Helvadere is a town (belde) and municipality in the Aksaray District, Aksaray Province, Turkey. Its population is 2,564 (2021).

Geography

Helvadere is on the western slopes of Mount Hasan at about 1350 m. It is 30 km south of Aksaray.

History

Helvadere is situated next to ruins of the ancient town Nora, which was an important town in Hellenistic Capadocia. Helvadere was also named Mokissos and Justinianopolis (named after Justinian) in antiquity. Eventually, the town lost its former importance and in the Middle Ages it was a small village named Hardaldere. Evliya Çelebi in his Seyahatname describes hardaldere as a village of 65 houses; the majority of the population being Turk, but also with a Greek minority. In the early 20th century, the name was Halvadara. But in 1968 Halvadara was declared a town named Helvadere.

Economy

Helvadere is a typical agricultural town. Potato, apple and cherry are among the more important crops. Some members of the town work in western Europe as industrial workers (gastarbeiter) and they also contribute to the town's economy.

Churches

The ruins of Karahan (Eshab-ı Kefh Han) from the Seljuks period is also located in Mokissos.