Bakhchisarai is the world-famous city of Crimea, where the capital of the Crimean Khanate existed for two whole centuries. There is an architectural monument at almost every step in the city, so there are always a lot of tourists here. Translated from the Crimean Tatar language, the name of the settlement means a palace-garden. Indeed, superbly preserved ancient buildings are almost buried in the unique Crimean greenery.
Three roads
The city is located at an altitude of 140 to 350 meters above sea level, in the Churuk-Su valley at the foot of the Inner Ridge of the Crimean Mountains. To see the sights of Bakhchisaray, you can choose one of the 3 existing roads.
You can get here through the Ai-Petrensky pass, from the south of the coast. The pass is located near the village of Sokolinoe (Kokozskaya Valley). However, this is one of the most difficult roads, where there are many descents and ascents, turns. By the way, the longest one is 78 kilometers.
You can come to Bakhchisarai from Sevastopol, leaving from the northern part and moving further along the valley near the Kacha River. You can also drive through the valley along the Belbek River. There will be many vineyards and settlements along the way.
The third option is from the capital of Crimea, Sevastopol. This is the shortest path, you will have to overcome about 30 kilometers.
Khan Palace
A landmark of Bakhchisaray and a real tourist Mecca. The palace is part of a nature reserve. It is here that you can feel and understand how the Crimean Tatar rulers lived. The building is located on an area of 4.3 hectares. And once 18 hectares of land were occupied under the palace.
The palace was built in the 16th century, during the reign of Khan Sahib I Giray. The oldest building - the Demir-Kapy Portal Mosque - dates back to 1508.
As the population of the palace increased, new buildings appeared. And each new khan wanted to perpetuate his memory. However, during the Russian-Crimean war, the palace complex was almost completely destroyed. But Field Marshal Munnich compiled a complete description of the complex, and the palace was subsequently restored from these old records. Huge restoration work was carried out before the arrival of Catherine II (1787).
For a visit to the sights of Bakhchisarai - the Khan's Palace - the price varies depending on the exposure. For visiting the historical department, the ethnographic and art museum, you will have to pay 270 rubles (for children - 130 rubles). The rest of the expositions (bathhouse, khan's bed and others) are 100 rubles each (a children's ticket costs 2 times cheaper). But it is better to purchase a complex ticket, the price of which includes visiting all the expositions. It's price500 rubles, children's ticket - 250 rubles.
Here, at the entrance to the palace, you can see the old stone sign "Catherine's Mile" (northern entrance). Similar structures were erected throughout the peninsula, in order to indicate the path of Catherine, who was supposed to arrive at the Khan's Palace.
Reviews about visiting these places are only amazing, because it is here that you can see a vivid example of ancient architecture, learn the history of the peninsula. No wonder this place is captured on the canvases of great painters.
Holy Assumption Monastery
Another attraction of Bakhchisarai that will not leave any visitor indifferent. This is one of the most ancient shrines of the Crimean peninsula. It is believed that it was built around the 8th-9th centuries. The founders were iconodules who fled from Byzantium, hiding from the persecution of the iconoclasts.
Once in these places, the laity and monks gradually began to rebuild the cave monasteries. The Holy Dormition Monastery existed until 1778, but when the Christians were forcibly moved to the Sea of Azov, the walls of the holy place were empty. Only in 1850 did the revival of the monastery begin. Later, after the Crimean-Russian war, it began to be built up with new buildings. And by the beginning of the last century it was the largest complex, which included 5 churches. During the period of Soviet power, the shrine was closed, the monastery stood empty and gradually collapsed. Only in recent years have carried out some restoration work and opened a monastery.
About this placethere are also many positive reviews, on the way to the monastery you can admire the beautiful mountain nature of Crimea. Photography is not allowed inside the buildings.
Miniature Park
Quite a "young" landmark of Bakhchisaray and Crimea. The park only opened in 2013. Now, in a short period of time, you can visit all the interesting places of the peninsula at once. Here are miniatures of the Sudak fortress, the Vorontsov and Livadia palaces, the Khan's Palace and others. Also in the park you can see the monuments and sights of Ukraine and the whole world. There are 53 exhibits in total and they are made on a scale of 1:25.
For children there is a separate part - the park of fairy tales, where you can see almost all the characters of popular cartoons.
Reviews are good about this place, but you should remember that there are no shops and cafes in the area, so you should take care of the availability of water in advance. And don't forget to check out the zoo, which is located right there.
Chapel of Michael the Archangel
This is another attraction of the city of Bakhchisaray and a monument to the heroes of the Crimean War. The chapel is located in the Russian settlement. This area got its name during the war, when a hospital was located here, a cemetery was equipped. The chapel was erected in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Crimean War and was installed over a mass grave in 1895.
Chufut-Kale and the Karaite cemetery
3.5 kilometers from the Khan's Palace is an ancient cave fortress called Chufut-Kale. InAt the time of construction, it was planned that it would be a fortification settlement on the border with Byzantium.
The most interesting thing is that there is a secret gate here, that is, you can notice them only when you come close to the fortification wall. There are 10 caves in 3 tiers in front of the fortress.
Not far from the fortress is the Karaite cemetery - the largest graveyard in all of Europe. It operated from the 6th to the 13th centuries. The dead who professed Judaism were buried here. A distinctive feature of the burial is that all the graves are located from north to south. This is inherent in the ancient religion of the Karaites.
Everyone who has visited this place says that along with the fact that the territory of the cemetery is a little creepy, it is still very interesting that ancient inscriptions have been completely preserved on some tombstones.
Cave City
In the vicinity of the city there is another attraction of Bakhchisarai - the ancient cave city of Mangul-Kale. The ancient fortress is located on the plateau of Mount Baba Dag. The slope itself is hard to reach, which was an additional protection from enemies. The fortification of the fortress is 1.5 kilometers long.
Researchers believe that the Scythians and Sarmatians inhabited these places. And it was back in the 3rd or 4th century BC. During the appearance of the Alans on these lands, fortifications appeared, and this was in the 5th century BC. For several centuries the city passed from hand to hand. In 1475, it ended up under the Ottoman Empire, and it was then that the most extensive construction work began. During World War IIthe city was an observation post.
According to travelers, this is the most beautiful place in the Crimea, but for some people climbing the mountain will seem quite difficult.
Crimean Astrophysical Observatory
Description of sights of Bakhchisaray and Crimea should begin with the fact that the observatory has a long history. During the existence of the USSR, it played a leading role in scientific life. Located at an altitude of 600 meters.
It is clear that it is better to come here in the evening, when there is an opportunity to see celestial bodies through a telescope.
Sphinxes of the Karalez Valley
This is one of the most interesting sights of Bakhchisaray and its environs. A real monument created by the hands of nature itself. There are sphinxes near the settlement Zalesnoe. These are 5 stones rising above the ground to a height of 13 to 15 meters. Outwardly, they are very similar to the statues located on Easter Island, but unlike them, they are the result of natural processes.
Experienced tourists recommend climbing from the village of Tankovoye. First of all, it is easiest to climb from here and you will have to spend no more than 40 minutes on the road. You should not postpone a visit to the sphinxes for autumn, as a rule, all roads and paths are heavily washed out by water.
By the way, the local population gave each stone its own individual name, and this complex is called "Dolls". The largest stone is called "Pregnant", followed by "Pointed", "Chest"and so on.
According to some visitors to this place, sphinxes do not look at all from the donkey farm. To see their beauty, you need to look at them from a certain angle.
Martian lake
The reservoir is located on the way from Simferopol to Bakhchisarai. During the period of Soviet power, it was a place for the extraction of limestone. At some point, a powerful source was discovered at the bottom, which flooded the quarry in an instant. However, there was too much demand for limestone, and pumps were installed to pump out water, and mining did not stop.
Already in the 90s of the last century, mining was stopped, and the quarry was again completely flooded with water. Now it is a lake with a depth of 10 meters. Tourists come here to admire the blue waters of the reservoir.
