Overview of the cave city Bakla in Crimea

Bakla in translation from the Crimean Tatar language means "beans", and at first glance it seems strange, because we are talking about a tract located in the Crimea in the Bakhchisarai district. But all the travelers who visited there note that the grottoes and caves resemble large beans in shape.

Bakla is located on one of the steep southern slopes of the Crimean mountains at an altitude of 300 meters and is considered the northernmost cave city of Crimea. The nearest village is the village of Skalistoe, which is located 2.5 km from Bakli.

This historical monument was discovered in 1929. Scientists have found that around the second half of the third century, people founded the first fortified settlement here. In subsequent centuries, it grew more and more, and in the VI century a castle was built here from large lime blocks. He had communicating battle caves and a protective moat. The rural settlement around the castle did not have protective walls, which was typical of the Middle Ages.

On the territory of Bakli lived the Sarmatian-Alans and Goths. They successfully engaged in agriculture and livestock. The warm climate favored the cultivation of vineyards and the production of wine. In the V century, when Byzantium converted these and other peoples to Christianity, a special Byzantine military garrison arose here. The city fell under the blows of the forces of the Golden Horde, led by Beklyarbek Nogai in 1299.

Today, the cave city of Bakla is represented by the remains of the fortress wall and tower, a temple that is built into a complex of residential premises, rock graves, artificial caves of economic and defensive significance. The total area is 20 hectares, and the length is 12 kilometers. In the western part of Bakli are the remains of a large church, probably a monastery. This is evidenced by cells cut into the rocks with niches hollowed out in the walls for icon lamps.

A necropolis of presumably V-IX centuries was discovered near a church near the Cuba River in 1970. More than 800 funerary structures were investigated. Things discovered in the graves can now be seen in the Bakhchisarai Museum. These are Byzantine jewelry, rings, crosses, ceramic and glassware. In the valley near the cave city, the remains of temples were also discovered, which were built on the same site from the 8th to the 13th centuries.

The so-called grain pits, of which there are about 200, are of constant interest among tourists. These depressions for storing grain from above are similar to the windows of underground ships, their diameter is about 40 centimeters, expand below one pit and have a depth of about two meters. How exactly such granaries were made remains a mystery. Previously, these pits were closed with stone covers, and the joints were covered with clay.

You can get to Bakla by bus, which runs between Simferopol and the village of Scientific. After about 20 minutes, you should leave in the village of Skalistoe at the second stop near the store. Then walk 2.5 kilometers southeast to a beautiful lake (a flooded quarry up to 20 meters deep) with turquoise water, which locals call Martian. Further, a trodden path will be visible at the barrier.

Another option for the bus route is to get from Bakhchisaray to Novopavlovka, then 2 kilometers by bus or on foot to get to the village of Skalistoe.

The journey by car will take about 46 minutes if you go from Bakhchisarai, and about an hour if you leave Simferopol. On the road you need to turn to the place where the sign "Scientific" stands, then go along the asphalt 2.5 kilometers to the Martian lake. Before him, turn left onto a dirt road to the monastery of St. Lazarus.

There is also a more complicated way to get to the cave city of Bakla by electric train. To do this, you need to sit on it in Simferopol and get to the Postal station. Then walk 2 kilometers to Novopavlovka and take the bus to the village of Nauchny. Continue on, as indicated earlier in the description of the first bus route.

In order to slowly explore this amazing place, you can stay the night near the cave city. But remember that on the territory of this object of cultural heritage it is strictly forbidden to make bonfires and settle for the night. Therefore, it is worth choosing in advance the place outside Bakli that is right for you.

The following accommodation options are available:

• private houses in the village of Skalistoe;
• hotel in the village of Scientific;
• Skif mini-hotel, located in the village of Novopavlovka;
• tourist base in the village Trudolyubovka;
• By car you can return to the nearest cities of Bakhchisaray or Simferopol.

This route is ideal for traveling with children. After all, it is so rare in our dynamic age that both adults and children can, in the literal sense of the word, touch ancient history and culture.

Then you will find an overview of the cave city Bakla in Crimea.