Description of the attraction
In the Middle Ages, Evpatoria was called Gozlev (Kozlev). It was possible to get to Gozlev, surrounded on all sides by fortress walls, only through the complex of city gates. It consisted of five gates: Port, Horse, White Mullah, Earth and Wood Bazaar.
From the side of the sea, the entrance to the city was opened by the Port Gates. On the inside, they were decorated with the image of a human head with an elongated skull. Not far from the gate there was a maritime customs office, which brought income to the khan's treasury.
From the west, the entrance to the Gozlev fortress was opened by a narrow Horse Gate, through which a pedestrian and a horseman could pass. Today at this place there is a memorial composition "Horse Gate".
The northern part of the city was opened by the gates of the White Mullah and the Earthen Gate. The first ones were decorated with stucco moldings depicting a human belly and covered with glaze, since it was through these gates that water in barrels was delivered to Gozlev on large carts. The second - with a large tower decorated with the symbol of the khan's power. They, according to legend, were associated with the underground passages of Evpatoria.
In the east, the gate of the Wood Bazaar was located, which was decorated with a stucco image of two women's breasts. These gates overlooked the road to the khan's capital Bakhchisarai, along which the Crimean khans, having blessedly prayed in the Khan-Jami mosque, went home to their palace. The gate was built at the end of the 15th century, it is the only one of all the gates of Gozlev, having withstood many attacks, survived until the 20th century. This very impressive structure, about 20 meters high and 12 meters wide, was also called an arched gate. But in 1959, due to the fact that they interfered with car passage, they were almost completely demolished.
In 2003, thanks to the efforts of the patrons of the arts, the gate was restored to its original form according to drawings and drawings, especially since the foundation and part of the first floor still survived. On the second floor there is now the Crimean Tatar coffee house-museum "Kezlev Kavesi", and on the third floor there is a museum "Gozlev's Gate".
The restored fortress Gate of the Wood Bazaar is one of the brightest historical sights of modern Evpatoria.
