Cave city eski kermen address. Cave city eski kermen. Temple with a baptismal font - a holy place for gatherings of believers

Crimea is a territory that is rich in natural and man-made attractions. Perhaps, in no other corner of the country so many masterpieces of old and new times have been collected.

Therefore, if you are not attracted to supermarket trips, go to Eski Kermen - the most "cave" of all the cave cities of the peninsula. Such beauties and secrets, bathing and legends await here, which will remain in memory for a very long time.

Where is the cave city of Eski Kermen

The medieval bastion city is located in the southwest of the peninsula, if you look for the cave city of Eski Kermen on the map, then count 14 km south from Bakhchisaray and then 5 km northwest from the equally interesting Mangup Kale. In general, the entire inner ridge of the Crimean forest-steppe is full of secrets, but the foothills are famous for just such rocky ghost towns, which have long outlived glory, but at the same time remain attractive to travelers.

Going to see Eski Kermen - a cave city that amazes the imagination, do not plan to do it quickly. Three long routes, cut through the rocks, will lead to the entrance with a serpentine and will make it possible to bypass the entire settlement along the perimeter. And you definitely need to do this in order to enjoy not only amazing natural species, but also to understand how great the skill of the ancient builders was, to see the secrets of the ghost town and make sure that not everything is subject to the human mind.

Representing a table mountain with steep edges, the Iski Kermen plateau is elongated from north to south. The total length is a little over a kilometer, the width reaches 170 meters, and the height of the cliffs is up to 30 meters! This is a real impregnable fortification, which has long retained its integrity. Today, Eski Kermen is a route that gives you the opportunity to see a lot. The plateau offers a wonderful view of Mangup Kale, Tepe-Kermen, Chatyr-Dag. IN good weather the panoramas are such that it is painful and pitiful to leave here to tears, I want to stay and settle in Eski Kermen - the cave bastion rarely lets travelers go without a feeling of sadness and regret about the past.

The history of the emergence and development of the city

The old cave Eski Kermen or, as it is also called, Eksi Kermen, began its existence in the 6th century, when people came to the plateau to equip another pass on the trade routes. In ancient times, the busiest trade trails leading to Tauric Chersonesus passed here. At first it was an ordinary overnight stay, then travelers needed reinforcements in order to leave some goods in complete safety. This is how the arrangement of Eksi Kermen began, a city that survived the destruction and was again restored from the ashes like a phoenix.

The first trouble came at the end of the 8th century, when there was an uprising against the Khazar Khaganate led by John of Gotha. Judging by the excavations, the nearby Doros fortress was destroyed to the ground, but Eski Kermen was a little more fortunate, not only the defensive walls were restored, but also numerous intra-rocky economic caves were preserved: barns, stockyards, and so on. The heyday begins, when new guardrooms on the cliffs, shelters for guards at all approaches and improvement of roads are equipped.

The favorable period for Iska Kermen lasted a long time, in X-XII centuries on the site of the fortification, a real city grows with regular quarters, wide streets of 2 meters each and a population of many thousands. The testimony of contemporaries suggests that Eski Kermen in Bakhchisarai could accommodate not only residents, guests, but also a huge number of livestock.

The presence of water sources, sufficient supplies of provisions - this city could resist all misfortunes for a long time, as actually happened at the beginning of the 13th century, when the countless troops of Nogai came here. Destroyers swept across the highlands in a devastating wave, sweeping away everything in their path, killing and destroying. The stone caves of Eski Kermen survived, but the people turned out to be weaker than the rocks - they left. After a while, life, of course, returned, but no one wanted to restore the walls, renovate the caves, and little by little the Bakhchisaray Eski Kermen began to fade away.

At the end of the 15th century, the ruins were already almost completely overgrown with shrubs, the stones collapsed, nature gradually returned the rocks to their original state, in the 16th century even the real name of the city did not remain, it was called Cherkes-Kermen, and then Eski Kermen, which literally means simply "Old Fortress" The true name of the city can no longer be found, and even in the annals of 1578, the Lithuanian ambassador wrote to the khan that: “neither the Greeks, nor the Tatars, nor the Turks know what kind of fortification remains are located next to Cherkes-Kermen.”

Of course, the cave city of Eski Kermen loses in area to other settlements, but only here 332 caves, manually carved into the rocky base, have survived to this day almost intact! And it is worth seeing with your own eyes. Let someone praise the temples lost in the jungle - we will not dispute their value, but our treasure is hidden in the Crimea, which can only be reached on foot or in a good car, making a distance of several kilometers. You can only find shelter if it is an excursion to Eski Kermen, otherwise you can simply get lost in the foothills without finding the right road to the cave city of Eski Kermen.

Grottoes and tombs

Eski Kermen is an excursion famous not only for the skill of the ancient people who carved the city into the rocks. There are plenty of rooms equipped in a little more late time where people lived happily, enjoying the impregnability of the refuge. Two-story comfortable cave-apartments were spacious and comfortable. But after a raging fire, they turned into real tombs. Excavations of archaeologists have found in the cellars of many houses the remains of people who did not survive the elements.

In addition, the ruins of the basilica, once built in the city, today have become one of the sights, although of a slightly sad kind - a cemetery for the inhabitants of the village. For a long time the basilica was beautiful, equipped with three semicircular apses, naves, marble columns, but time does not spare such masterpieces.

Therefore, today it remains only to represent beauty, paying tribute to the dead and buried in the ruins of people. One of the naves has survived; a chapel has been built there, which is definitely worth a visit. And, of course, to inspect the siege well with a 20-meter tunnel, 84 steps and a water shaft. The steepness of the descent is great, so please be patient - this well is unique for the peninsula, it is not like it in any siege bastion city. When descending, do not look under your feet, the grottoes and tombs located in the branches and recesses of the corridor are much more interesting. That's where the scope for fantasy, legends and speculation. They say that from time to time, in especially quiet moments, you can hear the rattling of weapons and the voices of people who defended the well and the whole city from nomadic tribes.

Altars and frescoes

No less interesting for visiting the sanctuary of the city. The Church of the Three Horsemen has two entrances and a pair of windows that illuminate the entire space. Carved into the rock, the shrine is today a resting place. Two graves: one larger, the second small are located right in the temple, and between them there is a place for candlesticks and a cross. It is assumed that the temple was also named after a large grave, here George the Victorious is depicted pacifying the snake, on the sides there are two horsemen, one of whom holds a child in his arms. It is possible that the fresco was painted in honor of a significant battle, of which there were plenty. Most likely, the dead were canonized as Saints, the time of construction dates back to the end of the 12th century, and the battle was with the Tatar hordes, who filled the plateau with a myriad army.

A little closer to the head gate is the oldest temple, once equipped with three entrances, a bishop's chair and an baptismal font. There are also tombs in the floor of the temple, but the very shape of the structure is asymmetrical, which made scientists scratch their heads. It is assumed that this place was a kind of "trial court", where not only pardoned, but also punished. Frescoes have not been preserved, but the painting is alive in the Church of the Assumption, located a little further and almost completely destroyed. This church is truly unique. At first it was an ordinary pit for pouring grain, then it was converted into a grape press, that is, a winery, and then a church was opened - apparently a time of troubles had come and the inhabitants of Iska Kermen decided that the salvation of souls was much more important than all other things.

In addition to the frescoes and altars in the bastion, there are quite a lot of interesting things: sentinel platforms, loopholes, embrasures - you can’t count everything, but there is another unique monument that deserves the attention of travelers.

Valley of the Givers

A little away from Iska Kermen was the temple of the Donators. The frescoes depicting the Holy Grail perplex scientists and make them think over and over again all the details of the construction of the temple, the events that followed. A donor is a “donor”, ​​plus such a sacred fresco – the result is almost the same lost Grail burial place!

The famous scientist N. Repnikov at one time put forward a version that once upon a time the valley and the temple of the Donators were a single entity. He also described the rich and skillful frescoes that covered the walls and ceiling of the temple. It is interesting that the frescoes were painted with a skill that was available only to students of the Constantinople school, and this speaks volumes, for example, about the greatest significance the Temple of the Donators had for the inhabitants of the plateau. Today, the frescoes are completely lost, but there is an opportunity to see the remains of the shrine and attend the liturgy, which are sometimes held here.

Lake Eski Kermen

Going on an excursion to Eski Kermen, do not forget your bathing suit, because there is a real lake here! Someone will say that there is nothing interesting in a small pond if there is a huge sea nearby, but still it is worth swimming. Lake Eski Kermen is a masterpiece of nature. The water heated from above by the sun remains cool even in the hottest summer - below the reservoir is fed by the purest springs.

They say that not only the city of Eski Kermen, the lake is also sacred. If you are not afraid of coolness and plunge into the water with your head, failures will leave a person forever. And all lovers of extreme sports should definitely visit here: the opposite rocks are considered the most convenient place for jumping into the water, the height of some reaches 10 meters, so there are enough desperate people here!

Well, whoever likes calm water is invited to splash in cool jets, admire the surroundings and forget sorrows forever, because this lake gives peace to the soul and relaxation to the body.

Hostel Eski Kermen

Do you want to go to the internet cave? Then a trip to Eski Kermen is a decided route. The tourist base is located at the base of the city and is a whole complex of comfortable premises. There is everything for lovers of extreme sports and comfort. A hotel with apartments of various classes, an ethnic cave, preserved in the same ancient style.

Inside the ensemble, everything is very decent: there is a large parking lot, so you can see the Eski Kermen route on the map for an individual trip, there is also a good cafe, there is a small corner of living creatures where children come, a bathhouse, a tent camp for "savages" and a horse yard. The latter should be mentioned separately: you don’t particularly run into the mountains by car, but on horseback you can go to any secluded place, which all travelers do with pleasure. For fishing or mountain walks, ride yourself and take the kids for a ride - the horses are quiet, well-groomed and the price is affordable.

By the way, fishing in the ponds will please everyone! Carp, silver carp, crucian carp - they ask for the grill and they are fried right there, on fresh air, seizing with a tortilla and greens - tasty, healthy and very pleasant. And in order to go fishing for a day, you need to pay only about 1000 rubles, it is quite inexpensive for great pleasure and enjoyment from fishing. If you don’t want to fish nearby, go on horseback to other lakes and ponds, there are plenty of them here and fish, big and small, are perfectly caught everywhere.

How to get there?

To see all the wonder, you need to know how to get to Eski Kermen cave ghost town:

1. From Simferopol by regular bus on the route to Zalesnoye, get to the stop village of Krasny Mak;

Bus schedule from Simferopol to the stop Krasny Mak

Bus schedule Sevastopol-Red Poppy

2. By train Simferopol-Sevastopol get to the village. Front (station 1509 km), there transfer to bus number 45 and get to the village of Krasny Mak or Kholmovka;

Train timetable Simferopol-Sevastopol

3. By regular bus to Kholmovka to the final one.

Bus schedule Sevastopol-Kholmovka

And now from the Red Poppy or Kholmovka, following the signs, about 6 km on foot. Rides run frequently, so the question of how to get to Eski Kermen will not arise. But even if you choose a walk, you will not be disappointed - the places are so rich in beauty that the trip will bring pure pleasure!

By car, drive to the village of Tankovoye, and then to Krasny Mak, before which there is a turn to Kholmovka - turn left and head to Eski Kermen. How to get from the turn: drive to a large farm - its hedge can be seen immediately, turn left and the same reserved valley will open, and above it Eski Kermen - the cave city on the map is indicated by coordinates: N 44.6087 E 33.7400.

How to get by car from Simferopol to Eski Kermen (map)

From Sevastopol

From Yalta

From Sevastopol there is an electric train Sevastopol-Simferopol, get to the village of Frontovoe, there is bus 45 of the route. From Yalta by regular bus to Bakhchisaray, then on foot following the signs.

How to get to the cave city Eski Kermen from Bakhchisaray:

1. By bus Bakhchisaray - Zalessnoe to Red Poppy

2. By bus Bakhchisaray - Kholmovka to the final stop.

Going to Eski Kermen in your own car, don't worry about where to stay. There is no protected area, so you can choose a place to spend the night according to your own taste. In addition to the camp site, there are good campsites along the way, and the attraction is not so far from Simferopol that it was impossible to return at night. But what you can’t do is not to see the Eski Kermen cave city, in which the secrets of eternity have not yet been unraveled.

Official information
Medieval walled city in the southwest. parts of the Crimean peninsula,

14 km from the city of Bakhchisaray and 5 km north-west

Ruins of the medieval city of Mangup-Kale

General information about Eski-Kermen (according to published sources)

The name Eski-Kermen is translated from the Crimean Tatar as " old fortress».

The territory of the city occupied an area of ​​8.5 hectares, having a length of 1040 m and a width of 170 m. It is built on a table-shaped mountain plateau, limited by cliffs up to 30 m high. Eski-Kermen is included in the Bakhchisaray historical and cultural reserve.

The city of Eski-Kermen was founded at the end of the 6th century AD. e. as a Byzantine fortification and existed until the end of the XIV century. The history of the city before the 10th century is little known, since the city was an insignificant fortification. Although on this moment some researchers are inclined to the version that, perhaps, the Doros fortress was located here, and not on the Leaky Cape of Mangup-Kale. This is reflected in the name of the city by the Crimean Tatars: "Old Fortress". Indirect confirmation of this hypothesis is the presence of a siege well of the VI century, with a staircase of six marches and eighty steps, with a twenty-meter corridor; this was not the case in other known fortifications of the Byzantines during the construction of a defensive line against nomad raids in the Middle Ridge of Crimea.

From the 10th century, the gradual expansion of the city and the growth of its significance began, with the greatest flowering falling on the 12th and 13th centuries, when the number of inhabitants exceeded 2000 people. At that time, a full-fledged medieval city already existed here, the plateau was built up with rectangular quarters, separated by fairly wide streets along which a wagon could pass, the ruling bishop of the district was located on the territory of the city, as evidenced by the remains of the pulpit in the temple at the central gate. The Basilica, presumably built in the period from the end of the 4th century to the beginning of the 8th century, is being rebuilt and expanded, in the central part of the plateau.

In 1299, the city was destroyed by the Mongols under the leadership of the Golden Horde. beklarbek Nogay and was no longer able to fully restore its former significance. In 1399, the Mongol army, led by the temnik of the Golden Horde, Edigei, destroyed the rebuilt fortifications and completely destroyed the city, which was no longer restored after that. Only a small settlement remains in the vicinity: Cherkes-Kermen (village Strong) located between the northern tip of Eski-Kermen and Kyz-Kule. It existed from the period of late antiquity until the early 70s. XX century.

Not far from the village of Kholmovka is the cave city of Eski-Kermen. The fortress was built by the Byzantines at the end of the 6th century to defend Chersonese. In the 8th century, the Khazars destroyed the city, but locals did not leave their seats. The cave city of Eski-Kermen was finally destroyed in 1299 as a result of a raid by the Golden Horde Emir Nogai, who took revenge on everyone and everything for the death of his beloved grandson, whom he sent to the Crimea for tribute.

The original name of the city was forgotten, becauseEski-Kermen or Old Fortress- the name given by the Tatars, although no one lived in the city under their rule

The city is located 18 kilometers southwest of Bakhchisaray on a free-standing flat peak with steep slopes and impregnable cliffs. The height of the mountain is about 300 meters and it is elongated from north to south. The surface of the mountain is similar to the wing of an airplane and has a length of 1040 meters and a maximum width of 200 meters. The top of the mountain is located on the southern tip of the plateau.

From the north, the plateau is somewhat elongated and decreases slightly closer to the north, ending with a pointed rocky cliff. In the west and east, the cave city of Eski-Kermen is limited by rocky cliffs, having a height of about 30 meters. WITH south side, where the steep rocks have a small height, along a gentle slope, meandering, the road rises, which is carved right into the rock in front of the top. This part of the plateau in ancient times was protected by powerful defensive walls.

Hi all! I want to tell you about the mountain route, which is very popular with tourists when visiting the Bakhchisarai region in Crimea. - an amazing natural and man-made monument, which can be visited by the whole family. The main thing is to keep safe!

From the article you will learn about the route itself, how to get to Eski-Kermen and a little about the history of the settlement. My review will be large, so I bring to your attention its first part.

This article is intended primarily for those holidaymakers who, apart from the South Coast and the Black Sea, have not seen anything in Crimea. Thanks to our directors. After watching the movie "9th Company", the settlement of Eski-Kermen became more popular. Filming took place at 18 objects of the peninsula, one of which we will visit with you.

Our trip took place in mid-November. There were few tourists, for which I appreciate this time of year. In the Eski-Kermen season, you definitely can’t call it dead.

Settlement Eski-Kermen on the map.

View Larger Map

Near the plateau there is free parking and horseback riding. A booking tour has been created. groups on jeeps along the routes: Eski-Kermen, Tepe-Kerien, Chufut-Kale. Without leaving the cash desk, you can order a guide. Climb to the cave city with an excursion group or on your own.

Here is a picture from a helicopter, I borrowed it from the site sergeydolya.livejournal. This is what Eski-Kermen looks like in summer. On the one hand, it is certainly more beautiful in summer, but in November, thanks to bare trees, all the surroundings are clearly visible.

Northern part of the plateau. The length is a little over 1 km. See the path leading deep into the forest? This is where our ascent began.

When you go on a self-guided tour, carefully study the route! We met a group that got lost and didn't know how to get down the mountain. We had friends with us who were our guides. As you can see, you can go up or down from the north side and from the south.

Northern Sentinel Complex

Signs are placed along the entire excursion route, there are short descriptions objects. Our hike began along the rather steep northern slope of the mountain. Turning back, I noticed the first casemates of the cave city.

We climbed to the plateau where the Northern sentinel complex is located. View of the neighboring mountain and grottoes of Zangurma-Kobalar.

A boulder at the foot of the mountain caught my attention.

It was as if a giant took a knife and cut off one part of the common pie. :)

After looking around, we continued our way to the cave city. The path led through dense thickets.

A little history of the emergence of the city of Eski-Kermen

Presumably, the city of Eski-Kermen began its existence as a rock fortress in the sixth century, at the time Byzantine Empire. In the southwestern part of the peninsula, nature has created rocks of amazing shapes, which served as protection for people from the enemy. The mountain itself, because of the steep slopes and plateaus on the surface, is called a table mountain. There are beams on both sides of Eski-Kermen.

Despite the rather large settlement, very little is known about the history of the rock fortress. There are no mentions of the ancient city in the ancient chronicles. The local population called the cave city "old fortress" in the Crimean Tatar Eski-Kermen.

As it is written on the sign, the city has about 500 caves and grottoes, some of which are natural, and some are carved out of limestone. In almost every cave, the results of physical labor are visible: niches, windows, doorways and entire halls with columns. Thanks to the soft rock, a fortress city was built from the rocky walls, with multi-storey caves, streets, casemates and temples.

Food, weapons, and livestock were kept in numerous caves. The outer caves served as watch posts. Combat casemates covered the approaches to the city and the most vulnerable areas of defense.

The population built their houses on the upper flat part of the rock. The impregnable sheer walls served as a good defense for the population of the cave city.

Most of the cave structures of Eski-Kermen were built already in the XII-XIII centuries.

As for ethnicity, versions are different. It would be more accurate to say that the population consisted of mixed Crimean peoples: Taurians, Scythians and Goths.

siege well

The siege well is one of the main attractions of Eski-Kermen, which has become overgrown with legends. Many claim that it was because of him that the fortress fell. The building is quite interesting. well with drinking water helped the inhabitants of the cave city to withstand the siege.

My son and a friend tried to go down one flight below. The descent is very steep and difficult. It remains to guess how the water was raised up such steps.

According to the information on the signs, there are six such spans, and 84 steps lead down. Without a flashlight, there is no point in descending into the well. At the very bottom there was a cave with water from a spring. Some water remains to this day. If you want to go down into the siege well, take a flashlight and a rope with you.

The excursion trail passes at the very edge of the mountain, there is another one in the depths of the thickets, but the first one is much more interesting.

Caves of Eski-Kermen

The closer we were to the South Gate of Eski-Kermen, the more interesting were the "facades" of the caves.

Here is a two-story house, stone steps lead to it, carved into the rock by hand.

The photographs came out unimportant, but in general the “design” of the cave is understandable.

Transition between the first and second floors.

As I mentioned, the main dwellings of the townspeople were destroyed long ago. The caves that you see served as utility and guard rooms.

A long and narrow cave city can be compared to a liner and cabins of different classes. That's just instead of the sea, the vast expanses and mountains of Crimea.

Each cave has ventilation holes, and upon closer inspection, prehistoric clam shells can be seen in the walls.

View from the window on the Zangurma-Bair plateau, pay attention to the thickness of the walls.

The multi-level housing of the Flintstones' neighbors. :)

Jump from cliff to cliff, and here we are new cave with a preserved column.

Stone figures of the cave city

It is difficult to say whether a person natural phenomena left behind intricate figures in stone.

You can dream up and see different images ...

But the big-nosed uncle in profile ... see? :)

Through the labyrinths of passages we get to the surface and head to the place, thanks to which even more tourists learned about the ancient settlement.

In the footsteps of the film expedition

In front of you is the set of the film "9th Company". According to the scenario, the Mujahideen jumped into the wells, but in reality they are granaries with an excellent ventilation system. Under such conditions, grain could be stored for 10-15 years. If necessary, cut holes were covered with stone covers.

The inhabitants were engaged in winemaking, cattle breeding, and thanks to the numerous fields and agriculture.

Tour groups love to take pictures here.

And here, in fact, are shots from the film "9th Company"

Be very careful and watch your children! By the way, my “baby” really made me worry….. And at that moment…. “My heart stopped soooo...then it caught my breath a little...and started again”, the son realized that it was better to go back.

Next time, the most beautiful part of the cave city Eski-Kermen is waiting for you. .

Photo: cave city Eski-Kermen

A significant part of the Crimean mountains is composed of soft rocks. This contributed to the formation of a large number of karst caves. The people who built artificial grottoes also contributed. Thus, several cave cities appeared on the Crimean peninsula. One of the most interesting is called Eski-Kermen.

old fortress

In the Crimean Tatar language, the word "eski" literally means "old", and "kermen" - "fortress". The cave metropolis is located in the south-west of Crimea, two dozen kilometers from Bakhchisaray. By the standards of antiquity, it was indeed a metropolis, since the area of ​​​​urban development reached about eight hectares. With a width of 170 meters, the settlement had a length of just over a kilometer. The city was built on a plateau 30 meters high.

Photo: The ancient city is located on an impregnable rock

Currently, Eski-Kermen is a protected area. It is part of the exposition of the Bakhchisaray Museum. Nearby are the villages of Ternovka, Kholmovka, Zalesnoe and Red Poppy. Of them begin hiking trails to the reserved plateau. Just five kilometers from Eski-Kermen is another ancient cave city called Mangup-Kale.

From the depths of centuries

In the VI century AD, the Byzantines firmly settled in these places. They built a fort on the mountain. For almost three hundred years, the settlement was on the sidelines. Its population actually consisted only of the soldiers of the garrison. And only in the X century there was a tendency to increase. Over the next two hundred years, the number of inhabitants grew to 2 thousand people. The development of the vast plateau was carried out systematically. A regular network of streets and quarters appeared on the mountain.

Photo: The mountain range is riddled with caves and passages

The heyday of the city was caused by a change in its status. The fact is that in Eski-Kermen they opened Cathedral where the reigning bishop served. Evidence of this is the pulpit, which archaeologists found in the temple near the central gate. During this period, the ancient basilica was significantly expanded and rebuilt. A rarity for a medieval city were relatively wide streets. They even rode on wagons. This is evidenced by wheel ruts and hoof marks carved in stone over hundreds of years.

A crushing blow to the well-being of Eski-Kermen was dealt by the Golden Horde ruler Nogai. In 1299, his army captured the city, ravaged and destroyed it. The former greatness could not be restored even many years after the departure of the invaders. In 1399, the Mongol army under the leadership of Temnik Edigey completed the rout. Temnik in the Golden Horde commanded a detachment of 10 thousand soldiers. It turns out that the number of enemies is many times greater than the number of inhabitants.

Photo: Wagon tracks

This was the last battle of the cave citadel, after which no attempt was ever made to restore it. Only the satellite city of Cherkes-Kermen remained, located on the northern outskirts of Eski-Kermen, at the foot of the mountain. A small ancient settlement existed almost until the end of the 20th century. In the USSR, it was known as the village of Strong. This locality having ancient history, was abolished in 1977.

Scenery for a thriller

Even today, Eski-Kermen makes a spectacular impression. Sometimes it seems that this is not an archaeological site, but a giant scenery for a science fiction film. Some cave complexes resemble huge skulls with black empty eye sockets, others look like medieval knight helmets. Stairs leading to nowhere; roads with ruts, as if carved in stone; the mysterious tunnels leading to the dungeons are Eski-Kermen. No less impressive are the alien panoramas that open from the plateau.

Photo: Sometimes it seems that this is not a city, but the scenery for a science fiction film

In total, there are about 350 natural and artificial caves in the city. There are about fifty more in the vicinity. This is really a real cave metropolis. Some grottoes are located on several floors. Some of the caves were used as fortifications, others as temples, others for residential and household purposes, they stored food, kept livestock. All of them appeared between the 12th and 13th centuries.

The plateau is over a kilometer long. Buildings occupy only part of the territory. A typical city dweller's house had two floors and was surrounded by a stone fence. The first floor served for household needs, on the second they lived. Crafts were developed in the city - there were blacksmiths, potters, jewelers, masons, tanners. Winemaking flourished - niches with drains, which are called tarpans, have been preserved. Wine fermented in them.

man-made miracle

Acquaintance with Eski-Kermen begins with the Temple of the Three Horsemen. It is located on the road leading to the plateau. A stranger church is hard to imagine. At first, you might think that this is just a huge gray boulder with a diameter of about four meters. And this is really a piece of rock, but inside it is hollow!

A small wooden door with a golden cross. Behind it is an oval room with a shuttered window. The wall is decorated with a long fresco depicting three riders - hence the name of the temple. One of them is easily identified by the spear with which he strikes the snake. There is no doubt that this is George the Victorious. Under the painting there is an inscription that says that the holy martyrs were depicted for the salvation of the soul and the remission of sins.

In the Middle Ages, life was full of dangers, so any ancient city it is impossible to imagine without fortress walls. Eski-Kermen is no exception. The main gate leading inside is punched right into the rock mass. Behind them was the first defensive wall. The sheer ledges of the plateau in themselves served as an ideal defense, so the walls were built only where there were loopholes for the enemies. The defensive line included caves with loopholes. The fortifications, built over a thousand years ago, are very well preserved.

Photo: Big cave temple

In Eski-Kermen it is amazing a large number of places of worship. On the main street in east wall, there is a spacious cave temple. Inside you can see benches, a font and tombs. Because of its size, it is called “The Great Cave Temple”. On the territory of the city, you can see the ruins of a basilica of the 6th century and a number of religious cave structures - the Temple at the city gates, the Judgment Complex and the temple of the Assumption, decorated with frescoes.

The fortress has a siege well, which is a complex engineering structure. In fact, this is an inclined mine working with a stone staircase with 89 steps. It leads to a twenty-meter horizontal tunnel, through which you can get into the cave, where there was drinking water. The well was in working condition until the end of the 7th century. Walking around Eski-Kermen, you involuntarily realize how much time and work it took to turn the mountain into a prosperous city.

How to get there

There are several options to get to Eski-Kermen. If you go by car, on the 37th km of the road Simferopol - Sevastopol, behind the village of Siren, you must turn left. On the outskirts of the village of Tankovoe, you need to turn right and go to the village of Red Poppy. Here, the monument to the Sorrowful Mother will serve as a guide. Near it, you need to turn right and drive another 5 kilometers along the dirt road.