On the territory of Russia you can meet a huge number of fortresses of completely different eras. Many of them today have been preserved in excellent condition, but there are those that, unfortunately, have turned into ruins, and one can only guess how they really looked.
And on the coast of the Sea of Azov there are similar structures of interest to tourists and travelers who are fond of ancient history.
The article provides information about the most popular holiday destinations on the coast of this sea, each of which has its own interesting history. Also, after reading the article, you can find out about two interesting historical sites on the Sea of Azov - the fortresses of Azov and Arabat.
Village Dolzhanskaya
Cossack village Dolzhanskaya - a popular resort, stretching at the very base of the Spit Dolgaya (shore of the Sea of Azov). This settlement belongs to the Yeisk district, it is 236 km from Krasnodar.
The village was founded in the middle of the 19th century by Cossack immigrants who came from the Dnieper and still live here. Today, the population is just over 7000 people.
Dolzhanskaya attracts vacationers with a wonderful steppe climate, magnificent healing mud and mineral springs. Shallow depths and constant winds attract kitesurfers and windsurfers here. And the service sector in the village of Dolzhanskaya is much cheaper than in larger resorts in the Krasnodar Territory.
A relatively good budget place for a beach holiday is the Sea of Azov. "Dolzhanskaya Fortress" is one of the good private hotels located in this village on the coast of the Sea of Azov. This remarkable place is located on the picturesque Long Spit , which closes the spacious Taganrog Bay. This territory today has the status of a protected landscape monument.
Dolzhanskaya in recent years has been popular among young people. Every year, since 2001, the festival “A-ZOV” has been held here, gathering a huge number of lovers of electronic music and extreme sports on the spit.
Azov
Before moving on to the description of a historical monument (the Azov Fortress), we will provide some information about the city of Azov.
On the site of the modern city, the first settlement was founded even before our era by the Greeks. It was the city of Tanais. For thousands of years, different nations have sought to conquer it, since it was located at a very advantageous place: the intersection of the main trade routes of Asia and Europe. Huns, Sarmatians, Pechenegs and Khazars lived here.
The city was in the hands of Prince Vladimir in the 10th century, and in 1067 it was conquered by the Polovtsy, and since then it bears its current name - Azov (translated from Turkic as “Azak” means “river mouth”).
Since ancient times, Azov has been the apple of discord between the Ottoman and Russian empires. The ramparts, the remains of which are still preserved, were built by the Don Cossacks in 1641-1642, during the period of Azov sitting. Azov became Russian after the bloody Russian-Turkish wars that took place in 1768-1774.
Now the fortress of the XIV century, or rather its fragments is one of the most attractive attractions not only for local residents, but also for tourists.
Azov fortress: description
Now there is practically nothing left of that ancient Azov fortress, only the Alekseevsky Gate and the rampart. The first are recently restored and attract many tourists. The place is very quiet and picturesque. The ramparts stretched for hundreds of meters. Their width is from 5 to 30 meters. The remains of brick walls are preserved on the crests of the shafts, and at their base are the Alekseevsky gates. A reminder of the terrible historical events of centuries ago in these places are the trunks of old cannons protruding threateningly from the loopholes. The Azov Fortress, along with the Alekseevsky Gate, is located near the old fish factory on Genoese Street.
The very first thorough study of this historic building took place during excavations in 1935.
Fortress on the Azov coast of Crimea
There is another interesting object on the coast of the Sea of Azov (Crimea) - the Tatar-Turkish fortress, which is the only one on the peninsula. It is located two kilometers northwest of the village of Ak-Monay (the modern name is Kamenskoye). This defensive structure along with the Yeni-Kale fortress and Perekopskaya defended the Crimea from attacks by enemies from the east and north.
The fortress, which has an octagonal shape, is surrounded by a deep moat around the perimeter, perhaps it was connected to the Sea of Azov through an underground passage.
Description
Compared with the Azov fortress and others, Arabatskaya is one of the most interesting and mysterious. Of particular note is the construction of the structure. The main principle point in the construction of fortifications in the Middle Ages was the ditch in front of the fortress and the earthen wall following it. In this case, the castle moat was filled with water from the Sea of Azov and Lake Sivash through specially laid channels. The entrance to the Arabat fortress, located on the side of the Kerch Peninsula, was blocked by powerful gates. The remaining directions were protected by walls with several rows of loopholes and guns installed in them. All this made it possible to hold a circular defense for a long time.
The mystery of the fortress lies in the fact that almost no documentary information was preserved about it, and detailed scientific studies of the structure were also not carried out.
The fortress, which was a silent witness to the tragic and turbulent events, keeps many more secrets.
Conclusion
Picturesque views open onto the Don River Delta from the ramparts of the Azov Fortress. Address of construction: Rostov Region, the city of Azov, st. Genoese.
The All-Russian Festival of Military-Historical Clubs is held annually on its territory. It is dedicated to the Azov siege seat of the Don Cossacks in 1641. More than 10 thousand spectators come to this site to participate in costumed military dramas or just to admire this colorful spectacle.