Kerch Peninsula: nature and main attractions. The Kerch Peninsula is a place with a unique history

Kerch lane This tiny lane arose at the end of the 19th century in the Admiralty part of the city, when, by the highest permission, it was allowed to build up plots near the Admiralty from the side of the Neva. Several lanes formed here were named by decree

KERCHENSKY LANE

I must say right away that I am delighted with traveling to the Kerch Peninsula, especially from its expanses, peculiar nature and endless beaches covered with golden sand with colorful shells. And yet - you can safely laugh in the face of someone who says that rest in the Crimea is expensive. We were specifically interested in housing prices, food, etc. We photographed a lot, so see the photo report.

A trip to the Kerch Peninsula

All post-Soviet times, the Kerch Peninsula was, as it were, in the backyard of Crimea. vacationers, most of which arrived from the side of Ukraine or by air, that is, in, got to it last. Priority was given to and . Now everything has changed. - the gates of Crimea, it is here that those Russians who come to our region on their transport first of all get.

We live in, so although we travel around the Crimea, we didn’t reach the Kerch Peninsula - you won’t turn around in one day, and we spent our holidays on the mainland. In general, this year we decided to dedicate a week to a trip to Kerch and its environs. See the sights, swim in the Sea of ​​Azov, ride along the Kerch-Simferopol highway and, most importantly, admire the construction of the bridge.

We left in the morning, managed to slip through Simferopol without traffic jams, and here she is old-new route, repaired almost along the entire length:

To be honest, we thought that it would be at least 4 lanes, but in two years it was simply put in order, and then a considerable part only after Putin's spring catching up. We made the first stop at the poppy fields, because it was simply impossible to drive past!

The next stop was at the White Rock, they didn’t drive up, leaving an excursion to it for the future (already went,), photographed from the highway:

In general, June is a wonderful time in the Crimea. The greenery is fresh, bright, everything blooms wildly. It is a pity that most of the tourists see the Crimea in July-August, when it is already dusty and burnt out. On the roads they sell my dearly beloved tandoor samsa, no less beloved pita bread, cheese, crayfish, strawberries, cherries, apricots, tomatoes and honey. Moreover, apiaries are often visible directly from the road:

Our next stop was already in . The beaches here are really golden, the sea is clear and warm, but their preparation for the season is typical for the Crimea, that is, none:

The day was cool, so there were not many people, but when we drove back, the beach was already filled with vacationers. On the outskirts of the village, we stopped at Lake Ashchigol (Adzhigol) to admire the swans:

In winter, there are plenty of them in Sevastopol, but in the summer you will not meet them. Further at Primorsky we saw other birds, much more formidable:

In general, we met quite a lot of military vehicles and even didn’t get to some sights of the Kerch Peninsula, because the military settled there. But there's nothing you can do about it, it's much more pleasant to be a Russian unsinkable aircraft carrier than an abandoned province of impoverished Ukraine.

After Primorsky, we can say that the real Kerch Peninsula began, subduing me with endless fields and steppes, on which hills and mounds occasionally rise. In general, it resembles the virgin lands of Kazakhstan or the Middle Volga region. Beauties!

Cimmerian rampart

On the first day of the sights of the Kerch Peninsula, we managed to see only the Asandrov (Cimmerian) shaft. But this is probably the largest attraction and not only the eastern one! This, erected by someone and from whom, more than 2300 years old, is a rampart with a moat that crosses the entire Kerch Peninsula:

You can see it literally a few meters away from the highway, turning on the sign a few kilometers from Gornostaevka. But we drove along it much further, because now this artificial ridge has practically turned into a mini-reserve, where butterflies and grasshoppers are teeming in the tall grass, birds sing in the bush, with which it is partially overgrown, and on the top we scared away two families partridges (or rather, they us, suddenly taking off right from under their feet). Here is the depth of this structure:

Even now it is impressive, but in ancient times (according to Wikipedia) the depth of the moat reached 5 meters, and the height of the rampart (from the bottom of the moat) was up to 8 meters. By the way, we doubted these figures. It is hard to believe that in more than 2,000 years the ditch has become only a meter smaller, and the embankment has shrunk by about two. It seems that in this place they were much higher and deeper. We recall that the length of the shaft is 42 km. (!) And we begin to suspect that its builders were guest workers from China.

Novotradnoe

We originally planned to stay at Azov coast, because we see the Black Sea every day. Therefore, we chose the Kazantip Bay, believing that from there it would be convenient for us to get to Kerch and other interesting places on the peninsula. We expected to see something typical of the Crimean-Black Sea - buildings of various types right up to the coast and a bunch of cafes / bars / shacks, and were completely unprepared for the fact that everything would be completely different. It's kind of spacious, isn't it? A wide beach, a strip of reeds and a silver sucker between it and the houses, the houses themselves, standing far from each other, the only cafe and market near it.

extreme eastern part Crimea is the Kerch Peninsula, it is washed by two seas, the main part of its territory has the status of an archaeological reserve. southern part washes the Black Sea northern part Sea of ​​Azov, geographical location provides a special climate zone.

Location of the peninsula

From the heights of the Akmonai Isthmus, you can see the basins of the two seas. The terrain in the southwest is flat, the northeast is hilly. The hills are considered the hallmark of the Kerch Peninsula. The highlight of this area are mud volcanoes, their phenomenal properties are widely used in spa treatment.

A distinctive feature of the Kerch Peninsula is the hot summer, which brings drought and winter with little snow. water area Kerch Strait separates the peninsula from the Taman Peninsula. Today Kerch and Taman Peninsula and is connected by a ferry. The Taman Peninsula is separated from the Kerch Peninsula by a strait, with a width in some places from five to fifteen meters.

Kerch city

On the Kerch Peninsula is the "capital" of this region - Kerch. Modern city located along the Kerch Strait for 52 kilometers. City of four water areas with different temperature and salinity. These properties provide pools:

• the Black Sea;
• Sea of ​​Azov;
• Kerch Strait;
• Lake Sivash.

The foundation of this settlement dates back to the fifth century BC, historical Center under open sky has:

• Mount Mithridates;
• Settlement of Panticapaeum;
• Church of John the Baptist;
• Adzhimushkaysky quarries;
• Yeni-Kale fortress.

locals it is advised to climb Mount Mithridates to visit the settlement of Panticapaeum, also from its top to admire the landscapes of the surroundings. The city is famous for hosting all kinds of festivals, competitions, regattas. sunny city, which contains about 300 sunny days, opens bathing season in May.

Not far from Kerch is the sandy beaches of the Arshintsevskaya Spit and the world famous for its therapeutic mud Lake Chokrak. Medicinal properties mud is used to treat joint, gynecological diseases.

The Kerch Peninsula belongs to natural phenomenon- mud volcanoes, they are located near the village of Bondarenkovo, their height reaches one and a half meters. The composition of the erupted masses is saturated:

• Oil;
• Methane;
• Hydrogen sulfide.

The mystery of the beginning of volcanic eruptions containing mud has not yet been solved by scientists. It is known that the mixture is pushed to the surface by combustible gases. The location of volcanoes is fixed on the surface of the earth, also in the bottom of the Sea of ​​Azov.

It is difficult to find the location of volcanoes on your own, so it is advised to use the service of a guide.

Perspective for the development of the region

Every year more than five million tourists and vacationers rest and improve their health in the Crimea. Some of them visit the Kerch Peninsula, which is of particular interest today. The construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait is underway, this event opens up broad prospects for the development of the region. The presence of investment flows contributes to the implementation of the program for the development of small business, to develop services in the resort and tourism sectors.

Kerch - unique city. It stands in the very place where the waters of the two seas meet - not without reason, even before our era, these lands were literally occupied by settlers from Hellas, who built several colonies here. It is a pity that only ruins remained from the ancient Panticapaeum, Myrmekia and Nymphaeum, but these ancient stones remember dozens of bygone centuries.

Just in Kerch incredible amount sights of different periods: the tombs of the Bosporan kings, an exceptional and miraculously preserved temple of the 8th century, a Turkic fortress and architectural monuments of the period Russian Empire. Local sandy beaches are a great alternative to rocky bays South Shore Crimea. Some of the bathing areas even seem to be more comfortable and adapted for a comfortable stay.

The best hotels and hostels at affordable prices.

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What to see and where to go in Kerch?

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

Since 2014, a ferry crossing has been perhaps the only way to get from mainland Russia to Crimea. The transport hub functions clearly and smoothly, although in the high season you can wait in line for several hours. During a short 20-minute journey from one coast to another, you can admire the waves, flocks of gulls hovering near the ship waiting for food, and even, if you're lucky, see a flock of bottlenose dolphins.

A low 90-meter hill in the city, the geographical center of Kerch, on which ancient times was the city of Panticapaeum. The place is named after the Pontic king. Within the territory of the mountain there are several architectural monuments different times. At the top there is a memorial of Glory to the Immortal Heroes, erected in honor of the soldiers who fell during the liberation of Crimea in 1943-44.

Initially, the staircase was built in the 19th century according to the design of the Italian architect A. Digby. It existed until the Crimean War, but as a result of the fighting it was damaged and destroyed. Restoration took up only after 130 years. The Kerch sculptor R. V. Serdyuk copied the ancient statues of griffins found at the excavations and decorated the flights of stairs with them. After the collapse of part of the structure in 2015, the next restoration work started.

An 18th-century Ottoman stronghold built by an Italian-born architect who was in the service of the Turks. This bastion had strategic importance, as it prevented the passage of enemy ships through the narrow strait between the Black and Azov Seas. In 1771 Russian troops entered the fortress. By the end of the 19th century, she had lost her military value and was abandoned. On this moment The landmark continues to deteriorate.

The fortification is located in the narrowest part of the Kerch Strait at Cape Ak-Burun. The complex was erected in the middle of the 19th century to defend the borders of the Russian Empire. In Soviet times, the armories of the Black Sea Fleet were located here. In 2003, after the disbandment of the military units, the fortress was transferred to the disposal of the local museum-reserve. Today it functions as a tourist site.

early medieval Orthodox church VIII century (its oldest part was erected in the VI century), a unique monument Byzantine architecture and oldest religious building in Crimea. The building acquired its final appearance in the 10th century during the existence of the Tmutarakan principality. The church is active, inside there is a modern iconostasis and utensils.

An ancient Greek colony that existed on the site of Kerch from the 7th century BC. In those distant times, magnificent temples stood here, and the streets and wide squares were full of people. Later, Panticapaeum was part of the Bosporan kingdom, was under the Scythian and Roman protectorate. The rich city was destroyed by the Goths in the 4th century, time completed the work - today only ruins have survived from its former splendor.

Ancient tomb with preserved remains of original frescoes. Currently, it is located in the middle of urban development, in ancient times it was located on the territory of Panticapaeum. The crypt is a rectangular building with walls made of stone blocks. A small corridor leads to the burial chamber. Given the considerable age of the wall painting, it is quite well preserved.

A complex of artificial caves, which were formed as a result of centuries-old extraction of shell rock. The place is famous for the fact that in 1942 the troops of the Crimean Front held the defense here. In 1966, the Adzhimushkay Quarries Defense Museum was organized on the territory of underground mines, and in 1982 a memorial was erected here in honor of the fallen soldiers. The entrance to the territory is located among stone slabs with figures of defenders carved on them.

Monument of the 4th century BC, which is the tomb of one of the rulers of the Bosporan kingdom. The burial mound rises 17 meters above the surface, under it there is a 36-meter corridor and a burial chamber, lined with smooth blocks. The hill itself consists of three layers: stone, clay, a mixture of pebbles and earth. When the archaeologists reached the mound, it had already been looted.

Another tomb of the 4th century BC, excavated in the middle 19th century. During the work, archaeologists hoped that the barrow remained intact and retained all its treasures, but they were wrong - it turned out to be as empty as the Tsar's. Local residents adapted to take out clay from here for household needs, but thanks to the money allocated from the state treasury, the attraction was saved. The first museum opened here in 1871.

The museum was founded in 1926, which makes it one of the oldest in Crimea. During the Crimean War, the building was destroyed, and the exposition was looted, some especially valuable items were taken to England, so now the exhibits of that time can be seen in the British Museum. Later, the collection began to be collected again, and the museum was given a new building. To date, more than 240 thousand copies are stored in its funds.

The lapidarium is a collection of ancient art objects found in excavations of settlements from the era of the Bosporan kingdom. Sculptures, tombstones, elements of facade structures containing inscriptions and bas-reliefs, religious objects and much more are exhibited here. The exposition is so diverse that it is appreciated all over the world. In total, there are about 6 thousand items in the lapidary.

The building of the art gallery is located near the Great Stairs of Mithridates and is part of it. architectural ensemble. The building was built in a classical style. The basis of the collection is the canvases of the founder of the museum - the artist N. Ya. But, and specifically - the cycle “Adzhimushkay. 1942". In addition to paintings, the gallery exhibits other exhibits: sculpture, ceramics, glassware and other art objects.

In 1943, near the village of Eltigen, Soviet paratroopers fought the German army for 40 days, showing remarkable courage. With these events, the liberation of Crimea from the invaders began. A museum was built at the landing site, which exhibits the belongings of fighters, weapons and awards, and also erected memorial Complex, which includes mass grave, a monument, the remains of trenches and a boat on a pedestal.

Mirmekiy is a colony of Ionian Greeks, founded on the shores of the Kerch Strait in the 6th century BC. It existed until the 10th century, in the Middle Ages new settlements began to appear in its place, due to which the ancient cultural layer sank underground. The first finds on the territory of Mirmekia were made in the 1830s, but regular excavations began in the 20th century. Today there is an archaeological complex here.

Another settlement of the ancient era, which has survived to this day in ruins. It is located on a high plateau in the city. The settlement existed until the 8th century, after which it was destroyed during the Turkic raids. Continuous excavations have been carried out at the site since the 1920s. As a result, the foundations of houses, the remains of stone-paved squares and streets, were raised to the surface.

Ruin ancient Greek city located about 17 km from Kerch. Given the quantity ancient colonies in the city itself and its environs, one might think that settling in Taurica was even more prestigious than in Greece itself. It is a pity that none of the cities of that era, located in the Crimea, has survived to this day. Nymphaeum is the same ruins as Mirmekiy, Tiritaka and Panticapaeum.

Approximately 8 km from Kerch, on the territory of a shallow basin, there is a unique natural attraction - mud volcanoes. These are small lakes made of a mixture of brown-gray earth and water, having a thick consistency. Each puddle has craters, from which bubbles of gas escape from time to time. Sometimes the volcano throws out a rather powerful mud fountain with a jet height of up to 20 meters.

Almost every seaside resort considers it necessary to have its own ostrich farm. Kerch did not lag behind either - a couple of kilometers from the crossing in the village of Podmayachny, since 2004, these exotic birds have also been bred. The birds quickly acclimatized and almost immediately began to produce numerous offspring. Later they were joined by peacocks, pheasants, llamas, donkeys, ponies and other animals.

Salt Lake, located near the village of Kurortnoye, 16 km from Kerch. Until 1917, there was a mud bath near it, until the 1940s, salt was mined here. The body of water is separated from the sea by a small strip of land, along which lies a strip sandy beaches. Under certain lighting, the surface of the lake acquires a pinkish tint, which looks very picturesque against the background of the surrounding steppe.

The cape is the northern tip of the Kerch Peninsula. Even before our era, these regions were inhabited - a Greek settlement was located here (in Kerch and its environs, it is apparently easier to find a place where there were no ancient colonies). The cape protrudes into the Sea of ​​Azov and is natural boundary two bays: Reefs and Marine Corps. The place is quite picturesque and deserted, perfect for contemplating the sea.

The cape is located on the eastern outskirts of Kerch at the entrance to the strait. A very convenient position for the lighthouse, which was installed here for the first time in 1820. The Lantern District is home to seagulls, cormorants and water snakes. The Yenikal lighthouse, restored after the Second World War in the 1950s, is still operational today. Although the tower looks slightly outdated, it is equipped with modern equipment.

Picturesque bays surrounded by rocks, stretching along the coast of the Sea of ​​Azov. They still retained their original beauty, so tourists come here, seekers of solitude and tired of the promoted resorts. Beyond the wide sand strip boundless landscapes of the "Pontic" steppe stretch, coastline indented with dozens of small bays, there is not even a hint of civilization around - what else is needed for happiness?

The main beach of Kerch is the most comfortable place for swimming in the city. It is located on the Kamysh-Burun Spit and has access to the embankment. Main advantages: flat bottom, sand and small shell rock, locker rooms, gazebos, cafes, sun loungers for rent and car parking. Vacationers are offered a variety of water attractions and other entertainment.