Sightseeing

The Palace of the Crimean Khans located in the town of Bakhchisaray (Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine) was founded in 1532. During about 250 years, till 1783, the Bakhchisaray Palace was the center of the political, spiritual and cultural life of the state of the Crimean Tatars.

The City of Bakhchisaray and its suburbs have always attracted attention of tourists thanks to its great number of monuments of the Crimean Khanate times. The Zyndzhyrly Madrasah was built by Mengly Giray, son of the Crimean Khanate founder, Khadzhy Giray, in 1500 in the village of Salachiq, Bakhchisaray. In 1501 Khadzhy Giray’s burial vault was built near the entrance to madrasah. These most attended monuments are now of great cultural and historical value. They play an important role in development of touristic sphere as well as in restoration of historical monuments of the Crimean Tatars.

Expositions of archival collections of the reserve are situated in the building of Khan Palace. Here you can take pleasure in seeing the following collections: “China ware, XVII – XIX c.", "Metalic things from museum funds", The ornamental patterns and embroidery of the Crimean Tatars, “Manuscript books of eastern authors (XVI – XVIIIc.)”. You can also find here an anniversary exposition devoted to famous Crimean Tatar enlightener Ismail Gasprinsky.

The Museum of Arts of Bakhchisaray Culture and History Reserve is situated in the outhouse, near the Southern (Garnen) gate of the Khan Palace. Four exhibitions halls offer you an exposition reflecting following topics: "Portaiture in the works of artists of XVIII c.”, "Picturesque motifs of Bakhchisaray in the art of the XIX – the first half of the XX c.”, “Bakhchisaray in the modern Fine Arts”. The fifth hall is intended for traveling Fine Arts exhibition.

Ismail Gasprinsky (1851-1914) is a Crimean Tatar enlightener, writer and public figure. Among all his numerous deserts, there is also a foundation of the first edition in the Crimean Tatar langage: the newspaper “Terdzhiman – Translator”. The first issue of the newspaper appeared in Bakhchisaray in 1883. Nowadays, there is a memomial House-Museum of Ismaol Gasprinsky in the building of former pring shop, in the Gasprinsky Street, 47a

The settlement on the mountain cape, later known as Kyrk-Yer and Chufut-Kale, appeared in the VI-VII century as the Byzantine fortress. Subsequently, the fortification changed its appearance essentially while being extended and completed. The monuments of different epochs have remained here: fortifications of Byzantine Empire and the Crimean Khanate times, the mausoleum of khan Tokhtamysh’s daughter and ruins of the mosque of Golden Horde times, Karaite Kenesa and mansions. In the east the city is protected with the fortified wall with gates, and in the south – with the defensive cave complex. For a long time the city served as the strengthened stronghold of the Crimean khans, and subsequently, up to the middle of XIX century, continued remaining the residence of numerous Karaite community. Visiting "cave city" of Chufut-Kale is included into our route across the Southwestern Crimea. You will have a chance to rise to Chufut-Kale, in which everything looks loke in a fairy tale! It has 170 caves with the embrasures punched in hundred-meter rocky breakages; the mausoleum; magnificent and severe Jehoshaphat’s valley.