Bakhchisarai can be considered one of the most interesting places of the "excursion" Crimea. Located among picturesque mountain plateaus and valleys, surrounded by ancient cave cities, the former capital of the Crimean Khanate has fully preserved the charm of past eras.
The most significant cultural object of Bakhchisarai is the khan's palace, where numerous excursions rush to get acquainted with the history and culture of the Crimean Tatars. On the streets of the old city quarters, among the terraces covered with greenery, cozy restaurants are hidden, where guests will be served delicious dishes of the national cuisine. In the vicinity are several abandoned cave cities that were once prosperous and populous.
The atmosphere of Bakhchisarai is permeated with the flavor of the Crimean Khanate that has gone down in history. It is especially felt in the palace garden, near the walls of city mosques and on the narrow stone streets of the historic quarter.
Apartments and hotels at affordable prices.
from 500 rubles / day
What to see and where to go in Bakhchisarai?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Khan's palace
Unique and the only monument of the palace architecture of the Crimean Khanate in the world. The construction of the complex began in the 16th century during the reign of Sahib I Gerai (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 capture of the capital by the troops of the Russian Empire. Later, the palace was restored according to the preserved description. In the XVIII-XX centuries. several restorations were carried out. Today the building is part of the Bakhchisarai Historical and Cultural Reserve.
Fountain of tears
The fountain-selsebil 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's "Fountain of Bakhchisarai". Legend has it that the cruel khan Kyrym Giray (Girey) fell in love with the young slave Dilyara and made her his wife. But she soon died in his harem from longing. The khan suffered so much after her death that he summoned the master and ordered to erect a monument - a "stone of tears", which would embody all the pain of his loss. This is how the Fountain of Tears appeared.
Catherine mile
A group of stone road signs installed in 1784-1787. on the route of Empress Catherine II from St. Petersburg to Crimea. Five such monuments have survived on the territory of 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.
"Crimea in miniature in the palm of your hand"
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 popularizing Bakhchisarai as a tourist destination. All the main sights of Crimea are presented here in a reduced size: palaces, cathedrals, obelisks and other architectural monuments. In total, there are 53 miniatures in the park, made on a scale of 1:25.
Museum complex Devlet-Saray
The archaeological complex, located on the site of the first capital of the Crimean Khanate in the village. Staroselie, which is located not far from Bakhchisarai. Devlet-Saray was previously a full-fledged khan's palace. Only the mausoleum-burial vault and the building of the madrasah have survived to this day. Since 2011, the Larishes Museum has been operating on the territory of the complex, which presents an interesting exposition with artifacts from the Crimean Khanate period: engravings, maps, manuscripts and books, as well as works of contemporary Crimean artists.
Assumption cave monastery
Orthodox monastery in the tract of Mariam-Dere, founded in the 8th century by monks from Byzantium. In the XIII-XIV centuries. the monastery fell into decay, but then revived again. During the Ottoman conquest, he managed to avoid 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 rebirth began in 1993.
Holy Annunciation Monastery
A functioning male 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 XIV century, but after the conquest of Crimea by the Ottoman Turks, it ceased its work for a long time. The monastery was restored only at the end of the 20th century. From the platforms in front of the grottoes, a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area opens up.
Ismi Khan Jami Mosque
Muslim temple of the XVI-XVIII centuries on the territory of Bakhchisarai, built with donations from a relative of one of the Crimean khans. The building is built in a mixed classicism and baroque style. The size of the mosque is small, it lacks traditional minaret towers. In the 20th century, the building housed storage facilities for a long time. At the moment, the mosque has not yet been restored.
Tahtali-Jami Mosque
The temple was erected in 1707 at the behest of the daughter of Khan Selim I Giray (Girey). The high minaret of the mosque dominates the architectural buildings of the old quarters of Bakhchisarai. The name of the building, translated from the Crimean Tatar, means "a mosque made of boards", since wooden beams were used in the construction and laying of the walls. Takhtali-Jami is a functioning Friday mosque.
Church of the Feodorovskaya Icon of the Mother of God
Temple of the early XX 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 a stable; in the post-war years, a cinema worked here. In the late 1990s - early 2000s. the reconstruction was carried out with donations from the Christian community.
Skete of St. Anastasia
An ancient cave monastery, approximately founded in the 8th century (according to circumstantial evidence) by Greek monks. It is located about 8 km from Bakhchisarai on the territory of the cave town of Kachi-Kalion. 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 skete was restored after a long break by the efforts of the brothers of the Holy Dormition Monastery.
Chufut-Kale
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 transition of the peninsula 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 restriction on the place of residence of this ethnic group was lifted.
Karaite cemetery Balta Tiimez
An abandoned necropolis near Chufut-Kale with 7 thousand stone gravestones. This place was considered sacred, as it is located on the territory of a century-old oak grove. Oaks were considered sacred trees by the Karaites. Burials at the cemetery were carried out even after the representatives of this ethnic group left Chufut-Kale. The most recent graves date back to the early 20th century.
Eski-Kermen
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 X century and reached its climax in the XII-XIII centuries. At that time, more than 2,000 people lived on its territory. In 1299 and 1399. the city was twice ravaged by the Tatar-Mongols, after which it was no longer rebuilt. Buildings dating from the VI-XII centuries have survived to this day.
Tepe-Kermen
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 XIV century until it was ravaged by another campaign of the Golden Horde. Only ruins have survived to this day.
Mangup-Kale
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 place as early as the 3rd - 4th centuries, from the 7th century the city entered the Khazar Kaganate. Later, Mangup-Kale visited the capital of the late Byzantine principality of Theodoro and a Turkish fort. In the 18th century, the last inhabitants left the settlement - the Karaite community. Since then, it has been abandoned.
Kachi-Kalion
A 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 the Crimea with the sea coast. The inhabitants of Kachi-Kalion were engaged in the production of wine, as evidenced by the surviving wineries and workshops, where the dishes were made for storing this drink.
Sphinxes Churuk-Su
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 of weathering of rocks, consisting mainly of limestone rock. The area was declared a natural monument of regional importance in the 1960s.
Sphinxes of the Caralez Valley
Boulders on the Uzun-Tarla hill, located near the village of Zalesnoye, not far from Bakhchisarai. The formation height reaches 10-15 meters. Together with the rock, their size reaches 300 meters above sea level. Depending on the time of day, the statues "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.
Mount Besh-Kosh
Besh-Kosh is a low rocky ridge made of limestone rocks, which is located on the eastern outskirts of Bakhchisarai. A view of the plateau opens immediately behind the last town houses. As a result of archaeological excavations in the Besh-Kosh region, traces of a settlement of the Taurus, who lived on the peninsula in the VIII-VII centuries, were discovered. BC. The ridge is the natural border of the picturesque valley of Biyuk-Ashlama-Dere.
