Anatolia's First Skyscrapers: Gürün Cave Houses in Sivas

Everyone knows Cappadocia; but have you ever heard of Sivas’s “apartments”? In the Gürün district of Sivas, there is a remarkable complex of structures that seem to have sprung from the dusty pages of history, leaving visitors in awe: Gürün Cave Houses.

These multi-tiered caves, carved into the steep rock faces, resemble the ancestors of today’s skyscrapers, built thousands of years ago. If your journey takes you along the Sivas-Malatya route, do not pass by without exploring this historic fabric.

The history of the Gürün Cave Houses extends back to the 2000s BCE, to the Hittite period. Ancient civilizations took advantage of the soft rock formation to carve out secure living spaces. The region served not only the Hittites but also hosted many other civilizations, including the Romans and Byzantines.

Throughout history, these caves were used not only as dwellings but also as shelters, winter food storage, and cold storage rooms. In short, this was a multi-purpose living complex of the ancient world.

As you approach Gürün, you will see dark openings arranged side by side and stacked atop one another along the mountainside. Upon closer inspection, you will realize these are not random formations but the result of deliberate engineering.

• Multi-story Structure: The caves resemble apartment units spanning three to five floors.
• Connected Rooms: Passages link the rooms, indicating a social life within the complex.
• Natural Insulation: The rock structure maintains warmth in winter and coolness in summer, functioning as the climate control technology of its time.

^{Gürün Cave Houses (}Gürün Subdistrict Office⁾

Gürün district, located approximately 136 km from the city center of Sivas and very close to Malatya, is easily accessible via the Kayseri-Malatya highway. The cave houses are within walking distance of the town center, situated directly on the cliffs beside the road.