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 landmark 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 the European castles of the Middle Ages.

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

The centuries-old history of wars and raids destroyed or significantly damaged the above-ground part of these settlements, only cave rooms have survived. Therefore, the name was assigned to them - cave fortresses.

If you look at the map, most of these monuments are in the vicinity of the city of Bakhchisarai. And they are also located on the mesas, part of the Inner ridge of the Crimean mountain system, which stretches from Sevastopol to Simferopol.

Time has not spared many architectural monuments. Let's consider the best preserved cave cities of Crimea.

The remains of the settlement are in Sevastopol, Inkerman region. Here, on the Monastic Hill in the 6th century AD, the Byzantines erected a fortification designed to protect the borders from the invasion of barbarian tribes. There were at first 4 and then 6 towers in it, powerful walls were built, casemates were arranged in caves.

The fortress had a temple, a cemetery, various utility rooms, and a garrison constantly lived there. Civilians settled nearby, who, in case of danger, could take refuge here.

Translated as a Jewish fortress. This ancient city was founded in the 5th-6th centuries. Its name has changed several times, the most famous is Kyrk-Or or Kyrk-Er. At different times, Alans, Kipchaks (Polovtsians) 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 moved to Bakhchisarai, the city was named Chufut-Kale, and Karaites began to settle in it. There was a law according to which these people had no right to leave the settlement. The ban ended 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, which includes several temples, monastic cells, household buildings. The first settlements in this area appeared a very long time ago; archaeologists discovered a site of ancient people. The history of the city begins in 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 Kachinskaya valley, Bakhchisarai region, between the villages of Preduschelnoe and Bashtanovka, 7 kilometers from Bakhchisarai itself.

The city was founded in the middle of the 3rd century. The vast territory of the settlement included fortified defensive structures, temples, burials (crypts and tombs), residential, utility rooms and, presumably, a monastery complex. The fortress was built by the Byzantines and people lived there from the 5th to the 13th century. In 1299, the troops of Khan Nogai, invading the Crimean peninsula, captured this city and destroyed it. The Bakla settlement is located in the Bakhchisarai region, almost next to the Skalistoye village.

People came to the Mangup plateau in the 1st millennium BC. These were brands. Then, for many centuries, various tribes lived here, successively replacing each other: the 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 Nations. 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 watchtowers.

Then it was called Theodoro and was the capital of the principality of the same name. In the 70s of the 15th century, the Ottoman Turks came to Crimea, plundered and burned the settlement. Some time later, it was partially restored, but its former life did not return, and by 1790 the inhabitants had completely left. The Mangup plateau is also located in the Bakhchisarai region. The distance from the city of Bakhchisarai is about 20 km, the villages of Zalesnoye and Khoja-Sala are located nearby.

The appearance of this cave city dates back to the 6th century, it was founded by the Scythian-Sarmatian tribes. Almost no information about the development has survived, it is only known that people lived in it almost until the beginning of the 15th century.Scientists believe, and the data of archaeological excavations confirm this, that Eski-Kermen was at one time a reliably 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 has a lot to see. It is located 14 kilometers south of Bakhchisarai.

It occupies a small area, the buildings were built 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 ended in the 13th century after the invasion of Tamerlane's troops, which destroyed it almost completely. Tepe-Kermen is located 7 km southeast of Bakhchisarai.

This is not a city or a fortress, but a monastery that appeared towards the end of the 13th century and operated until the beginning of the 16th century. Its peculiarity is that all the cells, refectory and other services can be accessed by external wooden stairs, and there were also balconies, fences, and trellises. Each room had a number written on it.

The greatest impression is made by the vast columned 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 the Balaklava region, near the village of Ternovka.

The city is almost completely destroyed, only small remnants of powerful walls and towers, steps of stairs, caves have survived. But it's interesting to watch. Scientists argue about the correctness of the name: Kyz - Maiden, Koz - Watchtower. There is very little information about it, presumably it was founded in the IV century BC, and the most significant rise falls on the VIII-IX centuries.

All these monuments can be roughly subdivided into categories.

• Urban settlements. They occupied a vast territory, they had a large number of residential and business buildings, there were temples, burials, food storage, artisan workshops. 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. This type includes the following - Mangup-Kale, Eski-Kermen, Chufut-Kale.

• Reinforced defenses. They were small fortresses with a permanently residing garrison, they served as a refuge for the local population during the raids of nomads and the invasion of other enemies. Examples include Bakla, Kalamita, Tepe-Kermen.

• Religious buildings. In the Middle Ages, monasteries, like any other structures, were erected in naturally protected places, on mountains and hills. In addition, walls, towers and loopholes were additionally built. In the caves, churches, cells, warehouses were equipped. 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, built on rocks, in caves and grottoes. Among them there are abandoned ones, many complexes are now being restored. During a trip to the peninsula, you can visit the operating monasteries.

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

See the video below about the medieval cave cities of Crimea.