Erciyes is one of the most beautiful mountain of the world and the symbol of a 6000 years old city civilization throughout history.
Mount Erciyes which has taken her name from a Grek word 'Argaeos' is located in 20 km South of Kayseri has been the symbol of the region for almost 50 million years.The mountain has played a very crucial role during the civilizations of different empires such as Hittites, Phrygians, Cappadocia, Roman, Byzantium, Seljukian and Ottoman empires since the first settlements around Kayseri in BC 4000. It is heart of Kayseri with 3197 m height and for seasons snowy magnificent summit which is piercing clouds. This most handsome mountain has always granted holy feelings to the people to such an extent that in the archaic period, famed as Olympos in Anatolia with supernatural identy, and this value was even reflected to the coined of Roman Empire.
According to the historians, as an extinct volcano, explosions have begun 30 million yeras ago and volcano were moved kilometers away from the mountain with the severity of the explosions. Throughout the history, by the effect of wind and flood, upper strata of the volcano disappeared and fairy chimneys and geologic structure of Cappadocia were formed. Higher points of Erciyes are covered by snow during the year and there is a 1 km mountain glacier in the north part. Caves and temples located at the summit of the mountain those which have served as a prayer rooms for Byzantine priests are still being used for climbers as shelter in bad weather conditions.
The mountain which is indispensable for many years for ski enthusiasts has recently come again to public agenda of the country with Erciyes Master Project which has been performed by Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality aiming to make Erciyes one of the largest ski and winter tourism center in the world.
You have visited Kayseri for commercial concerns but decided to stay a few days more for skiing without any equipment. This is not a problem at all. Rental shops are at your disposal for all kind of ski equipments with quite reasonable prices at each entrance gates. Ski and mountaining equipments rental for men, women and children have been serviced for your disposal by our shops. What is more, even if you do not know skiing but want to learn with that occassion, our internationally licensed teachers will help you.
Erciyes is ready to host you for tasting sui generis local foods of Kayseri. You will have your lunch or dinner at the big restaurants of Tekir entrance or the ones located at Hacılar Gate and Hisarcık Gate . Furthermore, it would be a fantastic experience to visit the cafes and restaurants covered by the original stones of the mountain built up in different stations. You would rest after ski by drinking your tea and will feel the cosiness of your home while watching the attractive city panaroma. Free picnic and barbeque areas are designed for you to taste the traditional Kayseri fast food 'sossage on barbeque' all together with your family members.
Erciyes will not only be in winter season, but also in spring and summer will be a center for you to spend most enjoyable time with its magnificent air and water. In winter you will enjoy activities such as snowboard, alphine sking, snowkiting, biathlon, snow-tubing, snow-walking and snowrafting, and in summer you will make trekking, climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, horse riding, toboggan, kite surfing activities which translates that you will have a wide variety of opportunities to experience.
This is excerpt from Kayseri Metropolitan Municipality brochure.
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