Cave cities of Crimea: historical facts and location

Crimea. An ancient land with a very rich history, many times experienced wars and invasions of various tribes and peoples, leaving behind settlements, fortresses and other monuments. Of particular interest are the cave cities - a mysterious attraction of the peninsula.

Cave cities of Crimea - unique architectural structures. Their significance from the point of view of history is in no way inferior to European castles of the Middle Ages.

The name "cave" in modern historical science is recognized as not quite true. On high mountains, consisting of soft, treatable rocks, houses and various utility rooms were built, grottoes and natural caves were adapted for storage and additional shelters. On the other side, from where it was easiest to get to the mountain, watchtowers and fortress walls were built. The materials for the construction were stones taken out of the mountain during beautification.

The centuries-old history of wars and raids destroyed or significantly damaged the ground part of these settlements, only cave rooms were preserved. Therefore, the name was fixed for them - cave fortresses.

If you look at the map, most of these monuments in the vicinity of Bakhchisaray. They are also located on the table mountains, part of the Inner Range of the Crimean Mountain System, which stretched from Sevastopol to Simferopol.

Time did not spare many architectural monuments. Consider the best preserved cave cities of Crimea.

The remains of the settlement are located in Sevastopol, Inkerman district. Here on the Monastery Hill in the VI century AD, the Byzantines erected a fortification designed to protect the borders from the invasion of barbarian tribes. In it there were at first 4, and then 6 towers, powerful walls were built, casemates in the caves were equipped.

In the fortress there was a temple, a cemetery, various utility rooms, a garrison constantly lived there. Nearby settled civilians, who in case of danger could take refuge here.

Translated as a Jewish fortress. This ancient city was founded in the V-VI centuries. Its name has changed several times, the most famous is Kirk-Or or Kirk-Er. At different times, Alans, Kipchaks (Polovtsy) lived in it, the Golden Horde ruled.

After the formation of the Crimean Khanate, it was the center of this state. Then, when the capital was transferred to Bakhchisarai, the city was named Chufut-Kale, and Karaites began to settle in it. There was a law according to which this people had no right to leave the settlement. The ban ceased only at the beginning of the 19th century, in the 1850s the last inhabitants left here, and the city gradually began to collapse. The Chufut-Kale fortress is located at a distance of two to three kilometers from Bakhchisarai, near the village of Staroselye.

A large city, including several churches, monastery cells, buildings for household purposes. The first settlements in this area appeared a long time ago, archaeologists discovered a site of ancient people. The history of the city begins from the V century and continues to develop until the XIII century. Currently, there is a healing spring, the church of St. Sophia. He is also famous for the wines produced here. The monastery is located in the Kachinsky Valley, Bakhchisaray district, between the villages of Preduschelnoye and Bashtanovka, 7 kilometers from Bakhchisaray itself.

The city arose in the middle of the III century. The vast territory of the settlement included fortified defenses, temples, burials (crypts and tombs), residential, utility rooms and a presumably monastery complex. The fortress was built by the Byzantines, and people lived there from the V to XIII century. In 1299, the troops of Khan Nogai, invading the Crimean peninsula, captured this city and destroyed it. The settlement of Bakla is located in the Bakhchisarai district, almost next to the village of Skalistoe.

On the Mangup plateau, people came in the 1st millennium BC. These were the brands. Then for many centuries various tribes lived here, successively replacing each other: Scythians, Sarmatians, Alans, Khazars, Greeks, Karaites, Turks. The first mention of the settlement dates back to the III-IV century, the time of the Great Migration of Peoples. First, the Goths settled here. Then the construction of fortifications began, the population increased, and by the 7th century the city was surrounded by powerful fortress walls with loopholes and watch towers.

Then it was called Theodoro and was the capital of the principality of the same name. In the 70s of the XV century, Ottoman Turks came to Crimea, looted and burned the settlement. Some time later, it was partially restored, but the former life has not returned, and by 1790 the inhabitants left completely. Mangup Plateau is also located in the Bakhchisarai district. The distance from the city of Bakhchisaray is about 20 km, nearby are the villages of Zalesnoye and Khoja Sala.

The appearance of this cave city dates back to the VI century, it was founded by Scythian-Sarmatian tribes. Information about the development is almost not preserved, it is only known that people lived in it almost until the beginning of the 15th century.Scientists believe, and archaeological excavations confirm this, that Eski-Kermen was once a well-protected and flourishing village with the correct layout of city streets. It also had temples and other structures. The city is pretty well preserved, and it has something to see. It is located at a distance of 14 kilometers south of Bakhchisarai.

It occupies a small area, the buildings went in several tiers. In addition to temples and many other buildings, it had two large roads, on which, in our time, you can see the traces left by ancient chariots and carts. Life in the city ceased in the XIII century after the invasion of Tamerlane's troops, which destroyed it almost completely. Tepe-Kermen is located 7 km south-east of Bakhchisarai.

This is not a city or fortress, but a monastery, which appeared closer to the end of the 13th century and operated until the beginning of the 16th century. Its peculiarity is that all cells, refectory and other services can be accessed via external wooden stairs, as well as there are balconies, fences, gratings. A number was written on each room.

The most impressive is the vast columned hall, its length is 32 meters. Currently, the monastery is functioning, monks live in it, work is underway to restore the monument. The complex is located in the Balaklava district, near the village of Ternovka.

The city is almost completely destroyed, only small remains of powerful walls and towers, stairs, caves have survived. But it’s interesting to see. Scientists argue about the correct name: Kyz - Maiden, Goat - Watchtower. There is very little information about it, it was supposedly founded in the 4th century BC, and the most significant rise occurred in the 8th-9th centuries.

All these monuments can be conditionally divided into categories.

• City settlements. They occupied a vast territory, they had a large number of residential and utility buildings, there were temples, burials, storage facilities for food, workshops of artisans. Powerful walls with towers and gates were erected around the city. The population was quite large, in case of danger, residents of the immediate vicinity could also take refuge there. The following belong to this type - Mangup-Kale, Eski-Kermen, Chufut-Kale.

• Reinforced protective systems. They were small fortresses with a permanent resident garrison, and served as a refuge for the local population during raids by nomads and the invasion of other enemies. As an example, Bakl, Kalamita, Tepe-Kermen.

• Religious buildings. In the Middle Ages, monasteries, like any other structures, were erected on naturally protected places, on mountains, on hills. In addition, walls, towers and loopholes were additionally built. Churches, cells, warehouses were arranged in caves. The most famous are the Inkerman monastery and Chelter-Marmara.

Along with cities and fortresses, there are also many monasteries and temples in the Crimea, arranged on rocks, in caves and grottoes. Among them there are abandoned, many complexes are now being restored. During a trip to the peninsula, you can visit the existing monasteries.

• Holy Assumption. It is located near Bakhchisaray and Chufut-Kale.
• Theodora Stratelata in the Belbek valley of the Bakhchisarai district. It was half destroyed, but since 2003, the gradual reconstruction of temple buildings has begun, and services are underway.
• Inkerman monastery. Located next to the ruins of the Kalamita fortress in one of the districts of Sevastopol.

About the medieval cave cities of Crimea, see the video below.