Crimea is a real treasure for history lovers. Many important events took place on its territory. The unique cave cities of Crimea take us back in time and offer to try to find out their secrets.
Chufut-Kale
The most famous cave city of Crimea - Chufut-Kale is located 2.5 kilometers from Bakhchisarai.
Scientists believe that the ancient city of Fulla, mentioned in the annals, was located here earlier. There is also a version that the fortifications of the city were built by Byzantine engineers to strengthen the defense of the distant approaches to Kherson and improve the protection of important defile. Presumably, the city appeared in the 5-6 centuries.
At the moment, we can say for sure that until the beginning of the 15th century, Chufut-Kale was the capital of the Crimean Khanate, but after the appearance of the city of Bakhchisarai, the importance of Chufut-Kale was rapidly declining. In this regard, by the beginning of the 19th century, the city fell into decay, but people completely left it only in 1852. Therefore, Chufut-Kale is better preserved than other cave cities.
Now the city is open to the public and everyone has the opportunity to see its splendor with their own eyes, as well as learn its long history.
Mangup-Kale
In terms of size, this cave city is considered the largest in the Crimea. It is located on the top of Mount Baba-Dag near the village of Khodzha-Sala, Bakhchisaray region.
Mangup Kale was built during the Byzantine period in the 5th century. The city was created presumably to protect the northern borders on the territory of the Crimean peninsula.
Mangup-Kale can rightfully be called not only the largest, but also the most mysterious cave city of Crimea. It is known for sure that from the 13th to the 15th century it reached its heyday, becoming the capital of the principality of Theodoro. At that time, the city was still called Doros, but after the looting and burning of the city by the Ottomans, the name changed to Mangup-Kale.
Soon after the annexation of Crimea to Russia, the city was completely empty.
Now you can walk around the ruins of the princely palace, wine press and labyrinths, consisting of former residential caves. Despite the fact that the city has long been deserted and partially destroyed, this only made it more mysterious and majestic.
Eski-Kermen
This is the most mysterious cave city of Crimea. Very little is known about its history; all knowledge about it was obtained in the course of archaeological research.
The name of the city remained lost, since it is not mentioned anywhere in the chronicles of those years. Nowadays, its name is translated from the Crimean Tatar as "Old Fortress".
Scientists believe that Eski-Kermen appeared at the end of the 6th century and existed until the end of the 14th century.
The city was well developed and fortified, which is why it has been well preserved to this day. Even now, among its ruins, you can find former streets, the remains of vineyards, pits for storing grain and stone grape presses. Most of all, the preservation of the Main Street is surprising, from which underground casemates and a siege well 20 meters deep extend in different directions.
Tepe-Kermen
The least explored cave city of Crimea. Almost no one knows about its history, since almost no archaeological work was carried out here. It is located a few kilometers from Chufut-Kale.
It is known that Tepe-Kermen appeared in the 6th century, and reached its full bloom in the 12-13th centuries. It is assumed that his death occurred as a result of the raid of the Horde Khan.
In the past, the city had a multi-tiered structure. On the lower tier there were living quarters and livestock, the middle tier was used for defense, archers and other soldiers of the fortress were concentrated there. On the upper tier there were cult rooms. According to scientists, the city had streets and two main roads, on which the traces of carts are well preserved.
Now this place is pretty deserted. The tourist has the opportunity to walk through the caves and look at the remains of living quarters, enjoying the silence.
Bakla
It is located 2.5 kilometers from the village of Skalistoye on the slope of the Inner ridge of the Crimean Mountains. Basically, Buckla played the role of a military fortification. Like many other cave cities of Crimea, its existence ended due to the invasion of the Golden Horde ruler Nogai in 1299.
Buckla had a two-tiered structure. The first tier housed defensive structures, and the second was used for living quarters. Previously, there were ground structures on the territory of the city - a castle and a fortress wall, which have not survived to this day.
At Bakle, 50 granaries have been discovered, as well as many stone pits for pressing grapes and storing water. Surprisingly, the city has preserved the fossils of the former marine inhabitants of the Crimea, such as crabs, mollusks and shells that existed millions of years ago, when the Crimea was still the seabed.
