Eski-Kermen - a wonderful city-fortress

Eski-Kermen - Byzantine medieval fortress city, which is located in the south-west of the Crimean peninsula. It appeared in the VI century and existed until the end of the XIV century, when it was destroyed by the Mongols.

How it all began...

From the tenth century, Eski-Kermen began to grow and develop intensively. He became a major handicraft and trade center. And yet the main occupation here was agriculture. Eski-Kermen was surrounded by gardens and vineyards. Archeologists found the remains of irrigation canals, as well as terraces with vines, which eventually became wild. In our time, breeders are not unsuccessfully trying to determine the grape varieties that the Byzantines grew.

Eski-Kermen (Crimea)

Its heyday came in the 12th-13th centuries, when it already had about two thousand inhabitants. At that time the fortress became an important administrative and political center in Taurica.

The location of the city was ideal. Eski-Kermen stretched on an impregnable plateau, which is built up with rectangular blocks with fairly wide streets. On them the wagons could move freely. In the center was built a basilica. And at the main gate there was a temple.

Tour itinerary for tourists

Tourists often visit Eski-Kermen, whose photo you see in our article. As before, you can go to the fortress through the southern gate. The road still keeps traces of wagons going up the slope. After three marches, tourists enter the fortress. At this point the main gates were formerly located, which opened inward. Now they are reminiscent of only cavities for the pillars and dilapidated vaulted overlap. On the sides of the gate there are still battlegrounds with parapets. And the chapel on them and the tower, towering above the main gate, did not survive. And from other defensive structures, practically nothing remained.

From the main gate was the central street. In its very beginning, tourists can see the caves. To the right is the lodge, to the left - the entrance to the tower. Moving on, you can see a lot of caves connected together. This is a temple. At its entrance there is a chair for the bishop, to the left - a font, and on the right - benches for parishioners. Entering the temple, whose vaults once supported the columns, you can see in the floor of the tomb - child and adult. Apparently, they were objects of worship of the inhabitants of the city. Having inspected the temple, tourists can see the first casemate, located in the rock. To do this, turn west from the central street. Casemate was built to protect the approach to the gorge, through which you can get to the city. Through his embrasures dumped stones and shot at the enemy, as soon as he appeared on the turn. Not far from each defensive complex were pits for grain, its stock was constantly replenished by the inhabitants of the surrounding villages, which not only sheltered behind the city walls in case of danger, but also helped defend the fortress.

Casemates

Turning to the east of the central street, you can see the second casemate - a cave consisting of four twin rooms. Behind it is the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God, where the elements of the frescoes with images of the saint who survived vandalism survived.

The third casemate is also nearby. It has many caves connected by stairs and corridors carved into the rock. Later their appointment radically changed. They were given for economic needs. Not far from this casemate you can see the remains of the fortress wall. It was two meters thick and three meters high. In the defensive system, this wall connected all four casemates.

The fourth casemate is located in the north of the plateau. Unlike the rest, it was two-tiered. He had to protect the northern crevices and the eastern slope, where there was a city gate.

If the defensive fortifications are sufficiently accurately studied, then almost nothing is known about the city itself to archaeologists. Only two residential quarters were excavated. Archaeologists have determined that the houses of the first site were destroyed during a fire. In the basement of one of them were found fragments of male, female and children's skeletons. On their skulls are clearly seen the blows from the sabers. During the excavation of the second site, located to the north, three two-story houses were found , in the cellars of which two children's and three adult skeletons were also found. Apparently, people tried to hide, but they were crushed by a collapsed building. From these excavations the trail leads tourists to the ruins of the basilica, which has been rebuilt several times and expanded.

Each fortress in the event of a long siege was supposed to provide all residents with water. For this purpose, a "siege well" was erected in the city. You can see it by going down the northern path. After walking a hundred meters, you can see the entrance to the rock with a steep staircase, which ends with the captatory gallery. From its ceiling and seepage from the source.

Destruction

And yet, at the end of the 13th century the fortress was destroyed by the troops of Emir Nogai, and the population of the city was completely destroyed. Findings of archaeologists confirm the version that all buildings were destroyed by fire.

The very same attack was so sudden that not all residents even managed to leave their homes. After that the fortress was not restored any more. Gardens and vineyards were wild, the streets were covered with grass. Continuous thickets for a long time hid the ruined city of Eski-Kermen. And they forgot about him for many centuries.

Conclusion

Now you know that Eski-Kermen is a cave city. Now it is one of the most visited places in the Republic. Are you going to the Crimea? Eski-Kermen - a cave city, which must be visited. His story is amazing, and the terrain is very interesting.