Centuries Old Manazan Cave City is Carved Out of a Sheer Rock Wall

This amazing vertical<a href="http://inhabitat.com/6-awesome-caves-to-call-home/"> cave </a>community was carved centuries ago out of the cliff face flanking Taskale Village in the region of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karaman">Karaman in central Turkey</a>. A majestic village that dates back to the Byzantine Empire, Manazan was once home to hundreds of inhabitants, and the rock face provided them with a safe shelter and protection from the scorching sun, cold snowy winters and political uprisings. The village has survived through centuries of war and regime change, standing as a historic monument imploring visitors from around the world to explore its curious beauty.

The City of Manazan is built into an entire rock face and stretched five stories high across nearly two miles of cliffs.

Built to model a city, inhabitants were afforded everything from churches, homes, storage and even a cemetery.

Today these particular <a href="http://inhabitat.com/6-awesome-caves-to-call-home/">caves</a> are still in use, but not for <a href="http://inhabitat.com/gorgeous-modern-home-is-built-inside-a-cave/">living</a>.

Many of the rooms are used as storage space for cheese and other food for the local Taskale Village.

There are nearly 40,000 caves located throughout Turkey.

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/1000-year-old-monks-quarters-restored-as-luxurious-cave-hotel/">Cave dwellings</a> proved to be incredible alternatives to standard constructions - their natural walls regulate temperatures all year-round, and some even boast their own water source flowing within.

While many of these dwellings have been left behind for more modern accommodations, a great number have been transformed into<a href="http://inhabitat.com/the-summer-cave-is-a-tranquil-italian-restaurant-tucked-into-a-cozy-sea-cave/"> tourist destinations</a>, including <a href="http://inhabitat.com/yunak-evleri-is-a-5-star-hotel-built-into-ancient-caves/">world-class hotels</a>.