Mangup-Calais: how to get there? Mangup Kale - photo

Mangup-Kale is an ancient cave city, which is located twenty kilometers from Sevastopol. From the 6th to the 15th centuries. He was the capital of the principality of Theodoro. The latter controlled the south-western territories of the Crimea. In former times Mangup-Kale was the largest medieval city in this part of the peninsula.

Location:

The ruins belonging to the once largest city in the area are at the very top of Mangup Mountain. This massive two hundred meters high rises majestically above the three valleys (Jane-Dere, as well as the Ai-Todor and Karalez) precisely the island.

The Mangup plateau ends on three sides with rocky cliffs. The height in some of their points reaches 70 m. The northern slope of the mountain massif is cut by three deep ravines. Among them are Capu-Dere, Gama-Dere and Tabana-Dere. From this side on the plateau you can go on foot or drive. In the ravines grow deciduous, as well as coniferous trees. There are shrubs here.

In between the ravines there are four promontories. They resemble giant fingers stretched toward the north. The Eastern Cape is called Teksli-Burun (Leaky). It is completely cut by caves. The next one is Cape Elli-Burun (Windy). Then Chufut-Chorgan-Burun is located. Its other name is the Cape of the Calling Jew. The westernmost ledge is the Camly-Burun (Pine).

Early history

About when the city of Mangup-Kale (Crimea) was founded, the researchers do not know for sure. According to the excavations, on the site of its location the settlement of people was founded already in the first centuries of our era. It was a major political and military center of Christianization. On the plateau of Mangup was a Pontic city called Prisciana.

People who inhabited this area in the 3rd century maintained close ties with Chersonesos. This fact is confirmed by some found items of that time. Thus, amphorae dating from the Late Roman period and copper coins minted under the emperor Arcadia were found here.

Specific data on the earliest period in the history of this principality are practically absent. The names of its first rulers are also unknown. There is an assumption that the princes ruling Theodoro belonged to the Armenian noble family of the Gavras.

Medieval period

Since the beginning of the 15th century. And until 1434 at the head of the principality of Theodoro was the intelligent and energetic prince Alexei. He provided access to commercial sea routes, restoring the port of Kalamita.

In the summer of 1475 the Turks, with the Tatars joining them, began the siege of Mangup-Calais. The enemies possessed a firearm, which for that time was the front line. There were guns in the arsenal of Turkish troops and guns taken from the ships. As for the residents of the city, they hoped only for their own courage and inaccessibility of the walls of the fortress. However, after a long siege, the defenders of the Mangup fortress were forced to surrender. The Turks ravaged the captured city, exterminating virtually all of its inhabitants. Mangup-Kale became part of the Turkish district. Up to the 18th century. In the walls of his fortress was a military garrison of new owners. It was then that the Turks added the Calais to the name Mangup, which means "fortress".

In 1783 the Crimea was annexed to Russia. During this period the last inhabitants left his plateau. And since then the center of the once powerful principality and the big city ceased to exist forever.

During the Great Patriotic War, the Germans sent an archaeological expedition to Mangup. Its purpose was to establish traces of the Aryan origin of the German people. On the walls of Mangup-Calais, which have survived to this day, autographs left by Wehrmacht soldiers can still be found.

Road

The cave city Mangup-Kale is located in the northeast of the village of Red Mayak. From this settlement to it five kilometers.

The final point of your trip is Mangup-Calais? How to get to this cave city? To do this, go to the village of Red Mayak or Zalesnoye. This can be done from the bus station of Bakhchisaray or from the Simferopol "Western". Next, you need to follow the road that runs south. With it, a little short of an artificial lake, you will have to turn left towards the village of Hadzhi-Sala. Before this settlement you will drive a country road. From Hadji Sala, the ascent to the plateau of Mangup from its northern side will begin. It should be borne in mind that the way from the village is paid.

There is another option. From the station "5th kilometer", located in Sevastopol, you can get to the village of Terovka. Continue the route along the T-0105 motorway in an easterly direction. At the foot of Mangup the road turns north. Here it must be descended, and, after passing a large clearing, begin the ascent to Mangup from the southern slope.

Plateau Rises

Mangup-Kale can be viewed by going to the top along the beams of Tabana-Dere or Gamam-Dere. A more gentle one is the ascent along the road, which is located on the southern slope. At the entrance to the plateau, you can admire the artificial caves in the rocky cliffs, which served for defensive purposes.

Already 40 minutes after the beginning of the ascent along the Gama-Dere gulch, the trail will lead to the tower, which has survived quite well. From it the path steeply rises to the right slope of the ravine and passes along the defensive walls. The territory of the city can be accessed through a breach. In the old days, this place, most likely, was a gate.

View from the plateau

So, you have reached the goal of your journey and entered the territory of ancient Mangup-Calais. A map that you should take with you will help you navigate the terrain. West of the plateau is a small area of the northern bay of the city of Sevastopol with the Black River flowing into it. Here are also the ruins of the Kalamity fortress.

To the left of it you can see the silhouette of the tower of Cembalo, once belonging to the principality. To the north of the plateau, the Eski-Kermena cliffs rise, behind which the hills with villages located on them leave.

Standing face to the south-east, you can see the stately silhouette Chatyr-Dag. This peak belongs to the main ridge of the Crimean mountains.

Tour of the plateau

The territory on which the city used to be located has an elongated form from the east to the west. The plateau is clearly visible, revealing the caves cut in the rock and the ruins of once high walls with towers.

Mangup in the 5th-6th centuries. Was in the upper city. It was located on Tekshli-Burun. A little later the city was expanded. Houses were built on the other capes. This area was the lower city. Even later, the headwaters of Taban-Dere were populated. They were craft districts. Until the end of the city's existence, only the Pine Cape remained unoccupied. He served as reserve territory for Mangup Kale.

The ruins of an ancient city

Mangup-Kale (photo below) meets tourists at Cape Tkshly-Burun with the ruins of the citadel. It was a very high defensive wall, erected from the eastern part of the hill to the west. At the very gates are the ruins of the building. The building was repaired for the last time in the 15th century. To date, it is badly damaged. From the inside of this building you can admire the wide door and window openings, which are decorated with a unique stone carving. Here the construction is more like a palace than a fortress. It is assumed that this was the residence of the Mangup princes.

Not far from the gate are the remains of an octagonal church built in the 8th century. And in the eastern wall of the Leaky Cape there are caves-casemates. Of these, the road leading to the main city gates is clearly visible. The same caves are also from the western cliff. They were necessary in order to hit the enemy from above, if he would move to the city gates. In peaceful times, caves were used for economic purposes.

Among the fighting casemates in the middle of the eastern cliff was a cave church, which the defenders of the citadel visited. The approaches to the plateau from the Belbek valley were controlled from the watch tower. She was at the very end of the headland. Near the tower was built a barracks, the lower part of which was cut down in the rock. The upper, made of stone, has not survived to this day. At the base of the tower is a doorway, behind which is a staircase leading to a large artificial cave. From it you can go down below, moving, as expected, to an underground prison.

In the southern part of the plateau there is a large number of caves. Some of them served as Christian churches. To the west of Gamam-Dere gully you can see the remains of the palace of the last rulers of Theodoro. A bit further away are the ruins of a Christian church erected in honor of the two saints - Helena and Constantine.

Rest in the mountains of Crimea

To admire and explore the ruins of the cave city, located on the plateau of Mangup, is not a matter of one day. For those who have a desire to linger at the historical treasury of entire civilizations and have plenty to admire the extraordinary nature of its beauty, a hotel is opened at the foot of the mountain. It takes visitors year-round.

Magnificent rest "Mangup-Kale" (this is the name of the hotel) will provide you without fail. Here an optimal combination of services and prices for them is ensured. In addition, there is an opportunity to stay away from everyday problems and urban fuss.