Kerch (Crimea): Features of leisure, beach selection and a list of attractions

Despite the fact that Kerch is one of the three largest cities of the Crimean peninsula, it is usually not included in the list of the most popular local resorts. There are many reasons for this - there is a temperate climate, while 100 kilometers further you can find yourself in the subtropics, and the presence of a busy seaport, and in the nearby subtropics there are no extraneous pollution in the coastal water. However, it would be a huge mistake to believe that there is no need to go to Kerch - this city is worthy of attention, and not only as a seaside resort.

The city of Kerch is the easternmost in the Crimea - it is located on the shore of the Kerch Strait, which separates the Sea of ​​Azov and the Black Sea. In the urban area is the extreme eastern point of the entire Crimean peninsula - Cape Fonar. The city stretches along the coast for 42 kilometers, because it can safely be called one of the most seaside hundreds of kilometers around. Today it is a fairly large city with a population of 151 thousand people, which continues to grow.

Since ancient times, the convenient geographical location at the junction of the two seas has been of interest to the peoples living in the vicinity, therefore it is not surprising that human settlements appeared here incredibly long ago.It is proved that the first people appeared here in prehistoric times, if we talk about more or less modern settlements, then their traces are dated to about 8 thousand years BC.

However, it did not resemble civilization in the current sense, but around 610-590 BC, the ancient Greek settlement Panticapaeum appeared here, which is not much younger than the same Rome. The Greeks arrived here from Miletus, located in Asia Minor. The immigrants from there founded many other cities in the Crimea, however, it was around Panticapaeum that the Bosporus kingdom arose 100 years later. For about 8 centuries, the city, located extremely successfully, intensively traded with all the surrounding peoples, due to which it was able to dictate its will to at least the neighboring settlements, and the Roman Empire, in its best times even reaching Crimea, considered the Bosporus kingdom to be its ally.

With the beginning of the great migration of peoples, trade arose problems - at least the Huns in the 370s had a great deal of stress on both the kingdom and the city itself. For another 100 years, Panticapaeum interrupted itself as a regional center, and then fell under the influence of Byzantium. However, for a powerful empire, it was an important, but distant outskirts, which had to constantly fend off the raids of either the Turks or the Khazars. The last Panticapaeum even belonged some time in the VIII century.

In the X century, the Slavs came to the northern shores of the Black Sea, and that part of its coast, where Kerch is located, was controlled for a couple of centuries precisely by them, more precisely, by the Principality of Tmutarakan. In those days, the city first received a name similar to the modern one - Korchev. Since the XII century, Korchev was increasingly attacked by the Polovtsy, who occupied a good position to cut it off from Kievan Rus, because the city gradually returned again under the influence of Byzantium. In 1318-1475, the port belonged to the Genoese, who intensively developed maritime trade in the region. According to some studies, during this period, Circassian princes gained significant influence in Vperino, as the Italians called it.

In 1475, the city was captured by the Ottomans and came under the direct control of Istanbul. By that time, the main trade routes had shifted, and the former Korchev began to decline little by little, all the more so since Zaporizhzhya Cossacks periodically battered him. Gradually, the influence of the Slavs in the regions adjacent to the Sea of ​​Azov from the north and east grew more and more, and in 1701 the Turks who realized that, fearing direct fleet attacks on Asia Minor, began to build the Yeni-Kale fortress here.

Most beach tourists travel to Crimea for the sake of the southern coast, since this is the only narrow strip on the entire peninsula where the climate is subtropical. Kerch does not belong to the southern coast of Crimea in any way; it is quite remote from it, because the climate here is temperate. Most often it is characterized as moderately hot with mild winters and minimum rainfall.

For 2008-2017, the average rainfall in the city was estimated at 368 mm per year - This is not much more than on Cape Meganom, famous for its semi-desert climate. As for the air temperature, in this regard, Kerch is somewhat different even from the adjoining regions of the Crimea - despite the fact that the average daily temperature in summer is quite high, even at the height of a summer day there is rarely at least 35 degrees of heat, just nights are not much cooler than days .

As for the swimming season, it begins quite early from the Sea of ​​Azov - this body of water does not differ in significant depth, and therefore it warms up quickly. By the end of May, you can expect a water temperature of about 20 degrees Celsius, but due to the fact that it’s not even close to the subtropics, no one will guarantee a comfortable bathing in September.

Kerch is not too promoted as a tourist city, but its very size requires that there be no problems with housing. As a result, vacationers can find a haven for every taste and budget - you can either rent a guest house or a room in the private sector, or rent a room in a hotel with a swimming pool, or settle in a recreation center, which also offers minimal wellness treatments.

When choosing a home in Kerch, you need to carefully look at its location - 42 kilometers of the coastline is not an indicator, because not all of it is suitable to consider it a beach worthy of relaxation. For example, housing described as being located on the shore may not be so good if it is the shore of a strait where a huge number of passing ships inevitably pollute the water. The nearest normal beach can be several kilometers from here, and then this is not at all what is usually expected from a luxury vacation.

By the same logic one should not always chase a settlement without fail in the center. A city stretched so much must have several local centers where the entire infrastructure is within walking distance, and not a couple of tens of kilometers.

At first glance, the city, stretching along the coast for 42 kilometers, should simply abound in beaches. But do not think that everything is so simple - whatever one may say, Kerch remains a major port and industrial center, so you can swim (and cost) not everywhere. At the same time, there are 4 main beaches that are located in pleasant places, well-groomed and have a developed tourist infrastructure.

We must say right away that, unlike the resorts of the Southern Coast of Crimea, in the eastern part of the peninsula beaches are composed mainly of sand, not pebbles.

• Urban. Bearing such a name is the same as being “Central,” because it is from him that tourists usually expect maximum return in terms of infrastructure. In this regard, this location does not fail - there is everything that you may need for a good tan and bath. There are even catamarans for rent, but this is a dream of many people, even visiting the sea regularly.

• Youth. Another place where vacationers should definitely come. As the name implies, this beach is chosen by young people, and the entire infrastructure is tailored precisely for its needs - there are not only classic dressing rooms, a shower and a toilet, but also romantic gazebos and practical barbecues. Here you can find a million ways to have fun.

• Moscow. This beach is also considered one of the best in the city - there are always a lot of people here, and they all cannot be mistaken. This place is often praised for its good infrastructure, designed for the needs of the whole family, but perhaps you should not go here with small children - the bottom is not too shallow, and therefore the descent into the water poses some danger for the kids.

• "Traps." The village of the same name has the only wild beach on our list - the infrastructure here is not only not abundant, but absent, in general. This factor drives away the predominant number of tourists, because the place remains not only not very crowded, but also clean.

Out of our list was the Kerch beach "Turtle", however, in general, you can not ignore it. The fact is that this beach is completely atypical.

• He was covered with grass, so you have to sunbathe not so much on the sand as on the lawn.
• The beach has a specific feature that can scare away any unprepared tourist. Algae often gather near the coast in this place, which eventually rot and begin to exude a completely indescribable aroma.

While the visitors shy away in horror, the locals for some reason are very fond of this place, especially since things are not bad with the infrastructure here. If you like experiments, look here too - all of a sudden you are a resident of Kerch in your soul, and you will like it too. In addition, sometimes the wind drives away the accumulated algae from the coast, and then even an unadapted person can breathe here.

Kerch, perhaps, loses to the resorts of the Southern coast of Crimea in terms of the absence of the velvet season, but this rather large city can not be called boring. It so happened that the capital of the eastern part of Crimea is perceived purely as a port, but there is enough interesting here too.

• Mount Mithridates is one of the symbols of the city, it is located right in the middle of it. Once upon a time, the center of ancient Panticapaeum was located on its top, but today it is a popular observation deck with beautiful views of the city.

• Church of St. John the Baptist is the oldest example of Christian architecture in Kerch, its construction dates back to the X century. Moreover, for a thousand years the church has not only survived, but also has a very decent appearance, and can even perform its basic functions.

• Royal Mound It is an ancient burial ground, built, according to scientists, in the IV century BC. This is a local version of the ancient Egyptian pyramid, and although its height is not so impressive, it is still rather big - the length reaches 37 meters.

• Fortress Kerch can be called a relatively new attraction - it was built only in 1877, and may not be as impressive as medieval castles. But this example of defensive architecture in its relatively short history is well preserved, therefore it allows you to make your own impression of how the state’s borders were protected one and a half centuries ago.

• Crypt of Demeter can be called a relatively little-known memo, but it will surely appeal to those who always wanted to see real cave art. True, here the drawing of the ancient Greek goddess was drawn not by cavemen, but by more modern and civilized Hellenes, but all the same, scientists date the drawing only to the 1st century AD, which means it is about two thousand years old.

• Yeni-Kale Fortress not as well preserved as the one that is of the same name in relation to the modern city, but in most respects it is more interesting. First of all, this is a real Turkish fortress - in terms of architecture, it is completely unlike what most of our compatriots are used to seeing.

• In the Kerch region also deserves attention Volcano valleylocated near the village of Bondarenkovo.There is no lava here - eruptions occur clay, water and steam. A real volcano, of course, would have looked brighter, but this one is located close and completely safe.

There are many places where you can lie on the beach in a temperate climate - for this it is enough to get to the nearest lake or river, then you will not have to travel far. The resort is good because it not only has certain properties of nature and climate, but also is able to offer some interesting entertainments, in addition to the beach. Actually in any coastal city, the promenade is interesting, here called Alexandrovskaya - from there, at least you can admire the beautiful sea views. Locals love to spend time here, and for visitors to the city it will certainly be interesting.

In terms of entertainment here, perhaps, the choice is a little less than in Yalta or Sevastopol, but here you can come up with something interesting. For example, from Kerch, bicycle trips to the Arabat Fortress are organized. Such a trip to unfamiliar places is always interesting, especially since the route cannot be called short - it stretched for 60 kilometers.

Many of our compatriots have the opinion that surfing is an overseas hobby, which in our area can not be done or is inconvenient. This, of course, is the wrong point of view - in Kerch there is a convenient place to practice this sport, and at the same time a center that allows beginners to get their first skills under the guidance of an instructor. If interested - go to Arshintsevskaya Spit.

There is also an extremely romantic holiday option in the form of a balloon balloon lift in Kerch. Actually, the very fact of flying on such a thing will already be remembered for a lifetime, and a happy aeronaut will brag about his experience to friends and acquaintances for a long time to come.

There is nothing completely unique for children in Kerch, but there is everything that can be considered a “standard resort suite”. Here you will find children's cafes, and various entertainment centers, and attractions, and "bananas", which ride on the sea. Except for excursions to the local ostrich farm, where you can admire not only adult outlandish birds, but also unusual looking chicks stand out as some unusual ones.

If purely Kerch sights are not enough for you, and you cannot leave the Crimea without looking at other interesting places, you can book an excursion to the main “highlights” of the peninsula in one of the local travel agencies. Of course, it’s not very convenient that Kerch is located from the very edge of the Crimea - it will take quite a long time to get to other large tourist centers. However, if you are a traveler at heart, be sure to visit the following cities (in brackets is the distance to one side and the average travel time by car):

• Theodosius (100 kilometers, 1.5 hours);
• Koktebel (116 kilometers, 1.5-2 hours);
• Sudak (149 kilometers, 2-2.5 hours);
• Alushta (227 kilometers, 3-3.5 hours);
• Bakhchisaray (253 kilometers, 4-4.5 hours);
• Yalta (261 kilometers, 3.5-4 hours);
• Evpatoria (272 kilometers, 4-4.5 hours);
• Sevastopol (290 kilometers, 4-4.5 hours).

Comments of tourists from Kerch can be divided into two types: from those authors who are not spoiled or even turned out to sea for the first time, and from those who have something to compare.

If you are among the spoiled people with minimal travel experience, you will probably like it here. There is everything - the sea is warm, and the sandy beaches, and observation platforms are beautiful, and attractions. If you also get out at least once on an excursion to another significant city in Crimea, it is possible that you will remain visibly invisible after your vacation.

For those who have been to Turkey, or at least in Yalta, Kerch seems at best an alternate aerodrome:

• it is so close to the south, but still not south, because there are no palm trees - but it was just a stone's throw away;
• the surrounding nature is unremarkable - mountains, like many Crimean resorts, are not found nearby;
• the presence of the port, and even a large one, erases all hopes that the water will be clean - some would not even dare to swim here;
• It’s not in vain that Kerch is considered first a port and an industrial center, and only then a resort - as it really is, and even the ruins of Panticapaeum will not help here.

See the review of Kerch in the video below.