vital peace truly is.
(Generated by Artificial Intelligence.)
