Pamukkale
The city attracts many thousands of visitors every year
Categories: Pamukkale Aegean region Turkey
The city of Pamukkale is located in the southwest of Turkey, in Denizli County and only about 20 km away from the capital of the county of the same name. Pamukkale is a popular tourist destination. The famous limestone sinter terraces and the nearby ancient city of Hierapolis attract many thousands of visitors every year.
A visit is particularly suitable as part of a day trip, which is offered by many well-known seaside resorts or larger cities. The World Heritage Site is located only 250 kilometers northwest of Antalya, 200 kilometers north of Marmaris and 250 kilometers northeast of Bodrum.
© Yarkovoy / Fotolia
The limestone terraces of Pamukkale
Bright white and gently shining - this is how the famous limestone sinter terraces of Pamukkale rise on the horizon. With this breathtaking sight everyone understands why Pamukkale means "absorbent cotton castle" in translation. The snow-white terraces rise majestically in front of the hot springs and look like thousands of delicate cotton balls in the warm light of the sun.
They rise up on a rock edge over which hot water runs continuously. As it cools and evaporates, the lime has settled in an infinite number of beautiful formations.
This is how the terraces were created over many thousands of years. Since 1988 they have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you have the opportunity, you should definitely visit Pamukkale in the evening:
While the magical place is visited by many tourists during the day, the evening hours are much quieter, but no less impressive. At sunset the terraces are bathed in the reddish light of the setting sun. This is a breathtaking and incomparably romantic sight, which you should definitely experience in Pamukkale.
Hot thermal springs - bathing fun in Pamukkale
The hot springs are not only responsible for the formation of the limestone terraces, their water is also said to have a healing effect. Thus Pamukkale was already a popular bathing and health resort of the ancient Romans in the 2nd and 3rd century. Up to the present day, a bath in the springs has not only been considered extremely beneficial, but also a unique bathing experience against one of the most beautiful backdrops in the world. However, bathing tourism has left its traces and led to the pollution of the limestone terraces.
Instead of snow-white, they were covered with a grey veil and the radiantly pure beauty as well as the magic of the place threatened to break up. For this reason, bathing in the thermal springs was prohibited a good 20 years ago and the beauty of the place returned. Today the terraces can be admired again in their full white beauty. However, so that bathing does not have to be renounced completely, there is an artificially created pool, in which bathing in front of this unique scenery and in warm water is still possible.
The ancient city of Hierapolis
Very close to Pamukkale is the second impressive sight in the region: the ancient city of Hierapolis, built in 190 BC. Many ancient buildings are well preserved and worth a visit. These include the necropolis, a tomb complex with various types of tombs, the temple of Apollo and the Pluton cave.
Also large parts of the city wall are still very well preserved. The large amphitheater, which seats up to 15,000 spectators, is one of the best preserved in Turkey. In the old Roman Baths there is an archaeological museum, where richly decorated sarcophagi can be visited.
© Yarkovoy / Fotolia
The red springs of Karahyit
Only about 5 kilometers from Pamukkale are the red springs of Karahyit. They offer an interesting contrast to the snow white terraces of Pamukkale. Here, the rocky slope has a high iron and sulphur content and is bathed in bright red, yellow and green tones.
