Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve It is a center for the study and protection of the historical and cultural heritage of the Crimean Tatars and other peoples formerly living in the South-Western Crimea.
This republican institution manages three categories of monuments: cave cities and monasteries, as well as archaeological complexes. Moreover, the former are an absolutely unique category, which outside the Bakhchisaray region no longer has analogues in the territory of the Russian Federation.
The Bakhchisaray Historical and Cultural Reserve is the largest tourist center of the Crimean Peninsula, approximately 200 thousand visitors come here annually.
Museum of the History and Culture of Crimean Tatars
This museum is the core of the reserve’s structure. The exhibits are located in the form of an exposition in the Khan Palace. It is divided into two departments: ethnography and history. The modern museum is primarily engaged in exhibition work in the Khan Palace, and also continues to conduct scientific research on the life of the Crimean Tatars.
Ismail Gasprinsky Memorial Museum
It is dedicated to the famous Crimean Tatar public figure I. Gasprinsky and was created in the building of the former printing house. It was here that the newspaper Translator-Terjiman was published in the Turkic language, edited by I. Gasprinsky. In the museum you can see photos, documents and awards of a famous figure.
Art Museum
It was opened in 1996, operates on the territory of the Khan's Palace. The greatest value among the exhibits is the work of famous domestic and foreign artists of the 18-19 centuries. The museum also presents collections of paintings by artists whose life and creative activity was associated with Bakhchisarai.
In recent years, the museum has been presented with more than two hundred works by contemporary artists.
Museum of Archeology and Cave Cities
This is a regional center where archaeological research of the most ancient monuments of the southwestern part of the Crimean peninsula is carried out.
The museum has two departments: the archaeological and the department of cave cities. The activities of employees are aimed at conducting excavations, searching for new exhibits, and protecting the cultural heritage of the region.
Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai
During the reign of the Khans-Geraev, it was Bakhchisarai that became the main cultural and political center of the peninsula. When designing the Khan's Palace, the architects tried to realize the idea of the Garden of Eden: majestic halls, an arbor twined with flowers, a spring with clear water.
Khan's palace in Bakhchisarai was founded by Khan Sahib I Gerai. The construction of the palace lasted from 1532 to 1551. At the same time, each new khan improved the structure, rebuilt the old buildings and added new ones. In 1736, the Khan's palace was completely burned during the war with Russia. Khans Selyamet Gerai and Crimea Gerai restored it for a long time. After the Crimean peninsula became part of Russia, the Ministry of the Interior worked in the Khan Palace.
The museum was opened in this building in 1908. The restoration of the palace is still ongoing.
Here you can see the palace buildings, a harem, a bathhouse. Of particular interest are the Falcon Tower and the Biyuk Khan-Jami Mosque. There is also the Geraev cemetery. The Golden Fountain and the poetic Fountain of Tears amazes with its beauty. The oldest attraction of the palace is the Aleviz portal.
Chufut-Kale
Chufut-Kale - the residence of the Crimean khans before the construction of the Khan's Palace. An impregnable city was built here, protected by cliffs and fortifications. Alans lived here in the 13th century. After capturing the territory of the Golden Horde, the Tatar garrison Kirk-Or was located.
Khan Hadji Giray in the 15th century made his residence here, and after moving it to Bakhchisarai, the fortress was made a citadel.
In the 17th century, the Tatars left these places and Karaites settled here. The city was called Chufut-Kale. They lived in a cave city for about 200 years. When Crimea joined Russia, Karaites began to move to large cities. The last inhabitants left here at the end of the 19th century.
Cave cities
The Bakhchisaray historical and cultural reserve includes other large cave cities of the Bakhchisarai district:
- Mangup-Kale, Bakhchisaray - the largest ancient city in the Crimea. BC, Tauris lived in this area. In the Middle Ages the city of Feodoro was located here, the capital of the principality. It was perfectly protected from enemy attacks by natural conditions, so for a very long time no one could capture it. However, the rest of the territory was not so well protected, so the Tatars managed to conquer part of the principality. In the 13th century, the Principality of Mangup, even having lost part of the territory, continues to be a strong state. In 1475, Mangup was besieged by the Turks for six months. Only hunger and disease drove residents to capitulate. The city was burned, and only after some time the fortress was rebuilt by the Turks. The last residents left here after Crimea became part of Russia.
- Eski-Kermen, p. Red Poppy was founded in the 6th century by Scythian-Sarmatians. Casemate towers were carved right in the rocks. In addition, in the event of a siege, a well of 70 cubic meters was cut down. m of water. The slopes of the cave city are literally indented by caves. In total there are about 350. They were mainly used in the 12-13 centuries. They arranged workshops and wineries, kept cattle. The city had its own water supply made of pottery pipes. In 1299, he was burned by Nogai. The city was not restored anymore.
- Tepe-Kermen, Bakhchisaray - a city almost impregnable from the south-west side. The plateau area is small, but at the same time there are 250 artificially created caves. Some of them are monastery complexes. Tepe-Kermen ceased to exist at the end of the 14th century, as it was destroyed by the forces of Tamerlane.
- Kachi-Kalon, s. Primal is located on a rock massif on the banks of the Kachi River. In the Middle Ages, a rural settlement was located here. Its creation was served by two convenient natural grottoes. In the 9th century, a monastery was created in a large grotto with a spring, which was later destroyed by the Tatar-Mongols.
Bakhchisaray historical and cultural reserve is an interesting sight of Crimea. Here you can get acquainted with the history of the Crimean peninsula, plunge into the atmosphere of that time, visit the oldest cave cities.
From the tops of the cliffs a very beautiful view of Bakhchisaray, rock massifs and forest opens. Excursion objects, which are part of the Bakhchisaray historical and cultural reserve, are invariably popular among tourists every year.