The view and location are superb! No one has been living in this village for 60 years.

Kayaköy, located in the Fethiye district of Muğla, is also known as the "Ghost Village" because it was abandoned years ago and is among the strictly protected sensitive areas, attracting the intense interest of visitors.

101 THOUSAND PEOPLE FLOCKED TO SEE THAT VILLAGE

Kayaköy, which has the title of being the second most visited archaeological site in Muğla with 101,868 visitors last year, has about 400 houses, 2 churches, and chapels. Kayaköy is a popular destination for those participating in tours organized in the region and tourists. The historical structures in the "Ghost Village" take visitors on a journey into the past.

4 THOUSAND PEOPLE VISITED IN 9 DAYS

Kayaköy, which is entered with a ticket under the control of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, hosted 4,000 people during the 9-day Eid al-Adha holiday, according to the information obtained from the Fethiye Museum Directorate.

IT HAS BECOME A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR LOCAL AND FOREIGN TOURISTS

Fethiye Mayor Alim Karaca said that they participated in many fairs both domestically and abroad for the promotion of the district. Karaca stated that Fethiye is still a popular holiday destination for both domestic and foreign tourists and said, "Fethiye has become a rare tourism center where everyone can have their vacation with its different tourism destinations. The holiday was full of activities. We hosted thousands of tourists in the district. We hosted our guests who came for cultural tourism in addition to sea, sand, and sun in the archaeological sites. During the Eid holiday, 4,000 people visited Kayaköy, which was one of the most visited places in previous years.".

EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO MAKE IT A PLACE THAT CAN BE VISITED ALL YEAR ROUND

Karaca explained that they are working with the municipality and stakeholders to extend tourism throughout the year in Fethiye. Karaca stated that a newspaper was published in Kayaköy before the Republican era and said, "Kayaköy consists of buildings that do not obstruct each other's view and are located on the slope of the mountain. It is an area where agricultural land is not occupied. We have been fighting for the protection of the region with a protection-oriented zoning plan for the past five years. We are starting this work together with our ministry." Karaca stated that he organized friendship and peace festivals in the region to maintain friendship with the Greeks who left the region during the population exchange.

THEY WATCH THE STRUCTURES THEY SEE WITH ADMIRATION

Turgay Kılınç, who came on vacation from Bursa with his family, said that he was amazed as soon as he entered the archaeological site and expressed his regret for not coming before. Kılınç stated that the houses are built on the slope of the mountain and the plain is used for production purposes, saying, "The old people adapted to nature, but we are trying to adapt nature to ourselves. The old people did it right. Everyone should come and see this place. The houses are built in a way that does not obstruct each other's view. Architectural mastery.".

VILLAGE RESIDENTS ARE HAPPY ABOUT THE REVIVAL OF THE ECONOMY

Süleyman Çoban, who runs a restaurant in Kayaköy, stated that tourists visiting the archaeological site contribute significantly to the local businesses and the community. Çoban emphasized that Kayaköy, known as the "Ghost Village," has come to life with visitors and said, "The region is also located on the Lycian Way route. Those who come here can sometimes stay here. Kayaköy receives intense visitors in September and during the season. We are eager to welcome everyone here.".

IT HAS A 5,000-YEAR HISTORY

Kayaköy, which is located on the slope of a hill and dates back to the period of the Greeks, has a history that dates back to 3000 BC. The village, which was abandoned with the population exchange agreement in 1923 after the War of Independence and started to be inhabited by Turks, was affected by the Fethiye earthquake in 1957. After the houses in the region were damaged, the settled life in the village also came to an end. The village, which was transformed into the Kayaköy Archaeological Site by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, attracts the attention of both domestic and foreign visitors.