Kayaköy - Fethiye, Turkey Walking Tour - NEW - 4K with Captions: Penguin Walking

Описание: Kayaköy, nestled in the hills near Fethiye, Turkey, is a village steeped in history and marked by a poignant past. Once known as Levissi, this settlement was home to a thriving Greek Orthodox community. The residents of Kayaköy, predominantly of Greek descent, lived here for centuries, maintaining their unique culture, traditions, and religious practices. However, the early 20th century brought dramatic changes that would forever alter the fate of this village.

The upheaval began with the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the ensuing political and social turmoil. Between 1919 and 1922, the Greco-Turkish War erupted, leading to significant strife between the Greek and Turkish populations. Following the war, the Treaty of Lausanne was signed in 1923, which mandated a compulsory population exchange between Greece and Turkey. This exchange required the Greek Orthodox Christians in Turkey, including those in Kayaköy, to leave their homes and resettle in Greece. Similarly, Muslims living in Greece were relocated to Turkey.

As a result of this population exchange, the residents of Kayaköy were forced to abandon their homes, leaving behind a village that had been vibrant and full of life for generations. The new Muslim inhabitants who were sent to Kayaköy found the village’s unique stone-built homes unfamiliar and eventually moved elsewhere, leaving Kayaköy largely deserted. Over time, Kayaköy became a ghost village, its empty houses and silent streets standing as a testament to the lives that were uprooted.

Walking through Kayaköy today, one can’t help but feel the weight of history in the crumbling stone houses and the two main churches, Panayia Pirgiotissa and Taksiyarhis. These structures, though weathered by time, remain as symbols of the strong religious life that once thrived here. The churches, with their faded frescoes and worn stone walls, whisper stories of the people who once gathered within their walls for worship and community.

Kayaköy is not just a village; it is a historical monument, a place where the echoes of the past are palpable. The village’s abandonment has turned it into a living museum, where visitors can explore the remnants of a once-thriving community. Kayaköy offers a unique glimpse into the impact of war and forced migration on ordinary lives, capturing the essence of a time when the world was dramatically reshaped by conflict.

Today, Kayaköy attracts history enthusiasts and those seeking a deeper understanding of the human experience. The village’s eerie silence and beautifully decayed buildings provide a powerful reminder of the consequences of war and the resilience of the human spirit. In Kayaköy, time seems to have stopped, allowing visitors to walk through a place where the past is ever-present, and where the stories of those who lived here continue to resonate. Kayaköy is more than just a deserted village; it is a poignant symbol of a turbulent chapter in history, a place where the ghosts of the past linger in every stone and shadow.