Üç Güzeller Peribacaları

Üç Güzeller, the Three Beauties, is a group of fairy chimneys standing side by side on the Nevşehir-Ürgüp road, a few minutes from Ürgüp. Kültür Portalı presents the spot as Üç Güzeller or the Çatalkaya Viewpoint and counts it among the landmark places of Cappadocia. Because fairy chimneys of different heights stand together here, they have become one of the most photographed views in the region. The group consists of two large fairy chimneys and one small one. The trunk of each is made of pale tuff, and on top sits a dark, flat stone cap. These caps are wider than the trunks and, seen from a distance, look like hats placed on top of the columns. News sources say local people describe the three columns as father, mother and child. The formation of fairy chimneys goes back to Cappadocia's volcanic past. Eruptions around Mount Erciyes, Mount Hasan and Göllüdağ left thick layers of ash and tuff across the region. Pieces of harder rock lying on top of the soft tuff protected the trunk below from rain and wind. As the surrounding material was worn away and carried off, the protected parts were left standing as columns. The importance of the cap is easy to see here. A fairy chimney that loses its cap erodes quickly and in time disappears. Because the caps of the Three Beauties are still in place, the columns keep their present shape. Yet natural erosion goes on, and the governorship describes fairy chimneys as a fragile heritage in the face of climate conditions and human impact. The name Üç Güzeller comes from folk tales told about the columns. According to a legend told in the region, a couple in love turned to stone together with their child so as never to be separated. This is a folk tale, and it is also the source of the father, mother and child names given to the columns. It should be read not as a historical event but as a story attached to a place. Behind the spot rises a viewing hill. According to Kültür Portalı, there is a wooden walkway on the hill, and from here you can see both the fairy chimneys and Mount Erciyes in the distance. Looking down from the hill, the three columns fill the foreground while the rolling rocky slopes around Ürgüp lie behind them. Ürgüp Municipality once carried out landscaping work in the area. The municipality explained that, inspired by the name land of beautiful horses used for Cappadocia, it placed horse figures here and created a new photo spot. This work helped the place become even better known through photos shared on social media. The crowds have also caused a problem for the fairy chimneys. News reports said some visitors carved names into the rock, drew heart shapes or wrote with spray paint. Every scratch made in soft tuff is a permanent mark and can speed up erosion. Not touching the rocks and walking only on the marked paths is a direct way to help protect this landmark. The best time to see the Three Beauties is close to sunset. Kültür Portalı also recommends the spot for watching the sun go down. In the evening light the tuff trunks turn a warm colour, while the caps form dark silhouettes against the sky. In the morning the site is quieter, and it is easier to find frames away from the crowds. To show the fairy chimneys at their best, try photographing them separately from the hill and from the side. A shot from the side brings out the difference in height between the three columns, while a shot from above shows where the group sits in relation to the valley. Take care on the viewing hill on windy days, as the ground is sandy and slippery in places. Because the spot lies right beside the Nevşehir-Ürgüp road, it is easy to reach by private car. Its closeness to the centre of Ürgüp makes it a short stop to add at the beginning or end of a visit to the town. Entry and parking arrangements may change, so check the current announcements of Ürgüp Municipality.