Bakhchisarai Palace: history, structure and objects of the palace complex

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

The Palace of Bakhchisaray is also called the Khan's, because in the past government officials met here. In addition, this place is a cultural monument and historical value of great importance for the entire world heritage.

About the complex

The Bakhchisarai Palace is located on River Street, house 129, Bakhchisarai. Once here, you will discover a lot of new, exciting and beautiful. The Bakhchisaray Palace is the only place by which one can judge the architecture of the palace type inherent in the Crimean Tatars.

This item is included in the cultural and historical reserve. Once here, you can get acquainted with the history of the people who inhabited these lands. An interesting place is the museum, where each visitor has the opportunity to learn a lot of valuable things about the art of the region. So the Bakhchisaray Palace offers its visitors to get acquainted with firearms and edged weapons in an exposition specially created for this. The total area of the complex is 4.3 hectares, although in earlier times it was possible to count as many as 18 hectares.

Buildings and their purpose

Bakhchisarai Palace can be visited if you head toleft bank of the river Churuk-Su. There are also gates in the north and south, an interesting Svitsky building, a square, a building that played the role of the khan's dwelling. As is typical for local traditions, the Bakhchisarai Palace included a harem.

There are rooms for domestic purposes, such as a stable and a kitchen. You can see a chic library, under which a whole building was assigned, a falcon tower, a mosque, a garden, a cemetery, a tomb, a rotunda, a bathhouse, an embankment and three bridges leading to it, a park and much more.

It can be concluded that there was everything a person could need. So not only the museum of the Bakhchisaray Palace, but also every stone of the local buildings can tell a lot. As for the architectural style, it can be attributed to the traditions that were characteristic of the Ottoman Empire during the period of the 17th and 18th centuries. Looking at this place, it is easy to understand how Muslims imagined a piece of paradise embodied on earth.

The history of the Bakhchisaray Palace is closely connected with the concept of a beautiful garden. Numerous courtyards are located here, where picturesque trees, flower beds, and fountains bloom. Looking at the buildings, you feel a special lightness, while looking at the beautiful patterns. The windows are decorated with openwork bars.

The embodiment of solemn sorrow

A particularly interesting detail is the "Fountain of Tears" of the Bakhchisaray Palace, which was created in 1764. Nearby is the durbe of Dilyary-bikey. The source of nourishment has dried up. When Catherine II looked here, according to her decree, this buildingmoved to the territory of the Fountain Courtyard, where it remained.

The Bakhchisarai Palace is an extremely interesting place, there are many curious details, but why this particular element attracts increased attention? There is a legend according to which Dilyara was the beloved wife of Kyrym Giray. Her rival was poisoned, which killed the beauty. This composition is an expression of Khan's grief.

Pushkin dedicated his poem to the fountain of the Bakhchisaray Palace, describing in lines all the painful experiences associated with the sad event. It was thanks to this work that people began to be interested in this item. It is designed in such a way that it resembles the source of strength in Paradise, which can be learned from the beliefs of Muslims. It is available to the righteous who put their lives on the altar in the name of faith.

Approaching the fountain of the Bakhchisaray Palace, you can see a marble flower. Water, resembling tears, flows from it into the bowl. Then the liquid spreads into two smaller containers and then again into a larger one, repeating this several times. This is a symbol of filling the soul with grief. The fact that bowls of different sizes are used here means that the pain either subsides or intensifies again. At the foot there is a spiral - a symbol of eternity.

Creation

Bakhchisaray Khan's Palace began to be built in the 17th century, when it was decided to move the residence of state officials here. At that time, the khanate was ruled by Sahib I Giray. Thus, the development of not only this beautiful building, but also the city itself began.

The oldest here is the Khan's Mosque and the baths, created in 1532. The portal called Demir-Kapy dates back to 1503. However, this building was assembled elsewhere and only then transferred here. Of course, such a large-scale complex was not created in one decade, so each new khan, who took the reins of government into his own hands, completed something of his own.

Lost Legacy

In 1736, the war between Russia and the Crimean Khanate was in full swing. At that time, K. Munnich conquered this territory. On his orders, they wanted to burn the palace and the capital. However, before that the building had to be described. Then they set fire to it. Most of the buildings fell before reaching our times.

Due to the fire, a lot of things had to be rebuilt. When Crimea became part of the Russian Empire, the palace was supervised by a ministry that de alt with internal affairs. It has been repeatedly rebuilt and changed appearance. Because of this, the unified style that was here before was lost, however, not the overall charm. The Bakhchisaray Palace remained just as interesting and magnificent. Photos can prove its picturesqueness. When high-ranking guests came here, they prepared thoroughly for their arrival. Major renovations were carried out in the 19th century, from which the interior was changed.

Preparations for the arrival of the Empress

There is the so-called Catherine's mile, which was created in connection with the visit of the Empress in 1787. It was then that the transfer of the "Fountain of Tears" was carried out. One of the rooms was converted in such a way that it became a reception room, andthe other received the function of a bedroom. Here windows were pierced and the ceiling was gilded, a crystal chandelier was hung, which was made by craftsmen from Russia in the 18th century. They also built an alcove. We installed luxurious furniture that was imported or purchased from local craftsmen.

When you enter the museum, you will see a table that stands in these chambers, as well as a bed and other interior elements. In order to bring the palace into a form worthy of the presence of the imperial face, 110 people had to be involved. In total, a high-ranking person spent 3 days here.

Other dignitaries who have been here

Catherine was not the only representative of the imperial authorities who came here. In 1818, Alexander I visited, for whose arrival they also prepared very thoroughly. The dilapidated buildings of the harem were demolished. They left an outbuilding with three rooms.

In 1822, the palace was subjected to another renovation under the supervision of the architect I. Kolodin. Beautiful murals were made on the outer walls. There are patterns, beautiful bouquets, as well as garlands of flowers. Of course, the original appearance that the complex had earlier suffered somewhat, but it did not become any worse from this. The Winter Palace, the complex of baths, as well as a number of other buildings disappeared from the building map. Alexander II visited in 1837 together with V. Zhukovsky. When the Crimean War, which took place in 1954-1855, was in full swing, the wounded were treated here in the infirmary.

1908 marked the opening of the museum. In 1912, Nicholas II and the emperor's family came here. When didrevolution in October 1917, an exposition dedicated to the culture and history of the Crimean Tatars was opened here. Since 1955, the archaeological museum of Bakhchisarai has been functioning. In 1979, the concept of the institution also extended to architecture.

Restoring history

In the 1930s, the exterior murals were whitewashed as part of a renovation under the direction of P. Hollandsky. After that, in the period from 1961 to 1964, these patterns were restored, as well as architectural details buried by time. Ukrainian scientists from the Gosstroy of the Ukrainian SSR worked here.

Thus, it was possible to at least bring the appearance of the buildings closer to the original model. Paint was removed from the portal called Demir-Kapy, later paintings from the Khan Mosque and much more. In fact, the masters are still working to get to the bottom of the historical truth. In 2015, the palace was made a federal cultural heritage site.

The main road to the territory

There are four entrances to the palace, two of which have been preserved. One of them is the gate to the north. You can get to them if you cross the bridge over the river Churuk-Su. They were created from wood with the addition of wrought iron upholstery. An arch was built around. On it you can see drawings of snakes and intertwined dragons.

There is a legend according to which Sahib I Giray met two reptiles here, they fought on the shore. One of them crawled into the water, which helped her heal. So it was decided that this place has unusual properties, and this is where the palace should be founded. Now the main entrance is located at this point. It is also called the gate of the mint, because once upon a time it really functioned here. On the left and right sides you can see the buildings belonging to the Retinue Corps.

Protection

Above the gate there is a tower from which guards were made. Here you can see colorful paintings with picturesque ornaments. The windows are decorated with colored glass. The entrance itself and the surrounding walls were created in 1611. Prior to this, the palace was deprived of structures that perform defensive functions.

From the very beginning it was not considered as a fortification point, so the number of fortifications was reduced to a minimum. However, when the raids of the Cossacks from the Don became more frequent, it became necessary to create walls. The process of their construction was controlled by Suleiman Pasha. The khan's retinue and guards lived in the Svitsky building. After the inclusion of Crimea into the Russian Empire, guests of the palace were also accommodated here. Now the administration that manages the work of the museum complex and the exposition sits here.

Main Square

The Khan's residence can be called the center of the architectural composition. You can get here from many parts of the palace. Now you can walk on the magnificent stone with which this place is paved, admire the numerous trees.

When the Crimean Khanate was here, these details were not observed, there was just a mound of sand. It was a rally point. Here the commanders gave parting words to their soldiers before the campaign. They also held all kinds of ceremonies and celebrations, met ambassadors anddistinguished guests.

Place of dialogue with God

An interesting point is also the Khan's Mosque, which is one of the largest in the entire Crimea. It was this building that was built in the palace in the first place in 1532. In the 17th century it was named after Sahib I Giray, according to whose project it was built.

This is a large building with a lancet arcade below, as well as interesting inlays along the walls. The roof has four slopes. It is covered with red tiles. Previously, there were domes. If you go into the inner hall, you can find towering columns.

In the south there are picturesque windows with multi-colored glass. There is also an extensive balcony with a khan's box, covered with stained-glass windows and tiles. You can get to the top by climbing one of the spiral staircases or by entering from the courtyard. From the side of the river Churuk-Su's façade was previously decorated with marble.

Ritual ablutions used to be held on the eastern part of the mosque. The walls are covered with inscriptions in Arabic. Their writing dates back to the 18th century. These are quotes taken from the text of the Quran. Mentioned here is Kyrym Gerai, who was engaged in the repair of this place.

Two minarets with ten sides were built, the roofs have sharp tops and topped with bronze crescents.

There are many more fascinating places here. In fact, every detail of the Bakhchisaray Palace is beautiful, able to give its visitors aesthetic satisfaction and unique historical knowledge.