Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai (Crimea): description, history and location

Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai is considered to be one of the most significant historical and cultural sites of the Crimea. The complex of magnificent buildings allows guests of the republic to lift the veil of secrecy over the history and traditions of the Crimean Tatar khanate.

In fact, the palace itself is the first building from which Bakhchisarai began. And in the future, when the rulers changed, the beauty of its territory only increased, all new objects appeared that made up the glory of the Gerai dynasty. The architectural traditions of the Arab East are closely intertwined with Constantinople motifs that appeared in the palace in later years. Of course, not all the magnificent buildings located behind its walls have reached our days.

Consider, what is silent about the description of the attractions, and what objects on its territory deserve special attention.

The history of the Bakhchsarai Palace in the Crimea is interesting. For many years, the dynasty of the Crimean Tatar khans was content with a residence in the small valley of Ashlama-Dere, but over time this place no longer corresponded to the ambitions of the rulers. To build a new capital, free territories were chosen, located on the Churuk-Su river, on its left bank. By order of Khan Sahib I Gerai, construction of a palace was begun here, embodying the idea of ​​a garden in paradise created on the land of Crimea.

The residence began its existence in the XIV century. Moreover, its oldest building portal Demir-Kapa was not erected in place - it was brought here and installed. The Bakhchsarai residence received its own architectural objects only in 1532. It was by this time that the baths of Sary-Guzel and the holy relic, the Great Mosque, were carried.

Later on Bakhchisarai was built around the palace grounds - a picturesque city, famous for its green streets and picturesque landscapes. And on the square behind the walls of the palace, new architectural masterpieces were erected. So, here arose tYurbe - Khan's tombs, in which the rulers of the Geraev dynasty found rest. There were meeting rooms and rooms reserved for the reception of important guests. The adjacent territory was built and ennobled.

Deserve special attention fountains, the construction of which the Crimean khans did not spare money. The first of them, Golden, appeared thanks to Kaplan I Gerai. The second - at the sunset of the dynasty government received the name Fountain of tearsAccording to legend, he was erected by Gerai in the memory of the death of his beloved concubine in a harem. The grieving spouse has built a mournful composition, and today “weeping” about its loss.

The Russian-Turkish war, in which representatives of the Crimean Tatars fought on the side of the Ottoman Empire against the Russian Empire, led to the fact that in 1736 Bakhchisarai passed to the new owners. By order of the commander of the troops of Minich, the palace and the city itself were burned. The description of that time, compiled by the military, according to which further restoration work was carried out, was preserved.

The blazing fire could not damage the capital stone buildings. — among the surviving objects of the 14th century were the Portal of Aleviz, the Council and Court Hall, both palace mosques. Later Bakhchisarai again passed into the possession of the ruling Crimean Tatar dynasty. Several generations of khans were engaged in restoring former glory.

However, the new palace interiors were even more impressive in their design and execution. The reasons for this were the materials and workers sent from Constantinople to help the Crimean Tatar dynasty. They tried to repeat the architecture and interiors of the main residence of the Ottoman Khanate, reducing its size.

From April 19, 1783, during the reign of Catherine II and by her highest decree, Crimea became part of the Russian Empire. Bakhchisarai Palace entered the list of objects of cultural heritage and fell under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

In the future, the decoration of its interiors continually changed. So, for the visit of the Empress in 1787, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out here, during which part of the authentic interiors was replaced by more familiar ones for Europeans.

It is worth noting that it is precisely to the period of this “repair” that the most serious work carried out in the adjacent territory can be attributed. Originally, the Fountain of Tears, which was located near the tomb of Dilara Bakech, was moved to the educated fountain yard, where it can be seen today. In addition, a memorial sign, called the Catherine's Mile, was erected near the bridge over the local river.

The entry into the Russian Empire did not bring any special preferences to the Bakhchisarai Palace. Already by 1820 serious signs of decline and desolation appeared here. Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, who mentioned in the letters to his friends about the discrepancy between his expectations and the real state of the khan's residence, was also dissatisfied with his visit here. Shortly before that, to hide the real state of affairs, before the visit of Emperor Alexander I, the buildings of the harem, already dilapidated and dilapidated, were wiped off the face of the earth.

Subsequent repairs only worsened the situation. The non-commissioned officer, who was responsible for the artistic part of the work, simply painted over the magnificent painting of Omer, made in the original version of the wall decoration. And also the constructions of the Winter Palace, baths and many other buildings were destroyed.

The Bakhchisarai Palace was in a rather poor condition until 1908, when the museum was established here. Further, the building has repeatedly changed its status. Until 1955 there was a museum of Crimean Tatar history and culture. In the 1930s, another restoration attempt was undertaken, which finally altered the historical appearance of the object of architectural heritage.

But after the formation of the Bakhchsarai Historical and Archeological Museum in 1955, everything changed. A three-year restoration from 1961 to 1964, with the participation of true professionals - representatives of Gosstroi, made it possible to almost completely reveal to the world the original splendor of the Khan's palace. The removal of numerous layers of paint made it possible to open the original design of the portal Demir-Kapa. The murals in the Great Mosque, the Summer gazebo, and the ceiling frescoes in the Hall of the Couch were recreated.

Since 1979, the museum has a historical and architectural status.. Today it is part of the historical and cultural reserve. On the territory of the palace there is a working mosque, permanent exhibitions are open.

The museum, into which the premises of the Bakhchsarai Palace have been transformed today, is a complex of buildings with the surrounding territory.According to current information, the area occupied by the palace is 4.3 hectares, whereas at its heyday it was located on 17 hectares. The complex of preserved objects includes:

• gates on the south and north side;
• Sweet corps;
• Catherine's Mile - milestone mark on the bridge over Churuk-Su;
• burials of khans from the Geraev family and their wives;
• the square in front of the palace;
• bath complex;
• embankment and three bridges on it;
• park and garden;
• the main building of the palace;
• large and small khan mosques and many other buildings.

The ongoing restoration allows us to hope that the magnificence of the Bakhchisarai Palace will be preserved for posterity. This masterpiece of architecture demonstrates the best traditions of the Ottoman Empire of the XV-XVII centuries. Muslim traditions are closely intertwined with the national Crimean-Tatar flavor, but typical Arabic motifs are also seen. So, the openwork grilles on the windows, the spiers of the towers looking upwards, the small number of floors of the buildings allow us to speak about the belonging of the object to this architectural flow.

Externally, the Bakhchisarai Palace, indeed, looks like a part of a refined oriental fairy tale. Delicate white and pink pastel shades in the decoration of the walls give it a special splendor. In the rays of the setting sun, it is transformed, like the legendary Taj Mahal. No less attention should be paid to the main square, which once had a sandy surface, and today is paved with cobblestones. The bath complex is built of stone with a yellowish sheen, the interior decoration is also created from natural minerals, but already more noble rocks.

There is a legend that in the vicinity of the Bakhchisarai Palace there are hidden treasures that belonged to the last of the Geraev dynasty - Shagin Khan. So the treasure that was not found still attracts the attention of archaeologists and adventurers. But so far all the efforts have been unsuccessful. Perhaps the reason is that the Khan's treasury could well be transported to Cafu, where the former ruler of Bakhchisarai fled.

The Khan's palace in the Crimea today amazes tourists with its magnificence. Inside the building there are expositions dedicated to the daily life of the rulers of the Geraev dynasty. There is also a rich collection of small and cold weapons, carefully preserved by the museum complex staff. But the most valuable, of course, are the objects themselves, located in the territory of the Bakhchisarai Palace.

From the North Gate, the main entrance that has been preserved, visitors enter the vastness of Palace Square, which is surrounded by the Holy Corps. They were intended for the residence of the retinue and the guard of the Khan's palace. The watchtower decorated with stained glass was also made in the same style. There are no guided tours inside, but outside you can also admire this structure.

In order to get an audience with the khan, visitors had to pass the gates of Palace Square and stop for waiting at the Embassy courtyard. Here is a luxurious garden in which you can see thickets of boxwood and poplars, keeping the memory of the past residence. Here are two fountains, a true decoration of the palace grounds. The south side of the palace, from the side of the Ambassadorial courtyard, was the front door, and from the north there were private chambers.

Considered the most ancient object of the palace, the “iron door” (this is how the name of the portal Demir-Kapa is translated) is a portal entrance to the palace. The portal, set between the Ambassadorial courtyard and the fountain yard, looks very impressive. A massive door with iron upholstery is surrounded by original Italian-style decoration.

The magnificent small mosque in the Bakhchsarai Palace was erected directly for the personal needs of the family of the Crimean Tatar rulers. It is located in the inner chambers and dates from the XVI century. But luxurious murals on the surface of the walls appeared here a half or two centuries later. In the painting were used animalistic and floral motifs, carefully restored after restoration.

The southern wall of the mosque is decorated with a mihrab, complemented by an original decoration, recreating the symbolic appearance of the seven heavens. The surviving stained glass bears the impression of Suleiman's seal. And the surface of other walls contains traces of drawings scratched by its visitors. The dome of the mosque has a sailing structure, covered with original paintings.

The fountain courtyard is the place where visitors entered, allowed beyond the threshold of the main entrance to the Khan's residence. Passing through the portal Demir-Kapa, ​​it is worth exploring the inner part of the courtyard. Here is a fountain, called the Mag-Tooth (Golden). It received its name due to the gilding covering its ornaments. The marble bowl is located at the entrance to the mosque and is intended for the rituals of ablution, traditionally performed by Muslims in front of the entrance to the shrine.

Immediately say that waiting from the palace fountains of the usual riot of flowing water flow is not worth it. In Arab countries, they are especially sensitive to the expenditure of water, they are ready to admire it even in the form of thin jets running down over the surface of a natural stone. Such variants of fountains are located on the territory of the Bakhchsarai Palace.

No cost and without beautiful legends. Thus, the Fountain of Tears arose in memory of the wife of Khan Karym Gerai, named Dilyara, and the prisoner in the khan camp who did not reconcile with her status. Her sudden death plunged her spouse, who owned a vast harem, into depression and melancholy. To perpetuate his grief, he ordered to create a unique fountain near her tomb.

The prototype of the Fountain of tears is a selssebil, a paradise source mentioned in the 76 Sura of the Koran carved on the bottom of the fountain. The upper portal is crowned with a poem dedicated to Khan Gerai himself. According to legends, it is from this spring that the souls of righteous people who have upheld their faith will be drunk. The type of fountain selcebil was quite popular in Arab countries.

The buildings of the Khan's harem during the reign of the Gerai dynasty occupied 4 corps and represented the chambers of 73 luxuriously decorated rooms. Unfortunately, most of the objects were demolished in the XIX century due to disrepair. Today, only the outbuilding of three rooms and a gazebo are available for inspection. Here the interiors of the living, pantry, living room are preserved and restored.

A high 8-meter high fence was erected around the building, but the khan's wives could still cast a glance beyond their chambers from the Falcon Tower, a special observation room installed in the Persian Garden.

Today, the Togan-Kulesi observation deck is also open to the public. Once this object was erected for the maintenance of hunting birds. Today, its internal space is empty, but you can climb the steep spiral staircase and dive into the pacifying contemplation of the surrounding beauty. From the observation deck one can clearly see the city, as well as the palace square and the pleasure yard, called Persian (a special gate was made here from the harem).

The pool yard of the Khan's Palace is crowned by a magnificent Summerhouse. Originally it was completely open and had a one-story construction.The object has acquired a modern appearance in the first half of the XIX century. Here appeared board floors and multi-colored stained glass windows. On the first floor there is a marble basin with a carved fountain. The superstructure of the second floor was turned into a golden cabinet.

The design of the new building was conducted by the architect Omer. A panorama stained glass window, alabaster moldings, a fireplace portal were created with his hands. Today, the decoration of the Golden Cabinet carefully preserved and accessible for inspection.

The room where the Khan's council met - Divan Hall - refers to the front part of the palace. When recovering from a fire, only a part of its former glory was preserved. Here is the Khan's throne, fragments of stained glass windows, but the murals on the walls date back to the XIX century.

Located in Bakhchisarai, the Khan’s palace is only 30 km from the capital of Crimea and occupies about 4 hectares of land in the valley of the Churuk-Su river. Geographically, this area belongs to the Old Town, and to get here, you must first get to the bus station or railway station. From here, by bus number 2 is quite easy to get to the “Palace-Museum” stop.

By car or on foot you will have to go to the address ul. River, 133 - it corresponds to the data of the museum complex. You can focus on the nearby highway - Lenin Street. Moving along it, you can easily find the main city landmark.

All about Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai, see the following video.