Niğde

File:Nigde museum Kosk Hoyuk Gods and goddesses 0886.jpg in the Niğde Archaeological Museum.]]

File:NigdeMuseumAndaval.jpg stele fragment from Andaval, plaster cast in the Niğde Archaeological Museum.]]

{{See also|Niğde Province#History}}

Niğde is located near a number of ancient trade routes, particularly the road from Kayseri (ancient Caesarea Mazaca) to the Cilician Gates and thence to the Mediterranean coast. The area has been settled by Hittites, Assyrians, Greeks, Armenians, Romans, Byzantines and Turks. In the early Middle Ages, it was known as Magida ({{langx|el|Μαγίδα}}), and was settled by the remaining inhabitants of nearby Tyana after it fell to the Arabs in 708/709.

By the early 13th century Niğde was one of the largest cities in Anatolia. After the fall of the Sultanate of Rûm (of which it had been one of the principal cities), Niğde was captured by Anatolian beyliks such as the Karaman Beylik and Eretna Beylik. Passing through in the 14th century, the explorer Ibn Battuta reported it ruinous. It did not pass into Ottoman hands until 1467.

File:Niğde Prodromos church 1311.jpg.]]

According to the Ottoman population statistics of 1914, the sanjak of Niğde, then part of the Konya Vilayet, had a total population of 291,117, consisting of 227,100 Muslims, 58,312 Greeks, 4,935 Armenians and 769 Protestants. The demographics of the town of Niğde, which was part of the Niğde sanjak, consisted of 52.754 Muslims, 26.156 Greeks, 1.149 Armenians and 137 Protestants.Kemal Karpat (1985), [https://kupdf.net/downloadFile/59e4a7b908bbc56144e653d7 Ottoman Population, 1830-1914, Demographic and Social Characteristics], The University of Wisconsin Press, p. 188-189 Most of the Christian population of late 19th-century Niğde lived in the Eski Saray Mahallesi near the Sungur Bey Mosque where the remains of two large stone churches still survive in a neglected condition.{{Cite web |title=NİĞDE |url=http://www.turkeyfromtheinside.com/places-to-go/n/406-nde.html |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=www.turkeyfromtheinside.com}}

More recent immigrants include Turks from Bulgaria and other Balkan countries, who were settled here by the Turkish authorities in the 1950s and 1960s.

File:Gumusler_Monastery_Courtyard_1202.jpg in Niğde]]

The opening of Niğde University in 1992 started to bring more cultural and social amenities to what was at the time essentially a large town with a rather rural feel to it.

Niğde consists of 26 neighbourhoods: Alaaddin, Ahipaşa, A.Kayabaşı, Balhasan, Burhan, Çayır, Dere, Efendibey, Esenbey, Eskisaray, İlhanlı, Kale, Nar, Saruhan, Selçuk, Sırali, Sungur, Ş.Süleyman, Şahinali, Şehitler, Yenice, Y.Kayabaşı, İnönü, Fertek, Kumluca and Hamamlı.[https://www.e-icisleri.gov.tr/Anasayfa/MulkiIdariBolumleri.aspx Mahalle], Turkey Civil Administration Departments Inventory. Retrieved 1 March 2023.

Niğde has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSk, Trewartha: BS), bordering on a temperate continental climate (Köppen: Dsa, Trewartha: Dc). Niğde has hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters.

{{Weather box

|width = auto

|metric first= Yes

|single line= Yes

|location= Niğde (1991–2020, extremes 1935–2023)

| Jan record high C = 19.9

| Feb record high C = 20.5

| Mar record high C = 26.4

| Apr record high C = 30.8

| May record high C = 33.0

| Jun record high C = 35.0

| Jul record high C = 38.5

| Aug record high C = 39.7

| Sep record high C = 37.3

| Oct record high C = 32.0

| Nov record high C = 25.0

| Dec record high C = 21.2

| year record high C = 39.7

| Jan high C = 5.3

| Feb high C = 7.0

| Mar high C = 11.9

| Apr high C = 17.2

| May high C = 22.2

| Jun high C = 26.6

| Jul high C = 30.2

| Aug high C = 30.3

| Sep high C = 26.3

| Oct high C = 20.4

| Nov high C = 13.2

| Dec high C = 7.4

| year high C = 18.2

| Jan mean C = 0.0

| Feb mean C = 1.4

| Mar mean C = 6.0

| Apr mean C = 11.0

| May mean C = 15.6

| Jun mean C = 19.8

| Jul mean C = 23.2

| Aug mean C = 23.1

| Sep mean C = 18.8

| Oct mean C = 13.3

| Nov mean C = 6.5

| Dec mean C = 2.0

| year mean C = 11.7

| Jan low C = -4.1

| Feb low C = -3.2

| Mar low C = 0.8

| Apr low C = 5.0

| May low C = 9.1

| Jun low C = 12.9

| Jul low C = 15.8

| Aug low C = 15.6

| Sep low C = 11.4

| Oct low C = 7.0

| Nov low C = 1.3

| Dec low C = -2.2

| year low C = 5.8

| Jan record low C = -25.6

| Feb record low C = -24.2

| Mar record low C = -23.9

| Apr record low C = -6.9

| May record low C = -2.6

| Jun record low C = 3.5

| Jul record low C = 6.6

| Aug record low C = 6.5

| Sep record low C = -0.7

| Oct record low C = -6.2

| Nov record low C = -19.5

| Dec record low C = -24.0

| year record low C = -25.6

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 34.3

| Feb precipitation mm = 32.0

| Mar precipitation mm = 38.8

| Apr precipitation mm = 41.1

| May precipitation mm = 43.4

| Jun precipitation mm = 29.2

| Jul precipitation mm = 5.5

| Aug precipitation mm = 7.7

| Sep precipitation mm = 12.4

| Oct precipitation mm = 30.3

| Nov precipitation mm = 32.7

| Dec precipitation mm = 42.5

| year precipitation mm = 349.9

| Jan precipitation days = 10.27

| Feb precipitation days = 9.87

| Mar precipitation days = 10.67

| Apr precipitation days = 11.30

| May precipitation days = 12.17

| Jun precipitation days = 7.47

| Jul precipitation days = 2.03

| Aug precipitation days = 1.87

| Sep precipitation days = 3.10

| Oct precipitation days = 6.47

| Nov precipitation days = 6.97

| Dec precipitation days = 10.20

| year precipitation days =

| Jan snow days =6.6

| Feb snow days =5.4

| Mar snow days =4.3

| Apr snow days =1.0

| May snow days =0.1

| Jun snow days =0

| Jul snow days =0

| Aug snow days =0

| Sep snow days =0

| Oct snow days =0.1

| Nov snow days =1.2

| Dec snow days =4.1

| year snow days =

|Jan humidity=73.3

|Feb humidity=69.0

|Mar humidity=61.8

|Apr humidity=56.6

|May humidity=55.7

|Jun humidity=50.3

|Jul humidity=43.0

|Aug humidity=43.8

|Sep humidity=47.6

|Oct humidity=57.8

|Nov humidity=66.3

|Dec humidity=73.2

|year humidity=58.2

| Jan sun = 117.8

| Feb sun = 141.3

| Mar sun = 176.7

| Apr sun = 204.0

| May sun = 254.2

| Jun sun = 297.0

| Jul sun = 344.1

| Aug sun = 334.8

| Sep sun = 288.0

| Oct sun = 223.2

| Nov sun = 165.0

| Dec sun = 111.6

| year sun =

| Jand sun = 3.8

| Febd sun = 5.0

| Mard sun = 5.7

| Aprd sun = 6.9

| Mayd sun = 8.2

| Jund sun = 9.8

| Juld sun = 11.1

| Augd sun = 10.8

| Sepd sun = 9.6

| Octd sun = 7.2

| Novd sun = 5.5

| Decd sun = 3.6

| yeard sun = 7.3

|source 1 = Turkish State Meteorological Service{{cite web

| url = https://www.mgm.gov.tr/veridegerlendirme/il-ve-ilceler-istatistik.aspx?k=H&m=NIGDE

| title = Resmi İstatistikler: İllerimize Ait Mevism Normalleri (1991–2020)

| publisher = Turkish State Meteorological Service

| language = tr

| access-date = 7 August 2021}}

|source 2 = NOAA (humidity),{{cite web

| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Turkiye/CSV/Nigde_17250.csv

| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020

| publisher = National centers for Environmental Information |format=CSV

| access-date = 2 August 2023}} Meteomanz(snowy days 2000-2024){{Cite web|url= http://www.meteomanz.com/sy3?l=1&cou=6290&ind=17250&m1=01&y1=2000&m2=12&y2=2024 |title= Niğde weather data by months|access-date=15 March 2025|website=Meteomanz}}

}}

The town is located between the volcanic Melandiz Mountains, which include the Mount Hasan Stratovolcano near the city of Aksaray to the north, and the Niğde Massif to the south-southeast. The massif is a metamorphic rock dome that contains abandoned antimony and iron mines. Several marble quarries are currently being used to dig out the pure white crystalline marble of the massif.

File:NigdePortalAlaaddin.jpg, Niğde]]

• Sungur Bey Mosque, a unique early 14th-century mosque in the town centre which combines elements of Selçuk and Gothic architecture, including quadripartite vaulting and a rose window. Standing on a platform above the market place, it was recently restored.{{Cite web |title=Tarihi Sungurbey Camisi'nin restorasyonu sürüyor |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/turkiye/tarihi-sungurbey-camisinin-restorasyonu-suruyor/1650706 |access-date=2022-09-27 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}
• Alaaddin Mosque, a 13th-century mosque whose portal is decorated with muqarnas. Shadows cast on the stone masonry around the entrance at a specific time on specific days of the year are said to form an image of a woman's face with a crown and long hair (Islam forbade human imagery but tessellations and calligraphic pictures were allowed, so "accidental" silhouettes became a creative escape).https://www.google.no/webhp?hl=no#hl=no&q=ni%C4%9Fde+alaaddin+camii+kap%C4%B1s%C4%B1 Niğde Alaaddin Mosque where a chiaroscuro drawing of a woman's face with crown and long hair appears at a specific time of the year.
• Hudavend Hatun Türbe, the finest of several Selçuk tombs in the centre of Niğde, dates back to the early 14th century.{{Cite web |title=Hüdavent Hatun Türbesi - Niğde |url=https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/nigde/gezilecekyer/hudavent-hatun-turbes|language=tr}}
• Ak Medrese (White Medrese), built in 1409 during the years when the Karamanoğlu dynasty ruled Niğde.
• Niğde Castle (Niğde Kalesi) looms above the town, its location made obvious by a clocktower (1902) inside it. It dates back in part to Selçuk times. Its interior is now a public park.{{Cite web |title= Niğde Kalesi - Niğde|url=https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/turkiye/nigde/gezilecekyer/nigde-kalesi|language=tr}}
• Niğde Archaeological Museum, one of whose star attractions is the Niğde Stele which was recovered from the Dışarı Mosque where it was being used as a door lintel.{{Cite web |title=Niğde Museum |url=https://turkishmuseums.com/museum/detail/2212-nigde-museum/2212/4}}

• Eski Gümüşler Monastery, a rock-cut frescoed monastery built by the Byzantines and containing unique paintings of stories from Aesop's Fables. It was only rediscovered in 1963{{cite web |title=Gümüsler Monastery at Cappadocia |url=http://voyageanatolia.blogspot.com/2011/04/gumusler-monastery-at-cappadocia.html |access-date=17 April 2018 |website=voyageanatolia.blogspot.com}}
• Kemerhisar, the site of ancient Tyana, especially noted for a lengthy surviving stretch of Roman aqueduct.{{Cite web |last=Borges |first=Jason |title=Tyana (Kemerhisar)|date=23 December 2019 |url=https://www.cappadociahistory.com/post/tyana-kemerhisar}}
• Aladağlar and Bolkar Mountains, which are popular with mountaineers and trekkers.{{Cite web |title= Aladağlar National Park, Turkey|url=https://turkeytravelplanner.com/go/CentralAnatolia/Nigde/aladag.html}}{{Cite web |title=Bolkar Dağları |url=http://www.ulukisla.gov.tr/bolkar-daglari|language=tr}}
• Çiniligöl{{Cite web |title=Çinili Göl |url=https://www.neredekal.com/cinili-gol-gezilecek-yer-detay/}}
• Çiftehan thermal springs

File:Nigde Alaadin mosque 1251.jpg|Portal of Alaadin Mosque, Niğde

File:Nigde Gundogdu mausoleum 1276.jpg|Gündoğdü türbe (tomb), Niğde

File:Nigde 060.jpg|Sungurbey Mosque and mausoleum, Niğde

File:Nigde Town view 1293.jpg|Hükümet Meydan (Government Square) in Niğde

File:Yelatan Aladağlar 07.jpg|Aladağlar (Ala Mountains), near Niğde

File:Yelatan Aladağlar 01.jpg|Aladağlar (Ala Mountains), near Niğde

File:Yelatan Aladağlar 06.jpg|Aladağlar (Ala Mountains), near Niğde

File:Gumusler Monastery Courtyard 1202.jpg|Eski Gümüşler Monastery, near Niğde

File:Niğde kalesi ve saat kulesi.jpg|Niğde Castle and Clock tower

File:Çiftehan, Niğde, Turkey.jpg|Çiftehan

File:Tyana, Cappadocia, Turkey (37581916866).jpg|Ruins of Roman aqueduct in Tyana (Kemerhisar), near Niğde

File:TyanaAquädukt2.jpg|Ruins of Tyana (Kemerhisar) aqueduct, near Niğde

File:Tyana, Cappadocia, Turkey (37630877571).jpg|Ancient Tyana

File:Tyana, Cappadocia, Turkey (23777522658).jpg|Roman pool in ancient Tyana (Kemerhisar), near Niğde

File:Nigde Hudavent Hatun mausoleum 1269.jpg|Hüdavent Hatun Mausoleum, Niğde

File:Nigde museum Porsuk inscription Late Hittite 8th BC 0922.jpg|Late Hittite inscription from Porsuk (8th century) in Nigde museum

File:NigdeMuseumTyana.jpg|Finds from Tyana in Niğde Museum

File:NigdeMuseumKösk1.jpg|Niğde Museum

File:NigdeMuseumMumieIhlara1.jpg|Niğde Museum: mummy thought to be of 1000-year-old nun

File:The 'Nigde' Carpet MET DP170574.jpg|Niğde Carpet

File:Kirche Küçükköy 07.jpg|Inside Küçükköy Church

• Abdullah Durak, footballer
• Ayhan Şahenk, businessman
• Nükhet Duru, singer
• Emre Altuğ, Singer and actor
• Ebubekir Hazım Tepeyran [https://tr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebubekir_H%C3%A2z%C4%B1m_Tepeyran]
• {{ill|Yılmaz Cemal Bor|tr}}, (1934-2014), Member of Parliament (1977-1980) from the Nigde District
• Yıldız Kenter, actress
• Leonidas Kestekides (1876–1954), a Cappadocian Greek chocolate manufacturer from Nigde, Cappadocia and founder of the internationally famous Leonidas company in Belgium{{cite book |title= De Coupure in Gent. Scheiding en verbinding |last= Werkgroep Coupure |first= Werkgroep Coupure |year= 2009 |publisher= Academia Press |isbn=9789038213231 |quote= Leonidas-Kestekidès (°1882 Nikede, met Griekse nationaliteit…(Translated: Leonidas Kestekides (° 1882 Nigde of Greek nationality |page= 304}}
• Petros Petridis (1892–1977), prominent Cappadocian Greek composer and conductor, born in Nigde (Cappodocia){{cite book |title= Serbian and Greek Art Music: A Patch to Western Music History |last= Rōmanou |first= Kaitē |year= 2009 |publisher= Intellect Books |isbn=9781841502786 |quote= Petros Petrides was born in Nigde, Kappadokia, in 1892 and died in Kifissia (Attica) in 1977. A man of vast knowledge on various fields of science and art, who is rightfully placed among the most cultivated and educated Greek composers of the first half of the 20th century; |page=152 }}
• Thanassis P. Aghnidès, (1889–1980), born in family estates (Kayabashi), graduated from Université Impériale de Constantinople with a law degree and the Sorbonne in Paris, France. He was a Greek-Ottoman diplomat, joined the SDN in 1919 and became undersecretary Geneva 1938-1942, chairman of the disarmament section at U.N. 1946-1960. He also served as Greek ambassador to the Court of St James in London 1942-1945.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
• Elie P. Aghnidès (1901–1988), iInventor, best known of his inventions is the faucet aerator and the massage shower. Another of his inventions was the Rhino, an amphibious, 5-ton, 4-wheeled vehicle designed for multiple terrains. The prototype was built by Marmon-Harrington in Indianapolis.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
• Nicholas P. Aghnidès, (1883–1974), author, Professor at Columbia University best seller Mohammedan Theories of finance.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

• Anatolian Tigers
• Niğde Stele

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://turkeytravelplanner.com/ Municipality's official website] {{in lang|tr}}
• [http://yesilburc51.sitemynet.com Yesilburç Village]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070409002525/http://www.nigdeli.net/ A web portal of Niğde]

{{Niğde District}}

{{Tentative list of World Heritage Sites in Turkey}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nigde}}

Category:Cappadocia

Category:Populated places in Niğde District

Category:World Heritage Tentative List for Turkey

Category:Provincial municipalities in Turkey