The road between Çavuşin and Avanos passes a turn-off to the Zelve Open-Air Museum, where three valleys of abandoned homes and churches converge. Zelve was a monastic retreat from the 9th to the 13th century and although it doesn't have as many impressive painted churches as the Göreme Open-Air Museum, its sinewy valley walls with rock antennae are a wonderfully picturesque place for poking around.
The valleys were inhabited until 1952, when they were deemed too dangerous to live in and the villagers were resettled a few kilometres away in Aktepe, also known as Yeni Zelve (New Zelve). Remnants of village life include the small, unadorned, rock-cut mosque in Valley Three and the old değirmen (mill), with a grindstone and graffitied wooden beam, in Valley One.
Beyond the mill, the Balıklı Kilise (Fish Church) has fish figuring in one of the primitive paintings. Adjoining it is the more impressive Üzümlü Kilise (Grape Church), with obvious bunches of grapes. In Valley Two what's left of the Geyikli Kilise (Church with Deer) is worth seeing.
An excellent walking trail loops around the valleys allowing access to the various caverns, although erosion continues to eat into the valley structures and certain areas are cordoned off due to rockfalls.
There are cafes in the car park outside.
