Tatlarin Underground City

The Tatlarin Underground City is a structure located in the Central Anatolia Region of Türkiye, within the borders of Tatlarin town, approximately 10 kilometers north of the Acıgöl district of Nevşehir province. The underground city is situated on a hill locally referred to as “Kale” (Castle). Tatlarin town is part of Nevşehir, one of the cultural and historical centers of the Cappadocia region, and the underground settlement shows similarities with other underground cities in the area. The city is built over a notably large area.

The Tatlarin Underground City (T.C. Nevşehir Valiliği)

History

The Tatlarin Underground City was first discovered in 1975. Following its discovery, cleaning and restoration works were carried out, and a portion of the site was opened to visitors in 1991. The settlement was used for various purposes throughout its history. The size of the spaces, the numerous food storage rooms, and churches indicate that this underground city served more than just as an ordinary living area. For this reason, it is considered that the Tatlarin Underground City may have functioned as a military garrison or a monastic complex.

The original entrance gate is now in ruins. Currently, entry into the underground city is provided through two separate chambers located on the western side. Additionally, there is a curved tunnel approximately 15 meters in length leading into the settlement. This tunnel opens into a rectangular hall protected by a large rolling stone with a central hole, about 1.5 meters in diameter, which was used for security. These entry systems demonstrate that the settlement was also designed with defense in mind.

The Tatlarin Underground City ( T.C. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı)

Architectural Features

The spaces within the underground city are spacious. Inside a niche on the right side of the main hall, three skeletons were discovered. This area is believed to have served as a cemetery or dungeon during the Roman period and was later deepened and converted into food pits during the Byzantine period. The niches resemble those found in Roman-era rock-cut tombs where the deceased were laid.

On the right side of the main chamber, there are areas identified as storage rooms and kitchens. A narrow, curved, and inclined corridor on the left side of the main chamber leads to a second large room. There are toilets on both levels of the settlement. These toilets are accessed via “L”-shaped corridors, which are thought to have been designed to prevent the spread of odor. Aside from Tatlarin, such toilet structures are found only in the underground cities of Güzelyurt and Saratlı.

Another remarkable feature of the Tatlarin Underground City is the traps, 2–3 meters deep, placed within the corridors. Furthermore, the settlement contains numerous food storage rooms and churches, suggesting that the complex may have served as a military garrison or a monastic community. Most of the other churches located in the Kale area have been destroyed due to natural causes.