Legendary beauties of the Bakhchsarai Palace and unique city in the Crimea

Who has not heard of the beauty of the Bakhchsarai Palace, the magnificent abode of ancient rulers? But it's better to see it once than hear about it a hundred times! But in addition to this attraction in the city there are many interesting things.

Beautiful legend

Without the Bakhchsarai Palace it is difficult to imagine a modern city. And about its occurrence there is a beautiful legend. Tradition says that one day during the hunt, Mengli-Giray's son saw a snake fight. Watching them, he noticed that the defeated half-dead snake barely crawled to the river, and when it came out of it, it was healed. At that time the young Khan thought about the heavy battle of his people with the Golden Horde. He thought that his family was doomed, like this snake, but when he saw a miracle, he hurried to his father to tell about a good sign.

And so it happened: the news of a heavy victory over the enemy came to their castle. The happy Khan ordered to build a magnificent palace on the site of the snake fight, and the reptiles themselves were depicted on the coat of arms of the new city.

A bit of history

Beautiful Crimea! Bakhchisaray is his pearl, his pride. The name of the city is translated into Russian as a "palace in the gardens." According to researchers, it arose in the late sixteenth century. At that time, the Crimean Khanate fought for independence from the Horde and finally received it. The new city on the bank of the Churuk-Su River became the capital. And at the gate of the palace you can still see the image of the battle of snakes.

The city itself is located on the slopes of the Crimean mountains in the valley of the Churuk-Su river, surrounded by forest-steppe. From Simferopol it is separated only thirty kilometers. This is a place of amazing beauty and landscape, with a rich historical past and unique recreational opportunities.

The Khan's Palace

Let's start a virtual tour with the most famous landmark of the city. That is from the Bakhchsarai Palace. Going through the gate, which depicts the family coat of arms of the Gireys, you will enter a large courtyard. Here, in the territory surrounded by walls, the army once gathered before the march. On the left near the mosque there is a khan's cemetery and a mausoleum, where many rulers of the Crimea found the last shelter.

The modern palace is the result of careful reconstruction and reconstruction, since the building itself was completely burned by Russian soldiers in 1736. Before the visit of Catherine II, the building was repaired again on the orders of Governor-General de Ribas, one of the founders of Odessa. And at the end of the eighteenth century the palace was declared a monument of oriental architecture.

The peculiarity of the Bakhchsarai Palace is a very modest (in comparison with the residences of other eastern rulers) appearance. But all his wealth is inside. Here it is necessary to pay attention to:

• Hall of the Council and the Court, where the fate of the region for many centuries in a row.
• Basin garden of rare beauty.
• Small mosque, where she prayed to know.
• The sofa, that is, the council of elders.
• Harem with four corpses of legitimate wives and with numerous little rooms.
• Summer gazebo and fountains.
• Selsebil, or Fountain of Tears, dedicated to Dilyar Bikech, the lawful wife of the khan, who died very early;
• Catherine's Mile, framed by columns.

Museum complex

The city, which is rightfully proud of the peninsula Crimea - Bakhchisaray. And the settlement itself carefully protects the palace in the Garden of Eden as a memory of the turbulent past. During the Second World War, many relics were saved - they were hidden in the caves of Chufut-Kale, but some of them were taken away by fascists and lost.

Today the palace is included in the complex of the Bakhchsarai State Historical and Cultural Reserve and its fund includes more than one hundred thousand archaeological finds and other valuable exhibits. Among them are clothing, household items, dishes, coins, carpets, books. The address of the Khan's palace is as follows: the city of Bakhchisaray, River, 133.

Sights and attractions

If you are going on holiday to the Crimea, then be sure to visit Bakhchisaray. Excursions around the city include not only visiting the famous Hansaray with the Fountain of Tears, described by Pushkin in verse. There are a lot of mosques, among which Takhtaly-Jami is the largest, there are also Christian shrines, the Holy Dormition Monastery. Chufut-Kale is also of interest - a medieval fortress, often called a cave city.

In addition to sightseeing, other entertainment is available in Bakhchisaray. Rides on jeeps, mountain bikes, cross-country motorcycles, ATVs, horses and donkeys along the network of unpaved roads will give a lot of adrenaline and unforgettable impressions. In addition, green tourism, fishing and hunting are offered. From the city through the mountain Ai-Petri you can go to the southern coast of the Crimea. In a word, guests of Bakhchisarai will not be bored.

How can I get to?

So, it is decided, we go to Bakhchisaray. How to get to this glorious city, full of secrets and beauties, we will tell further.

The closest it is to the city of Simferopol, which is distant for 30 km. Before Sevastopol, about 60 km. From the capital of the peninsula in Bakhchisarai, there are trains and trains (40-60 minutes), buses (about 30 minutes). From the main port of Crimea to Bakhchisarai you can also get by train (hour and a half) or by bus.

The city is easy to navigate by bus and shuttle. Most of them are sent to Old Bakhchisarai, where the main attractions are concentrated. You can also take a regular taxi and explore both Hansaray and the picturesque surroundings.

Enjoy your trip and unforgettable impressions!