The famous Chufut-Kale is located in the vicinity of Bakhchisaray and is considered one of its main attractions, along with the Khan's palace , in ancient times it was called Kyrk-Or, which in translation meant "Forty Fortresses". Today it is called the "Jewish city". The history of these places is much older than it may seem.
Chufut-Calais: history
Back in the 13th century, the most powerful tribe of Alans lived in the fortress. The inhabitants engaged in agriculture, traded with neighboring countries. But soon the tribe was captured by the Golden Horde. It was then that the fortress was called Kyrk-Or. The location and power of the fortress were appreciated and the first khan placed his residence there.
After the Crimean khans were resettled in Bakhchisarai, Chufut-Kale became the capital's citadel and the place of imprisonment of the captives. Later in the middle of the 17th century the Tatars left Kirk-Or, only the Karaites remained. Tatars considered them Jews, because the city was renamed Chufut-Kale (Jewish fortress). The fortress of Chufut-Kale became the home for the Karaites for the next two hundred years.
Later, after the entry of the Crimea into Russia, the Karaites declared themselves adherents, which gave them the right to receive officers' ranks in the army. Now no one considered them as Jews. It was during this period that the town of Chufut-Kale gradually began to empty. Residents gradually moved to Bakhchisaray, Evpatoria and Simferopol. The last of its inhabitants left their native places in 1852.
Chufut-Calais: how to get there?
If you decide to visit these most interesting places, you can easily find the coordinates of Chufut-Kale with the help of the map of Crimea. The city is located 3.5 km east of Bakhchisaray. It is located on the plateau of the mountain spur and can only be reached on foot.
To the cave city of Chufut-Kale leads a long staircase of 480 steps. First you can see the cells cut straight in the rock. These are chapels, chapels and a whole interlacing of vaulted staircases.
Then you get to the last grotto where the famous icon is located. Next, go to the Uspensky Monastery near Chufut-Kale. From the monastery the road leads to the orchard, and then up to the rocky ravine. On the one hand, it seems that the mountain reef is hanging, and the path leads to the gates of the city. Get to the gate Chufut-Kale can only be kicked, as the trail is really narrow, and the paved path is rather tortuous. Even shoes should be picked up soft, so as not to move down the mirror surface, strewn with sparkling stones.
Short tour of the cave city of Chufut-Kale
The entrance to the city lies through the southern gates of Kuchuk-Kapu. Sometimes they are called "secret", because you can see them only close. In some ways, these gates are a trap. The fact is that you could approach them only with your right side. As you know, the shield was held in the left hand, because along the wall the enemy was completely defenseless. This was used by the inhabitants of the city: they showered the enemy with arrows from the wall. You can not beat the gate with a ram, because the descent is quite steep. And if it was possible to break through, then after the assault the enemy found himself with a narrow corridor. It was enough to drop large stones or pour boiling water on the heads of enemies.
One of the attraction of the city of Chufut-Kale is a well. It is located to the south of the main square and is a tank cut straight in the rock. Approaches are arranged in such a way that the flow of rainwater is always in the well. Two sump were cut down nearby. The places here are waterless, therefore water was brought to the city from nearby sources.
There was also a secret deep well in the city. During the siege, it was from this well that water was delivered to the inhabitants. Later, when the fortress lost its martial law, information about the well was lost. Hidden information passed from generation to generation only the custodians and elders of the city.
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