The story of a homeowner finding an underground city after opening a basement wall points to Derinkuyu, a real subterranean site in Cappadocia, Türkiye. But the often-repeated account of a 1963 discovery by an unnamed resident is not confirmed by the official sources cited here. What those sources do establish is that Derinkuyu is an extensive archaeological site, later used as a place of refuge.
What is the underground city behind the story?
Derinkuyu is an underground city in the Derinkuyu district of Nevşehir, in the Cappadocia region of Türkiye. UNESCO includes it among the underground towns within the Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia World Heritage property. Go Türkiye’s description says the complex reaches approximately 85 metres deep and includes stables, cellars, a refectory, churches and a missionary school.
These are descriptions from the Turkish tourism authority, not a claim that every space is open or that the site’s full layout has been established here. The dramatic renovation story is separate from those documented facts.
Did someone really find it by knocking down a basement wall?
A widely repeated account says an unnamed resident opened a wall while renovating a home and found a passage leading into Derinkuyu. A secondary article copy gives 1963 as the year, but UNESCO and Go Türkiye do not verify that anecdote, identify the resident or establish the date. It is therefore best treated as a reported story rather than a confirmed discovery record.
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One date the tourism authority does give is 1965: Go Türkiye says Derinkuyu opened to visitors that year. That visitor-opening date should not be confused with the unverified 1963 discovery story.
Why were underground towns used?
Derinkuyu was part of a wider landscape of rock-hewn dwellings and underground settlements in Cappadocia. UNESCO describes these towns as places of refuge in later periods, including during resistance to Arab invasions. Its account names both Kaymaklı and Derinkuyu and does not reduce the sites to one population, one construction episode or one conflict. Go Türkiye likewise describes refuge from persecution or attacks as part of the local context.
This evidence supports refuge as an important use, not a single definitive explanation for when or by whom the entire city was built.
What can visitors see today?
Go Türkiye says approximately ten percent of Derinkuyu is open to visitors. That is the tourism authority’s reported visitor-access share; access arrangements can change, so check current information with the site authority before planning a visit. The same page says the site opened to visitors in 1965.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →For context, Go Türkiye describes Kaymaklı as having eight carved levels, four of which are visitable. These are the authority’s descriptions of two separate Cappadocian sites; they do not establish a direct underground connection between them or make their reported visitor-access figures directly comparable.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the story establishes—and what it does not
- Established: Derinkuyu is a real underground archaeological site in Cappadocia, included in UNESCO’s World Heritage property description.
- Described by Go Türkiye: an approximate depth of 85 metres, a range of interior spaces, visitor opening in 1965 and roughly ten percent open to visitors.
- Supported historical context: underground towns including Derinkuyu served as refuges in later periods.
- Not established by these official sources: that an identified person discovered the city by knocking down a basement wall in 1963, or any specific population-capacity figure.
Sources: Go Türkiye: Derinkuyu Underground City; UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia; Daily Mail secondary account of the renovation story.
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