The cave city of Chufut-Kale invariably attracts the attention of tourists. Why is he interesting? Where is? What legends are associated with it? We will talk about this and much more in this article.
Where is it?
Where is Chufut-Kale? The cave city is located on the Crimean peninsula in the Bakhchisarai region. The nearest city (Bakhchisaray) is about 2.5-3 kilometers away. The city-fortress is located on a high, steep mountain plateau on a spur of the inner Crimean Mountains, which is surrounded by three deep valleys.
Chufut-Kale is a cave city whose address cannot be found on any map. The location in the guidebooks is approximate: Bakhchisarai district, Crimean peninsula.
In order not to go astray, going to the cave city of Chufut-Kale, the coordinates for GPS navigators are as follows: N 44°44’27” E 33°55’28”.
How to get there?
One of the questions that arise for those who want to visit the cave city of Chufut-Kale is how to get there? There are two options: go by public transport to the final stop "Staroselye" (Bakhchisaray) and then follow the signs to the fortress on foot or go to Chufut-Kale inas part of an excursion group (this option is chosen by most tourists vacationing in the resorts of the southern coast of the Crimean Peninsula).
Cave name variations
The cave city has changed its name more than once during its long history.
According to one version, the first name of the city was Fulla. A settlement with this name is repeatedly mentioned in the chronicles of the 1st-2nd centuries of our era, but scientists have not been able to determine exactly where it was located.
Since the 13th century, sources have already referred to this city as Kyrk-Or (there is also a variant of Kyrk-Er), which literally translates as “forty fortifications”. Also, during the reign of the Crimean Khan, one can come across the name Gevher-Kermen (translated as “fortress of jewels”), this name can be explained by the fact that the Tatar ulema decorated all the gates, walls and gates of the castle with precious stones.
In the middle of the 17th century, the citadel was transferred to the Karaites and received a new name - Kale. Translated from the Crimean dialect of the Karaite language, "kale" ("kala") means "brick wall, fortification, fortress".
After the annexation of the Crimean peninsula to the Russian Empire, the settlement of Kale is transformed into the cave city of Chufut-Kale, which in translation from the Crimean Tatar language means "Jewish" or "Jewish" fortress (çufut - Jew, Jew; qale - fortress). This name of the fortress was given by merchants who came here for various needs, gradually the name Chufut-Kale becomes official, it is used in scientific worksSoviet scientists and in the literature of Karaite authors from the middle of the 19th century until 1991.
Since 1991, the Crimean leaders of the Karaites have renamed the cave city-fortress Chufut-Kale into Juft-Kale (translated as a pair or double fortress), but this renaming was unofficial.
Founding History
There are several versions about the founding of the cave city. According to one of them, the first settlement here was founded by the Sarmatians and Alans in the 4th century AD. According to the second version, to which most scientists are inclined, in 550 (during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Justinian), three cave fortress cities were founded in order to protect the approaches to Chersonese: Chufut-Kale, Mangul-Kale and Eski-Kermen. However, data on these villages were not included in the treatise "On Buildings", information about them became available as a result of archaeological excavations.
Impenetrable cliffs and high rocks formed by nature were framed by man with high walls and fortifications. The citadel has turned into a reliable shelter and an excellent defensive structure.
Fortress during the Crimean Khanate
In the second half of the 11th century, the Kypchaks (better known as the Cumans) gained dominance over the fortress, renaming it Kyrk-Er.
In 1299, the troops of Emir Nogai stormed this fortificationafter a long and stubborn siege, they plundered, driving out the Sarmatian-Uhlans who inhabited the citadel. The Tatars named the conquered cave city Kyrk-Or.
In the 13th-14th centuries (during the reign of Khan Jani-Bek), one of the garrisons of the Crimean ulus, which broke away from the Golden Horde, was located here.
The cave city of Chufut-Kale received active and rapid development in the 15th century. The reason for such a rapid development of the citadel was that Kyrk-Or became the first capital of the Crimean Khanate. Khan Hadji-Girey set up his residence here after he defeated the lord of the Kirk-Or Khanate Eminek-bey. Hadji Giray became the founder of a whole dynasty of Crimean rulers. During his reign, a khan's palace was built on the territory of the fortress, a madrasah was founded, and the mosque built under Janibek was expanded. There is an assumption that in the first years of the reign of Khan Haji Giray, a mint was also built, where silver coins with the inscription “Kyrk-Or” were printed (the remains of this building were found on the territory of the fortress by archaeologists).
The history of the fortress after the deprivation of the status of the capital
In the middle of the 17th century, Khan Mengli Giray ordered the construction of a new palace in the S alt Marshes and moved the khan's residence there. The fortress was given to the Karaites and renamed Kale, and later received its final name - Chufut-Kale. The Karaites increased the area of Chufut-Kale by almost 2 times due to the defensive system attached to the eastern side, behind which a trade and craft settlement was formed.
An ancient wall made of large stonerectangular blocks and fastened with lime mortar, has now become the middle one, dividing the plateau into eastern and western parts, each of which could hold an independent defense. Thus, another name for the fortress appeared - Dzhuft-Kale (steam or double fortress). A wide ditch was dug in front of the walls of the citadel, impassable for battering rams, and footbridges were thrown across it.
History since joining the Russian Empire
During the reign of the niece of Peter I Anna Ioannovna, the Russian army captured Bakhchisaray and destroyed Chufut-Kale. After the annexation of Crimea to the Russian Empire, by decree of the Empress, restrictions on the residence of Krymchaks and Karaites were lifted, many left the walls of the citadel, only a small Armenian community and part of the Karaites remained to live here, who did not want to leave the established life.
By the end of the 19th century, all the inhabitants left Chufut-Kale, only the caretaker's family remained to live here. The last inhabitant of the citadel, the famous Karaite scientist, author of many scientific works A. S. Firkovich, left its walls in 1874.
Defensive value of the fortress
The priority value of Chufut-Kale is defensive. In addition to high strong walls and a wide moat, several more tactically important decisions were made here. The road to the fortress passes by the Assumption Monastery, which has a source of drinking water, along the Mariam-Dere beam, then it rises steeply - past the cemetery - to the southern (small) gate. These gates were built astraps: they cannot be seen until you get close to them. Most likely, there used to be a gate here, because oak doors remained on the walls near the gate.
The path to the cave city of Chufut-Kale went along the steep slope of the ravine in such a way that the enemies were forced to climb to the citadel, turning to it with their right, least protected, side (shields were carried in the left hand, and weapons in the right). During the ascent, the enemies were attacked by arrows, which were showered on them from loopholes specially equipped in the walls by the defenders of the fortress. It was almost impossible to knock out the gate with a battering ram: there was a steep slope in front of them, and a gentle path right in front of the gate made a sharp turn. But even if the enemy penetrated the gate, another trap awaited him: the soldiers storming the citadel had to make their way along a narrow corridor specially carved into the rock. Stones fell on the heads of the conquerors, boiling water poured from the wooden deck, arranged over the corridor, and the archers, hiding in the caves, fired without a miss.
On the east side, the city was protected by a high wall and a wide ditch in front of it, and the southern, northern and western walls did not need protection, because the plateau on these sides breaks steeply down, only experienced climbers can climb here.
Architecture of Chufut-Kale
Chufut-Kale is a cave city, the photo of which, unfortunately, cannot convey its former power. Only a part of the caves and a few buildings of the Karaites have survived to this day, most of the buildings are ruins.
South sidethe complex of the oldest caves, the main purpose of which is defensive or combat, has been well preserved. In the old part of the city, most of the caves have already collapsed, but two outbuildings have survived. These are large artificial structures that are interconnected by a stone staircase carved into the rock. Presumably, these caves were used as a prison for prisoners who could be kept here for years (the assumption is based on the remains of bars on the windows of the lower cave and the notes of Count Sheremetyev, who spent almost 6 years in Chufut-Kale prison). A residential building was built over these caves in the 17th century.
Not far from the caves, a beautiful example of 15th-century architecture has been preserved - the mausoleum of Janike Khanym, whose name is associated with many legends. According to one of them, Janike lived in the palace next to the barracks for 1000 soldiers, under her leadership the soldiers heroically defended Chufut-Kale, but Khanym died during the siege. Her father Tokhtamysh Khan ordered the erection of an octagonal mausoleum at the site of her death, decorated with a high portal and carved columns. In the depths of the mausoleum, there is still a tombstone of the tomb of the famous empress.
The Karaite kenasses, located not far from the mausoleum, are also well preserved. These rectangular buildings, surrounded by open terraces with columns and arches, served for general meetings, services were held here and courts were administered by spiritual elders. At the end of the 19th century, an extensive library of ancient manuscripts, collected by the scientist A. S. Firkovich, was kept in the building of the small kenassa.
OnIn the narrow main street of the city, wheel tracks have been preserved, their depth in some places reaches 0.5 meters, they testify to the centuries-old and active life that once boiled here.
It will also be interesting to visit the house of the last inhabitant of Chufut-Kale (A. S. Firkovich), hanging over the cliff. You can wander around the defensive structures in the eastern part of the fortress.
Cave city of Chufut-Kale: reviews of tourists
Tourists who visited the fortified city are strongly advised to go here accompanied by an experienced guide who will tell the history of this unique place, show the cave city of Chufut-Kale in all its glory. At an altitude of just over 550 meters, beautiful monuments of antiquity have been preserved, looking at which you can’t believe that people once lived here. Often, looking at these caves, people do not believe that they were non-residential: here all the "residential" buildings were above the ground, and the caves were for auxiliary or household purposes.
What to see nearby?
Going to Chufut-Kale - a cave city, the photos of which will remind you of this amazing trip for many years to come - on the way back you should stop by the Holy Assumption Monastery, founded in the 8th century. Here you can venerate the icon of the Holy Assumption Mother of God, order services, pray or submit notes. There is a source of delicious drinking water on the territory of the monastery.
Also be sure to visit the beautiful Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai, founded in the 16th century. This beautiful palace looks like a decoration for a beautiful orientalfairy tale. In the palace you can get acquainted with how the khan lived, visit the art museum and an exhibition of weapons, take pictures against the backdrop of the Fountain of Tears sung by Pushkin.
Chufut-Kale is one of the few surviving cave cities in the Crimea and the most visited among them. The caves and walls of the fortress, the kenasses, the mausoleum and the narrow streets of the city breathe history and antiquity, making you think about the meaning and transience of life.
