In Cappadocia, You'll Find the Land of Fairies

Cappadocia. A name that sounds as if it had sprung from a storybook enchants all those who want to combine "slow travel" with the highest standards. This picturesque landscape has become an absolute insider tip. The best service can be enjoyed here at the luxurious boutique hotel Argos.

"If old walls could talk." This quote immediately comes to mind upon entering Hotel Argos, which was created from a 2,000-year-old, carefully revitalized monastery and sits enthroned among the cave settlements of the historic small town of Uçhisar. We are in one of the most beautiful areas of Asia Minor, characterized by the tuff of the dormant Erciyes Dağı volcano. The region, known for its "fairy chimneys", has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Its legends, which revolve around underground mythical creatures, is indicative of the surrounding nature. Thus, from the castle mountain of Uçhisars, at sunrise and sunset, one can enjoy this dreamlike scenery, embedded in a landscape that itself seems to have sprung from a legend. Once you have hiked the castle mountain, as the highest point of Cappadocia, it offers a wonderful panorama over the historical sights of Anatolia. Near Uçhisar, similarly fascinating towns await, such as Derinkuyu and Kaymakli, whose ancient and still preserved cave architecture impresses.

Famous for its unique landscape, here you can also find the legendary "fairy chimneys".

The goal of consciously taking time out and escaping the stress of everyday urban life is anchored in the DNA of the Argos Hotel

Whether on a hot air balloon ride or on horseback, Cappadocia can be discovered in different ways

Here, deceleration merges with the breath of ancient history and ultimate luxury, which can be enjoyed combined with fantastic cuisine and award-winning, homegrown wines. Turkey's autochthonous grape varieties, including Narince, Emir or Boğazkere are highlights not only for connoisseurs. The "Zero Mile" philosophy of the Seki restaurant plays a major role in fulfilling the high standards of the lived "farm to table" culture and offering local delicacies - which come from the restaurant's own garden and are also stored in one of the "fairy chimneys". Away from it all, guests are invited to find their "favorite spot." Those who do not settle on the grandiose terrace with a fantastic view, can picnic in the garden, have a private BBQ or, in winter, enjoy a menu by the fire with mulled wine in the snow.

With a dip in the heated outdoor pool of the hotel you then almost "float" over the legendary valley of the doves

As usual in Uçhisar, the hotel, which shines with excellent service, nestles in the harmonious landscape and distributes its rooms and suites with fireplaces and indoor pools among five houses on the slope of the mountain, connected by underground tunnels. The boutique hotel also offers sophistication in its amenities: A Turkish bath pampers the senses. The impressive Bezirhane Hall, located in one of the original parts of the old monastery, provides a breathtaking atmosphere for weekly concerts. The hall, which impresses with its impressive stone walls and columns, can also be reserved for the most memorable moments in life.

With the Hotel Argos, a centuries-old monastery was carefully revitalized

This article has been published in the Summer issue L'OFFICIEL Austria, N° 10.