The town has a long history through which it has interacted with all civilizations that settled in Cappadocia, from Hittites, Phrygians, and Assyrians to Romans, Byzantine, Seljuk, and Ottomans. The Hittites called it Zu-Winasa, the Assyrians Nenansa, and the Romans Venessa, which translates to the city on the river in Latin. Later, when the Turkish Seljuk tribe ran the territory, they named it Evronos in honor of their ruler. It is from here that the name Avanos evolved.
Throughout this change of hands, one thing remained constant; the town’s dedication to and mastery of pottery. Using the red clay from the Kizilirmak river and the white clay from the high hills in the area, local artisans made pottery and ceramics that were exported to the whole of Turkey. Through this fine and delicate art, the small village has permanently etched its name in the history of all the empires that conquered turkey.
Avanos sits just 5 miles (8 kilometers) from the town of Goreme. It is relatively modern with a lively center that has all the amenities you would expect from a small 21st-century town plus a hammam (Turkish bath) for the tourists. Every Friday, the town comes to life when a sizeable traveling market sets up camp in Avanos for the day. With everything from clothing to local fruits, vegetables, and clothing, the tented market makes Fridays one of the best days to take an individual tour of the town.
Moving away from the town center, the old village of Avanos winds up the hills. The village’s abandoned stoned houses with ancient decorations, murals, and motifs make for an excellent visit.
Today, Avanos is still a town that depends on the Red River. From the banks of this river, local potters obtain the red clay needed to make pieces of pottery. The river also served as a boundary, separating the town from other parts of Cappadocia, yet has been there before and after all the volcanic activities.
Many tourists visiting Avanos stay in Goreme town, which is an 11-minute drive away. Since it is a town, you don’t have to worry about the entrance fee and opening and closing times so that you can explore the town any time of the day.
You can walk along the cobblestone streets, which is quite a refreshing experience, especially when there aren’t many people around. And of course, the pottery on display will charm you but keep in mind that this rich tradition has transformed to more or less take advantage of the influx of tourism in the region.
Therefore, it is mass-produced and sold at a lower price in some places. And while you might be tempted to go for one of these, keep in mind that it is not the best pottery Avanos can offer. Local masters make the best authentic pottery souvenirs that you can buy in the town in a couple of minutes as you watch.
The best thing about visiting such a shop is that on top of watching the whole process from scratch, you can also try out your skills at the pottery wheel. It might seem easy, especially after watching a potter combine clay and water into a masterpiece within a couple of minutes, but it’s not.
It takes years of practice and experience to attain such skill, but that shouldn’t stop you; because one thing is for sure, having a go at the potter’s wheel is a whole lot of fun. Furthermore, once you have enjoyed the demonstration and tried out your pottery skills, you can buy a pot as a souvenir to remind you of this incredible trip.
There is also a local unusual but fascinating museum that you should visit: the Chez Galip Hair Museum of Avanos. The museum exhibits around 30,000 pieces of hair of all colors, from blond, black, to brunette and even green hair. Each piece is attached to a piece of paper displaying the owner’s name, date of visit, and hometown. Others even have a small passport picture attached.
It might seem like a strange place, but the idea behind the museum is one of pain and sadness. It is said that a local pottery master by the name of Chez Galip founded the museum after the woman he loved left town. Heartbroken, the master took a lock of her hair and, in the process, established the hair museum. The museum sits in the basement of the master’s pottery shop, and if you want to see this strange place, don’t leave the town before visiting the shop.
Apart from Avanos, the Cappadocian region is home to many other magnificent attractions. These include Goreme Open Air Museum, Kaymakli, Derinkuyu Underground Cities, Zelve Open Air Museum, Pasabag Valley (which has lots of fairy chimneys), Uchisar Rock Castle, and so many more. In simple terms, there is a lot more to see in Cappadocia, and therefore, you should include some of these in your itinerary for the day as you plan your visit to Avanos.
