Funa fortress, Crimea. How to get there. Map, GPS coordinates and photos. Funa - guard fortress near Alushta

Funa (Greek: Φουνα) is a medieval fortress located on a rocky hill at the foot of Mount Demirdzhi. The name in Greek means "smoky". Previously, Mount Demirdzhi was also called Funa.

The monument of archeology and architecture "Fortification of Funa" is located 2 kilometers north of the village of Radiant at the western foot of the South Demerdzhi mountain. The greatest length of the fortress from north to south is 106 m; from west to east - 56 m. Fortification area - 0.52 ha.

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The first mention of the Funa fortress dates back to 1384, at that time the fortress was an outpost of the principality, had an important military value. In the Middle Ages, a trade route ran near the fortress, which led from Gorzuvit (Gurzuf) and Aluston (Alushta) to the steppe Crimea.

After the capture of Genoa Crimean coast from Kafa (Feodosia) to Chembalo (Balaklava), the princes of the Principality of Theodoro built a series of fortresses located higher in the mountains, opposite the main fortresses of the Genoese. These fortresses, on the one hand, controlled and held back the advance of the enemy deep into Crimean peninsula, on the other hand, were springboards for the capture of coastal cities. Such actions of the Theodorites were caused by the struggle between the principality and the Genoese for possession of the coast. The Funa fortress in this system served as an eastern border outpost, which not only resisted Genoese fortress, located on the territory of Alushta, but also controlled one of the most important caravan routes from steppe Crimea on the coast.

According to the candidate of historical sciences V.P. Kirilko, who conducted a comprehensive architectural and archaeological study of the fortification structure of the monument, the fortification was erected no earlier than 1422 and no later than the end of 1423, most likely in the spring-summer of 1423. In October-November 1423 It was everywhere destroyed as a result of a powerful earthquake. Presumably, in 1425 the fortification was restored. Soon the buildings of the outpost were burned down. The exact cause of the fire and its date are unknown. Either the Genoese, who in 1434 undertook a punitive expedition led by Carlo Lomellini against the Theodorites, or the Ottomans, in the 50s. repeatedly plundered the coast. In 1459 the fortress ensemble underwent a thorough reconstruction and was turned into a castle. In 1475 (as a result of the capture of the Crimea by the Ottoman Turks), it ceased to exist.

The results of the excavations showed that in 1459 the fortress, measuring 105 m in length and 52 m in width, suffered as a result of hostilities and earthquakes, was thoroughly rebuilt and significantly strengthened. In particular, a 15-meter three-tier donjon was erected, the internal dimensions of which were approximately 6 x 10 m with a wall thickness of 2.3 m. The donjon, located in the gate area, provided cover for the exit gates and shot through the adjacent area of the citadel. The garrison of the castle was approximately 30-40 soldiers.

important place in architectural ensemble Funsky fortress occupies, the ruins of which can be observed today. After the destruction of the fortress in 1475 by the Ottoman Turks, it was the church that was best preserved. repeatedly repaired and rebuilt, as a result, it was preserved until the beginning of the twentieth century.

Not far from the ruins of the fortress, blocky chaos is a heap of huge boulders and stones. This is the result of the great collapse of 1894 and subsequent collapses. As a result of the collapse, local residents left the area.

Funa Fortress - belonged to the Theodorites, who at one time were one of the three serious forces in the Crimea. The capital of the Principality of Theodora was on Mangup ( cave city), up to 24 (other sources say a smaller number) fortified fortresses spread throughout the coastal Crimea. The population of the principality was Orthodox and was constantly at enmity with the Muslims (for some period of history they united with Hadji Giray in the fight against the Genoese) and the Genoese (Catholics). The place for the fortress was not chosen randomly. The conveniently located valley was quite far from the sea (the fortress of Aluston was located on the very shore), but on the rather busy Small Silk Road at that time, which ran to Kafu. Such a location made it possible to collect a fee for passage through the territory and security. Around the fortress there was a village where farmers lived, providing food for the garrison of the fortress and having the opportunity in case of danger to find shelter behind its thick walls. The walls of the fortress are really impressive - some were up to 15 m high! Unfortunately, the fortress was badly damaged during the Crimean earthquake in 1927. Scientists believe that the gate temple was completely destroyed by this earthquake. Only fragments of the walls, part of the fortress - don-jon and part of the temple have survived to this day. Excavations were carried out in the fortress, which made it possible to determine the exact age of the fortress and also many interesting details. For example, during the excavations, a marble slab was found (a copy lies in front of the entrance), according to which it was possible to read the time of the construction of the fortress and accurately establish the prince-owner of the fortress. Another interesting fact, during excavations in the masonry of the walls, crosses-amulets were found. The builders built crosses into the walls with the relics of saints so that they would protect the fortress in case of danger. Funa as a fortification is really very interesting, first of all, for its thoughtfulness. Outer gate, narrow stone bag, which allowed the defenders, if the main gate was broken, to shower the attackers with arrows from the walls, while the besiegers could not maneuver in a narrow passage. And finally, a rounded passage under the casemate tower, which prevented the ram from being dragged and deployed in order to break the third gate. The corner of the walls in this part did not allow the attackers to scatter in order to ram the gates. Enemies had to break them manually. And all this under a hail of stones and arrows. Despite, however, a superbly thought-out defense system, the fortress was taken. Together with the fall of the great principality of Theodoro, all its fortifications also fell.

Funa ( Φουνα )

Funa is a medieval fortress located on a rocky hill at the foot of South Demerdzhi mountain. The name in Greek means "smoky". The monument of archeology and architecture "Fortification of Funa" is located 2 kilometers north of the village of Radiant at the western foot of the South Demerdzhi mountain.

The greatest length of the fortress from north to south is 106 m; from west to east - 56 m. Fortification area - 0.52 ha.

For the first time the fortress appears in the patriarchal acts of 1377-1379, 1384 and 1390. about the bickering for the parishes between the Kherson, Gotha and Sugdei metropolitans, as well as in the treasury lists of Kaffa close to them in time.

Near the fortress in the Middle Ages, there was a trade route that led from Gorzuvit (Gurzuf) and Aluston (Alushta) to the steppe Crimea.

After the capture of the Crimean coast by the Republic of Genoa from Kafa (Feodosia) to Chembalo (Balaklava), the princes of the Principality of Theodoro built a number of fortresses located higher in the mountains, opposite the main fortresses of the Genoese. These fortresses, on the one hand, controlled and held back the advance of the enemy deep into the Crimean peninsula, on the other hand, were springboards for the capture of coastal cities. Such actions of the Theodorites were caused by the struggle between the principality and the Genoese for possession of the coast.

The Funa fortress in this system served as an eastern border outpost, which not only opposed the Genoese fortress located on the territory of Alushta, but also controlled one of the most important caravan routes from the steppe Crimea to the coast.

According to the data of the candidate of historical sciences V.P. Kirilko, who conducted a comprehensive architectural and archaeological study fortification structure of the monument, the fortification was erected no earlier than 1422 and no later than the end of 1423, most likely in the spring and summer of 1423. In October-November 1423, it was destroyed everywhere as a result of a powerful earthquake. Presumably, in 1425 the fortification was restored. Soon the buildings of the outpost were burned down. The exact cause of the fire and its date are unknown. Either the Genoese, who in 1434 undertook a punitive expedition led by Carlo Lomellini against the Theodorites, or the Ottomans, who repeatedly plundered the coast in the 1450s, could put the fortification on fire. In 1459, the fortress ensemble underwent a thorough reconstruction and was turned into a castle. In 1475 (as a result of the capture of the Crimea by the Ottoman Turks), it ceased to exist.

The results of the excavations showed that in 1459 the fortress, measuring 105 m in length and 52 m in width, suffered as a result of hostilities and earthquakes, was thoroughly rebuilt and significantly strengthened. In particular, a 15-meter three-tier donjon was erected, the internal dimensions of which were approximately 6 × 10 m with a wall thickness of 2.3 m. The donjon, located in the gate area, provided cover for the exit gates and shot through the adjacent area of the citadel. The garrison of the castle was approximately 30-40 soldiers.

An important place in the architectural ensemble of the Funskaya fortress is occupied by the church of St. Theodore Stratelates, the ruins of which can still be seen today. After the destruction of the fortress in 1475 by the Ottoman Turks, it was the church that was best preserved. Church of St. Theodora Stratilata was repeatedly repaired and rebuilt, as a result, it was preserved until the beginning of the 20th century.

Since October 2015 the Archaeological Complex " Funa Fortress" is an object cultural heritage federal significance.

How to get there by car: from Alushta, move along the Alushta-Simferopol highway until the turn to Radiant, which will be on the right side, not far from the Lukoil gas station.

How to get there on your own: from the bus station Alushta walks scheduled bus to the stop "Radiant"

Funa Fortress: A Brief History of the Fortification

The fortress of Funa is the eastern outpost of the Orthodox Principality of Theodoro. Located on the road that went from the steppe part of the Crimean peninsula towards the southern coast of the Black Sea, it guarded the subjects of the Mangup prince from the Genoese neighbors, was a springboard in case of military operations and, probably, brought a good income to the state of which it was located. There is a version that the trade caravans passing by Funa constantly paid tribute.

Archaeological finds suggest that the Funa fortress was built in 1422-1423, around the time when about two dozen fortifications belonging to the Principality of Theodoro grew opposite the Genoese fortifications. A settlement with the same name arose near South Demerdzhi much earlier, in the 12th century. The fortress is also mentioned in documentary sources of the 80s. 14th century No matter how long Funa existed, at the end of 1423 an earthquake occurred, which severely damaged the fortress. Theodorites almost immediately began to rebuild it, but a few years later there was a fire that incinerated a significant part of the buildings. Scientists suggest that the fortification was burned by the Genoese or the Turks.

In 1459, another period in the history of the Funa fortress began. It was short, but remarkable. The fortress was reconstructed into a castle, a three-tiered donjon and the Church of Theodore Stratilates appeared on its territory. There was a military garrison of 30-50 people. And in 1475, Funa was captured by the Turks, after which it is no longer restored and quickly loses its former significance.

People still continued to live in the vicinity of the Funa fortress. They left their native places only after the collapse of 1894.

There is a legend among the locals that the body of the Gothic queen rests on the territory of the Funa fortress. It seems to have been buried along with the precious crown. Believing in the legend, the fascists who came to Crimea during World War II searched for the grave for a long time, but never found it.

Features of the architecture of the Funa fortress

Funa Fortress was located on a rocky elevation under the mountain South Demerdzhi. It occupied an area of 5200 sq. m. From south to north, its length reached 106 m, the width of the fortress was only 56 m.

Initially, there were only two fortress walls with parapets. There was a cliff on the west side. A rectangular tower stood in the northern curtain. The entrance gate was located in the east. During the construction of the walls, crosses with relics were laid in them. Ancient architects believed that this would make the fortress strong and bring prosperity to its inhabitants.

After the reconstruction in 1425, the thickness of the walls increased, and a semicircular tower appeared around the main entrance.

Since 1459, there was no part of the defensive wall that went from the cliff to the rectangular tower, it was specially dismantled. A 15-meter donjon was built next to the semicircular entrance. It had the shape of a rectangle with sides of 6 and 10 meters. The thickness of the walls of the tower reached 2 m 30 cm. The residence of the heir to the throne of the Mangup principality was located in the donjon. During the last reconstruction, the semicircular tower turned into a one-nave church of Theodore Stratilates. It was rebuilt many times, operated until 1778 and lasted until the 1920s. 20th century The inside of the temple could be accessed from the first floor or through a passage in the southern part of Funa Fortress. Between the donjon and the Christian shrine, over time, another wall appeared, in which an entrance gate was made.

Crooked streets radiated from the square of Funa Fortress. The houses were quite dense. The buildings had one room, less often two. The walls of the dwellings were built of limestone and clay mortar, their thickness did not exceed one meter. Tiles were used for the roofs. Spring water entered the houses through ceramic pipes. Toward the end of the existence of the fortress, the construction of a cistern began in the southern part.

Funa fortress today

Funa Fortress was seriously damaged by the landslides of 1893-1894. The earthquake of 1927 did not spare her either.

On the site where the medieval fortress once stood, today there is an open-air museum.

There you can get acquainted with samples of ceramics used by the inhabitants of Funa, see a marble slab with images of five coats of arms, a mini-copy of an ancient defensive structure, the ruins of a church and some mechanisms, including devices for execution.

Where is Funa Fortress located and how to get there?

The Funa fortress stands on the slope of Mount Demerdzhi, near the village of Radiant. From the bus station of Alushta, a regular bus runs there regularly. Two kilometers before Radiant, you will have to go out and take a walk in the direction of the above mountain.

Tourists who prefer to drive a car should move along the Alushta-Simferopol highway, and then turn towards Radiant or Lavender.

The southern coast of Crimea was liked not only by modern vacationers, but also by people rushing to the peninsula hundreds of years ago. Representatives of different civilizations left many traces of life. These include the remains defensive structures. Some of these can boast of the urban district of Alushta. rising from residential areas a few kilometers into the mountains, the tourist will find a beautiful fort. In Crimea, the Funa fortress is on the list of the most visited historical sights.

Where is Funa located in Crimea?

The bastion is easy to find between the villages of Lavender and Radiant - this mountain part Alushta district, 200 m below (east) of private estates. The object stands almost on the very top of Mount Yuzhnaya, on a rocky hill adjacent to it.

Fortress on the map of Crimea

The history of fortification

Like everyone else, the Funa fortress leaves the most information about itself in the period 1377-1390. She is mentioned more than once in two Patriarchal Acts. From Greek - official language Byzantium - the name of the citadel is translated as "smoky". No wonder, because it was from here that with the help of bonfires they signaled the approach of enemies.

About when the first military installations appeared here, official history, unfortunately, is silent. However, it is not difficult to guess that before the inhabitants of the Eastern Roman Empire, the Taurus-Scythian settlers who lived in this region most likely used the strategic height.

In the Middle Ages, a section ran through the pass, which is now called trade route, connecting Aluston (Alushta) and Gorzuvit (Gurzuf) with the steppe Taurida - the restless kingdom of Turkic nomads. It passed just below Funa. During the threat of robbery attacks on mountain roads the caravaners turned to the fortress.

When Genoa began to capture this area, the princes of the Gothic-Byzantine principality Theodoro supplemented the structure with a number of additional paramilitary towers. That Funa, which we see now, according to the historian V. Kirilko, was built in the distant 1422-1423.

Theodorites were preparing to strike the punitive army of Carlo Lomellini, in which cruel mercenaries from all over Europe served. From the 1450s the coast began to be disturbed by the Ottomans, who were haunted by the last center of Christian culture. As a result, in 1459 the Funa fortress in the Crimea was upgraded to the state of an impregnable castle.

However, in 1475, after a long siege, the Turks still captured this fortification. Muslim invaders, the collapse of 1894 and - all this almost wiped the attraction off the face of the Earth. Only the Church of Theodore Stratilates has been well preserved. Since 2015 ruins and temple complex- objects of cultural heritage of Russia.

What attracts tourists to the fortress near Demerdzhi?

The photo clearly shows the deplorable state of most of the structures that make up historical complex Funa fortress. Alushta in this regard is of interest to many only as a place
from where you can get to the unique ruins of the fortification.

The fortress of 1459 has dimensions of 105 by 52 m. In the same year, a 3-tier donjon was erected on its walls - its internal dimensions were 6 by 10 m, and the thickness of the walls was at least 2.3 m. the gate area provided cover for the so-called "gates for sorties" and the chamber adjacent to the inner square. The remains of all these structures can be observed today.

From the guides come interesting information, they say, the Funa garrison consisted of about 30-36 fighters. An important place in the ensemble is occupied by the Church of St. Theodore Stratilatius. It is noteworthy that not only the foundations, but also the walls remained from it. Not far from the fortress ruins, a vacationer will meet a heap of cyclopean boulders and stones - a “memorable souvenir” after a collapse that happened here in 1894.

It remains to add that the entrance to the historical monument costs money, although the fee is symbolic. It is forbidden to litter here, as well as to scratch commemorative inscriptions on the stones. Now it is strictly protected by Russian law.

How to get to Funa?

The route of movement to the Byzantine bastion at the first stage is connected with the road to the village. It is only 2 km from it to the unique one - you should overcome them along the paths that climb steeply up the overgrown slope. And then you can already consider the view familiar from many photos.

It makes sense to get to the village itself by shuttle bus, which regularly starts from the Alushta bus station (goes along the P29 highway). Another option is to climb Simferopol trolleybus to the stop "Radiant", and then walk to locality admiring the majestic main peak Angarsk pass.

By car, you can get from Alushta to the specified village in 15 minutes, on the map the route looks like this:

Note to the tourist

Address: s. Radiant, Alushta, Crimea, Russia
Coordinates: 44°45′6″N (44.751704), 34°23′19″E (34.388748).
Opening hours: from 8:00 to 17:00.
Prices for admission: for adults - 75₽, for children – 45₽.

Funa Fortress in Crimea is one of the few buildings that tells tourists about the heroic defense of the Orthodox population from Catholic colonists and Muslim invaders. Having been here, it is easy to imagine the political instability of the past! In conclusion, we offer you a video about this reminder of the past. Enjoy watching!

44.751667 , 34.388333

Fortress


A country	Ukraine
Construction	- years
Status	sight
State	destroyed
funa on Wikimedia Commons

Coordinates : 44°45′06″ s. sh. 34°23′18″ in. d. / 44.751667° N. sh. 34.388333° E d.(G) (O) (I)44.751667 , 34.388333

According to the data of the candidate of historical sciences V.P. Kirilko, who conducted a comprehensive architectural and archaeological study of the fortification structure of the monument, the fortification was erected no earlier than 1422 and no later than the end of 1423, most likely in the spring and summer of 1423. In October-November 1423, it was destroyed everywhere as a result of a powerful earthquake. Presumably, in 1425 the fortification was restored. Soon the buildings of the outpost were burned down. The exact cause of the fire and its date are unknown. Either the Genoese, who in 1434 undertook a punitive expedition led by Carlo Lomellini against the Theodorites, or the Ottomans, who repeatedly plundered the coast in the 1450s, could put the fortification on fire. In 1459, the fortress ensemble underwent a thorough reconstruction and was turned into a castle. In 1475 (as a result of the capture of the Crimea by the Ottoman Turks), it ceased to exist.

The results of the excavations showed that in 1459 the fortress, measuring 105 m in length and 52 m in width, suffered as a result of hostilities and earthquakes, was thoroughly rebuilt and significantly strengthened. In particular, a 15-meter three-tier donjon was erected, the internal dimensions of which were approximately 6 × 10 m with a wall thickness of 2.3 m. The donjon, located in the gate area, provided cover for the exit gates and shot through the adjacent area of the citadel. The garrison of the castle was approximately 30-40 soldiers.

An important place in the architectural ensemble of the Funskaya fortress is occupied by the church of St. Theodora Stratilates, the ruins of which can still be observed today. After the destruction of the fortress in 1475 by the Ottoman Turks, it was the church that was best preserved. Church of St. Theodora Stratilata was repeatedly repaired and rebuilt, as a result, it was preserved until the beginning of the 20th century.

There is a legend about the burial in this area of the Queen of the Goths, as well as her famous crown. After the capture of the Crimea by the Nazi troops and the excavations carried out there by the Germans, this legend was not confirmed. locals they still believe that the crown lies somewhere under the walls of the castle.

Sources

Kirilko V.P. Fortress ensemble of Funa. (1423-1475) Stylos Publishing House (Kyiv), 2005, 269 pp. ISBN 966-8518-30-6
Kirilko V.P. Medieval fortification of Funa of the 15th century: a comprehensive architectural and archaeological study of the fortification structure of the monument: Dis. cand. ist. Sciences: 07.00.04 / NAS of Ukraine; Crimean branch of the Institute of Archeology. - Simferopol, 2001. - 294 sheets.
Kirilko V.P. Organization of defense and space-planning structure of the Funa fortress ensemble (1423-1475). - Old-time life of the steppe Coastal Sea and Crimea (Zp.), 2001, vol. 9, p. 240-253.
Kirilko V.P. Funa - from K. E. Köhler to A. L. Berthier-Delagard // Antique antiquity and the Middle Ages. - Yekaterinburg: Ural. state un-t: Volot, 1999. - Issue. 30. - S. 319-327.
Myts V.L. About the works of the Crimean Mountain Expedition of the Institute of Archeology of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in 1991 - ADU, 1993, p. 75 - 77.
Kirilko V. P., Myts V. L. Fortress Funa in the defense system of the Principality of Theodoro // Byzantine Taurica. - Kyiv, 1991
Kirilko V.P. gate church medieval fortification of Funa. Dating and attribution. \\ Northern Black Sea and Volga regions in the relationship between East and West in the XII-XVI centuries. Rostov-on-Don, 1989
Myts V.L. Some results of the study medieval fortress funa. - "Architectural and archaeological research in the Crimea", K., Naukova Dumka, 1988, p. 97-115.
Myts V.L. Research in the mountainous Crimea. - "Archaeological discoveries in 1981", M., 1982, p. 294-295.
Kogonashvili K. K., Makhneva O. A. Medieval Funa. - "Feudal Taurica", K., Naukova Dumka, 1974, p. 111-123.
Kogonashvili K. Aluston and Funa, Simferopol: Crimea. - 1971

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