The Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai is a palace-garden that has preserved the secrets of the Khan's Girey dynasty. Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai - the eastern pearl of Crimea Where is the palace in Bakhchisarai

The question of how to get to the Khan's Palace in Bakhchisaray, the heart of the Crimean Gireys, was relevant for all Zaporozhye atamans. It is still relevant now, however, the priorities over the past 450 years have changed a lot - if the Cossacks dreamed of destroying it a couple of hundred years ago, now everything is being done to save it. The brilliant castle of the Crimean rulers is the oldest and most important historical and architectural object on the territory of the peninsula, its significance for both contemporaries and descendants is very great. Truly, this is one of the most visited places in the Crimea by tourists; interest in it has not cooled down since the reign of the Romanovs.

Where is the palace in Bakhchisarai located?

Bakhchisaray stands out with some unusual color. The Khan's Palace in Crimea is located in this regional center of the southern part of the peninsula, in the middle of the way from Simferopol to, 30 km southwest of the Crimean capital. It is located in the Churuk-Su river valley, in the foothills of the Inner Crimean ridge.

Khansky on the map of Crimea

The history of the construction of the ensemble and legends

The construction of the palace began under Mengli-Girey I in 1503 in parallel with the new Khan's capital, the construction of Demir-Kapa dates back to this period of time. But the main work on its creation was carried out during the reign of Sahib Giray I: from 1532 to 1551. most of the fine buildings were built.

However, it would be wrong to say that its construction was completed shortly before the death of Sahib Giray. In fact, each of the khans added something of his own - this continued until the liquidation of the Crimean Khanate in 1785. During the Russian-Turkish war of 1735-1739. in 1736 it was taken by Russian troops, and the khan's residence was burned down by order of field marshal Minich.

Restoration work in the XVIII-XX centuries.

As a result of the fire, the Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai was badly damaged, and some of its buildings were completely destroyed. Repair work began almost immediately: in 1741, he made an attempt to restore the palace of Salamat-Girey II, but his reign was short-lived, he had little time. Following him, Arslan-Girey and Kyrym-Girey tried to rebuild the residence: as a result of their activities, new buildings appeared, and even more damage was caused to the old ones.

Later, during the 19th century, it was rebuilt several times and it completely lost its original appearance, changing beyond recognition. The last restoration work was carried out in 1961-1964. Due to the fact that the team of specialists used the description of the palace by Captain Manstein, made by him before the burning, the khan's residence was actually returned to its original appearance, which can be seen today.

Our days

In 1921 it was transformed into the Museum of the History and Culture of the Crimean Tatar People. Since 1955, it has received the name of the Bakhchisaray Historical and Archaeological Museum of Crimea. And in 1979, after restoration, being a monument of Crimean architecture, it became a historical and architectural museum.

Legend of the Serpents

At the end of the XV century. The Crimean Khanate has not yet completely freed itself from the power of the Golden Horde. On the eve of the decisive battle between the Horde Khan Akhmat and the Ottoman Sultan Bayazid II, in which the fate of the Crimea was also decided, the son of Mengli-Giray went hunting to escape from heavy thoughts. During this he wandered
thicket and stopped to rest and drink water by the river Churuk-Su.

Suddenly, a rustle was heard, the khan's son turned and saw how two, emerging from the bushes, grappled in a deadly fight. He saw it at the very moment when one of the snakes delivered the last, mortal blow to the other. Suddenly, a third snake attacked the winner and the battle began again. But the son of Mengli Giray did not take his eyes off the dead snake - it reminded him very much of the fate of his homeland. Suddenly she stirred and slowly crawled towards the river until she disappeared into the water.

A moment later, she appeared on the other side, strengthened and without a single scratch. The young khan immediately hurried to his father and told him about what he had seen, and a few hours later the messengers brought good news: the Horde had been completely defeated by the Ottomans. Mengli-Girey considered this a good sign and in the place where the healed snake crawled out, he ordered to build a palace, and in memory of this event, carve a coat of arms - two snakes intertwined in a fight.

Khan's Palace - a huge open-air museum

Every year, many tourists from all over the world come to admire the Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai - these beautiful buildings that are open to the public. It is very difficult to single out something among all the diversity - they are all unique and bear the imprint of different eras. But more importantly, after the restoration of 1961-1964. the complex acquired the appearance of a single architectural ensemble, lost for many years, a combination of harmony and spirituality. The most interesting palace objects:

Address: Russia, Republic of Crimea, city of Bakhchisarai
Main attractions: Great Khan Mosque, Stable Building, Library Building, Main Building, Harem Building, Falcon Tower, Divan Hall, Golden Study, Golden Fountain, Fountain of Tears, Demir-Kapy Portal, Summer Pavilion
Coordinates: 44°44"56.5"N 33°52"55.1"E

Short description

On the territory of the Crimean peninsula in the city of Bakhchisarai there is a luxurious khan's palace, which occupied more than 4 hectares of land. Khan-Saray - its ancient name, rebuilt in the best traditions of the Crimean Tatar architecture of the 16th - 18th centuries. Initially, the khan's residence was located in the Atlam-Dere valley, but when the ruler began to experience a shortage of space to maintain his numerous court, he decided to build a new palace and chose a site for it on the banks of the Churuk-Su River.

Aerial photography of the Khan's Palace in Bakhchisarai

Construction work was carried out during the reign of Adil-Sakhib-Girey, the son of Mengli-Girey, and at the same time, Bakhchisaray was first mentioned as the place of residence of the descendant of the khan. By 1551, the construction of the palace came to an end, but it was not a single large-scale building, but a whole miniature city that became the center of the political, cultural and spiritual life of the Crimean Tatar state.

The main task of the craftsmen who worked on the creation of palace buildings was to convey the Muslim idea of ​​paradise on earth. So on the Crimean land a palace-garden appeared (translated into the Crimean Tatar language - bakhchisarai). The palace area is rich in courtyards, fountains, and greenery. All buildings are light and painted, with openwork bars on the windows. However, the original appearance of the Bakhchisaray Khan's Palace has changed several times over the 2.5 centuries of its existence. Each subsequent ruler considered it necessary to supplement the palace complex with new buildings or remake it at his own discretion.

North gate and gate tower

In 1736, during the invasion of the Crimea by Russian troops, the palace was set on fire, and after the fire, all its buildings were repeatedly repaired. However, the restoration work was carried out so ineptly that many valuable architectural and artistic elements of the complex were lost. At the end of the 18th century, after the end of the Russian-Turkish war, not the best times came for palace buildings.

During the repair work, the traditions of local architecture were not taken into account at all, and European notes were imposed on the Bakhchisaray ensemble that did not fit into the general background of the Crimean Tatar masterpiece. By decree of the government of the Russian Empire, dilapidated buildings were simply demolished, and the unique murals of the best court artists were replaced with primitive images.

living quarters

In the 60s of the XX century, the masters still managed to restore the palace to its former appearance. Thanks to the complex and time-consuming restoration work, the architectural appearance of the previously changed premises was restored, and the original murals again took their places. Today, tourists can see the living quarters of the khan's family, official buildings and defend the service in the mosque if they are Muslims.

Description of the ensemble of the Bakhchisaray Khan's Palace

You can enter the territory of the palace complex through one of the entrances. In ancient times there were four of them, at the moment there are only two. The northern gate, which is also the main one, is made of wood, but upholstered with iron. You can approach them on the bridge thrown over the river Churuk-Su.

View of the Golden Cabinet

They recognize the main gate by the arch with the image of 2 intertwined snakes. The meaning of this emblem has its own legend, according to which the old Khan Sahib I Gerai saw two fighting snakes. One of them, wanting to heal the wounds received in battle, immediately plunged into the river water and regained her strength. For this reason, the khan chose this area to lay the foundation for the future palace. Above the main gate rises over the gate watchtower.

Right behind the gate begins the palace square, which is the compositional center of the entire residence. Its southern side is built up with garden terraces, which are clearly visible from the square. Today, its territory, paved with stone, is covered with the shade of numerous trees, and earlier the area was sandy and had no vegetation.

Stable building

Standing on the Palace Square and turning east of the main gate, it is hard not to notice the Great Khan's Mosque, recognized as the largest mosque in Crimea. In 1532, Sahib I Giray himself built it and named it after himself, but she wore it until the 17th century. Luxurious massive mosque below is decorated with lancet arcade, and majolica inserts attract the eye on its walls. The roof of the mosque was at first domed, but later the masters turned it into a four-pitched one and covered it with red tiles. The internal decoration of the shrine is a huge hall with a colonnade. Sunlight pours into it from the southern windows with colored glass. Along the entire perimeter of the upper tier of walls there is a wide balcony supported by columns. On it is a painted glazed Khan's box, decorated with stained-glass windows and decorated with glazed tiles.

Northern and Southern durbe

The oldest building of the Bakhchisaray Khan's Palace in Crimea is considered to be a bath complex with an interesting name Sary-Gyuzel, that is, "yellow beauty". Baths are located to the east of the mosque, and they are arranged according to the Turkish type. The air for them was heated in the basement, then it rose from the furnace and heated the floor slabs mounted on short columns.

Water was supplied through lead pipes. Stone benches stretched along the bath walls and there were shells. The bath complex was divided into men's and women's departments, which had covered courtyards with fountains at the exits. Above the men's section there is an inscription informing that the Sary-Gyuzel bath owes its appearance to Sultan Sahib Giray, who built it in 939.

Great Khan Mosque

The Divan Hall is a special room, in the center of which stood a chic throne intended for the khan. On both sides of the throne there were low sofas, on which the khan's close associates sat. And to accommodate the beys - persons who were members of the state council (Divan), long benches were provided. The ceiling of the hall is wooden, the windows of the room are in two rows and are decorated with stained-glass windows. Above the entrance to the hall, on its northern wall, a narrow lattice balcony (in Tatar - chorus) was attached. According to legend, the khan sometimes hid in this choir and overheard what was said at meetings in his absence. A similar balcony was located on the south wall.

Sofa Hall

Today, only the windows on the eastern wall have survived from the Divan Hall. Before the fire of 1736, the floor of the room was marble, in the center of the hall there was a square-shaped pool, the walls were decorated with porcelain tiles. Those paintings that can be seen on the walls at this time were made in the 19th century. In 1917, an important historical event took place in the Divan Hall - the kurultai of the Crimean Tatars promulgated the news of the creation of an independent Crimean Tatar government here.

golden fountain

The fountain of tears is an addition to the durba of Dilyara-bikech

The project of the "Fountain of Tears", installed at the mausoleum-tomb of Dilyara-bikech - the beloved wife of the Khan, was developed and implemented by the Iranian architect Omer in 1764. The fountain was fed from a natural source, but as it dried up, the water supply to the fountain stopped. Before Queen Catherine II visited the Bakhchisaray Khan's Palace, the fountain of tears was at the durbe, but in preparation for her arrival, it was transferred to the Fountain Courtyard. Here he stands to this day. There is a similar fountain in the Basin Yard. The fountain, erected in memory of the khan's wife, is a symbol of the grief of the formidable ruler.

Fountain of tears

The most attractive part of the fountain is its center, decorated with a marble flower. Under it are three bowls - one large, the rest - smaller. Water dripping from a flower first falls into a large bowl, then alternately into smaller ones, and again the water ends up in a flower and drips into a large bowl. This "circle" goes on continuously. The process of filling the cups with water can be compared to the grief that fills the heart of the khan. Changing the size of the bowls shows an alternate increase and decrease in pain. And the symbol of eternity is a spiral carved at the foot of the fountain.

Harem Corps

Harem building - the place of residence of the khan's wives

The rooms of the harem were located in 4 buildings, and there were 73 of them in total. By 1818, three dilapidated buildings containing 70 rooms were demolished in connection with the arrival of Alexander I. Today, only a gazebo and a three-room outbuilding remained from the harem building, the building of which was restored and complemented by balconies for tourists. In the wing you can get acquainted with the interiors of the rooms "Residential", "Buffet", "Living Room". The entire harem building is surrounded by 8-meter stone walls. From the south, the Falcon Tower adjoins it, opening the view of the palace square to the khan's wives. The tower itself is located in the Persian Garden, rich in fountains and pavilions. A wide gate served as an exit from the harem to the garden.

Portal of Demir-Kapy

Portal of Demir-Kapy - the main entrance to the palace

The portal of Demir-Kapy, or the embassy doors, is the oldest part of the palace, through which the ambassadors from the embassy courtyard passed to the Fountain courtyard. The massive portal door is upholstered with strips of wrought iron. On both sides it is framed by pilasters with Corinthian capitals. And above the pilasters there are an architrave, a frieze and a cornice, decorated with acroteria with a floral pattern and a semicircular tympanum. In general, the architecture of the portal conveys the style of the Lombard-Venetian Renaissance. Coins, flowers, oak leaves and acorns, strings of pearls are depicted on the limestone blocks of the portal. An arch with floral curls and flowers is attached above the door. But the real historical value is the inscriptions on the portal. Their words, carved from stone in Arabic, are covered with gilding.

In order to create one shebeke stained-glass window, the craftsmen had to work 5-6 months

The facade is painted with intricate floral and geometric patterns.

The finest painting covers the walls and ceilings of the inner chambers. Visitors get the impression that they are inside a gem.

None of the rooms of the palace repeats the decoration of the other. Here you can see mythical birds in the Garden of Eden, as well as outlandish animals, flowers

Trees, flowers, animals and birds are symbols of fertility

Many masters worked on the palace paintings, but the most famous of them are Abas Gulu and Usta Gambar Garabahi

In total, the Khan's palace has 6 rooms, 4 corridors and 2 mirrored balconies. The second floor is divided into male and female halves.

Thanks to the stained-glass windows, the daylight that enters the chambers shines with all the colors of the rainbow.

Once there was a marvelous garden around the Khan's palace. Now two giant plane trees are left of him.

These plane trees are even older than the palace. The tablet says that this giant, 34 meters high, was planted back in 1530.

Shah Palace located behind a strong fortress wall. She saved from the raids of enemies

And such a view opens from the walls of the palace on Sheki - one of the most ancient cities of Azerbaijan