Balaklava in Crimea: features and attractions

Balaklava Bay is located on the southwestern coast of Crimea, 15 km from Sevastopol. It is beautiful, its embankment is a bit like a small, cozy Italy. Narrow streets with bends, ups and downs, small houses with wrought iron railings and flower pots ... Everything is conducive to rest, travel to historical sites and boat trips.

Balaklava district is one of the most beautiful districts of Sevastopol. A narrow winding strait and rocky shores on both sides of the bay, thanks to which the city cannot be seen from the sea, create a unique natural landscape.

Balaklava was first described by Homer in the poem "Odyssey" of the 8th century. BC NS. as the city of Lamos, in which the Laestrygones live.

Different people settled on these shores - Tatars, Greeks, Romans, Turks, and each of them had their own name for this bay.

The word "balaklava" in translation from Tatar means "fish bag". This is explained by the fact that during the velvet season - from late August to early October - dolphins drive schools of fish from the sea to the bay, the fish gets trapped, rushing between the mountain shores and dolphins. It is easy to catch her at this time. Local fishermen knew this, arranged the fishing tackle correctly and provided themselves with fish for a long time.

The subsequent memory of this area dates back to the 1st century AD. e., it describes a fishing village, where the Taurus were the main inhabitants. Thanks to them, the original name of the peninsula was Tavrida.

An ancient Roman writer who wrote a book on Natural History mentions the Greek cities of Crimea - Chersonesos and Syumbolon-limne, which means “the bay of symbols”. Therefore, when a Genoese colony was founded on this place, it received the name Chembalo - a distorted word from the previous Greek name.

The very first building erected by the Genoese near Cembalo was the Orthodox Church of the Twelve Apostles, which has not lost its beauty to this day.

In 1474, the town was visited by the Russian traveler Afanasy Nikitin, who mentioned him in his travel notes "Walking across the Three Seas".

Soon, a Turkish flotilla with 500 ships and an army of 30,000 people appeared near the coast of Crimea. The Cembalo fortress fell without a fight. The "Turkish period" of Balaklava reigns, it receives a different name - Baliklagy, which in translation from Turkish means "fishy place".

In the summer of 1625, the Cossacks from Zaporozhye and the Don captured Balaklava, but not for long. The Turkish fleet turned out to be more numerous, they lost the battle.

Time passed, and in 1771, the loyal subject of Catherine II, Prince Dolgorukov occupied Chembalo, without encountering resistance from the Turks.

Soon, in June 1773, the first Russian-Turkish war begins. Near Balaklava there was a naval battle of the Don Fleet in the amount of two newly built ships "Koron" and "Taganrog" with four ships of Turkey. As a result, after a long six hours of battle, the Turkish squadron received multiple damage and retreated. The battle near Balaklava was the main success of the Russian flotilla on the Black Sea.

In the 18th century, Balaklava became the main refuge of the Russian fleet, which was relocated to the Crimean peninsula even before its formal connection with Russia.

In April 1783, Catherine II wrote an appeal about the unification of the Crimea and Russia.

In 1854-1855. in the Crimea there was a war, Balaklava Bay was occupied by troops from England. For the delivery of ammunition and essential products, the British built a railway to Balaklava. On both sides of the harbor, piers were erected, guest yards and shops were built.

The British were clearly unlucky on the Crimean peninsula. In the fall of 1854, the famous Battle of Balaklava took place - as a result of this battle, the invaders lost the main units of cavalry, which consisted of the heirs of the noble families of England. The war ended, the British left.

The stormy life in Balaklava begins at the end of the 19th century, now the city is developing as a resort

One of the first who appreciated the prospects of Balaklava as a resort was K. A. Skirmunt. In 1870, he entered the city and opened the doors of his house, presenting it as a boarding house. In addition, Skirmunt bought land in the Balaklava Valley, planted the best grape varieties from Hungary and the Rhine. A little later, a mud baths opens on the embankment.

After the defeat of the White Guards in 1920, a new Soviet power was established, Balaklava imperceptibly moved from a resort town to a production town.

In 1923, the legendary organization EPRON was born, which is engaged in special-purpose underwater expeditions. Later, EPRON will become an all-Union organization for various diving operations.

At the beginning of 1930, the development and extraction of fluxes were carried out by the Balaklava Mining Administration, and the fish canning plant "Proletarsky Luch" was operating.

1953-1963 - a plant is being built underground, in which submarines will be repaired and equipped, it becomes a secret object, and Balaklava - a secret territory until 1993.

Today Balaklava seems to be a town with a population of 22 thousand.people, but during the holiday season, this figure becomes several times higher. Every year the international sailing regatta "Kaira" takes place near the bay. Diving enthusiasts discover the unique underwater world of these places.

In the south-west of the Crimean coast, between Cape Fiolent and Cape Aya, 15 kilometers from Sevastopol, there is an ancient settlement.

Today Balaklava is a constituent part of Sevastopol, it is part of it, as the Balaklava region.

Balaklava Bay is the most comfortable bay of the Black Sea for mooring yachts and ships. Its width varies from 200 to 400 meters, the depth at the entrance to the bay is 38 meters, and already in the bay itself is 17 meters, the length is 1.5 km.

Examining the bay on a detailed map, you can see that it is curved like the letter S. Thanks to this, the berths are not visible from the sea and there are no storms in it.

The area of ​​Balaklava is 54.4 thousand hectares, it includes three mountains: Main, Inner and Outer.

In the southeast of Sevastopol, there is the Balaklava Valley, dividing the Crimean Mountains into the Internal and Main Ridges.

You can get to the village only by car - before the war there was a tram service, but after the war it was not restored.

Embankments are located on both sides. This is the main and most picturesque part of Balaklava. The sleeping areas are located not far from the right side of the bay.

Most of the residents live in individual houses, and in its western part there are small neighborhoods of multi-storey buildings, built along two main streets. There are many cafes, restaurants and shops on the lower floors.

Tourists can take advantage of various accommodation options: in the private sector, in a hotel, in a small hotel, of which there are several in the village.

The weather in the region is close to Mediterranean, relatively warm and dry. In this place, two climatic zones are connected: subtropical and temperate. The climate of the city and its environs is unusually favorable for health. The sea warmed in summer heats the coastal air, and, accordingly, in the summer, the sea cooled down during the winter softens hot days. There is almost no rain in summer, mostly dry, low-cloud weather.

July and August are the hottest months, with daily temperatures typically between 28 and 33 ° C. Autumn has always been considered a velvet season. The daytime air temperature is very comfortable - 25–27 ° C, and the nighttime temperature is 14–18 ° C. You can swim in the sea until mid-October.

In winter, snow lies in the mountains for 4 months. January and February are the coldest for local residents, the air temperature is + 3-4 ° C.

May is warm and even hot, the air can reach 33 ° C.

The best time to relax in Balaklava is mid-summer and early autumn.

We present to your attention a list of interesting places recommended for visiting.

• The St. George Monastery was first mentioned in the annals of 1578, but according to legend, the foundation dates back to 891, when Greek sailors were shipwrecked near the coast of Crimea. The building belongs to the Genoese style, built with one dome and a portico supported by columns. In the location of the boundaries of the monastery, Prince Golitsyn and General Witte are buried. A.S. Pushkin, A.S. Griboyedov and members of the royal family visited him more than once.
• The naval museum complex, during the Soviet era, was an underground repair plant for the maintenance of submarines, carved directly into the rock and has access to the sea. To view the interesting exhibitions that are located in the premises inside Mount Tavros, you will need to take a long walk on foot, sail on a boat along the man-made canals where the submarine base was.
• The Cembalo fortress, which was built in the middle of the 16th century by the Genoese, rises above the bay. The fortress wall and towers were built of rubble stone so thoroughly that the fortress did not even collapse during the Crimean earthquake.The impregnable fortification was badly damaged during the Great Patriotic War.
• The Church of the Holy 12 Apostles is located on the central embankment of Balaklava. The church was built in 1357, and in 1794 and 1875 it was reconstructed and renovated. Until 1941, the building of the temple was first the House of Pioneers, and then OSOAVIAKHIM. In the early 90s, the premises were again handed over to the church.
• The Tavricheskaya embankment of Balaklava looks unusually beautiful when you leave the naval museum. Walking a little towards the open sea, a picturesque picture of the entrance to the harbor opens.
• The barrel of death, as they called the observation tower, was installed not far from the Cembalo fortress, on a nearby mountain. The defensive structure was built to control the sea and the bay portal, and slots were made in it in order to control the battle from firearms.
• The Nazukin Embankment is a visiting card of the city, it was built by the British during the Russian-Turkish war, who captured the bay. At first, it was paved with wooden flooring, and already at the end of the 19th century, paving stones were laid. All sea voyages begin from the Nazukin embankment, boats are rented for fishing, sightseeing tours along the coast of Crimea are booked.

Today the residents and city authorities of Balaklava are doing everything possible to make the rest comfortable and unforgettable. Previously, there were only two hotels in the bay, but today there are many of them and they delight with their relatively inexpensive prices. It all depends on the area of ​​deployment - hotels, hotels, hostels, guest houses during peak season and located on the seashore will be more expensive, so book your stay in the desired hotel in advance.

All hotels have wi-fi, TV (cable), air conditioners (split), refrigerators, free parking, cold / hot water.

There are small hotels in the private sector with a swimming pool that can replace the sea, cozy courtyards and summer gazebos. You can also rent a room right there.

A brief description of hotels, hostels, perhaps, will help you in choosing a decent accommodation for your vacation.

• Hotel "Dionis" - 4 "stars", located 2 km from the sea. There is a public transport stop near the hotel. The hotel has a large outdoor pool, sauna, billiards. Ready breakfast for all residents.
• Hotel "Homer" - 3 "stars", is located 100 meters from the berths of Balaklava. The hotel rooms are decorated in a sophisticated style with light colors and designer furniture. The hotel can provide rooms of categories from "standard" to "suite". Morning breakfast is included in the payment. There is a luggage room.
• Hotel "Dakkar" - 3 "stars", is located in a modern, detached building, not far from the main embankment of Balaklava. The hotel has 22 rooms of different categories. The advantage over other hotels is accommodation with pets. Lovely restaurant with complimentary breakfasts. There is an adhesive tape bar, a meeting room, free car parking.
• The Rybatskaya Sloboda Hotel is located right on the Balaklava embankment. Nearby, in 7 minutes on foot, is the Cembalo fortress. Comfortable rooms are designed in a simple style, equipped with a TV and a minibar, and have balconies. There are suites for a different number of guests.
• Hostel "Sloboda" is located almost on the embankment of Balaklava. The rooms have air conditioning, TVs with satellite channels. On the territory of the hostel - free wi-fi, registration at the reception around the clock. Nearby there is a large selection of restaurants and cafes where you can dine.
• KuprInn Hotel is located in the very center of Balaklava. Rooms are equipped with all the necessary amenities - ironing facilities, climate control systems, electrical appliances for making tea or coffee. There is a spa with a hammam, a Finnish sauna. Breakfast is buffet style. Pines, junipers, cypresses, lavender, Mexican agave grow around the guest house and on the territory.From the windows there is a beautiful view of the bay, the Chembalo fortress and the "Twelve Apostles" temple.
• Apartments "On First Line" are located on the embankment of Balaklava. They are presented in the form of two-room apartments with all the necessary conditions for living. Pets are allowed.

The town is surrounded by rocks on all sides, and the embankment is the center for all tourist trips. All the local flavor is concentrated on it, where all kinds of restaurants, cafes, coffee houses open their doors. The number of establishments in Balaklava, where it is allowed to eat tasty and inexpensive, is very large.

• The Egoist restaurant can be found at the very beginning of the Nazukin embankment and offers a menu of European cuisine.
• The Prince Restaurant is located on the ship and is served on three decks. Large assortment of meat, fish and seafood dishes, fresh pastries, wine list and own prepared drinks.
• The fish restaurant "Tatianin Mys" looks like a motor ship that moves along the embankment. Fish menu for every taste, wine list, organization of boat trips.
• You will find the fish restaurant "Rybaka's Izbushka" at the end of the embankment. Large selection of fish and seafood dishes, only freshly caught fish. The design of the restaurant is made in accordance with the style of the inn.
• Restaurant "Balaklava" - fish, delicious fish and seafood dishes. There are three rooms: Genoa, Scarlet Sails, Wardroom and an open veranda with a unique view of the bay.
• The Kefalo Vrisi restaurant offers a large fish menu and a wine list. Interesting to visit with children.

Balaklava beaches, as a rule, are located in the most beautiful and inaccessible places, which can only be reached by sea. The best vacation on the Black Sea coastline is hard to imagine.

But the first beach that you will see before you go to see others is the City Beach. It is located on the Nazukin embankment, but you will need to swim in the bay, and this is incomparable with a beach on the open sea. The beach is free, but you will not find peace and solitude on it.

The next beach in the city - Marble, got its name from the wonderful pink pebbles. You can find it on the other side of the bay, where the Tavricheskaya embankment ends, near the yacht club. The water on the beach is clear, as there is an open sea nearby. The beach is landscaped. There are cafes and restaurants nearby.

The Genoese fortress and Cape Aya are perfectly visible from the Marble Beach. Balaklava Bay looks unusually beautiful from the observation deck located above the Marble Beach.

Then you can start your vacation with a walk on the sea to see and decide which beach to choose for your vacation. They will be located in the direction of Sevastopol, to the right of the bay - the beaches of Cape Fiolent, and to the South, to the left of the bay - in the area of ​​Cape Aya.

Silver and Gold beaches are located outside the city, and to visit them, you need to rent a boat. The coastline of beaches with coarse sand or small pebbles. The sea water is clean. The beach is equipped with awnings. There are kiosks with water and ice cream.

The Yashmovy beach is very spacious, its length is more than 500 meters, the coastline is made of medium-sized pebbles, and the water is clear. The view of Cape Fiolent from the beach looks unusually beautiful. You can get on it if you walk along the famous stairs, consisting of 800 steps, or sail by boat or boat.

The Lost World beach is very secluded, you can visit it by renting a boat, and even with guides through the local grottoes and caves.

Balaklava is one of the most popular Crimean resorts. Vacationers are attracted by a town with a long history, unforgettable beaches that are accessible only from the sea, picturesque depressions and caves near Cape Aya, as well as reasonable prices for accommodation and meals in restaurants and cafes. All this makes the rest unforgettable and wonderful.

All vacationers are satisfied with visiting the beautiful resort in Crimea.Most of the reviews about Balaklava are positive and enthusiastic. The bay itself, the embankment and, of course, coastal beaches with azure clear water cause a storm of emotions among visitors.