Suyren Fortress: which of the legends is close to the truth?

On the peninsula of Crimea, in the Bakhchsarai region, there is an amazing place - Cape Kulle-Burun with a fast Belbek river at the foot. It is located just over a kilometer from the village of Maloe Sadovoe. The name of the cape translates as "Tower Cape", and not in vain. It stands on the amazing fortress of Suyren. To this day it is one of the least explored, mysterious and mysterious structures of the ancient Crimea.

Misterious story

Until now, scientists do not know in which year or at least the century the Syuren fortress was erected. Most historians adhere to the time period between the VI-XII centuries, namely the X century. It is believed that it was built by the Byzantines, who at that time belonged to the Crimean land.

The main task of the fortress was the protection of the center of the Crimean Gothia and the parallel control of the road leading to the South Bank. The girder, through which the road to the tower lies, was called the Türks of Altyn-Isar-Bogaz. Translation reveals the secret of the name of the fortress itself. In Russian it sounds like "a passage to the Golden Fortress".

Signs of an urban settlement

By the 13th century, the Syuren fortress (Crimea) looks like a small city. At this time here is located the castle of the feudal lord, who owns rural settlements at the foot of the cape. By the end of the fourteenth century, the fortress structure passed into the hands of the feodorites. Now this is the northern outpost of the principality. For all the time of finding these lands in the state of Theodoro, historians and archaeologists have noted the significant prosperity of the city and the growth of the well-being of its population.

Oblivion

Historians argue that the Turkish troops defeated the Syuren fortress in 1475. Since then, almost no mention of it. There are only some assumptions about the living in these places Crimean is ready Scivarin. Perhaps it was the eighteenth century.

Although there is a not so popular version about the defeat of the fortress in 1299 by the Tatar-Mongol conquerors.

Architectural features

The Syuren fortress was erected in the form of two curtains. They converged at the foot of the round tower. The walls with a height of more than 4.5 meters formed an angle (about 130 ^° ). They were only 110 meters long, but they had a significant width of 2.5 meters. On the other sides, it was impossible to approach the fortress - it was surrounded by steep cliffs.

It is believed that the tower was two-story, and its height was about 12 meters (including the parapet and the caravans). Today it is just over ten. The platform was rounded. She was surrounded by a two-penny five-meter-high wall and was ready to withstand even the most terrible battle.

All walls of the building are lined with limestone blocks. They were fastened with a solution based on the same limestone. Intermediate floors are laid with wooden beams.

Each level had three loopholes. To the south-west of the tower was organized a tunnel. He made it possible to move between the parts of the protective structure imperceptibly for the enemy. On the other hand there were tall and strong gates. Dwellings of ordinary citizens are built of stone.

To one of the cliffs led a secret passage, which was prepared in the event of forced emergency escape from the city.

The fortress of Syuren had in its possessions about 1.7 hectares. And it was very densely populated. The north-eastern part of the site was occupied by grapevines.

At the turn of the XIII-XIV centuries, 300 meters from the tower was erected a wall 145 m long, 1.2 m high. Archaeologists are still arguing about her appointment. Most people stick to the version of the cattle paddock.

There are suggestions that the fortress Xueren (photos of the tower confirm these conjectures) was the dwelling of the feudal lord. The tower structure eight meters in diameter was later converted to a chapel. Instead of a platform, a dome appeared. And images of the faces of the saints are clearly visible on the photographs of the interior surfaces of the walls.

Our days

The famous Crimean earthquake severely damaged the fortress remains. By the end of the 40s of the last century, attempts were made to restore the main tower. But by the beginning of the 90s of the XX century, all the attached and fortified parts were destroyed without cause, and the tower again appeared in its original form.

To this day, in addition to the tower structure, a defensive wall with remains of dwellings, pottery and tarapans have come.

There were always a lot of tourists in these places. Very much attracts Syuyrena fortress. How to get here, each local resident will tell. Immediately after stopping in the village of Maloe Sadovoe there is a trail leading through the bridge of the Belbek river. Further, without turning off, you should go to the southern outskirts of the settlement and go to the reservoir. The dirt road begins behind it. After a mile and a half, you need to turn left and go carefully following the red markers. They will lead past the monastery of Chelter-Koba, located directly in the cave, gradually narrowing the path to the gorge Kizilnik. To the left of it begins a plateau, which leads to a direct road through the forest. And here it is, Syuyrena fortress in all its glory!