There are several cave cities in Crimea, but the best preserved is Chufut-Kale. In terms of popularity among tourists, it can be compared with the Yalta “Swallow’s Nest” and the Khan’s Palace in Bakhchisarai. Walking through the ruins of a ghost town, travelers are immersed in the history of Crimea, as if entering another dimension. For hundreds of years, the rock has been a reliable protection and shelter for people. Alans, Karaites, Crimean Tatars - each nation named the city in its own way. But the main meaning that unites all these names is concentrated in the word “Fortress”.
My home is my castle
The mountain spur, rising above three valleys, attracted the attention of people 7 thousand years ago. For primitive man, it served as a reliable refuge, and possibly a temple. At first, people simply hid in a stone house, and then they began to build fortifications. Researchers are still arguing over exactly when the very first fortress appeared on Chufut-Kala. Some believe that the fortification appeared already in the 6th century, others confidently point to the 11th century.
It is definitely known that one of the first peoples to settle in the picturesque mountains were the closest relatives of the Scythians - the Sarmato-Alans. This warlike people sympathized with Christians, which explains that the Alans voluntarily took on the role of defenders of Chersonesos from uninvited guests.
Judging by the chronicles, the first settlement and fortress was called Fully. Perhaps its construction took place during the time of Justinian I and was associated with the strengthening of Byzantine influence in Crimea. In the 8th-9th centuries, during the period of Khazar rule in Crimea, the city of the Alans received the Turkic name Kyrkor, meaning “forty fortresses”. At this time, the fortification already corresponded to the new formidable name.
History has shown that the city will change owners and name more than once. Already at the end of the 13th century, the Golden Horde under the leadership of Emir Nogai approached Kyrkor. It turned out to be difficult to quickly take the “forty fortresses” by storm. Therefore, the cunning Mongols are deceiving the duty. According to legend, the emir ordered his subordinates to collect musical instruments and copper utensils from all over the area. For three days and three nights the Tatars beat on frying pans and drums, creating the sound effect of an impending assault. The Alan defenders, taking the trick at face value, did not sleep a wink day or night and sat tensely, awaiting the invasion. But on the fourth morning, even the most persistent could not stand it and fell asleep with weapons in their hands. At this very moment the Tatars entered the city victoriously.
This is how Kyrkor became the capital of the Crimean Khanate and the residence of its first khans - Hadji Devlet-Girey and Mengli-Girey. Later, on the site of the current Bakhchisarai suburb, Salachik was founded new town. The Khan's capital was moved, and the fortress became a privileged prison and a state mint at the same time.
Local Karaites were invited to look after Kirkor - that’s what the Jews who abandoned the Talmud called themselves. Gradually, the mountain citadel became a purely Karaite city and received another name - Chufut-Kale, which translated from Crimean Tatar means “Jewish fortress”.
By the middle of the 19th century, more than a thousand people lived in Chufut-Kale, but the city soon became empty. After Crimea became part of Russian Empire Karaites began to leave the fortress and move to other Crimean cities. This was due to the privileges granted by the Russian tsars. Now the ancient people were allowed to settle throughout the empire and enter government service.
At the end of the 19th century there were many houses on Chufut-Kale. This is the description made at the end of the last century by the Karaite Gaham S.M. Shapshal: “The houses, with very few exceptions, indicate to us that the city had a very original appearance; the houses always had balconies (sofas), windows to the courtyard, mostly two-story, and the owner himself always lived on the upper floor, and the lower one was usually reserved for stables for horses and donkeys, and there was also a room where residents drove their herds at night. The houses were heated by primitive stoves - tandoors, built in the ground in the middle of the room. On both sides of the street or alley there were high solid fences, as if intended to hide from the indiscreet gaze what was happening behind them. Occasionally there was a tiny window with a bar in the wall, a porch with several steps, and again there was a bare white wall.”
By the end of the 19th century, Chufut-Kale was completely abandoned by its inhabitants. According to traveler Evgeny Markov: “some houses stand completely intact, with shutters, doors, balconies, shops with a locked entrance.”
Currently, most of the fortified city of Chufut-Kale is in ruins. In its most ancient part, numerous utility rooms carved out of caves have been preserved. Also well preserved are two kenassas of the Karaite temple and the Firkovich estate, consisting of two houses. Very interesting are the ruins of the mosque and the mausoleum of the daughter of the Golden Horde Khan Tokhtamysh Dzhanyke-Khanym, an ancient prison and a siege well...
In short, in Chufut-Kale you can find many interesting and mysterious sights. I would like to talk about some of them in more detail.
Kuchuk-Kapu Gate
If you decide to go on an excursion to a ghost town, you simply need comfortable sports shoes, since you will have to walk a lot through the mountains and valleys. To get to Chufut-Kale, you first need to come to Bakhchisarai, then take a minibus that goes to Staroselye. Getting off at the final stop, you will have to overcome a kilometer-long climb to the beautiful rock Assumption Monastery, and from there it’s just a stone’s throw to Chufut-Kale!
After ascending the steep zigzag of the ancient cobblestone road, you will finally reach " dead city"... The performance opens with the southern Small Gate - Kuchuk-Kapu. They were nicknamed “secret” because the gates are not visible from afar. The massive oak doors of the gates are covered with iron; They are adjacent to the southern defensive wall, made of untreated stone up to 1 meter thick and up to 5 meters high. The upper part of the wall is equipped with loopholes for firing guns.
Once upon a time, Kuchuk-Kapu was a real trap. It was almost impossible to knock down the gate with a ram. The inconvenient steep descent and the gentle path at the very entrance, which turns sharply, made any maneuvers very difficult. Even if the attackers did break into the territory of the fortress, they found themselves in a narrow corridor specially carved into the rock. Stones fell on them from the wooden flooring, boiling water poured down on them, and in the defensive caves, archers were waiting for the unfortunate ones, shooting without missing.
Cave complex
Initially, the defensive wall ran 20 meters higher, along the very edge of the plateau. Today it crosses a cave complex that appeared here much earlier. In front of the southern wall there are 10 of the most ancient caves, located in three tiers. Behind the gate there are more caves, running on both sides of the road leading deeper into the settlement. They also form tiers. In total there are 32 stone rooms. They are all different in shape, quality of finish and architectural details. Apparently, these premises were built for different purposes. Some have preserved traces of cut down staircases that once connected the tiers.
Archival sources mention that in one of the caves there was a church with traces of painting, as well as a tomb with bones. In the 70s of the 20th century, a tomb was actually excavated and human remains were found. The original appearance of the temple has not been preserved, but scratched crosses can be found on the walls of the cave complex. Probably, the monastery of the times of the Alans Kyrkor was deserted after the fortress was captured by the Tatars. The wall pierced the cave complex, and some of the premises began to be used as defensive ones.
Karaite kenasses
“Kenasskaya” street runs along the southern side of the plateau. On the left you can see the ruins of numerous houses, on the right behind a high fence are two temple buildings. The Great or Cathedral Kenassa was built in the 14th century. The small kenassa was built in the 18th century by the Karaites, who moved from Mangup and took “building materials” from there.
Both temples are located in a courtyard behind stone walls. A gate leads into the courtyard, and the threshold is a white marble slab taken from an older building. In front of the Big Kenassa, near the fence, there is a water tank carved from stone with a small drain hole. Most likely, these are the remains of a mikvah - a fountain for ritual ablutions before visiting the temple. Benches with niches below are installed near the walls. In time immemorial, believers gathered on this terrace in anticipation of the service.
The small kenassa was intended for daily services and meetings, since the current and judicial affairs of the Karaite community were decided by the spiritual authorities.
The Great Cathedral Kenasa is a basilica-type building, surrounded on the outside by a gallery with ten columns supporting semicircular arches. Solemn holiday services were held here.
Printing house
On Main Street the building of the oldest printing house in Crimea, founded in 1731, has been preserved. Mostly religious literature was published here. The first book dates from 1734, the last from 1805. Later the printing house was moved to Yevpatoria. By the way, in the library of the Bakhchisarai Museum you can see books in Hebrew and Karaite languages, printed in the Chufut-Kala printing house.
Tomb of Janike Hanim
On the territory of Chufut-Kale there is an almost completely preserved mausoleum of the 15th century - a unique example of “Seljuk” architecture. It is an octagonal structure under a tiled roof, decorated with carved columns. Adjacent to it is a carved portal with a massive arch. In the depths of the mausoleum, on a stepped elevation, there is a tombstone decorated with an elegant Arabic inscription: “This is the tomb of the great Empress Janike Khanum, daughter of Tokhtamysh Khan, who died in the month of Ramadan 841 (1437).”
There is a romantic legend associated with this monument. According to one of them, Janike died defending the fortress from enemies, and her father ordered a mausoleum to be erected at the site of her death. The second version tells about the serious illness of the khan’s beloved daughter, who needed the healthy air of Kyrkor for treatment. The third story tells about the illicit love of a girl for a Tatar bey or a Genoese. Pursued by her father, the rebellious daughter threw herself into the abyss from the place near which she was buried as a suicide, i.e. far from family graves.
But history destroys all versions of this legend. In fact, Janike’s father, the legendary Khan of the Golden Horde Tokhtamysh, who led a countless army to the walls of Moscow in 1382, was subsequently defeated by Timur. Subsequently, he fled to the Kyrgyz steppes, where he died. Thus, the daughter outlived her father by 32 years.
On the memorial plaque in the mausoleum it is written that Janike Khanum was a famous empress, but historians claim that it was she who provided refuge to Hadji Giray, who fought with the Crimean beys. It also says that this worthy lady, the wife of the powerful emir of the Nogai horde, Edigei, made a pilgrimage to Mecca, earning universal respect in the Muslim world.
Jail
One of the darkest places in Chufut-Kale is the prison. It captured the imagination of the traveler Evliya Celebi. Describing his impressions, he will write: “In this fortress there is a prison for the khan’s prisoners. There is no prison in the world like this hellish dungeon... It is impossible to free oneself from the prison of this Chufut-Kale, unless one is carried out of it in a coffin.” The cave complex in the New Town on the edge of a 50-meter cliff consists of four rooms, accessed by a narrow passage. To his left is a vast room with two supporting pillars and small windows looking out into the abyss. Near this wall is a hatch opening leading to the lower room. It was covered with a wooden platform, forming a stone bag.
Temporary prisoners were kept under lock and key in the upper cell, while dangerous prisoners were thrown into the lower room. Cramped and low, it has one narrow window that illuminates the chamber and makes it possible to breathe in fresh air. It was here that the khans kept noble captives, extorting a large ransom for them.
It is known that at the end of the 15th century the Lithuanian ambassador Lez was imprisoned here, and in the middle of the 17th century the Polish hetman Potocki was imprisoned here. Russian ambassadors also languished in the dungeons of Chufut-Kale: Ivan the Terrible’s favorite Vasily Gryaznoy, as well as Vasily Aitemirov and Prince Romodanovsky, sent to Crimea at the end of the 17th century to conclude a peace treaty.
From 1660 to 1681, the Russian governor V.B. was imprisoned here. Sheremetev. Four khans managed to change positions during the governor’s imprisonment, making impossible demands. According to sources, the Crimean khans demanded two cities as ransom - Kazan and Astrakhan! Sheremetev did not want freedom at such a price. He wrote to Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich: “The Khan tormented me, no one torments anyone like that, who are the sovereign’s people among the Murzas, the Ags, and the Black Tatars. I have more than half a pound of shackles on me; For four years I have been constantly locked in a room, the windows are covered with stones, only one window is left. I haven’t been outside the hut for six years and I fulfill every need in the hut; and from the spirit, and from need, and from cramped conditions, I became sick more, and my teeth fell out from scurvy, and from headaches I see little, but from the shackles I became legless, and I’m hungry...”
Realizing that his demands were impossible to fulfill, the khan took 60 thousand rubles in gold for the governor and set him free. Returning home blind and seriously ill, Vasily Borisovich died six months later...
Siege Well
In the period from 1998-2001, a sensational discovery was made in the ancient fortress. Researchers discovered the Chufut-Kale siege well.
It is known that the water in the fortress was imported. It was collected from the Karai-Chokrak and Gazi-Mansur springs. Rain and snow water were also used. Ice waters were stored in caves under straw and felt.
During the siege, water was delivered from a secret system of hydraulic structures. When the fortress lost its military significance, information about it was lost. The secret of the location of underground structures was passed down from generation to generation to the chosen ones. The Karaite gaham S. Shapshal published scant information in 1895: “The Karaites could endure a long siege due to the fact that near the Small Gate of Kyrk-Yera there was underground passage to the source located at the foot of the cliff."
And then one day, having mostly legends, and also relying on data from geological exploration of the area, a group of enthusiasts undertook a search. They completed a huge amount of work. As a result, a vertical well with a diameter of 1.8 to 2.2 meters was cleared 150 meters west of the Small Gate and 35 meters south of the Penjere-isar wall. At a depth of 25 meters, it is adjacent to an underground gallery with a square section of 2 by 2 meters, which gently rises to a height of 30 meters. Almost along its entire length steps have been cut down.
Researchers suggest that in the 16th century the well was no longer functioning. For some reason, it was buried securely and quickly. It is unlikely that the enemy did this. Most likely, the well was filled up by the residents themselves, forced to protect themselves from a terrible danger. During excavations, animal bones were found in the well. Perhaps these sick creatures that accidentally fell down caused the water to be poisoned. If the source of the infection was a well, nothing could prevent its destruction. This is just a version, but it can explain why the memory of the well disappeared even among the residents of Chufut-Kale themselves.
One of the main attractions of Bakhchisaray is the Assumption Cave Monastery, located in the Mariam-Dere tract. On the territory adjacent to the monastery complex there is a cemetery for soldiers who fell during the Crimean War of 1854-1857. The Assumption Cave Monastery was built in the 8th century by Byzantine monks.
In the 13th century, it temporarily ceased its activities, and then was revived again at the beginning of the 14th century. In 1475, the Assumption Monastery miraculously escaped destruction during a Turkish raid and became the residence of the metropolitan. Despite this, the financial situation of the temple was disastrous; its abbots were forced to ask for help from the great Moscow kings and princes. From the 15th to the 18th centuries, the Assumption Monastery played a leading role in the religious life of the Orthodox population of Crimea.
The main shrine of the monastery is the icon of the Mother of God; in the monastery it is also called Panagia (All-Holy). Other valuable samples include the icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God, as well as copies of the icons of the Mother of God of Kiev-Pechersk and the Mother of God of the Three Hands.
Bakhchisarai Palace
The Bakhchisarai Palace in Crimea is a unique place in many ways. It’s worth starting with the fact that this is not only a monument of culture and history, but also the only example in the world of the architectural style characteristic of Crimean Tatar palaces. This alone makes the Crimean landmark a place that is really worth visiting, because there is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.
On the territory of the palace there is a museum dedicated to the history and culture of the Crimean Tatars, as well as exhibitions of bladed weapons and firearms. All of them can delight visitors with excellent collections of exhibits, many of which are marked with a stamp of rarity.
The palace itself, which in many ways has references to Ottoman architecture of the 16th-17th centuries, embodies the idea of a Muslim paradise on earth, and it must be said that it fails to cope with this difficult function. It is worth noting that the original appearance of the palace was lost, because in 1736 the palace was burned, but before the burning it was compiled detailed description. Over the past centuries, the palace has been repeatedly updated, restored and rearranged, which largely led to the loss of a unified style, however, in recent decades, changes have been mainly aimed at restoring the Bakhchisarai Palace to its original appearance. Work continues to this day. But even without a complete restoration of the original appearance, there is something to see there.
Over the many centuries of its existence, the palace was visited by many famous figures of history and culture - for example, the poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin and the Russian Empress Catherine the Second. Each such visit is associated with a small story, which to one degree or another left a mark on the atmosphere of the Bakhchisarai Palace.
Bakhchisarai Palace is one of the most interesting places Crimea, which is worth visiting yourself and recommending to friends.
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Syuren Fortress
The Syuren Fortress is a landmark of Crimea, which in the Middle Ages was the feudal castle of the owner of the surrounding villages. This fortress is the most mysterious of the “cave cities”. The exact or even approximate time of construction of the fortress has not yet been established.
At one time, the fortress controlled the routes to Mangup and the Belbek River valley. Now only remains of the structure have survived, namely parts of the tower and fortress walls. The diameter of the tower is 8 meters, and the length of the defensive walls is 92 meters. The tower has a dome-shaped ceiling with remains of ancient fresco painting, so it is assumed that a chapel existed on this site. Next to the structure is the Chelter-Koba cave monastery.
You can find the fortress 1 kilometer from the villages of Maloye and Bolshoye Sadovoye.
Famous Fountain tears - "selsebil" - is located in the Khan's Palace complex in Bakhchisarai, Crimea. Sung by A.S. Pushkin's fountain was built by the famous Iranian master Omer in 1764.
According to a beautiful legend, the fountain was built in memory of the beautiful Dilyara who died early, whom Khan Crimea-Girey loved with all his soul. Khan wanted the fountain to forever emit tears, just as his suffering heart exuded them.
The fountain is located in the courtyard of Khan-Saray, but originally it was located near the wall of the Dilyara-Bikech mausoleum. The fountain is decorated with two inscriptions - a poem by the poet Sheikhiya dedicated to Crimea-Girey, and a quote from the 18th verse of the 76th sura of the Koran.
The fountain is a marble slab with an ornament on which six bowls are placed - three large bowls in the center, three small bowls on the sides. At the top of the fountain you can see a marble lotus flower with five petals, symbolizing the human eye. From the core of this flower, water, symbolizing tears, flows into the upper large bowl, from it into two small side ones, and from them into the middle bowl. This is repeated three times. At the foot of the fountain there is a spiral, similar to a snail, representing the continuation of human life.
Shuldan Cave Monastery
The cave monasteries of Crimea have inexplicable magical powers. The people who created them, in some incomprehensible way, knew how to choose unique places with spiritual beauty. Shuldan Monastery is the best confirmation of this.
The monastery supposedly arose in the 13th-14th centuries north of the modern village of Ternovka. It consisted of twenty caves, most of which are now destroyed, and two temples. The main temple, spacious and high, is located on the first tier. Its rectangular room, carved directly into the rock, ends with a horseshoe-shaped altar. In ancient times, the walls of the temple were painted with frescoes, which have now been lost. Above the eastern entrance, in the second tier of the cave complex, there is another temple. It is less well preserved, but in its arched niche you can see a throne, and on the ledge of the southern wall there is an altar. It’s hard to even imagine how much effort and time it took the monks to carve cells and temples into the rock, even if it was composed of rather “soft” limestone rocks.
The monastery was abandoned for a long time. Now life is slowly being revived in it, and the main temple is open to the public. On the edge of a mountain plateau, a gazebo was built from scrap materials. It offers a stunning view of the Shul Valley, a view not spoiled by the signs of civilization - only mountains covered with forest, and an endless, sonorous expanse of blue sky.
Chufut-Kale
“Jewish Fortress”, “Twin Fortress”, “Kyrk-Er”, “Rock of the Karaites”, “Kyrk-Or”, “Gevkher-Kermen”, “Chifut-Kalesi”, “Rock of the Jews” - all this is about Chufut-Kale , now lying in ruins of a fortified city in Crimea.
This city, which was once the first residence of the khans of independent Crimea, arose around the 5th-6th centuries AD as a fortified settlement on the border of the possessions of the powerful Byzantium. At that time, its population most likely consisted of Alans, but they were replaced by the Kipchaks, who were replaced by the Karaites. Over its centuries-old history, the city even managed to be the capital of a tiny principality, which was a vassal of the Crimean Yurt of the Golden Horde. The end of Chufut-Kale as a populous city came after the annexation of these lands to the Russian Empire. Under the rule of the Tatars, this city was one of the few where Karaites could live freely, and in Russia there were no restrictions on their residence, and therefore the transition of Chufut-Kale to Russian citizenship led to the exodus of Karaites from the city to the places where they had previously lived was not allowed. The result was sad - at the end of the 19th century the city was abandoned by all residents.
Of the surviving buildings in Chufut-Kale, the most famous is the mausoleum of Dzhanyke-Khanym, daughter of the famous Khan Tokhtamysh, whose construction dates back to 1437. In addition to it, there are other surviving buildings, for example, two Karaite temples, which are currently being actively restored by the Karaite community. Although now the city has almost completely turned into ruins, a visit to it will not leave indifferent those who truly love and appreciate places where History can be seen, touched and felt with all their being.
Scientific town of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory
A small cozy town, in which, due to its compactness, the streets have no names, is lost in the Crimean foothills not far from Bakhchisarai. Officially they call it Scientific. There is a large observatory here - the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory.
The village rather resembles the territory of a sanatorium - silence, no fuss, smooth pine alleys, narrow asphalt paths leading to single 2-3-storey houses dating back to Stalin's era. After the noise of the summer Crimean highways, immersion in this unreal silence makes you think that heaven on earth is located right here. If you are lucky enough to come here in the spring, then blooming apple orchards will complement this feeling. And what a stunning panorama of the mountains of the Main Crimean Ridge opens from here! Handsome Chatyr-Dag, Babugan, Yalta yayla... And all this in the surroundings of the white domes of different-sized telescope towers, which here and there peek out among the green crowns of the old park. They say that the park was planted by specialists from the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, using rare tree species.
This place for astronomical observations was not chosen by chance - here there are the fewest cloudy days, the clearest air, and, consequently, the best conditions for studying the Universe. You can get here with a tour, or you can come on your own and even stay for a few days - there is a small hotel in the town.
Cave city Kachi-Kalyon
The earliest traces of human presence in Kachi-Kalyon date back to the 4th century. In the 8th-10th centuries a monastery arose here, presumably founded by immigrants from Byzantium. After the capture of Crimea by the Tatars, the monastery was destroyed. After the annexation of Crimea to Russia, the local church was restored, and the spring located in the grotto became a place of pilgrimage; it was considered healing. The pilgrims who came to him made no difference in religion and nationality - they were Greeks and Karaites, Tatars and Russians - Christians, Jews and Muslims.
Today Kachi-Kalyon is empty, all the above-ground buildings have long since collapsed and are overgrown with grass, only cave temples and a holy spring remain.
Among the grottoes, the most notable are the First (where the Church of St. Sophia and the wine complex with a wine press were located), the Second (monastic hostel), the Third (church and burial complex), the Fourth (the monastery of St. Anastasia) and the Fifth (dilapidated grotto).
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Bakhchisarai can be considered one of the most interesting places in the “excursion” Crimea. Situated among picturesque mountain plateaus and valleys, surrounded by ancient cave cities, former capital The Crimean Khanate has completely preserved the charm of past eras.
The most significant cultural site Bakhchisarai is the Khan's palace, where numerous excursions flock to get closer to the history and culture of the Crimean Tatars. On the streets of the old city quarters, cozy restaurants are hidden among terraces entwined with greenery, where guests will be fed delicious dishes. national cuisine. In the surrounding area there are several abandoned cave cities that were once prosperous and populous.
The atmosphere of Bakhchisarai is permeated with the flavor of the Crimean Khanate, which has passed into history. It is especially felt in the palace garden, near the walls of city mosques and on the narrow stone streets of the historical quarter.
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What to see and where to go in Bakhchisarai?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walks. Photos and brief description.
A unique and only monument in the world of the palace architecture of the Crimean Khanate. Construction of the complex began in the 16th century under Sahib I Giray (Girey). Subsequently, each ruler made his own changes to the appearance of the palace. In 1736, the Khan's residence was burned down after the capital was captured by the troops of the Russian Empire. Later, the palace was restored according to the surviving description. In the XVIII-XX centuries. several restorations were carried out. Nowadays, the building is part of the Bakhchisaray historical and cultural reserve.
Selsebil fountain of the 18th century on the territory of the Khan's palace, which became famous throughout the world thanks to the famous poem by A.S. Pushkin "Bakhchisarai Fountain". Legend has it that the cruel khan Kyrym Geray (Girey) fell in love with the young slave Dilyare and made her his wife. But she soon died in his harem from melancholy. Khan suffered so much after her death that he called a master and ordered the construction of a monument - the “stone of tears”, which would embodied all the pain of his loss. This is how the Fountain of Tears appeared.
A group of stone road signs installed in 1784-1787. on the route of Empress Catherine II from St. Petersburg to Crimea. There are five such monuments preserved on the peninsula. One of them is located next to the Khan’s palace in Bakhchisarai, near the bridge over the Churuk-Su river. During her visit, the ruler stayed in the palace chambers, specially renovated for her arrival.
A miniature park located on an area of 2.5 hectares not far from the Khan’s palace. It was opened in 2013 with the aim of promoting Bakhchisarai as a tourist destination. All the main attractions of Crimea are presented here in reduced sizes: palaces, cathedrals, obelisks and other architectural monuments. In total, there are 53 miniatures in the park, made on a scale of 1:25.
An archaeological complex located on the site of the first capital of the Crimean Khanate in the village. Staroselye, which is located near Bakhchisarai. Devlet-Saray was previously a full-fledged Khan's palace. Only the mausoleum-tomb and the building of the madrasah have survived to this day. Since 2011, the Lariches Museum has been operating on the territory of the complex, where an interesting exhibition is presented with artifacts from the period of the Crimean Khanate: engravings, maps, manuscripts and books, as well as works by contemporary Crimean artists.
An Orthodox monastery in the Mariam-Dere tract, founded in the 8th century by monks from Byzantium. In the XIII-XIV centuries. the monastery fell into decay, but then was revived again. During the Ottoman conquest it managed to escape destruction. Until the 18th century, the monastery was the main religious center of all Crimean Christians. During the XVIII-XIX centuries. its territory was significantly expanded, several new buildings appeared. In 1921 the monastery was abolished. Its revival began in 1993.
A functioning monastery, which is located in artificial grottoes of the 6th century within the Mangup plateau on the slopes of steep rocks. The monastery was founded in the 14th century, but after the conquest of Crimea by the Ottoman Turks, it stopped working for a long time. The monastery was restored only at the end of the 20th century. From the platforms in front of the grottoes there is a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area of the monastery.
Muslim temple of the 16th-18th centuries. on the territory of Bakhchisarai, erected with donations from a relative of one of the Crimean khans. The building was built in a mixed style of classicism and baroque. The mosque is small in size and lacks traditional minaret towers. In the 20th century, the building housed warehouses for a long time. At the moment, the mosque has not yet been restored.
The temple was erected in 1707 by order of the daughter of Khan Selim I Geray (Girey). The tall minaret of the mosque dominates the architectural buildings of the old quarters of Bakhchisarai. The name of the structure, translated from Crimean Tatar, means “mosque made of boards”, since wooden beams were used in the construction and laying of the walls. Takhtaly-Jami is a functioning Friday mosque.
The temple of the early 20th century, erected for the 300th anniversary of the accession of the Romanov dynasty to the Russian throne. Like many other religious institutions, the church was closed in the 1930s. The premises were used for a long time as a granary and stable, and in the post-war years there was a cinema here. In the late 1990s - early 2000s. Reconstruction was carried out with donations from the Christian community.
An ancient cave monastery, approximately founded in the 8th century (according to indirect evidence) by Greek monks. It is located approximately 8 km from Bakhchisarai on the territory of the cave city of Kachi-Kalyon. Over the past centuries, it has experienced several periods of desolation and revival. A small number of monks lived here until the 1930s. In 2005, the monastery was restored after a long break by the brothers of the Holy Dormition Monastery.
A fortress city of the 5th-6th centuries, founded on the very border of the Byzantine possessions. At first, Alans lived in Chufut-Kale, then it was captured by the Kipchaks. After the peninsula came under the control of the Horde khans, the fortress turned into the center of a small principality - a vassal of the Golden Horde. In the 14th century, Karaites began to settle in the city, who left Chufut-Kale in the 19th century after the restrictions on the places of residence of this ethnic group were lifted.
An abandoned necropolis near Chufut-Kale with 7 thousand stone tombstones. This place was considered sacred, as it is located on the territory of a centuries-old oak grove. Oaks were considered sacred trees by the Karaites. Burials in the cemetery were carried out even after representatives of this nation left Chufut-Kale. The most recent graves date back to the beginning of the 20th century.
A cave city in the vicinity of Bakhchisarai, founded in the 6th century as a border defensive fortification. The development of Eski-Kermen began in the 10th century and reached its apogee in the 12th-13th centuries. At that time, more than 2,000 people lived on its territory. In 1299 and 1399 the city was ravaged twice by the Tatar-Mongols, after which it never recovered. Buildings dating back to the 6th-12th centuries have survived to this day.
Another cave city in the vicinity of Bakhchisarai, dating back to the 6th century. More than 230 caves have been found on its territory. According to some sources, Tepe-Kermen served as a defensive fortress; according to other sources, it was a monastery. The city existed until the 14th century until it was destroyed as a result of another campaign of the Golden Horde. Only ruins have survived to this day.
The Mangup-Kale fortress is located near the village of Zalesnoye at an altitude of 583 meters above sea level. It is believed that the first Scythian settlements appeared on this site in the 3rd – 4th centuries; from the 7th century the city entered the Khazar Khaganate. Later, Mangup-Kale became the capital of the late Byzantine principality of Theodoro and a Turkish fort. In the 18th century, the last inhabitants, the Karaite community, left the settlement. Since then it has been abandoned.
Cave monastery in the valley of the Kachi River, located on the territory of the Bakhchisarai region. In ancient times, it stood at the crossroads of trade routes that connected the steppe part of Crimea with the sea coast. The inhabitants of Kachi-Kalon were engaged in the production of wine, as evidenced by the surviving wineries and workshops where dishes for storing this drink were made.
Natural stone sculptures up to 20 meters high, located in the valley of the Churuk-Su River (translated from Crimean Tatar this name means “rotten water”). The giants were formed naturally as a result of centuries-old weathering of rocks consisting mainly of limestone rock. Location announced natural monument regional significance in the 1960s.
Stone blocks on the Uzun-Tarla hill, located near the village of Zalesnoye near Bakhchisaray. The height of the formation reaches 10-15 meters. Together with the rock, their size reaches 300 meters above sea level. Depending on the time of day, the sculptures “change” their appearance and resemble either stone figures from Easter Island or frozen fairy-tale characters. It all depends on the imagination of the beholder and on the lighting.
Besh-Kosh is a low rocky ridge made of limestone rocks, which is located on the eastern outskirts of Bakhchisarai. The view of the plateau opens just behind the last town houses. As a result of archaeological excavations in the Besh-Kosh area, traces of the settlement of the Tauri, who lived on the peninsula in the 8th-7th centuries, were discovered. BC. The ridge is the natural border of the picturesque Biyuk-Ashlama-Dere valley.
Greetings, friends!
Today I invite you to leave cozy, modern rooms and a hot beach, and go into the distant past, namely, look into the cave cities in Crimea.
I think many of you are curious to know how people in these cave cities lived their lives, held parties and fought to the death with ideological enemies.
But, it is advisable to go on such an expedition with a company or an excursion, otherwise you might inadvertently dive under some stone arch and under the pitiful beeping of a tired mobile battery there is no back door to be found.
Study the information and choose which cave cities you will explore first!
Chufut-Kale, in translation, Jewish fortress is the last of the names of the ancient cave city. It is also known as Kyrk-Er or Kyrk-Or, other names are not remembered so often.
The cave city of Chufut-Kale was created as a fortification in the V-VI centuries. According to one version of scientists, it was here that ancient city Fulla, which is mentioned in the chronicles.
Chufut-Kale was once inhabited by Alans and Kipchaks, it became the prey of the Horde emir, and also possessions of the Golden Horde . The capital of the Crimean Khanate, Kyrk-Er, was founded here, headed by Haji I Geray, which was later moved to Bakhchisarai.
From the time of the Crimean Khanate to the cave city Karaites moved , since there was a certain ban on their free settlement. After the khan's residence was moved to another place, the city was renamed Chufut-kale, and the Karaites who inhabited it were not supposed to leave its borders.
The Karaites received freedom of movement with the advent of Soviet power, and gradually left the cave city, which soon fell into disrepair.
Where is Chufut-Kale
Chufut-Kale is located in the Bakhchisaray district, 2-3 km from the village Staroselye.
How to get there
From the bus station in Bakhchisarai to the bus stop "Staroselye" There is a shuttle bus. Then you will have to walk past the Assumption Cave Monastery. It is unlikely that you will get lost on this stretch; there are signs and barkers everywhere who want to accompany you on an excursion.
There is a fee for visiting Chufut-Kale:
- Adult ticket - 200 rubles
- Child - 100 rubles
- Pensioners - 150 rubles
- Excursion service - 100 rubles
Good to know
The ruins of Chufut-Kale are a popular attraction in Bakhchisarai, but keep in mind that you will have to walk a lot , climb the cut down steps and broken paths. I write more and more interestingly about the fortress.
The capital of the Principality of Theodoro is Mangup-Kale
Once upon a time this plateau was chosen by the Taurus tribes, who gave it its name - Mangup . This was back in the 1st millennium BC. In subsequent centuries, Mangup was inhabited by Scythians, Sarmatians, Alans and Goths.
Only in the 5th century. The first fortification buildings began to appear on Mangup, and the cave city began to grow. Already in the 7th century. the city was well defended and surrounded by a fortress wall.
From the XIII to the XV centuries. the cave city on the Mangup plateau reached its peak, becoming the capital Principality of Theodoro and bearing his name.
Unable to cope with the onslaught of the Ottomans, in 1475 the city was ravaged and burned. Half restored, Mangup-Kale never returned to its former life, and in 1790 it was abandoned by residents.
Where is Mangup-Kale
The distance from Bakhchisaray to the Mangup plateau is about 20 km. Nearest landmark With. Khaja-Sala.
How to get there
If you arrived in Bakhchisarai, now you need to take a bus from the bus station to Zalesnoe village , and get off at the stop of the same name.
Good to know
The city is located on a spacious plateau, at an altitude of 583 m. It really gives the impression of an impregnable settlement. But it’s still worth climbing to the plateau - stunning views open up from there.
Mysterious Eski-Kermen
6-7 km from Mangup-Kale there is another cave city - It appeared at the end of the 6th century. and existed safely until the end of the 14th century.
Despite the fact that not much is known about it, according to scientists and archaeological evidence, Eski-Kermen was very well fortified and developed. This is evidenced by the location of the quarters, the ruins of temples and buildings, and a siege well with a 20-meter corridor, to which 80 stone steps lead.
Where is Eski-Kermen
Bakhchisaray district, 14 km south of Bakhchisaray. Not far from the villages Red poppy, Ternovka, Zalesnoe .
How to get there
From the bus station in Bakhchisarai, take a shuttle bus to the village of Red Poppy, and then follow the signs on foot.
You can take advantage of the offer of local taxis that will take you all the way to the plateau, but you will have to climb into the territory of the cave city yourself.
Good to know
You can go to the cave city either with a guide or on your own - there are information signs on the walls and stands telling about this or that object. But staying overnight on the plateau is prohibited.
City really impressive by the number of remaining apartments and interesting places for researchers.
More photos and descriptions of the route around the city
Castle town of Tepe-Kermen
This small cave city, built in several tiers, appeared in the 6th century. It had its own streets, numerous buildings, and two main roads, which well preserved traces of ancient carts.
It ended its existence in the 13th century. after a brutal raid by the Horde khan, although some surviving temples continued to function for some time.
It’s amazing how people lived in this city if there were never any sources nearby. Climb up and solve this riddle!
Where is
Bakhchisaray district, 7 km from Bakhchisaray itself to the southeast. Reference point - With. Kudrino .
How to get there
Maintain course on p. Kudrino. From the bus station in Bakhchisaray you can take a bus from Bakhchisaray to Sinapnoye.
Good to know
Despite the fact that Tepe-Kermen is not so big, there is something to see here - very tiny cells hidden in the bushes, ruins of above-ground churches, tombs, cave “multi-room apartments”.
Well, a wonderful location on a high plateau, overlooking Kachin Valley .
Read more about the cave city.
Northern cave city – Bakla
Like many other cave cities, Bakla primarily served as a military fortification. From V to XIII centuries. city belonged to the Byzantines , who built a castle and defensive buildings in the southern part.
The townspeople were engaged in agriculture, winemaking, and visited temples; perhaps one of the underground rooms found served as a monastery.
But here, too, this obnoxious Horde tried Khan Nogai , which completely destroyed this city in 1299.
Where is Bakla
Bakhchisarai district, nearby Skalistoye village.
How to get there
By bus from Bakhchisarai to the village. Rocky, then walk about another 2 km, following the signs.
Good to know
Many crypts were found on the territory of Bakly; unfortunately, many of them were looted. Some Byzantine jewelry and household items that were not found by black archaeologists can be seen in the Bakhchisarai Museum.
Where the monks hid - the cave monastery of Kachi-Kalyon
When they talk about Cachi Caglione , then they mean a cave monastery, although researchers - scientists and archaeologists, say that it was a large cave city, with several temples that appeared later.
The development of Kachi-Kalyon occurred from the 5th to the 13th centuries. It was inhabited by different nationalities; there is even a site of an ancient man here.
Kachi-Kalyon is a complex of cave rooms with various buildings. Typically, the excursion takes place in four of the five grottoes, which contain cells, utility and wine-making premises, and ancient temples.
On the territory of Kachi-Kalyon there is a miraculous source of St. Anastasia, and also beaded temple , Church of St. Sofia.
Where is
Bakhchisaray district, 7 km from Bakhchisaray, between Predushchelny and Bashtanovka , in the Kachin Valley.
How to get there
By bus from Bakhchisarai you can get to the village. Predushchelnoye (stop Predushchelnoye 2), then walk along the highway until the sign “Kachi-Kalyon”.
Good to know
The fifth grotto is very inaccessible for tourists; it is mainly visited by climbers.
The tour of the cave city itself is not expensive, but if the guides “intercept” you in Bakhchisarai and offer to take you to the very threshold of Kachi-Kalyon (which is very tempting), then it will cost you from 1,500 to 2,500 rubles.
Either a fortress or a city - Kalamita
In the VI century. The Byzantines erected a garrison fortification on Mount Monastyrskaya. It initially consisted of four, and then of six towers, strong walls, and cave casemates.
On the territory of the fortress there was also a temple, a church, other buildings, and a cemetery.
Kalamita - it received this name from the Genoese, it served as a defensive and military facility, and the population located under the walls of the fortress could take refuge in it from the attacks of invaders.
Now at this place there are only the remains of four towers, the ruins of a temple, and some monuments. Under the fortress there is a cave St. Clement Monastery , which I wrote about in about sights of Sevastopol.
Where is Calamita?
The fortress and settlement are located in one of the areas – Inkerman , on Monastyrskaya Hill.
How to get there
From Sevastopol by car to Inkerman, and then get off at the “Vtormet” stop, the TPP gas station will serve as a guide and st. Career.
Good to know
Do not think that traveling and visiting ancient ruins will be something simple and uninteresting. First climb along the mountain paths to where only the towers are visible from below, and what you see there, I hope, will impress you.
Openwork cave monastery – Chelter Marmara
Multi-tiered cave Chelter Marmara Monastery slightly different from the previous ones with its unusual design. All of its numerous rocky rooms were connected by wooden beams, stairs, balconies, and were numbered on the outside.
The monastery arose at the end of the 13th century. and existed until the end of the 15th century. There were temples, premises for farming and keeping livestock, refectories, numerous cells, but the most impressive is the large columned hall, 32 meters long.
A canopy covers the top of the monastery Chelter Caye mountains , which was a good defensive means in those days.
The Chelter Marmara Monastery is not abandoned today; monks are engaged in its restoration.
Where is
Balaklava district, With. Ternovka.
How to get there
From the village Ternovka you need to go back a little along the highway, then turn towards the Chelter Kaya rock.
Good to know
You will have to climb a steep slope to the monastery. Narrow staircases carved into the rocks leading to another tier are framed by seemingly flimsy railings protecting from the abyss - it’s breathtaking.
Since the monastery is active and services are held here, the atmosphere of ancient and modern spirituality is so intertwined that it is difficult to understand where you are in reality.
The legend of the Maiden Tower from the city of Kyz-Kermen
Small settlement Kyz-Kermen It has been poorly preserved to this day, mainly fragments of defensive but very powerful fortifications, cave rooms, carved steps and stairs, remains of buildings - front gates, watchtowers.
And yet the excursion is a pleasure - the labyrinths of ancient buildings, the unchanged wonderful landscapes, the legends of this ancient settlement and the terrible facts of the sacrifice leave mixed emotions.
Little is said about the history of this settlement; it is possible that it arose in the 6th century. BC. But according to archaeologists and scientists, it had its greatest development and flourishing in the 8th-9th centuries.
Where is
Kyz-Kermen belongs to the Bakhchisaray district, but is located 12 km from it. The settlement is located on the plateau of Cape Kyz-Kule. Nearest village and landmark – With. Mashino.
How to get there
From Bakhchisarai by bus or other transport along the route to the village. Sinapnoye, get off at the “Mashino” stop and follow about 1 km north. But against the backdrop of the steppe and hilly landscape, the plateau will be visible from afar.
Good to know
The most interesting thing is the upper tier of the cave city and the plateau itself; a lot of evidence of ancient settlers has been preserved here. Be careful, many steps have long been damaged or completely erased by time.
Read more about the cave city of Kyz-Kermen
In search of the “Sharp Peak” – Xuyren
Another significant cave fortification is Xueiren, translated as “Sharp Peak”, it is located on the territory of the Bakhchisarai region.
The main and only tower with strong walls was erected by the Byzantines from the 6th to the 11th centuries. (exact time not specified).
Great location on a high headland, just above the valley Belbek River , allowed us to control the situation.
The remains of residential structures and premises carved into the rocks, as well as tombs, were also found here.
Where is
10 km south of Bakhchisarai, near the villages Big Garden and Small Garden, on Cape Kule-Burun.
How to get there
Buses run from Bakhchisarai past the above villages. Getting off at the Maloe Garden stop, you need to cross the Belbek River (preferably over a bridge), then the central street of Bolshoy Garden and go out into the valley, where both the cape itself and the road leading to its foot will be clearly visible.
Good to know
The tower of the Xueiren fortress, although not completely intact, is in better condition than the towers in other ancient fortification cities. It reaches a height of 10 m from the previous 12, and on its walls, where the chapel was located, fragments of frescoes have been preserved.
By the way, for one thing, on the way you can turn to Ai-Todor rock and visit the Chelter-Koba cave monastery and the active church of St. Theodora.
Free visit to cave cities
The situation with paying for tickets at the entrance to protected areas seems to be coming to a final conclusion.
Tickets may state that visiting the site without a guided tour is prohibited and impose a tour guide on you for money. Here I don’t know what to do and what papers to wave in front of my nose "entrance key holders" .
The main thing is that you must be prepared to defend your rights if they are grossly violated. Although in some places this is not the case. Most recently, this
And excursions from the company Tournado: See you soon!
The cave city of Chufut-Kale is located near the city of Bakhchisarai, at a distance of 2.8 km. The Chufut-Kale fortress is located at an altitude of 600 meters above sea level. Three of the four approaches to the fortress are sheer cliffs.
Geographic coordinates of Chufut-Kale on the map of Crimea GPS N 44.741298, E 33.920656
Getting to Chufut-Kale is very easy from Bakhchisaray, there are signs from almost anywhere in the city, but even if you don’t pay attention to them, from the center towards the outskirts of the city move along Lenin Street to Staroselskaya Street. Continuing to move towards the outskirts of the city along Staroselskaya Street, you will come across a wide road paved with stones, in places with pieces of laid asphalt, move along it for about 600 meters and you will reach the rocky Assumption Monastery, from the monastery the road moves into the mountains.
There are two ways to get to the Chufut-Kale fortress: either on foot or by going up in jeeps from Bakhchisarai. Both options are good in their own way. By jeep you will visit more places. Driving along a mountain ridge, narrow rocky roads and stunning views are guaranteed. Going up on foot, you can visit the Assumption Monastery, and if from the monastery you take a little right along the road towards Chufut-Kale, you will come to an ancient cemetery, the place is a little creepy, but leaves impressions of its antiquity and architectural forms.
Then the road will move up at a slight angle. At an average speed of 2-3 km per hour, you will reach the top in 30 minutes in quite good condition.
Name Chufut-Kale appeared in the 17th century and is translated as “Jewish Fortress”. They began to call it Jewish because of the Karaites who inhabited these places. According to many historians and the Karaites themselves, their roots come from the Jews.
The history of the Fortress supposedly began in the 5th century AD, with the settlement of Fulla, which is often mentioned in Byzantine archives and chronicles. But learned historians have not determined a definite date.
The Alans are considered the founders of the cave city of Chufut-Kale, but this is contradicted by their reluctance to build and settle down. Most likely, the Alan tribes captured someone’s fortified cave city, but history has not conveyed such information to us.
From the 10th to the 14th centuries, the cave city of Chufut-Kale gradually turned into a fortress, a fortress wall and defensive structures appeared.
In the 15th century, the city was already almost 80% populated by Karaites due to the fact that in the Crimean Khanate they were allowed to settle only in a small number of places.
In 1532, not far from Chufut-Kale, Khan Sahib Geray built a new khan's residence, which was called Bakhchisarai. Since then, the fortified city of Chufut-Kale began to lose its relevance; if not for the Khan’s decree on the place of residence of the Karaites, it might have been empty immediately.
In 1783, the Crimean Peninsula became part of the Russian Empire and the Chufut-Kale fortress began to empty. By the end of the 19th century, the fortress was completely deserted, the Karaites settled throughout Crimea, and the defensive properties of the fortress practically in the center of Crimea lost their necessity.
Visit to Chufut-Kale quite interesting, the whole city is practically carved into stone, into the rock, in two, and sometimes three, floors. The fortified city had two entrances, natural defenses on three sides and a man-made wall on the fourth. Inside the city there were many buildings, armories, warehouses, a mosque, barracks for the garrison and living quarters. A small palace was built and for many years the mint of the Crimean Khanate was located here. There was also a school and a small food market in Chufut-Kale.
At the beginning of the 15th century, a moat appeared, due to trends from the west. The effectiveness of the moat was highly questionable, but like a real Fortress, this attribute gave it a more imposing appearance.
Chufut-Kale is one of the oldest, its geographical proximity to often combines these two attractions into one excursion: first, then the climb to the rocky Assumption Monastery and the last effort the climb to the fortified city of Chufut-Kale.
