Bakhchisaray

Bakhchisaray is situated in the picturesque valley of the Churuk-Su River. It is 32 km from Simferopol. People live on the territory of Bakhchisaray 40,000 years ago. Bakhchisaray (Garden Palace) is an old city. It was founded in the 16th century under Khan Khadzhy Ghirey. He moved the capital from Eski-Kyrym (Old Crimea) onto a bank of the Churuk-Su (Foul Water) River. Bakhchisaray became the capital of the Crimean khanate. The narrow valley stimulated a picturesque lay-out of Bakhchisaray. The city harmonized well with the lush greenery. Streets ran parallel the river to the Khan’s palace. The palace became the city’s center and a historical museum.

Bakhchisaray is a city of contrasts. Here oriental exotic monuments mixed with the provincial architecture. Bakhchisaray produces cement and ferro-concrete, fine wines and essential oils. The city is home of a building college, a musical school, five secondary schools and a school-lyceum of foreign languages. There is a monument to A. Pushkin who visited Bakhchisaray in 1820.

There are monuments of Crimean-Tartar architecture in Bakhchisaray. Among them are the Eski-Dyurbe Sepulchre and Tokhtaly-Dzhami mosque. In the outskirts of Bakhchisaray there are sepulchres of Khadzhy-Ghirey and Menglis-Ghirey. Near the Zindjirli Moslem school there is the grave of Ismail Gasprinskiy. There is also a complex of four mausoleums. In the Mairam-Dere ravine stands Saint Assumption Cave monastery. Further on there is the cave town of Chufut-Kaleh (Jewish Fortress). Bakhchisaray is very rich in archeological landmarks. They are the cave towns of Tepe-Kermen (Top Fortress), Kyz-Kermen (Girl Fortress) and Kachi-Kalyon (Camp of Nomads).

Further to the south-west there are the Suren Fortifications, the town of Mangup, the Kyz-Kule (Girl Tower) and Eski-Kermen (Old Fortress) Fortifications.

Bakhchisaray has always been an attraction for men of letters, art and travelers. They visit the Khan’s palace and the famous cave towns.

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