BAKCHISARAI

 

Capital of the khans of Crimea from the fifteenth to eighteenth century, this wonderful little town retains many Ottoman buildings: palaces, mosques, mausoleums. The nature of the region of Bakhchisarai promises beautiful walks in the canyon (Uzundzha), cave cities and waterfalls DjourDjour or Outchansou. It is also a paradise for climbers and cavers-speleologists. City Tchoufout-Kale, built on a plateau, was the home of a Jewish sect, the Karaites, and one can can still see their kenassa (prayer houses). 

 

        

 

Lunch in the restaurant of tatar cuisine

---

Cave monastery of Dormition

Built into the rock hillside. Declared to be the oldest monastery in Crimea, it was built in the eighteenth century by Byzantine monks. 

---

Palace of khans of Bakhtchissarai (XV-XVIII centuries)

Built by Italian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Iranian architects. It is this palace where the Crimean khans ruled the region. Former capital of the Tatars, who ruled the northern shores of the Black Sea. Citadel Chufut Kale, the ancient capital of Karaims, atop a mountain. Khan's palace, with its mosque and harem ... Its name comes from Turkish "Palace of Gardens ". It is located in the south of the Crimean peninsula, midway between Simferopol and Sebastopol. The only palace of the khans of Crimea that is nowadays open to tourists is that of Bakhchisarai

 

---

Karaim Fortress of Chufut Kale or Cufut Qale

The name of the city means in Crimean Tatar and in Turkish "Jewish fortress". The birth of the city probably dates by the fifth century. At the time of the birth of the Khanate of Crimea, the Karaite had already formed the majority of the population. In the fifteenth century it was the residence of the first Khan of the Crimea. Then the capital was moved to the new city of Bakhchisaray. The old fortress was then used as a prison and for coinage. After the annexation of Crimea to the Russian Empire, the Karaite population began to disperse in other locations of Crimea. The oldest part of the ancient walled city includes former cave dwellings and the ruins of a mosque and a mausoleum. Two Karaite synagogues (known kenessa) are in good condition. From the city you will have a unique view over the region.

 

The antique cemetery of Cufut Qale

---

The famous fountain of Bakhtchissarai

Sung by the famous Russian poet Pushkin.