All about holidays in Balaklava 2020: how to get there, where to stay and what to see. Infrastructure, transport and best beaches Balaclavas.

The Balaklavsky district of Sevastopol, located in the southwest, includes the famous resort town OK - Balaclava. The quiet harbor of the Black Sea attracted many nations, including Greeks, Byzantines, Genoese, Turks and many others. Before the war, Balaklava was a separate city, a little later it became part of Sevastopol and is located there to this day. This is one of the four districts of the city.

Balaklava - "secret" area

During the Soviet period, Balaklava was top secret. Not only was it a closed city itself, but also a special pass was required to enter Balaklava. Not every resident who had a residence permit in the hero city could easily get to a remote area. The reason for this, as was often the case in the USSR, was a military submarine repair plant, where the “Museum of the Cold War” is now open.

In the 90s, Balaklava naturally "declassified", and it turned out that it is ideal for recreation. Hotels and mini-hotels began to be built at an accelerated pace. There are wonderful beaches, and numerous ancient monuments, and a favorable climate that allows you to improve your health. Rich seafood makes it possible to enjoy dishes in fish restaurants. And in general, southern flavor and a special atmosphere make Balaklava a favorite resort for many.

Balaklava Bay - the most beautiful in Crimea!

View of the fortress and part of the Balaklava embankment

Balaklava Bay, which for a long time was filled with docks and warships, has become noticeably cleaner and more transparent. And although the sanitary and epidemiological station does not recognize it as suitable for swimming, many ignore the ban.

How to get to Balaklava 2020

The most convenient way to get to Balaklava is by public transport from the 5th kilometer stop - it will take no more than 20 minutes. central part Sevastopol is located 15 km from Balaklava. As we have already noted, this is a fairly remote area of ​​the hero city, due to the territorial location of Balaklava Bay.

To Balaklava from the airport

If you set off purposefully from, bypassing Sevastopol, the journey will take 2 hours, but depending on the traffic on the route. Distance - about 70 km. The price for a taxi starts from 2000 rubles. (you can see -). The cost in this case is justified, since there is no direct bus (except perhaps the route Armyansk - Balaklava, which runs once a day).

If you go to Balaklava on public transport through Sevastopol, you will have to make 3-4 transfers.

To Balaklava with an excursion

For those who are interested in Balaclava as a day trip, we recommend sightseeing tour to navigate the area. Our favorite guide Alexandra lives in Sevastopol, her tour lasts 2 hours. In a group from 1 to 10 people. The meeting point is the central square.

What to do for those who are not disposed to excursions? Study detailed instructions: how to get to Balaklava from the bus station, what to see, etc.

Beaches of Balaklava - where to swim

WITH coastline Balaklava is lucky, it is one of the most picturesque places in the Crimea. beauty local beaches due to their location - at the foot of the Crimean mountains, on which pine and juniper forests grow.

The coast of most of the beaches of Balaklava is sandy, but there are also large pebbles. Water is clear and clean:

The secluded Vasili Beach is the pride of the resort! (Balaklava, Crimea)

• It is customary to start acquaintance with "City Beach"- it is considered the most comfortable and equipped. In addition, it is located on the waterfront, so it is easy to find. However, you will have to swim in the Balaklava Bay, and it is not as clean as the beaches that have access to the open sea;
• Silver Beach- one of the most picturesque in Balaklava. You can get to it on a private longboat or on foot, on the way to the Fig tract;
• To the most distant Golden Beach- in addition to the methods related to the "Silver" beach, you can get there by boat, since there is a full-fledged pier. Its bottom is dotted with large boulders, from which it is convenient to dive;
• There is a beach in Balaklava for extreme lovers - "Cliff". On it you can dive from a steep cliff into the sea;
• Beach with beautiful landscapes and golden sand - "Vasili"- attracts those who seek to take a break from the hustle and bustle of other people;
• The most secluded is « lost World» . Balaclavas get to this beach only on a rented boat, or with a tour of the surrounding grottoes and caves.

What to try in Balaklava - food and wine

There is a winery in Balaklava factory " golden beam» . Halfway from the 5th km to the neighborhood you can admire the stretching vineyards. Zolotaya Balka specializes in sparkling wines, but recently light table wines of decent quality have appeared in the line, which will brighten up any holiday in Balaklava.

If you come for one day, then after the walk, go to a fish restaurant. To the famous Balaklava red mullet order a glass of ice white or. Complement all this with a plate of mussels and consider that your day was a success!

What to try in Balaklava if there is no time for a full meal?

Everything is the same, only "go out". On central square(the one from where minibuses depart to Sevastopol) opened "Zolotaya Balka" brand store. The choice is huge, and fakes, as in the case of Massandra wines, you can not be afraid. For wine, feel free to buy at the pier all the freshly caught horse mackerel and red mullet, which you can only reach, and leave home happy.

Honestly, you won't regret it!

What to see / where to go Balaklava

Balaklava is famous not only for its beaches, but also for many interesting places dating back to different eras:

Cembalo fortress is one of the main attractions of Balaklava

• The main decoration of the resort - Cembalo fortress. It is located on a mountain called Krepostnaya. You can climb to the fortress along the equipped road. The construction of the medieval Cembalo was carried out by the Genoese during the colonization of the Crimea in the XIV-XV centuries. The fortified building has witnessed many bloody events and more than once fell victim to destruction;
• It is worth paying attention to such sights of Balaklava as Church of the 12 Apostles. There is a church built in the 18th century, next to the Balaklava embankment;
• Another significant religious building in the vicinity of Balaklava is St. George's Monastery, which was founded by Greek sailors in 891. Saint George helped them avoid death during a storm, and the sailors decided to thank him in this way. In the monastery on weekends you can attend divine services;
• Located near the resort Cape Fiolent- one of the natural attractions of Balaklava and Sevastopol. The landscape, formed by precipitous cliffs, rough seas and pebbly beaches, impresses everyone. If you add tales and legends, then a romantic atmosphere is provided.

Where to stay in Balaklava 2020

Frankly, the choice of hotels in Balaklava is small. There are no chain hotels, no 4-5 star category. But there are small guest houses overlooking the bay (on one and the other side of it). Those located along are in great demand. However, you can stay closer to the Submarine Museum.

The prices are adequate to the quality: during the season you can rent a room in Balaklava from 1,500 to 4,500 rubles. The choice depends on your needs.

#1. Hotel Homer

Our favorite hotel in Balaklava. If there are free rooms, choose it, you will not regret it. Located on the central square, at the very beginning of the embankment. Beautiful rooms, balconies, delicious breakfasts, perfect cleanliness! Air conditioners, hair dryers, wi-fi, etc., everything is there and working.

#2. Guest House «KuprInn»

View of Balaklava from the terrace of one of the rooms of the KuprInn hotel

The hotel is located on a hill, so the view of the bay is gorgeous! The main plus is a very beautiful, fragrant area. There is a sauna and barbecue. In addition to basic amenities, each room has a kitchenette. However, breakfasts are also varied and quite tasty.

#3. Rybatskaya Sloboda

More a budget option accommodation in Balaklava. It is located 5 minutes from the embankment, closer to the Cembalo fortress. The rooms are simple, but everything is neat and clean. Air conditioning, wi-fi is also available. Close to shops, restaurants, cafes and the beach.

#4. Hotel Mriya

Located on the opposite side of the bay, closer to Soldier's beach. Look at the view of the Balaklava embankment! Another plus is the hotel-hostel, there are both common rooms with bunk beds and spacious double rooms. The difference, of course, is in the price (we have it for individual rooms).

May walk along the Balaklava embankment 2020:

Summarize

It is better to come to Balaklava, which has an almost Mediterranean climate, in May-September. The summer months are not moderately hot. A cool sea breeze can come to the rescue, but you should not count on it much. Despite the fact that the town is small, the infrastructure is well developed. Transport works like clockwork, although it can be crowded. But this should not overshadow the rest in Balaklava, especially if you do not plan frequent trips to Sevastopol.

The site has. To appreciate all the delights and beauty of the resort on your own. Enjoy watching!

Balaklava on the map of Crimea

On the map you will see the Balaklava Bay and the embankments located on both sides of it - this is the central, most picturesque part of Balaklava. The sleeping area with a typical five-story building is located in the distance (on the right side of the bay, if you look at the map).

From Yalta, 2020, in the New World. per day, route - schedule.

In the 60s of the 1st century A.D. e. (between 63 and 66) the Roman legions under the command of the legate of the province of Lower Moesia, Plautius Silvanus, defeated the Taurus-Scythian army that besieged Chersonese. Shortly thereafter, the Roman garrisons were brought into Chersonese, and the fortress of Kharaks was erected on Cape Ai-Todor, and a military camp appeared in Syumbolon Bay. It is from this time that the dating of the Chersonese and Roman coins found on the territory of Balaklava begins. Also, several Roman buildings were discovered - a one-story nine-room building (the so-called "state house"), which was covered with tiles with legion stamps, as well as a temple dedicated to Jupiter Dolichen.

After the Roman troops leave the Crimea in the middle 240s, the city does not become empty, the Greek settlement remained there until the 370s, when it was destroyed by the invasion of the Huns. However, already at the beginning of the 7th century, the Greek settlement of Yamboli was fixed here, in 702 the emperor Justinian II, who fled from Chersonesos, was hiding here. Name Yamboli is a distortion of the original Sumbolone.

Genoese colony

At the beginning of the 13th century, Yamboli was included in the territory of the Principality of Theodoro. But already in 1345, Yamboli was captured by the Genoese, who, however, did not hold the city for long, since they were driven out of there by the Tatar troops. Nevertheless, in 1357, the colony was again in the hands of Genoa: it is this year that the construction of the Cembalo fortress dates from - this is how the Italians adopted the name Yamboli. In 1380, the Golden Horde Khan Tokhtamysh, seeking to enlist the support of the Genoese, gave them possession of all South coast Crimea - from Alushta to Balaklava; this area was named Captaincy of Gothia.

View of the Cembalo fortress. Postcard from the beginning of the 20th century

After the plague of 1429 and the drought of 1428-1430, the Greek population of Chembalo in the autumn of 1433 raised an uprising against the Genoese rule, during which the Principality of Theodoro, with the support of the first Khan of the independent Crimea, Hadji I Giray, captured the city. The 16th-century Italian historian Umberto Folleta wrote of this event:

“This year, the Greek residents of Cembalo, the city of Tauride Chersonesos, plotted against the Genoese rulers of the city, suddenly taking up arms, and, having driven the Genoese, they handed over the city to some Greek Alexei, the ruler of Fedoro ...”

This year, in 7134, about two thousand Don Cossacks went to the sea in autumn, and with them landed on the sea in 300 plows with 10,000 Zaporizhian Cherkasy. And those de, sovereign, the Don Cossacks and the Zaporizhian Cherkasy went by sea in the courts in the war under the cities of Tur and took the Turian 3 Pomeranian cities: Trabizon, and they will not mention the names of another city [Balaklava and Kafa]. And those de Don Cossacks on the sea, the Turkish people, having come on the Kathars, beat the best people with 500 people, and beat the Zaporizhian Cherkasy with 800 people. And from the sea de, sovereign, the Don Cossacks came to the Don to their towns. Yes, after de, sovereign, they soon came to the Don with a Cossack from the sea and Zaporizhian Cherkasy with 500 people and wintered with the Cossacks on the Don.

English camp at Balaklava. 1855

Embankment of Balaklava. 1856

Crimean War

On October 13 (25) in the valley north of Balaklava, the so-called Battle of Balaklava took place: the Russian army sought to capture the English camp and thereby cut off the supply of the British. The place of the battle was later named Death Valley, in 1856, the British installed a memorial sign there and there is an English cemetery, which in 1945 after the Yalta Conference was visited by Winston Churchill. (For more on Churchill's visit, see.)

Until the end of the war, the British army and navy were based in Balaklava. The British built a wooden embankment (now the Nazukin embankment is located on this site), a water pipe was also laid and highways were built. In the village of Kadykovka (now part of the city) there were shops, hotels and entertainment establishments. In addition, in February-March 1854, the British built the first Balaklava railway in Crimea, 12.8 km long, it connected Balaklava Bay and a military depot in the Sapun Mountain area. After the war, the railway was dismantled and sold to the Turks.

Dacha of Count Apraksin. Postcard from the beginning of the 20th century

Dacha Meretskaya. Postcard from the beginning of the 20th century

View of the New Embankment. Postcard from the beginning of the 20th century

Crimean resort

In 1947-1955, an underground plant was built in Balaklava for the repair and equipment of submarines - the so-called "Object 825 GTS". It is located inside a rock on the western shore of the bay and also has an exit from the sea. The plant would not have suffered even in the event of a direct atomic strike with a power of up to 100 Kt, it could accommodate up to three thousand people and had a deployed life support system. The plant simultaneously accommodates up to seven submarines. The depth of the channel reaches 8 m, the width varies from 12 to 22 m. total area of all premises and passages of the plant is 9600 m², the area of ​​the underground water surface is 5200 m². In 1994, the last submarine left Balaklava and the plant ceased operations and was looted. Now part of the plant is a museum.

Since the plant was a secret facility, in 1957 Balaklava was transferred to Sevastopol, having lost the status of a city, and became a closed territory. Until the end of the Cold War, Balaklava remained a closed city.

Genoese fortress Cembalo

The fortress was founded on Mount Kastron, located at the eastern entrance to the bay. At the top of the cliff was the City of St. Nicholas - the citadel, surrounded on one side by a cliff, and on the other by powerful walls with eight towers, two of which stood alone and were not connected to the walls. Inside the citadel there was a consular castle-tower (presumably about 15 m high), a massaria (customs) and a church, which probably served as a burial place for noble residents. The consul was elected in Genoa for a year and was the main executive and judicial authority of the city, he was also, together with the castellan of the Castle of St. Nicholas, was the head of the garrison, which consisted of 40 crossbowmen. The personal guards of the consul, apparently, were several Tatar cavalrymen.

On the slope of the mountain was the City of St. George, in which most of the townspeople lived - artisans, merchants, fishermen. The lower city was also surrounded by walls with six towers, and from the south it was also protected by a cliff. Below, under the mountain, in the bay, there was a port and a market.

In the 1460s, the fortifications of the City of St. George were rebuilt, and in the southeast corner a citadel was erected with a powerful donjon tower, which was located in one of the most high points, on the top of a cliff, and today it has been preserved to its full height (about 20 m). The donjon had three tiers: the first was occupied by a water cistern, the second floor was residential (the remains of a fireplace were preserved there), the third tier was occupied by a patrol, it is possible that the donjon was also used as a lighthouse. Water entered the cistern through a clay pipeline from the Kefalo-Vrisi spring (Greek Κεφαλή Βρύση - head [beginning] of the source), which is located at the top of the beam of the same name, on Mount Spilia (Greek Σπήλια - cave); The spring is still used to supply water to Balaklava. The same cistern for collecting water was probably located in the lower tier of the consular tower.

From 2004 to 2007, restoration work was carried out on the tower. On the night of July 16-17, 2008, part of the donjon tower collapsed after a heavy downpour. There is another opinion about the collapse of part of the tower: “The tower stood for quite a long time and could not collapse after a downpour, no matter how strong it was. The restorers, who violated the structure and integrity of the tower, are to blame for this!”

Church of the Twelve Apostles

Temple of the Twelve Apostles

In addition to the fortress, a church has been preserved in Balaklava since the time of the Genoese domination - now the temple of the Twelve Apostles (Rubtsova St., 41). According to one version, it was built in 1357, as the inscription on a stone found under a layer of plaster during restoration says: castellan". In 1794 the church was restored and a portico was added. It is not known in whose honor the temple was originally consecrated; at the end of the Crimean War, the church was consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas. In Soviet times, the Pioneers' house was set up in the church, and then the Osoaviakhim club. After the church was handed over to the Church in 1990, it was re-consecrated in honor of the Twelve Apostles.

As promised, I'm talking about our further adventures in Sevastopol. There are a huge number of places worth visiting and exploring. I highlighted most of the sights of Sevastopol in. Now I'll tell you about an equally interesting suburb.

Balaklava - a ghost town

Just 15 minutes by car from Sevastopol, and we arrived in the wonderful town of Balaklava. This is a huge bay surrounded by rocks, on the slopes of which snow-white houses are freely located.

The bay has a curved shape, and it is for this reason that the entrance to the seaport is completely invisible from the sea. The sea here is very quiet, due to the fact that the bay is surrounded by mountains. There is practically no wind. Swimming is a pleasure. What we did not fail to take advantage of, the coast is quite gentle and even a child was not afraid to go into the water.

Interesting fact, it turns out that Balaklava is already 2500 years old. She was sung by many poets and writers. In particular, Kuprin devoted a whole series of stories called "Listrigons" to this town. And also it is this coast that Homer describes in the Odyssey.

Until recently, this city did not exist at all. No, in reality, Balaclava existed, but it was not on any map. Since it was a very important strategic object. Why? Read below.

Embankment of Balaklava

The embankment of Balaklava is very beautiful. It is so cool to walk here and admire the magnificent sea views. It is also nice to have free internet. But there is also a certain fat minus. Right on the embankment, all motorists park their cars. Everything is packed quite tightly, but everything would be fine if we didn’t meet a couple of reckless drivers who were driving at a rather high speed right along the footpaths.

It was strange that there was not a single policeman or even a guard within sight radius. So, if you are with children, then do not relax and do not let the child go alone.

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Balaclava reminded me of Monte Carlo.

True, there is a certain similarity. Beautiful dachas of wealthy majors, luxury yachts near the embankment.

Church of the 12 Apostles

On Rubtsova Street 43 is the oldest church in Crimea. The year of its construction dates back to 1357. In fact, there is nothing particularly remarkable in the construction, everything is simple, without frills and frills. You know, I can't even describe the building. Everything is trite.

Submarine Museum in Balaklava

Submarine Museum

Marble Street 1

This is where it gets really interesting. The thing is that during the years of the Cold War, Balaklava was a strictly classified object. Even the village itself was not on the maps. Here, in a huge rock, a tunnel was cut through, in which they were strategically important objects for the construction and repair of submarines. The complex is truly huge and was also a bomb shelter in case of a possible war.

20 cm steel doors and reinforced concrete walls would easily withstand a nuclear bomb. A huge number of shops, and each is interesting in its own way. 10 submarines with crews and more than 3,000 people can easily fit here. Can you imagine the scale? Here we were offered 2 options for excursions by water and by land.

At first we examined everything from the water, and the next day we returned again for a land excursion. You can believe me, but it's unrealistically interesting here and it didn't bother us at all that the tour was double. I want to warn you right away, it is very cold in the complex, no more than 10 degrees plus. Therefore, do not be frivolous and stock up on warm clothes.

Cape Fiolent

Tiger Cape is located in the west of Balaklava. There are many legends associated with this place. They say that it was here that the ancient priestess of the Taurus tribe brought human sacrifices to appease the appetite of idols. Foreigners have always been the victims. And the ancient Greeks erected a temple here to the goddess Artemis and called this cape the Divine Country.

The Christians did not lag behind their predecessors, who erected the Church of St. George here, which, according to legend, saved the Greek sailors who were wrecked.

On the territory of the temple there is a source of holy water, which anyone can take with them. This water has miraculous properties and heals the weak.

In general, this place is very beautiful, especially in the morning, when the sun just rises into the sky and illuminates the sea and mountains with its rays. There are also several magnificent beaches here: the Lost World or Jasper.

The purest water, well-groomed coastline - all this is absolutely free. There are also free sunbeds with umbrellas, but this really surprised me.

Frigate "Black Prince"

Yes, probably not only I would like to see this ship. There are obviously a lot of people who want to, and after I tell you the legend, my dear readers, there will definitely be more people who want to meet this frigate. Back in 1854, a very powerful storm broke out off the coast of Balaklava, which sank a considerable number of ships. Among the drowned was the famous "Black Prince", on board of which there was a huge amount of gold intended for the salary of the entire English army. And now attention, the treasures have not been found so far! Well, what shall we wave, not looking at the treasure hunt?

Hat Balaklava

The well-known hat-mask with slits for the eyes was invented in Balaklava. This idea belongs to the British. During the Crimean War, an incredibly cold winter turned out and the soldiers of the English army came up with this attribute for warming. Now it is an indispensable accessory for special forces and extreme tourists.

In the south of Balaklava there are very picturesque mountains which we did not fail to visit with the whole company. Charming pine forest, flowers and herbs. The healing mountain air is simply filled with the aromas of herbs and pines. We pitched a tent right in the forest not far from the bay.
A bonfire, barbecues and songs with a guitar under the radiance of huge southern stars, what else do tourists need. It was an unforgettable night that we all remember for a long time. By the way, there are a lot of tourists-savages. So do not be afraid to climb into the mountain thicket, even there you will not be left alone in the mountains. But still observe the security measures, do not be fooled by the dizzying mountain air and the all-encompassing pacification.

Dolphins

We learned that you can freely see dolphins in the sea. Without thinking twice, a boat was rented. Beauty, I tell you. A balaclava from the sea is even more magnificent than from land. Green bay. We were lucky and we really met dolphins. They frolicked and squeaked in the water in a very funny way.

I counted over 15 pieces. Our friend made an extreme act, took and jumped into the sea to the dolphins. To everyone's surprise, they surrounded him in a dense flock and began to communicate. He even managed to ride on the fin of one of the dolphins.
These fish are really very sociable and kind.

While we were traveling around the city, we visited some wonderful cafes and restaurants.

Where to eat in Balaklava

Restaurant "Kapral"

Naturally, being at sea, not tasting the fish would be a crime.

On the waterfront of the city, the number of restaurants just rolls over. This is not surprising, because Balaklava - tourist town. We couldn't get past one interesting name"Corporal". This restaurant has a terrace where you can sit and taste the seafood. The prices are affordable and the food is amazingly delicious.

The fish used is the freshest caught in the area. Go to good restaurant. Of course, you will leave more money than in a cafe, but the memories will remain more significant.

Cafe on wheels

There is also a cafeteria. Such trailers. You can eat there on the run. The menus in different cars differ significantly, that is, you can choose different dishes for the belly feast. There are even analogues of McDonald's where you can buy hamburgers and french fries.

Where to sleep in Balaklava

There will be no troubles with housing here. There are many hotels, hotels and even hostels in Balaklava. And, of course, no one canceled the private sector. Everything will depend on the capabilities of your wallet. Or you can do, like us, stay in Sevastopol, and go on excursions to the suburbs.

In general, I really liked Balaklava. There is really something to see and remember here. Come and enjoy your holiday Black Sea coast.

Bye everyone, the continuation of our story will be released soon.

The fate of this city is amazing! Despite the fact that Balaklava is a rather small town, its history, filled with countless series of dramatic events, goes deep into the past, for centuries and millennia. What kind of peoples and civilizations have these rocks and coastal slopes seen! Asian and European peoples continuously fought for the right to have a convenient Balaklava harbor.

“There are no aftermaths in this soil!
For the archaeologist and numismatist -
From Roman plaques and Hellenic coins
To the button of a Russian soldier!..”

- this is what the poet Maximilian Voloshin says about Balaklava.

Balaclava, according to some scholars, was first mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey, and the exact date of its foundation is not known. However, this did not prevent residents and guests of the city from celebrating the 2500th anniversary of Balaklava in 2004.

Antique period. Syumbolon - Yamboli.

Ancient Greek and then Byzantine historians referred to the Balaklava Bay under the name of the harbor Syumbolon (Simbalon, Symbolon) limne - the Harbor of symbols, omens.

Due to its convenient location, the surroundings of Balaklava Bay have attracted people since ancient times as a convenient place for settlement. Archaeologists discovered near Balaklava, near the bay, traces of an early Taurus settlement (around the 8th century BC), namely, fragments of ceramics, triangular flint knives, dishes, which made it possible to attribute this settlement to the stage of the early Taurus culture.

The convenience of the harbor attracted both the Greeks and the Romans, who gradually replaced the Taurians. In the 60s of the 1st century A.D. e. the Roman army under the command of the legate Plautius Silvanus defeated the joint troops of the Taurians and Scythians, who besieged Chersonese. Shortly thereafter, the Roman garrisons settled in Chersonese, and a military camp appeared in the harbor of Syumbolon. On the territory of Balaklava, a lot of coins were found, Chersonese and Roman, relating to this and later periods. Archaeologists have discovered several Roman buildings. Particularly noteworthy is the complex, apparently administrative-military (called by archaeologists - "state house"), which is a one-story nine-room building, covered with tiles with legion stamps, as well as a temple dedicated to Jupiter Dolichen.

Later, in the 5th-7th centuries, Balaklava is the Greek village of Yamboli - a stronghold Byzantine Empire, protecting the path to the territories of the empire. The name Yamboli comes from the original Syumbolon, being its distortion.

Outpost and colony of Italian Genoa. Cembalo.

The further fate of Balaklava is closely connected with the Italian Republic of Genoa, which is waging a fierce struggle with Byzantium, Venice and the Tatar-Mongols for influence over the trade routes connecting the countries Western Europe with the East, formed one of its colonies in the Crimea in Balaklava. The most striking evidence and monument that has survived to this day are the majestic remains of the Genoese fortress of Cembalo (Cembalo) on the Eastern Cape over the exit to the bay. This name of the fortress was adopted by the Genoese from the Greek name Yamboli. In addition, it is quite possible that not only the name was borrowed, but the fortress itself was built using fortifications previously built by the Greeks.

The fortress consisted of the Upper City - the city of St. Nicholas - the administrative part of Cembalo and the Lower City or the fortress of St. George, surrounded by fortress walls with three towers with narrow loopholes. In each city - upper and lower - the power was in the hands of the commandants, who were subordinate to the soldiers on guard. The garrison, with the help of which the Genoese held power over the local, mostly Greek, population consisted (according to the Charter of 1449) of 40 riflemen armed with ballistas.

In the first half of the XV century. there is a clash of interests between Genoa and the Crimean principality of Theodoro for influence over this part of the coastal territory. The plague epidemic that broke out in 1429. and the drought of 1428-1430. led to a sharp deterioration in the economic situation of the local population and dissatisfaction with the rule of the Genoese. In the autumn of 1433 in Cembalo, a popular uprising began, most likely prepared with the help of Prince Theodoro Alexei. As a result, power in the city passed to Prince Alexei. The uprising was brutally suppressed only in the summer of 1434. with the help of a squadron of ships called from Genoa under the command of Carlo Lomellino, who brought a detachment of six thousand to Cembalo. Almost all the defenders of the fortress were killed. The Genoese spared only Prince Alexei and his inner circle.

Ottoman conquest. Balyk - juve.

In 1453, the Ottoman Empire gained dominance over the straits leading to the Black Sea, seizing Constantinople. The ways in which help could come to the colony were blocked. The Genoese had to pay tribute to both the Turks and the Crimean Khan. And, later, to make great diplomatic efforts to obtain permission from the Sultan for the passage of Genoese ships through the straits. Taking advantage of this, the Genoese are trying to make an alliance with Theodoro, Moldavia, and get closer to the Crimean Khan.

At this time, curtain walls and towers, walls of the lower and upper city. These works were completed in 1467.
Nevertheless, in 1475, the Ottoman Turks captured the Principality of Theodoro, Italian and Greek possessions in the Crimea, Genoese colonies, including Chembalo, giving it a new name - Balyk-yuve (Fish's nest or fish tank). In some sources, it is translated as Balyk-kaya (haya) - a fish rock. The Genoese captured during the conquest of the colonies are taken to Constantinople. Part of the Genoese, who went to the mountains, mixed with the local population. During the Turkish domination, Balaklava, Inkerman and Chorgun (Chorguna) were part of the Mangup Kadalyk (district).
The Turkish garrison was housed in the fortress, and objectionable Crimean khans languished in prison.

In the summer of 1625, during a major joint campaign, Zaporozhye and Don Cossacks captured several seaside towns including Balaklava. However, they did not manage to stay in the captured cities for a long time, they were defeated by the Turkish fleet in subsequent battles. Having lost about 800 Cossacks and 500 Don Cossacks killed, the Cossack troops returned to their settlements. By the second half of the XVIII century. The balaclava is gradually falling into disrepair.

Russian empire. Balaclava.

During the stubborn struggle Russian Empire for going to Chernoy and Seas of Azov and the ensuing Russian-Turkish wars, on June 23, 1773, a sea battle took place, known in history as Balaklava. Two Russian ships - "Koron" and "Taganrog" attacked the Turkish squadron of 4 ships. After a stubborn six-hour battle, the Turkish ships, having received heavy artillery damage, began to flee. Balaklava battle was the first and far from the last victory Russian fleet at the Black Sea.

Russian ships moored in Balaklava Bay even before the official annexation of Crimea to Russia. A. V. Suvorov himself appreciated the merits of the Balaklava Bay for basing the fleet and erecting defensive structures. Together with F.F. Ushakov, they did a lot to strengthen Balaklava.
Turkey's military failures forced her to make concessions. The agreement between Russia and the Crimean Khan signed in Karasubazar (Belogorsk) prompted the Turks to conclude in 1774 a peaceful Kyuchuk-Kaynarji agreement, according to which the Crimean Khanate was declared independent from Turkey. In the Crimea and Kuban, liberated from Turkish domination, Russian troops settled under the command of the great Russian commander A. V. Suvorov.

After the annexation of Crimea to Russia in 1873, by order of Catherine II (“Balaklava, fixing it as it is and maintaining it with the Greek troops settled here ...”), the Greek battalion of Balaklava was stationed in the city, formed from the Greeks of the islands of the Archipelago, who participated in the hostilities on side of Russia during the Russian-Turkish war of 1768-1774. The Greeks carried out cordon service on the Black Sea coast of Crimea, took part in the Russian-Turkish wars and in the Crimean War of 1853-1856. The battalion consisted of three companies. In total, 1194 people served in it - men, in the 30s. - 1379 soldiers and officers. The battalion headquarters was located in Balaklava. The Greeks were allocated allotments near Balaklava, which were then assigned for life use.

During the trip of Catherine II to the Crimea to inspect the “precious pearl of her crown” in 1787, at Balaklava, the Empress was met by an “Amazonian army” of a hundred Balaklava Greek horsewomen under the command of the wife of the captain of the Greek battalion, Elena Ivanovna Sarandova.
In 1808, customs and quarantine appeared in Balaklava, but the wide development of both Trading port the city never got it, there was too much competition from other Crimean ports. At that time, only one street passed through the city, which did not have any sights, and there were a little more than a thousand inhabitants.

During the Crimean War of 1853-1856, during the period of the first defense of Sevastopol, Balaklava was the base of the English army. After the battle on Alma, lost by the Russians, part of the British troops, without meeting resistance, headed for Balaklava. However, when the vanguard of the British army entered the city, unexpectedly for them, it was fired upon by fire from the Genoese fortress, where Colonel Manto and about 110 soldiers of the Greek battalion took up defense. The British returned fire on the city, both by land and by sea. The resistance of the defenders' mortar battery continued until they ran out of shells. The heroic garrison resisted to the last. The British were amazed at the bravery of the soldiers defending Balaklava.

October 13 (25), 1854 in the valley north of Balaklava, the Battle of Balaklava took place, in which the Russian army sought to capture the English camp and thereby deprive the British of supplies. In this battle, an attack was made by a British light cavalry brigade, which went down in history as an example of the highest and, at the same time, insane courage. The place of the battle was later called Death Valley, and in 1856 the British erected a memorial sign there. There is also an English cemetery, which in 1945 after the Yalta Conference was visited by Winston Churchill.

The British army and navy settled in Balaklava with all the amenities. They paved railway, previously unseen in the Crimea, built the first wooden embankment on the site of the modern embankment, shops, hotels, entertainment establishments. Water supply was also carried out and highways were built. Balaklava even began to be called "Little London". Under the rocks of Balaklava, during a storm, the legendary English frigate "Black Prince" crashed, on which, according to legend, there was gold intended for paying salaries to the British. This gold, which has become the subject of search for many expeditions from all over the world, has not yet been found and continues to excite modern treasure seekers.

It was in Balaklava during the Crimean War, according to legend, that the knitted hat "balaklava" known to the whole world appeared. The British were so cold under the city of Balaclava that they invented a knitted hat with the same name.

Since the end of the 19th century, Balaklava has been developing as a resort. Dachas of Princes Yusupov and Gagarin, Count Naryshkin, Prince Apraksin and other representatives of the Russian nobility and beau monde are being built. The first hotel, a mud bath were opened, in 1896 a power plant was built, and a telephone connection was organized. In 1911 there were four churches in Balaklava. The population was 2500 people. Schools and a parochial school, a postal station, a cinema, a hospital, a library, a city club, a drama theater, buffets worked.

The main occupation of the inhabitants of Balaklava remained agriculture and fishing. Fishermen - the Greeks caught mullet, mackerel, mullet, beluga, herring, flounder.

Soviet period Balaklava.

During the civil war of 1917 - 1922/1923, after the Bolsheviks and their associates signed the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, Balaklava ended up in the zone of German occupation, and after the withdrawal of German troops - in the zone of French intervention. After leaving Crimean peninsula parts of the white Russian army in the Crimea, Soviet power was established in November 1920.

Since 1921, Balaklava has been the center of the Balaklava region of the Crimean autonomy.

Numerous fortifications and monuments remind of the years of the Great Patriotic War in Balaklava. The defense of Balaklava from the assaults of the furious Nazi troops continued from September 1941 to June 1942 - the city was abandoned only on June 30, 1942. Balaklava was liberated from the invaders in April 1944 as a result of the Crimean operation. It is impossible, within the framework of a brief overview, to describe the exploits and heroism of the Soviet soldiers and ordinary civilians who defended and liberated the city. To do this, we recommend you the book by Shavshin Vladimir Georgievich "Balaklava: Historical Essays" - Simferopol, Tavria, 1994. In it you can learn more about all periods of the history of Balaklava, up to the beginning of the 90s of the twentieth century.

In 1957, Balaklava became part of the city of Sevastopol, becoming the center of its largest district - Balaklava, remaining a strategic naval point of the USSR. In 1953-1963, an underground plant for the repair and maintenance of submarines was built in Balaklava - "Object 825 GTS". Also, the "Object 820" was built to store and prepare for combat use of 6 types of nuclear weapons. It is located inside a rock on the western shore of the bay and also has an exit from the sea. The plant would not have suffered even in the event of a direct atomic strike with a power of up to 100 Kt, it could accommodate up to three thousand people and had a deployed life support system. The plant simultaneously accommodates up to seven submarines. Now this majestic object houses a submarine museum with an indescribable atmosphere of underground galleries from the Cold War.

Modern Balaclava- a resort town where various musical and historical festivals are held annually, ships and yachts of various classes and calibers find shelter, thousands of tourists settle down for rest, and early in the morning, gambling fans of fishing gather on the embankment to go out to sea in boats and boats . Balaklava also includes vineyards and employees of the Zolotaya Balka agricultural company, who grow grapes and produce wines. This city attracts with its variety of formats and sources of impressions, the interweaving of historical plots and the unprecedented beauties of nature reserves.

The small resort town of Balaklava, located near Sevastopol, has a long rich history and boasts architectural monuments different periods. Since ancient times, its unique location has attracted settlers who could safely hide their ships in a bay that has a bizarre and winding shape.

First of all, tourists go to look at the medieval Genoese fortress Cembalo, which was once a powerful bastion and protected the entire stretch of the coast. Then they go to boat trip along the bay or get to water transport to one of the nearby beaches. The third point is visiting memorable places, among which are monuments, temples, military installations of the Soviet era and museums.

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What to see and where to go in Balaklava?

The most interesting and Beautiful places for walks. Photos and a short description.

1. Balaklava Bay

Balaklava or as it is often called - "Secret Bay" was formed as a result of a tectonic fault. It cuts deep into the coast for 1.5 km, expanding and narrowing in different places (the width of the narrowest passage is about 50 meters). Due to this shape, the bay is practically invisible from the Black Sea, which in the past was very convenient for ships hiding in the bay.

2. Cembalo Fortress

Ensemble of structures on the Fortress Hill, built during the time of the Republic of Genoa in the XIV-XVIII centuries. Previously, behind the ring of walls was whole city, reliably fortified and guarded by a garrison. In the second half of the 15th century, Cembalo was captured by the Turks, and in the 18th century military units of the Russian Empire were stationed on its territory. In subsequent years, the complex gradually fell into disrepair until only ruins remained of it.

3. Object 825GTS

A secret base during the Cold War, which was intended for the parking and repair of nuclear submarines, as well as for the storage of ammunition. In 1993, the facility was closed and in the next 10 years it was actually destroyed and looted, as its structures contained rare non-ferrous metals. In the 2000s, a museum was created on the territory of the former base, dedicated to the history of Balaklava and milestones in the development of the submarine and surface fleets with an exhibition of antique weapons.

4. Nazukin embankment

Walking embankment of Balaklava, where there is a diving center, a yacht club, a cinema, restaurants, bars and moorings for sea ​​vessels. From the shore you can see the Balaklava bay and the mountain with the ruins of the Chembalo fortress. Along the embankment there are houses of the late 19th - early 20th centuries - former private dachas and hotels. From here you can go on a boat trip around the bay.

5. Museum of the History of Balaklava

The museum building is located on the Nazukin embankment. Visitors are offered not only a tour of the exposition, but also walks along the bay with access to the sea, tasting dishes local cuisine, as well as a street route, including a visit to the Cembalo fortress. The permanent collection of the museum is dedicated to the history of Balaklava during the Crimean War. A visit to the institution is possible as part of an excursion group.

6. Monument to Lesya Ukrainka

Writer Lesya Ukrainka was in Balaklava twice - in her early youth with her parents and at a more mature age with her husband. During the last visit, the couple lived in the city for two months in a house on the Nazukin embankment. In 2004, a monument was erected in honor of the poetess on the central square. It is made in the form of a half-figure, mounted on a pedestal (initially, the sculptor planned to sculpt a bust, but in the process he became very carried away).

7. Monument to Kuprin

AI Kuprin lived in Balaklava in 1904 - 1906, where he was caught by the First Russian Revolution. The writer was so shocked by what was happening that he wrote an essay "Events in Sevastopol", published in a St. Petersburg newspaper. Because of this material, he was forced to leave Balaklava. A monument in his honor adorned the city embankment in 2009. The sculpture depicts a writer leaning against a fence and looking thoughtfully into the distance.

8. Southern and Northern forts

Defensive structures of the beginning of the 20th century, which were erected to protect the Sevastopol fortress from the south side. The fortifications are a system of ditches, roads, engineering networks and concrete structures carved into the rock, where it was possible to securely hide and store ammunition. It was also planned to install artillery pieces, but because of the October Revolution, work stopped.

9. Barrel of death

In the territory South fort there is a very strange object - an iron "barrel" suspended over an abyss. At one time, it played the role of an observation post and was equipped with optical instruments. In the 1960s, a legend spread that the Germans threw prisoners of war into the sea from this structure during the Great Patriotic War, so it began to be called the “barrel of death”.

10. Object 100

A secret underground battery from the 1950s that was intended to destroy naval targets. After the collapse of the USSR, all structures containing non-ferrous metal were dismantled, and the facility itself was mothballed. It aroused interest only among those who like to wander through abandoned concrete labyrinths. In 2016, there was a message that the military was going to restore the complex, so its further fate is unknown.

11. 19th gun battery

The construction of the battery began in 1914 under the tsar, but the work was completed in the Soviet period. It was equipped with powerful weapons that were supposed to hit enemy ships from a distance of 20 km, but in 1941 the battery could not protect Sevastopol from the German army. After 1991, the need for it disappeared. Today, only the concrete frame has been preserved from the object, since all the metal structures were taken out.

12. Chorgun bridge-aqueduct

The aqueduct is part of the plumbing system of the mid-19th century. It was built in imitation of the ancient style of Inkerman stone and today looks like it was actually built by the ancient Romans. The water pipeline was not destined to exist for a long time - it was destroyed during the Crimean War. After the end of hostilities, it was decided not to restore it. The Chorgun aqueduct bridge is the best preserved part of the system.

13. Kadykovsky quarry

Previously, limestone was mined in a quarry. After the rock reserves were exhausted, the pit was abandoned and gradually it filled with water. From the side it looks like a crater extinct volcano with a lake at the bottom and stepped walls of red rock. You can go down the spiral road, but you need to move very carefully, as from time to time unsteady slopes collapse.

14. Temple of the Twelve Apostles

Initially, the church was built by the Genoese in the middle of the XIV century, but this building has not reached us. What tourists can see today is the construction of 1794, reconstructed in 1875 after the Crimean War. Until the middle of the 20th century, the temple was used for its intended purpose, in the 1990s it was re-consecrated. The relics of St. Basil the Blessed and Sergius of Radonezh are kept inside. In architectural terms, the building is a cross-domed limestone structure, decorated with Doric columns.

15. St. George's Monastery

An Orthodox monastery located near Cape Fiolent on the Black Sea coast. According to legend, it was founded in the 9th century by Greek navigators-settlers, who suffered a sudden storm off the coast of Crimea, but thanks to the prayers of St. George they managed to survive. The first written evidence of the existence of the monastery refers to XVI century. The monastery prospered both in the Middle Ages and during the time of the Crimean Khanate, but was seriously damaged in the Soviet era. The rediscovery took place in 1994.

16. Georgievskaya rock and Jasper beach

George rock is a small cliff in the sea, located at a distance of 140 meters from the coast. It was on this rock that St. George. IN late XIX centuries, a marble cross was installed on the stone, which was removed in Soviet times (a new one was installed in 1991). The rock is clearly visible from Yashmovy beach - one of the best areas for swimming in the Crimea. This place is distinguished by picturesque landscapes and clear water.

17. Vasili Beach

The beach is located next to Vasilyevskaya beam. Its territory is fenced on all sides by almost sheer cliffs 150 meters high. Vasili is considered one of the best coastal areas in the vicinity of Sevastopol, intended for swimming. It has clear water and breathtaking views. For the convenience of tourists, some infrastructure has been organized - there are awnings and sun loungers.

18. Silver and Golden Beaches

Serebryany or Near Beach is a 15-minute drive from Balaklava by sea. If you get there on foot, then you need to overcome 4 km through mountainous terrain. You will have to swim 25-30 minutes to the Golden Beach or walk 6 km. Both parts of the coast are very picturesque, and swimming there is a real pleasure. To get to the beaches, you need to take a boat on the Nazukin embankment.

19. Cape Fiolent

Today, Cape Fiolent is part of the city limits of Sevastopol, and once it was a place untouched by man, where one could find solitude. This area is considered one of the most beautiful in the Western Crimea, although the chaotic development slightly spoils the view and does not allow you to fully enjoy the restless sea surface and charm. sheer cliffs stretching for miles on both sides.

20. Cape Aya

Cape Aya is located on the territory of the landscape reserve of the same name, in which rare species of plants grow and animals listed in the Red Book live. The climate in this natural area is similar to the Mediterranean. The Ayazma tract stretches from the cape, at the top there is a giant funnel filled with multi-colored boulders, at the base there are small grottoes with lapis lazuli-colored water.