Cave city of Bakla in Crimea: history and photos

The history of Crimea keeps many secrets and mysteries. Scientists are still studying it, finding more and more evidence of events of ancient times. The cave city of Bakla is one of the complexes located on the peninsula, which causes the greatest interest of researchers.

Where is the city?

Mysterious settlement is located near the village of Skalistoye, in the Bakhchsarai district of the Crimea. Here is the Martian Lake, which strikes truly unearthly beauty.

Cave city of Bakla: history

This historical monument is the most northern cave city of the Crimea - behind it only the steppe. This arrangement played a special role in his destiny. The city was founded at the end of the III century, in the VIII-IX centuries its first line of defense was strengthened. By the time of the construction of the structure, it was a single whole with the village on the south side of which were various buildings of economic purpose, including the winery complex.

In the VI century in its place was built a castle. All of its defensive structures were made of massive blocks of limestone. Under the western part of the citadel, under the twenty-meter-long cliff, there were battle caves. Some of them were carrying hatches, in others - stairs carved into the rock. Here, the service was conducted and the slingers and archers conducted flanking attacks.

The castle was protected by a deep ditch. The adjacent rural settlement and the settlement were not protected by walls, which is characteristic of feudal complexes of that time. The name of the settlement originates from the Turkic language. The word "baklak" means "a vessel for water". It should be noted that the main feature of this city is grain pits shaped like bowls with a narrow neck.

The cave city of Bakla (Crimea) was first studied by the staff of the local history museum of the peninsula in 1929. In 1961, scientists from the Historical Museum of Moscow joined this work. In the post-Soviet period, the cave city of Bakla, as well as the surrounding necropolis, were plundered by "black archaeologists."

Population

The inhabitants of the ancient city were Sarmato-Alans and Goths, who were engaged in cattle breeding, agriculture and wine making. Confirm this version of scientists more than two hundred grain pits, preserved to this day.

According to a number of researchers, the cave city of Bakla was used by Byzantines for a while - they converted local residents here to Christianity and placed their troops. Numerous archaeological excavations have allowed to assert that when the city was threatened with mortal danger, the inhabitants left Bakl and found shelter outside the walls of another city - Chufut-Kale, which was nearby.

The cave city of Bakla, the photo of which we have placed in this article, existed until the end of the 13th century. By this time, the invasion of the Horde troops on the peninsula, which was led by Khan Nogai. This invasion was the last battle with the nomads, as a result of which the cave city fell. Just a little bit did not reach the Buckler until the millennium from the moment of formation. For several centuries this center of culture and religious education of antiquity existed, but since the XIV century, people here no longer lived.

Description of ancient settlement

The cave city of Buckle is well seen from afar - from the valley located at the foot of the settlement. Climbing closer to the plateau along the slope to the grottoes themselves, one can immediately see numerous holes in the soft calcareous rock. In form they resemble the ancient Greek pithos - huge vessels for storing wine. But in these stone bowls , the grain was most often stored.

All archaeological finds confirm that for many centuries, grain was grown here, mostly wheat. There is a version that part of the harvest was imported from more northern areas. Thus, the city of Buckle was used as a trade junction between the sea coast and the steppe.

Water

In the ancient city there were always difficulties with water. In the life of the settlers, the struggle to preserve precious moisture occupied a significant place. For this, various adaptations were created, which can still be seen on the rocks today.

Up to now, there is an active spring in the upper part of the plateau, which usually dries up by mid-summer. Footprints on the stones indicate that in antiquity it was more abundant, and was one of the sources of water for local residents. In some areas, a so-called herringbone is visible - a special groove in the stone, which allowed to collect rainwater.

Religious buildings

Unquestionably, Bakla was an important early Christian religious center. This is evidenced by the foundations of several temple structures. This gave the researchers a reason to assert that during the years of persecution of Christianity in Byzantium, many believers of faith escaped here from persecution, where morals were somewhat softer. This explains the existence of several churches that were built in the city.

There is an opinion that the cave city of Bakla was more actively used by Byzantines as an outpost of Christianity, and not as a military stronghold. On the western outskirts of the city you can see the remains of a church of quite impressive size, and crypts in the form of quadrangles, which are carved into the rock. Apparently, it was a monastery. In the rocks nearby cells of semicircular form with low and narrow corridors are cut down. In the walls there are hollowed out niches for lamps and lamps.

There is also a grotto on the walls of which there are drawings: crosses, figures of holy martyrs, silhouettes of ships, fish and temples. Above this church complex is a very small church, located in the ledge of the rock. Not far from it, slightly downstream of a small cube of Cuba, was discovered in 1970 a necropolis (V - IX centuries). During the excavation, scientists investigated over 800 structures, as a rule, crypts. Their creation experts refer to the IV - XI centuries n. E. In the museum of Bakhchisarai you can get acquainted with valuable artifacts. Here are presented: Byzantine bracelet and belt buckle, brooches fastened with a chain on the chest, crosses, rings, glassware and ceramics.

In front of the Buckles, in the valley, the remains of three other temples were found. The oldest of them was built in the VIII - IX centuries. In the X-XI centuries. On this earth appeared a temple, cruciform in section. Until now, only fragments of the frieze and fragments of the arch portal of the Byzantine style have survived from him.

Cave City of Bakla (Crimea): how to get there?

From Simferopol to the village of Skalisty, a shuttle bus runs between the stations "Zapadnaya" and "Simferopol-Nauchny". It is located at a distance of eighteen kilometers. Travel time is twenty minutes.

Today, many tourists are interested in Bakla (cave city). How to get here by car, interested in many motorists. You should go on the highway "Sevastopol-Simferopol" and drive to the turn with the "Science", the next turn to the village of Skalistoye.

You can use an electric train. From Simferopol, he will take you to the station "Pochtovaya". From here you will have to walk two kilometers to Novopavlovka, and take the bus to the station "Nauchny".

Where to stay?

Since the nearest town from the cave city is the village of Skalistoye, it's best to stop here. True, there are no hotels or camp sites, but local residents will gladly rent out a room for you. The cost of living is 500-600 rubles per day.

For cyclists there is a hostel in Trudolubovka, as well as the hotel "Skif" in Novopavlovka. Here the cost of the room varies from 1100 to 1800 rubles.