Hacıbektaş Veli Museum

Hacıbektaş Veli Museum: A Meeting Point of Faith, Culture, and History

One of the most important historical and cultural centers in Cappadocia, the Hacıbektaş Veli Museum holds great significance not only for the region but for all of Turkey. Located in the Hacıbektaş district, 45 km north of Nevşehir, the town takes its name from the great thinker and Sufi, Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli, who arrived in Anatolia from Khorasan in the 13th century. As the founder of the Bektaşi order, this revered philosopher earned respect not only within the Islamic community but also among diverse faith groups through his teachings of truth, simplicity, love, and tolerance.

The landmark that makes Hacıbektaş so significant is the Hacıbektaş Dervish Lodge and Tomb, built in 1519. Today, this extensive complex, which can be visited as a museum, includes a wide array of structures such as the tomb, mosque, guesthouse, dining hall, kitchen, laundry, and fountain.

Highlights of the Hacıbektaş Veli Museum

Meydan House

One of the most important sections of the museum, the Meydan House, consists of the Sofa, the Meydan Room (Cem Room), the Meydancı Baba Room, and the Kitchen. Here, you can find panels representing the Twelve Imams, portraits of Bektaşi leaders, and photographs of dervishes from the period.

Meydan (Cem) Room

This room, where the initiation ceremonies into the Bektaşi order and Cem rituals are held, boasts an impressive architecture. In the Bektaşi tradition, the doors of the worship halls are kept low, so that everyone entering must bow in respect.

The ceiling is crafted using the “bingi” or “swallow” technique and is supported by cross wooden beams that symbolize nine levels of the celestial dome. During the Cem rituals, hymns in praise of Prophet Muhammad, Ali, and the Twelve Imams are recited, followed by the turning of the semah accompanied by the bağlama.

Semah is a ritual symbolizing a person’s confrontation with their soul and an approach to God. During the semah, the right hand points upward and the left hand downward, representing the belief of “taking from the Divine and giving to the people.”

Pir House and Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli Tomb

Built between the 13th and 16th centuries, the Pir House is a sacred section that houses the tomb of Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli. Within this complex, you will also find:

• The Çilehane (an area where dervishes would retreat for seclusion),

• The Orta Medhal (an area showcasing works related to the Bektaşi tradition),

• Kırklar Meydanı (a section adorned with calligraphic motifs and wooden decorations).

The area containing Hacı Bektaş-ı Veli’s chest is referred to as