Sivas’ 3,200‑Year‑Old Kral Kaya Caves Await Tourism Development

The Kral Kaya Caves, located near the village of Tödürge in Zara district, Sivas Province, Turkey, consist of a network of roughly 100 carved chambers dating back about 3,200 years. The multi‑level structures, likened to an ancient “apartment,” feature observation holes and cross‑linked passages; archaeologists have identified cross‑shaped markings that indicate settlement during the Roman period.

The site draws 200‑250 visitors daily, rising to around 1,000 in summer, but locals say most tourists only view the formations from a distance. Residents, including native Kadir Aluç, stress that restoration is needed to preserve the caves and to integrate them into a sustainable tourism circuit, which they believe would bring economic value to the village and the wider Zara district.