Time travel in Turkey: Live amidst the ancient ruins at Museum Hotel in Cappadocia

If you too have grown up smitten by Indiana Jones movies, a covert expedition to a stony dwelling must be right up your alley. There indeed is something inexplicably clandestine about a cavernous space brimming with stories of the centuries past. Case in point: Museum Hotel in Cappadocia. Inside its walls, history comes to life. Albeit in a more luxurious avatar. 

“What stood out was the idea of living amidst the artefacts of yesteryears,” says Mrudul Pathak Kundu, Editor, ELLE DECOR India who spent days in leisure at the property. Invaluable antiques, spectacular scenery and enchanting details — being Turkey’s only Relais & Châteaux property, the Museum Hotel offers a space for its guests to luxuriate in a time capsule of ancient Anatolia. 

Carved in stone

Throughout the 34 rooms, you’ll find Seljuks masonry to a cave dressing room, used as a şırahane (a room for pressing grapes). From each room, views of the valleys stretch out before you. And at dawn, against Mt. Erciyes rise a plethora of hot air balloons.

“The layout of the hotel was fascinating, with winding alleys, levels that went up and down, and charming gardens. It felt like stepping back in time while enjoying all the comforts of the present,” recounts Mrudul. Carved out of Tufa stone with accents of wood, the architectural language of the Museum Hotel honours the past. Where the hotel stands today used to be inhabited by the Tekeli clan, who have also influenced the name of the district. Caves and stone construction around the region have existed in the social lexicon, from everyday residences to even serving as covert hiding spots during treacherous times. As an ode to its context, the hotel serves as a living museum through its extensive antique collection and restoration.

An adventurous streak

Established in 2003, the Museum Hotel is the first of its kind, housing numerous precious historical artefacts from the Hittite, Roman, Seljuk and Ottoman periods, sourced from the Nevşehir Museum. These are exhibited throughout the hotel rooms, public areas, cave tunnels and the restaurant.

Alongside a tryst with time, the Museum Hotel also offers indelibly luxurious experiences like cooking lessons to learn about the forgotten flavours of Cappadocia and the recipes of the cuisine that hold the subtleties of local cooking that have survived to the present day. 

Toast to Turkey

Speaking of Turkish cuisine, the hotel boasts numerous dining experiences thanks to the different cultures and civilisations that have called the region home for centuries. Turks, Rhums (Orthodox Turks) and Armenians lived together in Cappadocia for hundreds of years influencing each other architecture and lifestyle, as well as food and flavours, and a rare food culture emerged.

At Museum Hotel, the only concept hotel in Cappadocia, one of the most special regions of the world, we offer our guests an unforgettable gastronomic experience by further developing this rare food culture with the unique touches of Chef Saygın Sesli. Dine with a view of the Love Valley at their private dining area, Loggia. If you’re in the mood for mystery, wine in style at Cavo, a historical cave in a mystical area with a unique wine collection. “Cappadocia, with its surreal landscapes, ancient history, and warm hospitality, is a place I would return to without hesitation,” Mrudul sums up. While everything about the hotel from the architecture to the hypnotic views will convince you to stay forever, if you must leave be sure not to without tasting their Pear and Cheese — a stone oven-baked local Mazi pear stuffed with Konya blue cheese and traditional pelver. A true piece of history!

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