It’s no secret that the beauty of the Crimean Peninsula is that it is a unique and one-of-a-kind historical and cultural reserve. After all, it was Crimea that, for many centuries, preserved the culture and history of the different peoples who inhabited the peninsula. What is most noticeable in Crimea is the constant confrontation between the West and the East. After all, it was here that the history of the nomads of the Golden Horde began; here, the Greek colonists made history. It was Crimea that sheltered the first Muslims and Christians, who for many years built their mosques and churches.
In addition to its rich history, the peninsula boasts no less rich nature. After all, as you know, the “All-Union Health Resort” is precisely Crimea in all its glory, which, during the years of the USSR, was the best place for tourism and recreation. During the Soviet years, about 8 million tourists came here every year and vacationed in more than 100 sanatoriums. It’s simply not possible to see the sights of the Crimean Peninsula in one month. It takes a lot of time to see all the beauty of this reserve. But we offer you the ten best places in Crimea that everyone who comes here should definitely see.
1. Mount Ai-Petri
This mountain is the most favorite and popular mountain among tourists. Long ago, on its slopes, there was a temple (Greek) of St. Peter. To this day, the mountain preserves its ruins. To get to the top of Ai-Petri there is a special cable car, which is considered the longest of all in Europe. If you climb to the highest point, which reaches 1346 meters (called Roka), you can see a stunning view of the Crimean coast, as well as the Yalta mountain forest reserve.
2. Genoese fortress (Sudak)
At a time when merchants from Venice and Genoa ruled over the coast of the Crimean Peninsula (the territory from the Bosporus to Chersonese), they chose Sudak as a military base. It was the year 1371 that left its unforgettable mark on history by the fact that this year, the construction of the Genoese fortress began, which is now a unique historical monument. Nowadays, frequent restoration and research work is carried out on the territory of this fortress. People often come here on excursions.
3. Swallow’s Nest
If you haven’t seen this Gothic miracle castle, which was built on the edge of a cliff not a hundred years ago, as many believe, but in 1912, you have lost half your life. Be sure to visit there. The owner of the castle, Baron von Stengel, wanted his future “dacha” to be built in a style that would remind him of his homeland. His task was completed, but after some time, the baron urgently sold his castle, and over time, Swallow’s Nest (after its reconstruction) turned into an ordinary open-air restaurant.
4. Karadag Reserve
This place is known for its mystery and mystery, which is located on the South Bank. The reserve has a unique landscape that was formed as a result of frozen lava flows. The last time there was an eruption of the Kara-Dag volcano (hence the name of the reserve) was more than 150 million years ago. And already in 1979, a unique reserve was created here, the territory of which is rich in flora and fauna. By the way, many species are listed in the Red Book and are carefully protected.
5. Gazebo of the winds
The stone pavilion, which was built not so long ago, in 1956, stands motionless on the top of Mount Shagan-Kai at an altitude of about 1450 meters. This design got its name because of the mosaic in the form of a compass rose, which is depicted on the floor. This pavilion offers an amazing view of the Black Sea, which, in cloudless and clear weather, can be seen for about 150 km. Climbing here, you can admire Mount Ayu-Dag and the uniqueness of the cities of Gurzuf and Partenit. If you get too hot, you can visit the cave located next to the pavilion. It cools quickly because there is always snow there, and winter reigns.
6. Chersonese Tauride
Now, this place is considered a state reserve, which attracts tourists from all over the world with its history. And earlier, about 2.5 thousand years ago, the Greeks founded this city and settled in it. Previously, the city was famous for its large number of churches, monasteries, and Orthodox temples. Chersonesos is also famous for the fact that it was here that Prince Vladimir received the baptism of Rus in 988. In 1892, an archaeological museum was opened on the territory of the former Chersonese, which collected a lot of artifacts from all over the world.
7. Submarine base (Balaclava)
Have you been to a secret submarine base yet? Then you urgently need to visit the resort town of Balaklava (10 km from Sevastopol). Construction of the base began in 1957, but for security reasons, the facility received a name that did not correspond to reality – City Telephone Exchange No. 825 (GTS 825). The area of this underground structure is quite large: more than 5 thousand square meters or km. The base has been closed since 1994. And when Crimea was annexed, a museum was opened on the territory, which is dedicated to the base.
8. Tarkhankut
In the past, the Tarkhankut Peninsula was an inconspicuous place inhabited by about a couple of hundred inhabitants, who, as a rule, were engaged in agriculture. Shifts began when Major General Popov received part of the island’s lands into his possession. He began to improve the economy of the region. Now, the cape, which is located on the peninsula, is chosen by scuba divers, tourists and, of course, archaeologists. There are still many artifacts from the times of the Greeks and Scythians underwater here.
9. Fort Totleben (Kerch Fortress)
They decided to build Fort Totleben back when the Paris Peace Treaty strictly prohibited the Russian Federation from having its military ports and fleet on the Black Sea. The fort was named after the general who, at that time, headed the construction of the fortress. Today you can see that the fortress is an excellent example of inaccessibility, which has stood to this day since the 19th century. Now, people come here on excursions, and specialists explore the fortress itself.
10. Mount Demerdzhi
In Tatar, this mountain sounds like a “blacksmith”. It resembles a medieval castle and is located in the north of the Alushta Valley. The western slope of the mountain is known for its Valley of Ghosts. The valley got its name because, near the ruins of the old fortress, you can see stone structures that look like people and various animals. If you climb to an altitude of over 1200 m, you will be able to admire excellent scenic views.
