Saratlı Kırkgöz Underground City, Archaeological site in Gülağaç, Turkey
Saratlı Kırkgöz Underground City is an ancient underground site in the village of Saratlı, in the Gülağaç district of Aksaray province, Turkey. It has three levels carved into soft volcanic tuff rock, connected by narrow corridors, with around forty rooms that served different functions such as storage, shelter, and keeping animals.
The site is believed to date back around 2,000 years and was likely used and expanded during the Byzantine period. It is thought to have sheltered communities during times of conflict or invasion, with new chambers added over time as needs changed.
The name Kırkgöz means "forty eyes" in Turkish, likely referring to the many tunnel openings visible from outside. Locals have long treated the site as a reference point in the landscape, and it continues to draw visitors from the surrounding villages.
Comfortable shoes are recommended as some tunnels are narrow and ceilings can be low in places. The site is generally more accessible between April and October, when conditions are more favorable for walking through the underground passages.
Inside the complex, traces of old ovens and grain storage areas can still be seen, suggesting that daily life here was fully organized underground. The site also reportedly had dedicated spaces for livestock such as sheep and goats, which sets it apart from many similar cave sites in the wider region.
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