Kayakoy – The Greek Ghost Town In Turkey
Close to the Aegean town of Fethiye, there’s an abandoned village called Kayakoy or Levissi, as Greeks used to call it. The remains of the city were originally built in the 18th century on the site of the ancient city of Carmylessus.
By 1900 the population of Kayakoy had reached over 10,000, the majority of the citizens being Greek Christians. At the time they lived harmoniously alongside their Turkish neighbors.
However, the status quo changed dramatically after the Greco-Turkish war of 1919-1922. The Greek and Turkish governments agreed to a compulsory population exchange, which saw 6,500 Greeks deported from the area, leaving Kayakoy essentially abandoned.
Today the site is a historical monument and serves as a museum. Around 500 houses remain as ruins, including two Greek Orthodox Churches.
Unfortunately, it seems that the Turkish government may not be willing to protect the village, as plans have been put forward to lease the land and open it up to development.
