Gigi (Danişmend) Village

Formerly known as Gigi and now called Danişmend Village, it is located in the Bünyan district, east of Kayseri. The village currently has 10-15 households, 5-10 of which are inhabited year-round. Until the 1940s, the village was home to many Armenian families; Armenians still visit their village during the summer months, although villagers say they now live in America and France. There is also an Armenian Christian cemetery in the village. The few remaining old mud-brick houses are also worth seeing. Although the village is situated on barren land, there is a freshwater spring (Atatürk Fountain) and a forested area at the foot of the hill where the village is located. The asphalt road ends at Gigi village, and access beyond the village (Emir Ören) is only possible via a gravel road. A house has been built on top of the church that was actively used during the Armenian period, and stones used in the church walls have been moved to the cemetery gate. The village has an active mosque and a defunct school.