Zelve is situated on the northern slopes of Aktepe, 1km from Pasabaglari (Monks' Valley) and 5 km from Avanos. The ruins at Zelve are spread over three valleys, which also house several pointed fairy chimneys with large stems. Like the ones in Uçhisar, Göreme and Çavusin, it is not known when the rock dwellings in Zelve were first inhabited but it was an important settlement and religious area during the 9th and 13th centuries.

The first seminaries to priests were given here. The Direkli Church (with Columns), situated at the bottom of the slopes, dates back to the early years of monastery life in Zelve.

The main decorations are high relief crosses belonging to the Iconoclastic doctrine. Some of the most important churches in the valley are Balikli (Fish), Üzümlü (Grape) and Geyikli (Deer), belonging to the Pre -Iconoclastic period. The valley was inhabited until 1952. Apart from monasteries and churches, houses, a tunnel joining two of the valleys, a mill, a mosque and several dove-cotes are found in the valley.