Derevenk Valley 2

In the middle of the valley, located east of Talas district in Kayseri province and running in an east-west direction, flows a stream that carries a significant amount of water during the winter and spring months. I read online that the word "Venk" means "church" in Armenian, but its accuracy is debatable; I'm requesting information from those who have knowledge on this subject. Therefore, the exact meaning of the word "Derevenk" is "Stream Church". Towards the middle of the Zincidere branch of the valley, there is a hidden cave where I found traces of Christianity. Considering that the traces are only stone carvings, it would not be wrong to claim that this is an ancient chapel.

The valley is rich in willow, rosehip, and oak trees. The flow rate of water through the valley is very high, especially in the spring months. However, in August, almost no water flows. This indicates that the water flowing through the valley carries collected water.

Actually, the Derevenk Valley starts from Germir, continues through Tavlusun, widens behind Anayurt, then narrows again as it progresses eastward, branching into two arms (Çataldere) towards Zincidere and Reşadiye. I found traces of ancient civilizations in the Zincidere arm, but I didn't see any such structures in the Reşadiye arm. The Reşadiye arm seems to have been used more for agriculture. It has a densely forested, terraced structure. This arm is home to pear, apple, apricot, plane, oak, willow, pine, and walnut trees, and a stream flows through the middle of it.

Numerous large and small carved caves are located on both sides of the valley. When examining the structures, particularly those near the Talas entrance to the valley, it can be seen that they face north and were used for purposes such as kitchens, wineries, and residences. At the entrance of one of these structures, I saw a wall painting that I'm not accustomed to seeing in this region. Generally, the wall decorations (frescoes) in the area depict Christian beliefs. However, in this structure, I saw a depiction of a pavilion and the surrounding nature. The painting is very damaged; I tried to correct it as much as possible using Photoshop. You can see the original and the edited version of the painting below. I don't know the purpose for which this structure, with the painting above its entrance, was used; I would be happy to hear any guesses you may have.

Except for the entrance to the valley, I didn't see any structures facing north in the remaining sections. Most of the buildings were constructed facing south. There's also a private farm at the Talas entrance to the valley. Inside this farm, I saw a structure that resembled a church, but it was impossible to even approach the farm, let alone enter.

The valley is approximately 15 km long. Starting from Germir, the valley continues through Tavlus, then Talas, Reşadiye, and finally Zincidere. Near Reşadiye, the valley splits into two branches. The southern branch passes through Reşadiye, while the northern branch continues to Zincidere.

View Derevenk Valley on Google Maps.