Cave cities of Crimea: historical facts and location

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

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

The name "cave" in modern historical science is recognized as not entirely correct. On high mountains consisting of soft, treatable rocks, houses and various utility rooms were built, grottoes and natural caves adapted for storage and additional shelters. From the side where it was easiest to get to the mountain, guard towers and fortress walls were built. The materials for the construction were stones taken out of the mountain at the time of improvement.

The centuries-old history of wars and raids destroyed or significantly damaged the ground part of these settlements, only the cave premises remained. Therefore, the name of the cave fortress was fixed to them.

If you look at the map, most of these monuments in the vicinity of the city of Bakhchisarai. And they are located on the Table Mountains, parts of the Inner Ridge 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 mountain in the 6th century AD, the Byzantines erected a fortification designed to protect the borders from the invasion of barbarian tribes. At first there were 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 economic premises, 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 Kyrk-Or or Kyrk-Er. At various times, Alans, Kipchaks (Polovtsians) lived in it, the Golden Horde hosted.

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

A large city that includes several temples, monastic cells, buildings for household purposes. The first settlements in this area appeared a long time ago, archeologists discovered the site of ancient people.The history of the city begins from the 5th century and continues to develop until the 13th century. Currently, there is a healing spring, the temple of St. Sophia. It is also famous for the wines produced here. The location of the monastery is Kachin Valley, Bakhchisaray district, between the villages of Preduschelne and Bashtanovka, 7 kilometers from Bakhchisarai itself.

The city originated in the middle of the III century. The vast territory of the settlement included fortified defenses, temples, burials (crypts and tombs), residential, economic premises and a supposedly monastic complex. The fortress was built by the Byzantines, and people lived there from the V to the XIII century. In 1299, the troops of Khan Nogai, who had invaded the Crimean peninsula, captured this city and destroyed it. Bakla site is located in the Bakhchsarai district, almost near the village of Skalistoe.

People came to the Mangup Plateau in the I 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 refers to the III-IV century, the time of the Great Migration. First, the Goths settled here. Then the construction of fortifications began, the population increased, and by the VII century the city was surrounded by powerful fortress walls with loopholes and watchtowers.

Then he bore the name of Theodoro and was the capital of the principality of the same name. In the 70s of the XV century, Ottoman Turks came to the Crimea, plundered and burned the settlement. Some time later, it was partially restored, but the old life had not returned, and by 1790 the inhabitants had left completely. The Mangup Plateau is also located in the Bakhchisaray region. A distance of about 20 km from the city of Bakhchisarai, the villages of Zalesnoe and Khoja-Sala are located nearby.

The appearance of this cave city belongs 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 XV century. Scientists believe, and the data of the archaeological excavations to this provide confirmation that Eski-Kermen was at one time 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 there is 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, there were two large roads on which, even in our time, one 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-Kerman is located 7 km south-east of Bakhchisarai.

This is not a city or a fortress, but a monastery that appeared closer to the end of the XIII and operated until the beginning of the XVI century. Its peculiarity is that in all cells, refectory and other services it is possible to walk along the outer wooden stairs, and also there were balconies, fences, grilles. A number was written on each room.

The greatest impression is made by the extensive column hall, its length is 32 meters. Currently, the monastery is active, monks live in it, work is underway to restore the monument. The complex is located in Balaklava district, near the village Ternovka.

The city is almost completely destroyed, only small remnants of powerful walls and towers, stairs, caves survived. But interesting to see. Scientists argue about the correctness of the name: Kyz - Maiden, Goats - Watchtower. Very little information about him was supposedly founded in the 4th century BC, and the most significant rise occurred in the 8th-9th centuries.

All these monuments can be divided into categories.

• Urban settlements. They occupied a vast territory, they had a large number of residential and commercial 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 hide there. This type includes the following - Mangup-Kale, Eski-Kerman, Chufut-Kale.

• Reinforced protective systems. They represented small fortresses with a resident garrison, served as a refuge for the local population during raids of nomads and the invasion of other enemies. As an example, one can call Baklu, Kalamita, Tepe-Kermen.

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

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

• Holy Assumption. Located near Bakhchisarai and Chufut-Kale.
• Theodore Stratilat in the Belbek valley of the Bakhchsarai region. It was half destroyed, but since 2003 a gradual reconstruction of temple buildings has begun, services are being held.
• Inkerman monastery. Located near the ruins of Kalamita fortress in one of the districts of Sevastopol.

Interennoe about the medieval cave cities of Crimea, see the video below.