Kayaköy, Archaeological site in Fethiye, Turkey
Kayaköy is an abandoned village on a hillside north of Fethiye containing about 350 stone houses and two Greek Orthodox churches built in traditional Anatolian design. The structures sit tightly clustered along narrow pathways that climb the slope, creating an unusual maze of empty streets and buildings.
The village emptied in 1923 when its Greek residents departed during a population exchange between Greece and Turkey following the Treaty of Lausanne. This agreement reshaped borders and communities across the eastern Mediterranean region.
The settlement reveals how Greek and Turkish families lived alongside each other for generations, maintaining separate religious spaces while sharing the same streets and daily routines. Walking through the empty homes, you sense the rhythm of a dual community that coexisted in this hilltop village.
It is best to explore in early morning or late afternoon when the sun sits lower and shadows highlight the shape of buildings. Wear sturdy shoes since the pathways are uneven and sometimes steep.
UNESCO designated this location as a World Friendship and Peace Village, a rare status that underscores its potential as a place of memory. The recognition honors its role in documenting a time of large-scale human displacement and cultural reassessment.
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