At the northern end of the gorge, where the valley opens out onto the Aksaray plain, sits the largest rock-cut complex in Cappadocia after Göreme. Selime is more than a monastery: it is a small city carved into the cliff, with a basilica-sized church, kitchens, stables, dormitories, and a chimney-vented refectory all hollowed out of the rock.
The walk from the road up to the upper levels is steep and exposed, with sheer drops in places. Wear shoes with grip. The view from the top across the volcanic plain and the river-cut gorge is one of the great panoramas of central Anatolia. Allow at least an hour to explore.