The Bakhchisarai Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve is the center for research and protection of the historical and cultural heritage of the Crimean Tatars and other peoples previously living in the South-Western Crimea.
This republican institution manages three categories of monuments: cave cities and monasteries, as well as archaeological complexes. At the same time, the former are an absolutely unique category, which, outside the Bakhchisaray district, no longer has analogues on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The Bakhchisaray Historical and Cultural Reserve is the largest tourist center of the Crimean Peninsula, annually about 200 thousand visitors come here.
Museum of the History and Culture of the Crimean Tatars
This museum is the core of the structure of the reserve. The exhibits are located in the form of an exposition in the Khan's Palace. It is divided into two departments: ethnography and history. The modern museum is primarily engaged in exposition work in the Khan's Palace, and also continues to conduct scientific research on the life of the Crimean Tatars.
Ismail Memorial MuseumGasprinsky
It is dedicated to the famous Crimean Tatar public figure I. Gasprinsky and was created in the building of a former printing house. It was here that the newspaper "Translator-Terdzhiman" was published in the Turkic language, edited by I. Gasprinsky. In the museum you can see photos, documents and awards of a famous figure.
Art Museum
It was opened in 1996, operates on the territory of the Khan's Palace. The most valuable among the exhibits are the works of famous domestic and foreign artists of the 18th and 19th centuries. The museum also presents collections of paintings by artists whose life and creative activity was connected with Bakhchisarai.
In recent years, the museum has been donated over two hundred works by contemporary artists.
Museum of Archeology and Cave Cities
This is a regional center where archaeological research is carried out on the most ancient monuments of the southwestern part of the Crimean peninsula.
The museum has two departments: archaeological and department of cave cities. The activities of employees are aimed at conducting excavations, searching for new exhibits, and protecting the cultural heritage of the area.
Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai
During the reign of the Geraev Khans, it was Bakhchisarai that became the main cultural and political center of the peninsula. When designing the Khan's Palace, the architects tried to bring to life the idea of a Garden of Eden: majestic halls, a gazebo entwined with flowers, a spring with clear water.
The Khan's palace in Bakhchisaray was founded by Khan Sahib I Giray. The construction of the palace lasted from 1532 to 1551. At the same time, each new khan improved the structure, rebuilt old buildings and added new ones. In 1736, the Khan's Palace was completely burned down during the war with Russia. Khans Selyamet Giray and Krym Giray restored it for a long time. After the Crimean Peninsula became part of Russia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs worked in the Khan's Palace.
The museum was opened in this building in 1908. The restoration of the palace is ongoing to this day.
Here you can see palace buildings, a harem, a bathhouse. Of particular interest are the Falcon Tower and the Biyuk-Khan-Jami Mosque. Here is the Geraev cemetery. The Golden Fountain and the poetic Fountain of Tears are striking in their beauty. The oldest attraction of the palace is the Aleviz portal.
Chufut-Kale
Chufut-Kale - the residence of the Crimean khans before the construction of the Khan's Palace. An impregnable city was built here, protected by rocks and fortifications. Alans lived here in the 13th century. After the territory was captured by the Golden Horde, the Tatar garrison Kyrk-Or was stationed.
Khan Hadji Giray made his residence here in the 15th century, and after moving it to Bakhchisaray, the fortress was made a citadel.
In the 17th century, the Tatars left these places and the Karaites settled here. The city was named Chufut-Kale. They lived in the cave city for about 200 years. When the Crimea joined Russia, the Karaites began to move to large cities. Last inhabitantsleft here at the end of the 19th century.
Cave towns
The Bakhchisarai Historical and Cultural Reserve includes other large cave cities of the Bakhchisarai region:
- Mangup-Kale, Bakhchisarai - the largest ancient city in the Crimea. Before our era, Taurians lived in this area. In the Middle Ages, the city of Theodoro, the capital of the principality, was located here. It was perfectly protected from enemy attacks by natural conditions, so no one could capture it for a very long time. However, the rest of the territory was not so well protected, so the Tatars managed to conquer part of the principality. In the 13th century, the Mangup principality, even having lost part of its territory, continues to be a strong state. In 1475, Mangup was besieged by the Turks for half a year. Only hunger and disease forced the inhabitants to capitulate. The city was burned down, and the fortress was rebuilt by the Turks only after some time. The last residents left here after Crimea became part of Russia.
- Eski-Kermen, p. Red Poppy was founded in the 6th century by the Scythian-Sarmatians. Casemate towers were carved right into the rocks. In addition, in case of a siege, a well of 70 cubic meters was cut down. m of water. The slopes of the cave city are literally cut by caves. There are about 350 of them in total. They were mainly used in the 12th-13th centuries. They arranged workshops and wineries, kept cattle. The city had its own plumbing, made of pottery pipes. In 1299 it was burnt down by Nogai. The city was not restored again.
- Tepe-Kermen, Bakhchisaray -a city virtually impregnable from the southwest. The area of the plateau is small, but at the same time there are 250 artificially created caves. Some of them are monastic complexes. Tepe-Kermen ceased to exist at the end of the 14th century, as it was destroyed by the troops of Tamerlane.
- Kachi-Kalyon, p. Predushchelnoye is located on a rocky massif on the banks of the Kacha River. In the Middle Ages, a rural settlement was located here. Its creation was served by two convenient natural grottoes. In the 9th century, a monastery was created in a large grotto with a spring, which was later destroyed by the Tatar-Mongols.
Bakhchisarai Historical and Cultural Reserve is the most interesting attraction of the Crimea. Here you can get acquainted with the history of the Crimean peninsula, plunge into the atmosphere of that time, visit the ancient cave cities.
From the tops of the rocks there is a very beautiful view of Bakhchisaray, rock massifs and the forest. Excursion objects that are included in the Bakhchisaray historical and cultural reserve invariably enjoy wide popularity among tourists every year.
