Avdalaz Castle, a photo from Afyon, Aegean

Photographer's Note

Avdalaz Kalesi (castle) is located a little to the north west of Ayazini. I had to do a couple of hours research to find out exactly what I had photographed and which of the 3 Turkish provinces it was situated in. The Phrygians occupied parts of north Afyon, eastern Kutahya and southern Eskisehir as well as Gordion in Ankara province to the north east. Despite being surrounded by Phrygian ruins, this rock hewn cloister of caves in the large monolith on the left is actually Byzantine, & if you look closely you might be able to see where rooms were carved out of the soft volcanic tuff, similar to Goreme in Cappadocia to the east. Here's a very nice shot taken at night that helped me identify Avdalaz Kalesi:

http://prntscr.com/109cph9

(Copyright Marmuk Sami Parlak, Google maps)

Oh, btw, I wasn't sure if the fg flowers were wild opium poppies or just weeds? The opium poppy is grown extensively in this region for morphine for use in hospitals, and is strictly controlled by the government.

jhm, burmaman, ikeharel, holmertz, pierrefonds, Fis2, PaulVDV, ricardomattos, COSTANTINO, Royaldevon, lucasgalodoido, pajaran has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jhm (205129) 2021-02-28 5:54

Hello Chris,

It are both monuments to look at.
Placed in a lovely composition.
Splendid of colours with soft flowers in foreground.
An excellent panorama view, nice sharp and clear photographed.
Very well done, TFS.

Best regards,
John.

burmaman (1108) 2021-02-28 5:57

Hello Chris!
My first thought was of course Cappadokia where I have been twice.
How could I miss these rocks?
on your note, i know why, this is a great photo of those rocks formed by erosion.
Brilliant colors and great contrast.
Regards,Ronny
Thanks for the link to the night shot

holmertz (94610) 2021-02-28 6:09

Hello Chris,
I never heard of these rocks, but I am getting resigned to the fact I will never learn everything about Turkey. I can see the entrances to the rooms, but without prior information I would hardly have noticed them. A very strange but fascinating piece of eroded nature, and a good photo with superb colours.
Regards,
Gert

pierrefonds (105475) 2021-02-28 6:14

Bonjour Chris,,

Le château est bien placé dans le cadrage. La prise d evue permet de voir les détails du château Avdalaz. La qualité de la lumière embellit les couleurs de l'image. Bonne journée.

Pierre

Silvio1953 (208473) 2021-02-28 6:49

Ciao Chris, great view of fantastic rockstar, wonderful natural colors, excellent clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

Fis2 (158103) 2021-02-28 7:19

Witaj Chris!
A very interesting place, view makes impression.
I like POV, colors and sharpness.
Well done.
Nice sunday afternoon.
Krzysztof

emka (153412) 2021-02-28 9:51

Hi Chris, It doesn't look like a castle. But these holes could be earlier hewn out in the tuff.
As to the plants, they do not look like poppies, wild or not, by no means. They could be Oenothera or Verbascum.
See: http://gallery.nen.gov.uk/asset72196-.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbascum_densiflorum
https://eko-zielarski.pl/Wiesiolek

Kind regards

MAlgo

Tue (83952) 2021-02-28 10:31

Hello Chris,
What a beautiful photo of these amazing rock formations. Their shapes are beautiful and the colours look perfect in this bright sunlight. The blue sky is a great backdrop as well.
Lars

lousat (131363) 2021-02-28 11:31

Hi Chris,great show,it's difficult to think that these big rocks were castles,so your note are very useful to understand,a perfect capture in the best light and very bright too. Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

PaulVDV (56319) 2021-02-28 12:49

Hello Chris,
Ayazini is still a long way from Cappadocia but also here it concerns the excavation of dwellings in soft rock.
This of course produces beautiful shapes of the rocks.
Well presented with the light rock colours in contrast with the blue sky.
Sorry but no idea what the plants are that grow in the foreground.
Best regards, Paul

ricardomattos (15908) 2021-02-28 15:13

Hi Chris

Very interesting place and note. Excelent picture. I am curious about the size of the rooms carved out of this volcanic tuff. Very nice picture.

Congratulations

Ricardo

ifege (35217) 2021-02-28 22:27

Hi Chris
A bit different to those I saw around the Goreme area but making good use of the soft tufa. A very interesting one.
cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (105977) 2021-02-28 23:21

Hello dear Chris and have a nice Monday
and a happy new week
placed in a lovely composition
an excellent panorama view
great photo with these
high rocks
regards
costantino

jemaflor (137366) 2021-02-28 23:25

Hi Chris,
Impressive, original and well presented these rocks, superb sunlight, well captured, good rendering for colors, tfs.

Royaldevon (78216) 2021-03-01 1:59

Hello Chris,

This is an excellent photograph, showing superb clarity and accurate colours!

I would never have recognised this as a castle or as a place of habitation, had I not read your notes.
It is possible to see the holes sculptured in the rock, though they looks much eroded.

Have a good day,
Bev :-)

ikeharel (107035) 2021-03-01 7:02

Two imposing rocks, Chris, and there is an imaginary "face" with an open-mouth and a krown on head...I can see on the right-side rock.
Best regards,
Ike

lucasgalodoido (27206) 2021-03-03 4:57

Hi Chris,
very interesting this rock formations, and the colors of your capture are amazing. Great job, my friend.
Regards,
Lucas

BennyV (32684) 2021-03-03 6:22

A great shot of Cappadocia. Good clarity and colours. Thanks for taking care to find the exact location. It always bothers me when people don't do this and post pictures in a wrong location.

Cheers & thanks

Benny

pajaran (104821) 2021-03-05 0:13

Pozdrav.
Lep pogled, dobar tekst ...
Lep Avdalaz Castle, dobro pokazan sa lepim boajma, kontrastom i uhvacenim trenutkom.
Lep prednji plan sa makom koji ima cvetove.
Zelim vam lep dan, sve najbolje.
Paja.

jmdias (105028) 2021-03-12 11:11

chris

it is a curious mix of ruins and natural monument. nice view with the strange features of these rocks.

take care

jorge