The Güvercinlik Valley in Cappadocia is one of the world’s most impressive cultural landscapes. Since autumn 2025, its famous rock formations and historic dovecotes light up even after sunset. This impressive lighting installation has been made possible by LEDVANCE, in partnership with installation expert AREM and in close coordination with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey.

The approximately four-kilometer-long valley between Uçhisar and Göreme is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cappadocia and is under strict protection. The region is known for its striking rock formations and numerous dovecotes, which give the valley its name “Pigeon Valley”, and have served as a habitat for birds for centuries. Until now, the Güvercinlik Valley, which is a popular hiking trail and nature refuge during the day, used to lie in complete darkness at night. Together, LEDVANCE, AREM, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism set themselves the challenge of making the valley accessible to visitors after sunset without compromising its natural or historical integrity.

From the very beginning, the focus was on developing a solution that would meet the highest standards of heritage and nature conservation, while providing the best visitor experience. Planning and implementation were carried out jointly – from selecting the luminaires to defining application guidelines and installing the system on site.

“Our goal was to preserve the character of the valley while making its beauty visible at night. The valley has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so even the smallest detail requires great care,” explains Ebru Kurucu, Head of Project Sales at LEDVANCE. “For this project, we used 420 Floodlight Flex projectors, which illuminate the valley and provide natural-looking light.”

Challenge: protecting nature and habitat
The technical and logistical execution was challenging: More than 400 rock structures and fairy chimneys, ranging from six to 30 meters in height, needed to be illuminated without disturbing the plant life or the famous pigeon population. To protect the sensitive environment, all luminaires were installed on purpose-built sockets, without requiring any drilling or disturbance to the ground. The cabling was also laid above ground to preserve the fairy chimneys and rock structures. Special attention was also paid to the color of the light: With a warm white color temperature of 3000K and asymmetrical horizontal lenses, the lighting was designed to accentuate the natural features of the rock and preserve the animals’ habitat.

The project was completed in record time: Within just 45 days, AREM installed 420 luminaires, specially selected and supplied by LEDVANCE, laid more than twelve kilometers of cables, and twelve distribution stations and control systems. Close coordination and strong teamwork among all parties were key to overcoming logistical challenges and ensuring the success of the project.

“Through this project, we have shown our respect for nature and wildlife, we are incredibly excited to have completed the largest lighting project ever undertaken in this region together with LEDVANCE,” says Muazzam Erkam Altun, General Manager at AREM Aydınlatma. “We are very proud to see how excited people are about the lighting installation, and to have contributed to something so historic.”

Film documentation highlights the project’s significance
The result is a lighting installation that is much more than just illumination: It makes the Güvercinlik Valley accessible at night, preserves its character, and sets new standards for sustainable lighting solutions in sensitive cultural landscapes. The lighting highlights the beauty of the rock formations while maintaining the natural habitat of the pigeons that give the valley its name.

The project has also been documented on film. The video provides an emotional insight into the creation and significance of the new lighting installation. It is a great example of how collaboration, technical expertise, and respect for nature and history can lead to lasting success.

With the lighting project in the Güvercinlik Valley, LEDVANCE, together with AREM and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is setting a benchmark for sustainable innovation and responsible project implementation in particularly sensitive environments. The solution serves as a model for similar challenges worldwide and demonstrates that progress and preservation can go hand in hand.

(Photo credit: LEDVANCE)

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