Travel to Crimea!

Bakhchisarai, one of the oldest Islamic cities that you will find in the Crimean peninsula, owes its name to the Persian language. Bakhchisarai, or باغچه سرای (bâqce sarây) in Persian literally translates as «The Garden Palace».
Turkic tribes established an old village by the name of Eski-Yurt as early as the 13th century, in the period of the Golden Horde. Then between 1427 and 1449, the Crimean Khanate was founded by Hadzi- Ghirai Khan.

The city calls itself home to about 70% of all Tatar population of the Crimean peninsula. Houses, streets, local cafes wear a quaintly, oriental look. Tatar people will greet you with oriental hospitality and they will tell you with great pleasure about their unique history, Islamic culture and national traditions.
The principal building, the palace, which is better known as the Khan-sarai, was originally erected in 1519 by Abdul-Sahal-Ghirai. For 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. More »

Chufut-Kale is one of the best preserved and best known towns. It is located near Bakhchisarai on the plateau of a mountain spur which dominates three deep valleys. Nature itself planned the inaccessibility of this town, while man reinforced the natural defenses with fortifications.

Researchers are not unanimous as to the time of the town’s appearance. Some of them consider it to be a Byzantine fortress founded in the 6^th century. Others are of the opinion the fortified settlement appeared in the 10^th-11^th centuries.

During the early period of the town’s history, it was mainly populated by Alans, the most powerful of a late Sarmatian tribes of Iranian descent. They began penetrating the Crimea from the 2^nd century A.D. Settling down in the mountainous Crimea, the Alans adopted Christianity. They engaged in agriculture, cattle-breeding and handicrafts. According to archaeologist Ye.V.Veimarn, who excavated some sections of the town in the 1950s  and 1960s, it was not only a fortress but primarily a centre of commerce and craft. The ancient name of the town has been preserved. In written sources it is mentioned in the 13^th century under the name of Kyrk-Or (Forty Fortifications). This name lasted until the mid-17^th century.

In 1299 the Tatar horde of Emir Nogai raided the Crimean peninsula. Kyrk-Or was among the sacked towns. Having seized the town, the Tatars quartered their garrison in it.

At the turn of the 15^th century, Tatars settled Karaite craftsmen in front of the eastern line of fortifications; the Karaites built a second defensive wall to protect their settlement, and thus a new part of the town appeared.

In the 15^th century the first Crimean Khan, Hadji-Girei, who realized the fortress’ advantages, turned the old section of the town into his fortified residence. Years later it also safeguarded khans during their internecine strife and was a reliable shelter during their struggle against the Golden Horde for independence.

After the defeat of the Golden Horde, the Crimean Khanatr became considerably stronger. The significance of Kyrk-Or as a stronghold declined, and the Crimean Khan Menglis-Girei moved his capital to Bakhchisarai. The old town remained a citadel of Bakhchisarai and a place of incarceration for aristocratic prisoners.

In the late 15^th century the Lithuanian ambassador Lez was imprisoned there and in the mid- 17^th century, the Polish Hetman Potocki. In Kyrk-Or Russian envoys and famous political figures languished in captivity as well, including Vasili Graznoi, a favorite of Ivan the Terrible, Russian envoy Vasili Aitemirov and Prince Romodanovski, sent in the late 17^th century to the Crimea to conclude a peace treaty. The most severe tribulations fell upon the shoulders of V. Sheremetev. This Russian voevode spent 21 years in Tatar captivity (from 1660 to 1681).

In the mid-17^th century Tatars left  Kyrk-Or. Only Karaites remained to live there. They were the descendants of ancient Turkic-speaking Khazars, whose state in the 7^th – 10^th centuries included parts of the Crimea. In the 8^th century the Khazar Kaganate adopted Judaism. Tatars considered Karaites to be Jews, hence the town graudually acquired the name of Chufut-Kale, which in Turkic meant “Jewish fortress”. After the Tatar departure, Karaites lived there for over 200 years. They adopted Karaism, a doctrine which rejects rabbinism and talmudism and bases its tenets on the interpretation of the Pentateuch. With time, the word “Karaite” came to refer to the name of the people.

After the Crimea’s conquest and its inclusion into the Russian empire, the Karaites declared their loyalty to the new rulers. In return the government granted them privileges, enabling them to live anywhere in the empire. From that time on, Chufut-Kale became deserted. Its dwellers left the plateau and settled in cities. By the mid-19^th century the town ceased to exist.

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Simferopol is the capital of Crimea. Most of the tourists usually gravitate to the seaside, they don’t know that Simferopol hides intriguing history. Till now the history of Simferopol is the subject of discussion among the historic scientists.

Simferopol, railway station, simferopol taxi

On the territory of modern Simferopol there was a city, called Neapol Scythius, in Greek “New city”, the city existed from IV century B.C. till III century A.C. Then Neapol Scythius was destroyed by Goths, than again it was restored and destroyed by Huns1.

Since 1501 on rather huge territory of modern Simferopol there was one of the largest cities of medieval Crimea. Aqmescit, the translation from Turkic is “the white mosque” (Aq—white, and mescit—mosque). Aqmescit was handcrafts city with narrow streets, dead-end streets, so this place as a whole looks like a puzzle. The oldest building is Kebir-Cami, was built in 1496. The Mosque is really white, that is why, the city was called Aqmescit.

!! Simferopol had to replace the old tatar’s name of the city. As a result our city have lost nearly 3 centuries of its history. So today many Crimean ethnographers say, that Simferopol’s birthday is not 1784, only just when the word “Simferopol” appeared.

After annexation of Crimea to the Russian Empire in 1783 by Catherine II of Russia, Simferopol became the administrative center of Taurida Governorate. The foundation of the first buildings was in June of 1784, for construction works were sent former soldiers and farmers – so these people were the first settlers.

There have been living a lot of famous persons like Russian writers A. Pushkin, A. Griboedov, L. Tolstoy, A. Chekhov, painters I.Samokish, I. Aivazovsky, doctor and scientist N. Pirogov, scientists P.Pallas, A.Fersman, I.Kurchatov, G.Franko, army officers V.Dolgorukov, A. Suvorov and many others.

1 Hun —- A member of a nomadic central Asian people gaining control of a large part of central and eastern Europe about AD 450

Culture and Museums in Simferopol

The Museum of Simferopol is opened for the first time in Simferopol

Night at Museum in Simferopol

Simferopol’s cultural life

Parks in Simferopol

Gagarinsky Park in Simferopol or finally Spring over here

Two best Simferopol’s parks: Salgirka and Gagarinsky

Tours in Simferopol

Historical DayTrip on Womans’ International Day in Simferopol

TOUR “Multicultural Spirit of Crimea” 6 days/5 nights

News in Simferopol

Construction of the Cathedral mosque in Simferopol

What is Interesting to Know about Simferopol District or Useful Information for Rural Tourists 

Age of Simferopol, Crimea

 Simferopol news. Newspapers.

Transport and Taxi in Simferopol

Car rental in Simferopol. Simferopol Airport in Crimea

Transfer Services Simferopol Crimea

Transport in Simferopol

Taxi Simferopol – Crimea ORDER NOW

Simferopol Trains – Schedules & Itineraries

Simferopol Flights

Simferopol Inter-city Buses and Trolleybuses

Hotels in Simferopol

LIST OF THE HOTELS IN SIMFEROPOL, 2011

Mini-Hotel Zolotoy Prud (Golden Pond) in Simferopol

Where to stay in Simferopol – top 5 best hotels of Simferopol

Hotel Praga in Simferopol

Hotel Ukraina in Simferopol

Hotel Valencia in Simferopol

Cafes/Reastaurants/clubs in Simferopol

Nightlife in Simferopol (Night clubs)

 Videos in Simferopol on YouTube

Hello dear Guests of  Traveltocrimea agency!

Yevpatoria or Eupatoria has many names – Ukrainian: Євпаторія, Russian: Евпатория, Crimean Tatar: Kezlev, Greek: Ευπατορία, Κερκινίτις – Eupatoria, Kerkinitis, Turkish: Gözleve, Armenian: Եվպատորիա – Yevpatoria.

The city of Yevpatoria is a home for many nationaties. Yevpatoria is situated on the coast of Kalamita gulf of the west part of Crimea. This town is a peninsula, it is surrounded by water from 3 sides. To the South is the sea with sandy beaches, to the East sits the biggest salt lake of Crimea, Sasik-Sivash, and to the West is lake Moinaki, which is famous for healing muds.

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Yevpatoria has its own landmark – old town. There are some temples of a few different religions on a small territory of old town. A Mosque is on the opposide side is Orthodox church, Synagogue is a neighbor of Caraites temple, Armenian church is next to Qalandariyah (rus. дервиши). It’s no accident. The energy of this Crimean town is amazing.
The route through the old town of Yevpatoria begins at an ancient temple of Caraites. Till 1920 Yevpatoria was world’s centre of caraites. There only a few representatives of this folk left for the few thousands remaining. However, they have restored their temple – Kenasi. For example, there are two Caraite’s temples in Yevpatoria, they were built at the end of the XVIIth century. Kenasi was visited by Russian Imperators Alexandr I and Nikolai II. Today these temples are in working order. More »

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Sevastopol as it is was founded on the 14th of June 1783, but Chersonese, an ancient city, the magnificent ruins of which are located in the territory of modern Sevastopol, is much older. It was founded in the 5th century B.C.
Sevastopol is not just a seaport and not simply a Hero-City, a city of Russian glory, but an unfulfilled dream of many conquerors, who dreamt to possess this land; the city was brought to the ground two times and again was rebuilt.

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Sevastopol together with Kronstadt and Gibraltar is one of the most famous naval citadels in Europe. One of the most notable events involving the city is the Siege of Sevastopol (1854-1855) carried out by the British, French, Sardinian and Turkish, troops during the Crimean War, which lasted for 11 months.
Sevastopol is also a city of museums, most of them are dedicated to the events of numerous wars that took place in Sevastopol.
Sevastopol is the biggest Crimean tourists centre, it means that in a single day it’s impossible to see, to estimate, to understand this city.

•  CHERSONESE (in Sevastopol)
• Ancient Theatre in Tauric Chersonese
• Greek colonies in Crimea – Chersonese

• MUSEUMS in Sevasopol
• Museum «Crimean War» in Balaclava
• Museum of Soviet Childhood is newly opened in Sevastopol
• Visit to the Sapun-Mountain is a kind of journey into the world of the war history of Sevastopol

• NEWS in Sevastopol
• Project of Balaclava Reformation will be performed in Cannes
• Dasha of Sevastopol – the first crimean sister of charity

• BALACLAVA (Sevastopol district)
• Balaclava (general description of a town)
• Some Pictures of Balaclava, amazing piece of nature of Crimea
• Museum «Crimean War» in Balaclava

• BEACHES
• 20 best Crimean beaches (pictures)

Some interesting facts about Sevastopol

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• During Soviet Union times, Sevastopol was closed city not only for tourists, but also for average citizens of our country. The entrance was possible only on special pass. Nowadays Sevastopol is subordinated to Kiew, rather then Crimean government.
• Sevastopol twice held the fort: in 1854-1855 (349 days) and in 1941-1942 (250 days).
• Chersoness - Ancient Greek city with the only ancient theater at the territory of former USSR.
• The numerous bays (about thirty) attach a unique appearance to Sevastopol.
• In XIXth century in the Savastopol’s bay there were 3 factories of oyster’s incubation. It is interesting that His Imperial Majesty, including all his family, preferred these oysters than French and Italian ones.
• The city runs along the coastline for about 40 km.
• Now Sevastopol is an Ukrainian city, but most people here speak Russian.
• The monument to Scuttled Ships on the Seaside Boulevard is standing on the old long ago dead – ouster bank. On this place there was the restaurant “Bobber”. It seemed to be on the water. The peculiarity of this restaurant was a swimming pool in the middle of the hall, where the oysters were fished out before visitor’s eyes and dished up at once.
• In 1893 in the fortress Sevastopol there was own pigeon service. Staff– one officer, one supervisor, 2 wardens and 250 pigeons.