Cave city Tepe-Kermen: a mysterious “fortress mountain. Tepe-Kermen is one of the largest cave cities in Crimea. Opening hours and excursion costs.

The cave city of Tepe-Kermen in Crimea is perhaps a very significant and remarkable object of this kind on the territory of the peninsula in general and in the vicinity of the ancient khan’s capital in particular. Among other such complexes located in the Bakhchisarai region, it may not be the most visited, but it takes pride of place due to the picturesque view of the rock where its premises are carved, and the stunningly beautiful area of ​​the Kachin Valley.

Archaeologists who conducted research within the boundaries of the ancient settlement tend to consider it the main point of these places, comparing it with a kind of capital of the Alans and other peoples who lived here, subordinated and recognized the authority of local rulers. Unfortunately, the history of the landmark is not well known, but excavations on its territory and the clearing of numerous structures continue. We can say that in the near future all the mysteries of this amazing place will be revealed!

Where is the ancient settlement located in Crimea?

The cave city of Tepe-Kermen is located in the southern part of the peninsula, on the territory of the Bakhchisarai region. It is located within a charmingly beautiful valley, near the village of Kudrino, 7 km southeast. On the way to the monument, tourists pass the amazing Kachi-Kalyon monastery.

Tepe-Kerman on the map of Crimea

The history of the city in caves

Historians and archaeologists attribute the appearance of Tepe-Kermen to approximately the same time as the emergence of another famous cave city - that is, to the end of the 6th - beginning of the 7th centuries. Its construction was associated with the rapid advance of the Byzantines into Northern Taurida. In the first centuries of its existence, it was primarily a fortress, where a large, strong garrison of Goth-Alans was located.

Somewhat later, a large number of residential premises and religious buildings were carved here, and the inhabitants surrounded the settlement itself in a lonely mountain overlooking the Kachin Valley with a fortress wall. But this happened no earlier than the 10th century after most of the agricultural settlements in the area fell under the blows of the presumably Khazars, who included Tepe-Kermen in the Kaganate.

Like other archaeological sites, Tepe-Kermen reached its highest development and power during the Khazar Khaganate, although the majority of its population were Christians. In the 11th century, after the fall of the Khazar state in Crimea and the establishment of Byzantine rule, the rise of the cave center continued, and by the end of the century it became one of the most densely populated on the peninsula.

But the city's prosperity was short-lived. Already in the 13th century, it, like most cave and land settlements, was captured and destroyed by the troops of the Horde Khan Nogai. After this, the complex fell into complete disrepair, over the next decades it was gradually abandoned by the majority of residents, and by the end of the 14th century it was abandoned and was never revived.

For some time, Christian churches continued to function in the depopulated Tepe-Kermen, used by residents of the surrounding villages. When the Crimean peninsula came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire in 1475, the Turks finally destroyed Christian shrines, after which a period of complete oblivion began that lasted almost 500 years. In 1969, the site was rediscovered by D. Talis, who began conducting archaeological excavations.

What is interesting about Tepe-Kerman?

Now the cave city of Tepe-Kermen in Crimea, like other interesting places on the peninsula, is a landmark and tourist attraction that attracts a lot of visitors. The current ancient polis is about 250 grottoes and caves, carved into 3 tiers, occupying a total area of ​​just over 1.2 hectares. It is the second largest among its kind in the region - after, the number of caves of which reaches almost 300 units.

Two roads leading to the settlement, used by residents since ancient times, have survived to this day. The northern one, which was once the main and quite busy one, has even preserved traces of cart wheels that cut deep into it, as well as the remains of gates and fortifications. These ruins evoke mixed feelings - on the one hand, they are perhaps the only above-ground buildings in Tepe-Kermen that do not fit well into the overall landscape, on the other hand, they amaze with their monumentality even in such a deplorable state.

Most of the buildings have residential, economic and religious purposes; their walls are often covered with inscriptions in Greek and Hebrew that are difficult to discern, but individual fragments can still be read.
It is interesting that not a single well has yet been found on its territory, but there are dozens of gutters and pools carved on a flat surface, apparently intended for collecting rainwater. On the slopes of the mountain, slightly below the main buildings, a necropolis with numerous crypts and tombstones was well preserved, but, unfortunately, it was completely plundered.

The most interesting objects of Tepe-Kermen are represented by the remains of three churches; now only foundations and small sections of walls remain from them, and they are interesting as the only above-ground buildings of the settlement. They have a small area and conventional names dating back to the beginning of the twentieth century, but these are the most striking monuments of the cave complex. Two of them - the “church with the baptistery” and the “church with the sacristy” - have been preserved somewhat better, the third, destroyed to the ground, does not even have a conventional name.

How to get to the cave city?

The cave fortress in the vicinity of Bakhchisarai is a monument of medieval architecture and urban planning.

Geographic coordinates of Tepe-Kermen on the map of Crimea GPS N 44.715895 E 33.931037

Today Tepe-Kerman is open like an open air museum. Visiting in summer is paid. Ticket price for adults is 100 rubles, for children - 50 rubles. There is no telephone number for inquiries in Tepe-Kermen. Consultation can only be obtained at the entrance from the forester. During the off-season, admission is free.

How to get to the cave city of Tepe-Kermen

Getting to Tepe Kermen You can from Bakhchisarai: go to the street. Stroitelnaya, along it you move towards the exit from Bakhchisarai, to the village of Predushchelnoye, then Bashtanovka, Mashino and the final point - Kudrino. In the village of Kudrino you are looking for a tourist stop. It won't be difficult to find it along the highway. The distance from Bakhchisaray to Tepe-Kermen is 10.7 km. If you want to get there without your own transport, then a minibus runs from the city center to Kudrino and you can also get there by taxi.

From the tourist parking lot the ascent along the trail to Tepe-Kermen begins. The rise time is on average 30-40 minutes. The trail is marked and it is practically impossible to stray from it. Also, from the tourist parking lot you will be offered to climb to Tepe-Kermen by SUV. Price from 500 to 1000 rubles. depending on the time of year and vehicle load.
The second option to get to Tepe-Kermen is from Bakhchisarai on foot. From Bakhchisarai you head towards the Assumption Monastery, then go up to the Chufut-Kale fortress, cross Chufut-Kale all the way through, exit through the Eastern Gate, follow the path for about 4.5 km. and you also find yourself at a tourist parking lot and a checkpoint (a forester’s booth who collects money for entry).

History of Tepe-Kerman

History of Tepe-Kerman originates from the split of the Roman Empire, from the emergence of Byzantium. The northern border of Byzantium ran along part of the Crimean Peninsula, from the South of Crimea to the territory of the future Bakhchisarai. In the 4th-5th centuries, it was on these borders that the first guard posts began to appear, which in the 5th-6th centuries would become fortified cities: Chufut-Kale, Tepe-Kermen and Eski-Kermen.
Since the Tepe-Kermen fortress served as a guard post on the border of Byzantium, the city was formed as a fortress according to all the rules of that time. The city was located in a remote place, in our case on the mountain of the same name Tepe-Kermen. The height is 246 m or 540 above sea level. Also, not only the height of the mountain but also its inaccessibility played an important role.

It has a rather steep slope on three sides, which is not easy to climb. It is quite difficult to carry out military maneuvers or a siege. It is for these reasons that a small outpost becomes a fortress by the 6th century, and later, from the 11th to the 13th centuries, it turns into a large city, by the standards of that time.

Cave city Tepe-Kermen located on the plateau of the mountain of the same name. The area of ​​the plateau is 1.1 hectares. The city is built in several tiers. At the very foot of the mountain, small caves begin, which were previously connected with wooden structures to the middle of the mountain. In the middle part of the mountain, all the caves were adapted for the defense of the city. They housed archers and other city defenders. The lower part served mainly. for a subsidiary farm - premises for livestock and for stocking feed. But the upper plateau was intended for living quarters, small cells for monks and directly for temples. So, for example, in the North-East of the plateau there is the largest Christian temple of the 7-9 centuries AD. According to archaeologists, the temple was founded by fugitive preachers from the Roman Empire during the time of iconoclasm in Rome. Unfortunately, more accurate information about the temple has not been preserved, as well as the name of this city.

The name Tepe-Kermen appeared in the 16th century and is translated from Turkic as Fortress on the Top, but historians do not yet know what this place was called during Byzantine times.
On the territory of Tepe-Kermen, according to today, there are about 246 buildings. But this figure is very figurative, due to the fact that this area, although known since ancient times, is still little studied. The approximate date of the disappearance of the city is known - 1299, during the raid of the Golden Horde. But this is not confirmed by historical facts and has no historical justification.
So, for example, the German archaeologist Johann Erich Thunmann writes that at the turn of the 16th century life in Tepe-Kermen was practically. quieted down. That is, it turns out that 300 years of the city’s history are simply not known.

Excursions to Tepe-Kermen.

When thinking about whether it is worth visiting Tepe-Kermen with a guide or on your own, you can answer this way: it depends on what you expect from a trip to the fortress. If you want to take good pictures and walk around, then most likely you shouldn’t take a tour. You won’t lose your way off the trail, all attractions are signed and have a brief history on boards near significant places, and most importantly, your cost will be at least 100 rubles. for entry. If you want -1000 rub. for the ascent in an SUV. But you will not be limited by time for photos and a walk.

But if you decide to choose the option with a guide, you will get a fairly high-quality excursion into history, starting from Byzantium to the kingdom of Theodore and the devastation of these lands during the time of the Golden Horde. The excursion lasts on average 1-2 hours, and the amount of information will be very extensive, and in most cases visual. In general, the choice is yours.

Tepe-Kermen is one of the most mysterious places in the southwest of the Crimean Peninsula. In ancient times it was known as the Gothia fortress. This is a cave city, least studied by science, which is why it is especially attractive and attractive to tourists.

History of origin

Scientists attribute the emergence of Tepe-Kermen to approximately the end of the 6th - the very beginning of the 7th century. Most likely, its appearance was directly related to the rapid advance of the Byzantines in the territory of Northern Taurida. For the first few centuries, the settlement served as a fortress in which a large army of Goth-Alans was stationed. Later, residential buildings began to be built here, and the structure itself was tightly surrounded by a strong red wall - this happened already in the 10th century, immediately after the overwhelming majority of Crimean villages fell under the military attacks of the Khazars, as a result of which Tepe-Kermen was included in the structure Khaganate

It is believed that it was as part of the Khazar Khaganate that Tepe-Kermen was able to achieve its greatest prosperity, despite the fact that the majority of the population were Christians. In the 11th century, after the fall of the power of the Khazars in the Crimea and the transfer of lands under the rule of Byzantium, the flourishing of the cave city continued. By the end of the 12th century, it was already one of the most densely populated on the entire peninsula.

However, this prosperity was relatively short - in the 12th century. Tepe-Kermen was captured and completely destroyed by the Mongol troops of the powerful Khan Nogai. During the yoke, the territory fell into decay, the inhabitants left these places, by the end of the 14th century. the town was completely abandoned and was never restored.

For some time, in Tepe-Kermen, which had become deserted, Christian churches were still operating, where residents of all the surrounding villages came to services. In 1475, when Crimea came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, Turkish troops finally destroyed all Christian shrines, from that moment a period of total oblivion began, which lasted 500 years. Only in the middle of the last century, the archaeologist Talis again began to conduct excavations here and thereby attracted the attention of tourists and outdoor enthusiasts to this place.

Why are you interested?

Today, Tepe-Kermen, like many other places of interest on the Crimean peninsula, is considered a historical and natural attraction and a popular destination for tourism.

The ancient settlement now consists of more than 200 caves and grottoes, built in 3 tiers. The largest grottoes and caves make up approximately half of their total number; historians attribute them to the earliest. In such caves there is something like a rubble with a depression - presumably they were used as a manger. Here there are ledges with holes, which were most likely used to tie up cattle.

In caves you can often see so-called “stone rings” - circular projections in the ceiling with holes that resemble fragments of rings inserted into a large boulder. Some caves have a hatch-shaped entrance; the spacious cellars with doors make an indelible impression; their total number is just over 50; they are tiny rooms without windows.

There are also a number of rather small caves, the height of which is below human height - their purpose is unknown. Once at the top of the plateau, do not forget to pay special attention to the unusual sights of this amazing place.

• Residential caves– they are a tunnel-labyrinth of utility blocks and rooms in the lower part.

• Gate temple with its surviving sacristy premises and an abundance of inscriptions on the walls, made, as surprising as it may seem, in Hebrew. By the way, it is precisely this fact that gives historians grounds to claim that Tepe-Kermen in the past represented one of the Karaite settlements.

• Cave temple with a small baptistery, massive columns, bas-reliefs, an altar, a font and an altar. It is noteworthy that the font here is quite large in size and is more likely designed for a teenager or an adult; this indirectly confirms the theory that Tepe-Kermen was erected at the moment when the entire population of Crimea began to convert to the Christian faith - around the 16th century. The height of the room is a little more than 2.5 m.

According to tourists, this is one of the most majestic temples of this cave settlement, which is located at the very top of a high cliff. Nearby you can see many tombstones - most likely, they are the burial area of ​​local residents.

• Crypt- a place associated with a rather unusual rite of burial of the dead that existed at that time. The fact is that initially the body of a deceased person was placed in a tomb, and when his flesh had completely decayed, the clergy washed the skeleton and then moved it to the crypt; this room has been preserved until our time.

• Casemates– most likely, it was from this place that the archers repelled attacks on the fortress.

• Sun stone- This is a lonely boulder standing on the edge of a cliff, dotted with runic symbols. There are many legends about its purpose, but none of them have been confirmed, so one can only guess what role this stone played in ancient times.

Each Tepe-Kermen cave is beautiful and connected to others through tunnels, passages and steps, and due to the so-called “light windows” it is always light inside, it is simply impossible to get lost. During archaeological excavations, traces of ancient above-ground buildings were discovered, in particular, a large house of 4 rooms, a small room with a staircase was erected on the plateau - the period of their construction dates back to approximately the 12th century, the upper masonry was made of ordinary stone later - in the 14th century.

A unique plate with the faces of Christian saints was discovered near the cave. Near the southern part of the plateau, the foundation of a small chapel made of rough-hewn logs was found.

Since ancient times, two main roads have led to the settlement - in ancient times, the northern one was the most popular. It has been well preserved to this day; here you can even see wheel imprints from ancient carts and carts, the ruins of individual fortifications and ancient gates.

These ruins make the most ambiguous impression on tourists - on the one hand, they are almost the only buildings of Tepe-Kermen on earth, on the other, they are in extremely poor condition, but even despite this they amaze with their epicness and monumentality.

Where is?

Tepe Kerman is a pyramid-shaped outlier, which, if you look at the map, is located in the Bakhchisarai region of the Crimean Republic. The natural-historical monument is located 7 km in the south-east direction from Bakhchisarai and about 2 km separates the settlement from Kyz-Kermen, if you move to the north-east.

In the past, the outlier was part of the Crimean ridge, but due to tectonic processes and geological transformations, the peak split, now it rises alone 540 km above sea level, the difference with the adjacent valleys is about 250 m. Tepe-Kermen is located 2 km from the village Mashino and rises above the valley of the small mountain river Kacha. The size of steep cliffs on the southern and western sides reaches 12 m.

How to get there?

Tepe Kermen is located at the very top of a mountain in a valley that has been inhabited by people since ancient times. This is a picturesque and very fertile place, whose residents were actively engaged in agriculture. It is better to get there from Bakhchisarai or Simferopol; you need to make a stop near the village of Preduschelnoye. This is an amazingly beautiful village. Tourists are especially attracted by the steep mountain Tash-Air, which seems to float in the air.

Near this place, archaeologists discovered the site of a primitive man; here you can see rock paintings made with ocher; they are preserved quite well.

After Predelnoye, you can drive further and stop near the village of Bashtanovka - in this place it is worth admiring the remains of the ancient Christian monastery Kachi-Kalyon. During the Middle Ages, there was a monastery here, whose novices were actively involved in winemaking. Nearby is the cave city of Kyz-Kermen, popularly called the Maiden Fortress.

The final stop should be the village of Mashino, from which a flat dirt road leads to Tepe-Kermen.

You can get to this archaeological monument in another way, starting from Chufut-Kale, a small cave town. In this case you need to go past the Karaite cemetery Balta-Tiymez. Travelers note that this road is much more picturesque. It is advisable to go to Tepe-Kermen in April-May, when the valley near the cave is literally filled with the spicy smell of lush herbs and flowers; this place is especially beautiful in dry, clear weather.

The cave city of Tepe-Kermen is an ancient fortress located on the mountain of the same name, rising above the Kacha River. The name Tepe-Kermen can be translated as “fortress on the mountain.”

In the 4th-5th centuries AD, defensive fortress cities began to appear on the territory of modern Crimea: Chufut-Kale, Eski-Kermen, as well as Tepe-Kermen. Historians suggest that the history of the cave city of Tepe-Kermen begins around the end of the 6th century, when, as a result of the split of the Roman Empire and the formation of Byzantium, the very first Byzantine fortress and upper defensive wall here were built on the mountain. It is believed that this fortress was once part of a large defensive system - the so-called “land of Dori” (this is the medieval name of the mountain system located in Crimea, in its southwestern side) - erected during the reign of Emperor Justinian. The period of construction of the lower defensive wall could not be determined.

For quite a long time until the X-XI centuries, the cave city of Tepe-Kermen served as a haven for local residents living in the surrounding valleys. In the 11th century, people began to settle in the fortress, but extensive development of its territory began only in the 12th-13th centuries. At this time, residential buildings, Christian churches, and even monasteries were built on the territory of Tepe-Kermen. Thus, in the 13th century, the cave city turned into the most ordinary small Byzantine city.

The provincial settlement existed here for some time, and then became empty. Historians have not been able to establish the exact date of his death, but suggest that it happened during the late XIII-XIV centuries. The reason for the destruction of the city was, perhaps, either the conquest of the territories by Nogai, or the invasion of Tamerlane and his army into the territory of Crimea.

However, even after the settlement of the cave city of Tepe-Kermen, local residents continued to use its territory. Until the 16th century, there was even a monastery here. Various evidence has been found that Jews lived in the settlement at this time. In the 17th century, the lands of Tepe-Kermen were used as a territory for grazing cattle; the Karaite people lived here, mostly engaged in collecting various plants and selling various small goods.

The height of Mount Tepe-Kermen is 544 meters. The internal area, surrounded by walls, is about 1.4 hectares. The cave city is protected on all sides by cliffs 10 to 12 meters high. You can get to Tepe-Kermen exclusively from the north-eastern side, where there is an equipped tourist climb up the mountain along its slope among majestic trees, as well as a narrow road passing through a carved hole in the rock. Previously, defensive lines were located in this place: the lower one was on the slope of the mountain below, and the upper one was on the very edge of the cliff above. The cave city has several tiers: the lower part of the mountain with small caves was connected to its middle part by wooden platforms; in the middle part there were various defensive devices, and there were also archers. At the bottom of the cave city of Tepe-Kermen, the premises were used mostly for livestock and fodder, and at the top lived local residents and monks. To this day, on the territory of Tepe-Kermen you can see the ruins of not only the city walls, but even the remains of three temples. Also, one of the symbols of the cave city of Tepe-Kermen is a lonely stone located at the very top of the former settlement.

Routes and excursions

Nowadays, the cave city of Tepe-Kermen is a real open-air museum. There are two options for visiting this attraction.

You can visit Tepe-Kermen on your own if you are not interested in historical facts, but just want to walk along the trail and take a lot of beautiful photographs. It is almost impossible to leave the trail, since all the memorable places and attractions are labeled here, and in addition to the names, you can also read brief information about them. There is no time limit for visiting the mountain on your own.

A visit to Tepe-Kermen with a guide guarantees a fascinating immersion in the history of these places, which dates back to the Byzantine era and ends with the times of the Golden Horde. The duration of such an excursion is approximately 1 to 2 hours, during which tourists receive a lot of interesting information, supported by visual examples of attractions.

How to get to the cave city of Tepe-Kermen

The Tepe-Kermen landmark is located on the top of the mountain of the same name, 10 kilometers from the city of Bakhchisaray. When traveling by car from the city, you need to go along Stroitelnaya Street towards the exit from the city, passing the settlements of Predushchelnoye, Bashtanovka and Mashino, you will get to the village of Kudrino. There is a specialized tourist parking lot on the territory of the village. You can also get to Kudrino by suburban minibus, or use taxi services: Yandex. Taxi, taxi Solnyshko, Udacha, Arsen and many others.

How to get to Tepe-Kermen by car from Bakhchisaray: route on google maps

From the parking lot you will need to climb to the top of the mountain on foot along a special path. The ascent will take approximately half an hour. It is possible to travel this route in an SUV for an additional fee. For lovers of long hiking trips, we can advise you to go to Tepe-Kermen on foot from Bakhchisarai. A short path starts from the Assumption Monastery, then you need to go towards Chufut-Kale, exiting through its Eastern gate, you need to move straight along the path for about 4.5 kilometers, after which you will see a parking lot and a forester’s booth allowing tourists into the territory of Tepe-Kermen.

Cave city Tepe-Kermen on Google panoramas

Video of the cave city of Tepe-Kermen

Greetings, friends!

Everyone who goes to Tepe-Kerman pursues their own interest. Some people are attracted by antiquities and history, others decide to play hide and seek here 6-tier caves , risking falling into the abyss or stumbling upon treasure.

Well, someone wants to be convinced of the existence of Crimean miracles and see with their own eyes whether a targeted sunbeam on Easter really illuminates the decoration of the church with “God’s flame.”

In any case, this walk through another cave city of Crimea will add good emotions and cool photographs to your collection.

But first, some facts for the general picture, so that you know what kind of place this is, how to get there and what you should pay attention to.

Tepe-Kermen is both the name of a remnant mountain and a cave fortress city in the Bakhchisarai region, which covers the top of the massif in several tiers.

By the way, in translation Tepe-Kermen means hill-fortress. And it rises almost 550 m above sea level, while occupying an area of ​​1 hectare.

According to scientists, Tepe-Kermen most likely served as a fortress shelter for some period, and later turned into a city with many cave rooms, temples, and above-ground buildings. And, if the date of its foundation is considered to be the 6th century, and the end of its existence is the 14th century, then its best times fell on the 12th – 13th centuries.

The city was deserted as a result of the devastation and raids of the Golden Horde led by Khan Nogai . True, there is evidence that a monastery was founded here later. The researchers also suggest that Karaites from Chufut-Kale they used these places for pasture, after life had died down here.

Where is

Tepe-Kermen is located 7 km from Bakhchisarai. Nearest town – Kudrino.

It is adjacent to another cave city - Kyz-Kermen, and below lies the green Kachin Valley.

Life is like an anthill

As with the neighboring settlement, Tepe-Kermen has not been explored much, and the chronicles say practically nothing about it. However, what remains of it suggests that life here was in earnest, albeit without any mountain springs or springs.

The massif with steep slopes and cliffs on three sides was very convenient for hiding from the enemy. And although practically no defensive walls have been found in our time, it is possible that they were located on the only flat side.

And the “development” of the plateau began closer to the 11th-12th centuries. At this time, many cave rooms were created, most of which were used for domestic and economic needs. Judging by their number, the people living here were very active.

Living quarters were built on the ground, as evidenced by the remains of the foundation in different places on the plateau. These were estates, chapels, and even temples.

The question remains: how did people live here without water? More precisely, there are containers and gutters for collecting rain and melt water on the plateau, but without a source of clean running water it would certainly have been bad.

What can you see on the plateau

It is believed that not all of the cave rooms of this city have yet been explored, and excavations may provide more information and new discoveries. But for now, you can independently explore the upper tier, where the labyrinths of caves are located, and the lower one, the premises of which were used for driving livestock. The remaining caves are located in cliffs.

There are stone “apartments” with one or more rooms. Connected to each other, they can have an adjacent or tiered structure. Just imagine this hellish work – create a more or less comfortable room in stone with niches, windows, steps, and some kind of tanks.

Some of the caves served as casemates. I wonder who the local people kept as prisoners here and why, and what kind of morals were present here?

There was also a necropolis here. However, the researchers did not have time to find out anything, since the tombs had long been plundered. And, if you visit most of the caves at random, not knowing what this “cozy” room is reserved for, then the two rooms cannot be confused with anything - there were temples here!

Of the surviving ones, only two churches stand out, and even those are damaged. One of them is located in the lower part of the plateau, the other is on the northeastern edge of the upper plateau.

Church with sacristy

Ascending along the north-eastern path, you can visit a cave church with a sacristy. This is a small dilapidated temple with an altar, columns, an altar and two tombs. By the way, the first explorers of this church found many human bones in the cave. There was probably a burial ground here.

This church contains carved inscriptions* in Hebrew and Greek. And on Easter, according to legend, a ray of sunlight, breaking through the window opening, creates the image of a cross.

*Inscriptions deciphered (read) by scientists: “On the repose of: Anna. About Simon. About the Repose: Sophia", "Renovated Temple", "Bakshi" or "Nakhamu".

Church with baptistery

The temple is located on a plateau in the northeastern part. The room has the shape of a trapezoid and is divided into two parts. In the western part of the temple you will see an altar, tombs, niches and carved benches. There are also inscriptions in Greek.

In the eastern part of the temple there is a baptistery, as expected, with a cruciform font. There is also a tomb, carved niches and benches. A monogram has been preserved on one niche.

These churches date back to the 12th-14th centuries, but not earlier than the 11th century.

You can't do without mysticism!

And in this cave city there is a place of Power recognized by esotericists. This so-called is the only surviving fragment from a destroyed cave at the very edge of the plateau.

The sun stone stands alone right above the cliff. At the base you can see hollowed out round-shaped containers of very small sizes.

The legend of Tepe-Kermen speaks of the soul of a sorcerer immured in this stone. And esotericists believe that this is where the center of energy of this cave city is located.

Visitor reviews

On the scale of impressions, a visit to Tepe-Kermen is compared with, which is considered the second most popular after.

If you want the opinion of those who have already been here, here are just a few of them:

“This is the most unforgettable journey from my trip to Crimea!”, “An amazing walk! The views from the plateau are amazing!”, “Why didn’t we go here earlier, we almost missed such a wonderful place!”

These are statements from numerous reviews from vacationers.

True, there was one review from a young lady in which she appealed to the authorities of the peninsula, since the road there is long and not too easy, it would not hurt to put up benches and stalls with refreshments. And the ruin of the cave city did not impress the traveler, - “Everything around is somehow dusty.”

So, friends, you shouldn’t count on an easy walk in sandals. Yes, and you will have to carry a backpack with a supply of water. And the climb can take from half an hour to an hour and a half, depending on weather conditions and your physical fitness, but more on that below.

How to get there

If you go on your own, then first you need to get to Bakhchisarai. From the Bakhchisarai bus station there is a bus route to village of Sinapnoe . Your stop is village of Kudrino , from where you need to walk across the field to the sign, and then along the road.

By car, your route will go from Bakhchisarai towards Sinapny, along the Kachin Valley. After the village of Mashino, turn left, and if you are lucky with the weather, you will get along the dirt road as close as possible to the foot of the plateau.

Coordinates for the car: 44°42′55″N (44.715294), 33°55′53″E (33.931311) .

How to get to the plateau?

As you approach the mountain range along a dirt road, you will realize that the slopes are very steep. Therefore, it is worth going further along the path and going around the plateau on the right side. There you will already see a flatter slope with a well-trodden path, which is relatively easier to climb, although in some places you will have to resort to the help of nearby bushes or grab onto tree branches.

If you don’t want to travel alone and somehow diversify your trip, here are several diverse types of activities:

1. Hiking trip for 5 days Cave cities of Crimea. All inclusive: transfer from Simferopol, life in a tent, 3 meals a day and exercise on your strong legs.
2. One day walk

   Opening hours and cost of the excursion

   On the website of the Bakhchisarai Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve handvorec.ru, which includes all the cave cities of this area, there is information about the mode and cost of visiting, as well as excursion services.

   In theory, to get to Tepe-Kermen, you need to purchase a ticket at the ticket office or book a guided tour.

   According to the opening hours, Tepe-Kermen is open to the public from 9.00 to 16.00.

   Cost of visiting in 2018:

   • adult ticket – 100 rubles;
   • children's ticket/students under 18 years old – 50 rubles;
   • pensioners – 50 rubles;
   • excursion services - from 100 rubles.

   We have already read somewhere that these extortions seem to be illegal, because there are no proper services at the excursion site. But on the other hand, this is still a nature reserve. Although, Arina Novoseltseva – the head of the Ministry of the Republic of Kazakhstan assures that she did not approve such a document and promised to look into it.

   Good to know

   After bad weather or during off-season slush, travel along the road to the plateau itself practically impossible . The same can be said about walking up the mountain. If there is no other day, then try to take with you trekking poles .

   You'll still get into trouble, but at least you'll be more stable.

   Don't forget water, a Panama hat, comfortable shoes, a map,