Sapun Mountain in Crimea: what are the features, where is it located and how to get there?

Sapun Gora is a geographic upland located to the north of Sevastopol. From a biological point of view, the object is not remarkable, but from a historical point of view it is very significant. During the Second World War, the most bloody battles took place here.

The height of the mountain above sea level is 240 meters. Sapun Mountain is located near the city's central streets: between the Fedoskinskaya forest belt and the temple of the Korsunskaya icon of the Mother of God. Several garden partnerships are located nearby. The entire ridge consists of three heights, starts from Inkerman, continues to Balaklava. In fact, the upland bends around the Balaklava Valley. The length of the entire upland is about 7 km. The forest area around the mountain is a place of concentration of the local population. People use the place for outings on holidays.

Today the name of the mountain is a legend; it is included in the list of must-see attractions. The object is world famous and is a must-see item on the cultural program of many tourists. The memorial complex with military equipment is interesting for both adults and children.

The historical mention of Sapun Mountain first appeared by the period of 1854. At this time, the famous Battle of Balaklava took place. The combined battalions of England, France and Turkey, on the one hand, and a battalion of Russian troops, on the other, took part in the battle.The forces of the enemy differed many times, but the heights of the mountain were never taken in several assaults. All attacks were repulsed by the Russian troops, the surviving soldiers fled from the battlefield. Nothing reminds of this event at the battle site now, but Sapun Mountain itself entered English folklore as a habitat of evil spirits... These old warriors inhabited the forests and hills of the summit with various spirits that jinxed the invincible cavalrymen.

Sapun Mountain acquired a decisive importance during the Second World War. Other technical means took part in the collisions. A highway to Yalta and Simferopol has already been built. Roads were used to move military equipment. From a height of a hill, you can control roads in both directions, which gives an advantage to the troops that have taken this place. The Red Army troops had to fight twice for the summit. Both battles were bloody and fierce. That on the one hand, that on the other hand, there were big losses. In 1942, the slope almost turned into burning lava.

During the second period, there was a strategically significant point of the fascist troops on the mountain. It was convenient to defend the powerful fortified area, and the Red Army had to take the height, and from the most inaccessible point. This stage was important, since without it it was impossible to liberate the city. The fighting was almost hand-to-hand, but the main battle took place on May 7, 1944. Success prompted exploits, and by the 9th the whole city was liberated. Sevastopol residents celebrate a double Victory Day - on the 7th and 9th.

Information about the losses at Sapun Mountain varies greatly in different sources. In the funds of the diorama itself, they give out general data on those killed during the defense of Sevastopol - 6 thousand people. According to some information, 350 people were killed during the assault on Sapun Mountain from May 7 to May 9. In historical information on the enemy: over 3 thousand soldiers and officers were killed and up to 10 thousand Germans were taken prisoner. Among the destroyed: guns and mortars - 495, light and heavy machine-gun guns - 168, cars - 287. More than 100 guns, about 2000 vehicles, and a lot of other property passed into the hands of the Red Army troops.

An obelisk almost immediately appeared on the legendary hill. There was also a museum and a memorial made of weapons left on the battlefield. The locals planted many trees. In 1958 the artists Maltsev, Marchenko and Prisekin created a large-scale canvas called a diorama. The place is very popular among tourists from all countries. Later, in 1964, the memorial was reconstructed. For example, a monument of Eternal Glory to the soldiers-liberators has appeared. The names of the heroes who fought appeared on the memorial plates. In the year of the 50th anniversary of the Victory, the chapel of St. George the Victorious appeared here.

There is a lot of information about Sapun Mountain in Crimean guidebooks. Many people come to Sevastopol for historical sights. Buses, fixed-route taxis rush to this point from different parts of Crimea. The mountain is 6 km from the city, which is actually a suburb. To get to Mount Sapun by personal transport, it is enough to drive on the navigator map: latitude - 4455′51 ′ ′, longitude - 3358′51 ′ ′ or the exact address - Crimea, Sevastopol, Nakhimovsky quarter, Sapun-mountain.

For those traveling by public transport, you must first arrive at the Simferopol airport, there is no other point for receiving planes in Crimea. The main air gate receives several dozen flights a day. You can fly to Simferopol by direct flights from Arkhangelsk, Volgograd, Yekaterinburg, Moscow, Kazan, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Omsk, St. Petersburg and many other Russian cities. The average cost of an air ticket will be about 10 thousand rubles. Moscow and St. Petersburg flights are usually inexpensive, there are discounts from 6 thousand.rubles for a round trip.

Direct routes leave from the airport to Sevastopol, so it is easy to get to the city. The journey will take about three hours, and you will have to pay about 500 rubles for a ticket. For thrifty tourists, the option of moving by public transport to the Simferopol railway station is suitable. There are enough bus routes: 49, 50, 98, 113 and 115. At the railway station, you can choose an electric train in a suitable direction and hit the road. The journey will take longer, but if you are lucky with the departure of the train, it will also take about three hours, but you will have to pay only 150-200 rubles for the trip.

With the advent of the bridge, direct bus routes from different cities of Russia began to depart to Sevastopol. The fare depends on the remoteness of the city of departure, the journey in time will take at least a day. The trails are now modern, comfortable, for example, Don or M-4 is laid from Moscow itself, and a new A-290 road leads to the Crimean bridge, which can be accessed from the A-146 highway. The main thing is to get to Kerch on the way, then you need to keep the way to Feodosia, then to Simferopol, and then just move along the straight road to Sevastopol.

You can get to the place from Yalta, but the journey will take about 40 minutes by private transport, since you will have to drive 75 km. The Yalta highway is currently being repaired and is in an acceptable condition. There are many regular buses running between Sevastopol and Yalta, leaving every 30 minutes. You can choose any flight, the dispatch takes place from 6-00 to 22-00. The same routes pick up travelers from the Sapun-Gora stopping point in Yalta.

Throughout the warm season, various sports clubs and historical associations organize interesting events on the mountain. They are theatrical, colorful, usually timed to coincide with historical dates. In May, a horn loudspeaker begins to work on the mountain, from which war songs, various information about the complex or planned events are heard.

The diorama is one of the largest objects in the complex. Today it is housed in a stately circular building that sits at the center of the memorial. There are still no analogues of the installation that appeared back in 1959. On the first floor of the building there is now a museum, and on the second - the painting itself with accompanying items. Also on the second floor there is a panoramic balcony with views of the natural panorama. The diorama is open every day, except Tuesday, you can visit it from 10-00 to 18-00. It is not necessary to order an excursion, photography is available, but you need to pay extra for the service. Various souvenirs can be purchased at the museum shop.

The diorama consists of several paintings, the first of which is called "Storming of Sevastopol", another work - "Defense of Sevastopol" - Formally dedicated to the Crimean War, not the years of the Second World War. The battle diorama itself was prepared by a group of artists, but very accurately corresponds to historical facts. It is curious that all the fragments of the diorama were written separately, only on the spot the puzzles were combined into one canvas. The subject plan was already added to the created work of art. The exposition turned out to be large-scale, so the opening ceremony, which took place in 1959, turned into an important cultural event.

Another attraction of Sapun Mountain is a chapel, which attracts with a mosaic depicting St. George the Victorious. It is located above the entrance to the temple. The artist Brusentsov is listed as the creator of this work of art. On the truncated-cone-shaped summit of the complex there is a figure of an angel and a cross. The most interesting Sapun Mountain military equipment, which, of course, was brought to the top on purpose, but belongs to the period of the Second World War. All weapons are displayed in open expositions, of which there are 7 pieces. You can take pictures with equipment for free. There are almost always many tourists here.

An interesting exposition with naval equipment. The famous torpedo ship "Komsomolets" is located here. There is also a bottom-type magnetic mine, as well as a steam-gas torpedo. A propeller, a stereo range finder, a torpedo device, a stern anchor, a bomb thrower, naval cannons, armor-piercing and practical shells - all this is also included in the exposition. There are few equipment from the number of air defense systems, they are represented by an M-1 car and an anti-aircraft gun. The tank exposition displays many types of this technique, from medium to heavy types, together with self-propelled guns. Among combat vehicles, a greater number of curious people collect Katyushas, ​​but the collection still contains the BM-13-16 and BM-13-12 devices.

In addition to Soviet-made equipment, exhibits of German artillery are presented on Sapun-Gora, which also arouse the interest of the public. The guns are in the so-called trophy collection - according to the organizers of the exposition, the guns were used on the territory of the city during the Second World War. However, some specimens were delivered here from Perm. Products dating from 1918 appear before the eyes of tourists. For example, a heavy mortar and a light howitzer belong to this period. Most of the items on display at the trophy date back to the beginning of the last century.

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