Sevastopol was founded on the Heraclea Peninsula by the Russian Empress Catherine II. Immediately after the integration of Crimea to Russia, the first buildings began to be erected on the shore of the Akhtiar Bay, and on February 10, 1784, Catherine issued a decree: "To build a fortress greater Sevastopol." This city is not a resort, but many tourists come here to see the sights associated with military history.
The deep-water Akhtiar Bay is now called Sevastopol’s Bay. It is very convenient to construct the berths of warships, so the city was originally built as a base of the Black Sea Navy. Despite the city is already 250 years old, there are no old buildings here. Twice the city was destroyed almost to the ground, during the Crimean War of 1853-56, as well as during the WWII.
The history of Sevastopol
Nowadays Sevastopol is located on both shores of the huge Sevastopol’s Bay. Its length reaches 8 kilometers. The historical center of the city, founded in 1783, is located on a small peninsula between the Southern and Artillery Bays.
By that time, the city of Chersonesos had existed on the shore of the Quarantine Bay for more than two thousand years. The city was founded by Greek settlers from Miletus in 422 BC. They appreciated the convenience of Sevastopol Bay and Chersonesos became one of the largest Greek cities on the Black Sea coast.
On the site of the ruins of ancient Chersonesos, the Historical and Archaeological museum of Tauric Chersonesos was created. For about 200 years, Chersonesos remained an independent polis, but to protect them from the Scythians, they had to accept the protectorate of the Bosporan kings. Their capital was located on the territory of modern Kerch. Subsequently, Chersonesos took over the protectorate of the Roman Empire, and then became part of the Byzantine Empire.
The Byzantines called the city Kherson, and the Slavs - Korsun. In 988, relations between Byzantium and Kievan Rus escalated, and Prince Vladimir captured the city. After the conclusion of the peace treaty, he married the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Basil II and in the same year was baptized according to the Orthodox rite. After the fall of Byzantium in 1453, Russia became the center of Orthodoxy, carefully observing all Byzantine church traditions.
Modern Sevastopol was built on the shore of neighboring bays. At the beginning of the 19th century, three districts were formed in the city: the Central, the Ship side and the Northern side. Stone houses were only in the Central District, where rich citizens lived. The rest of the districts had a chaotic construction of wooden shacks. In 1833, the great Russian naval commander Mikhail Lazarev became the governor of Sevastopol and commander of the Black Sea Navy. He completely reconstructed Sevastopol, so it became a city convenient for living.
Sevastopol was destroyed for the first time during the Crimean War of 1853-56. Britain and France joined the war on the side of Turkey after the defeat of the Turkish navy in the Battle of Sinope. They attacked Russian fortresses in different parts of the country: they shelled the Solovetsky Monastery and the fortress of Sveaborg in Helsinki. However, the main events unfolded in the Crimea, so the war was called the “Crimean”.
The defense of Sevastopol by Russian troops lasted 330 days. The key defense positions were Malakhov Mound and the Fourth Bastion. The enemy shelled the city daily and eventually managed to capture it. After the assault, only 14 buildings remained intact in the city.
The second time Sevastopol was destroyed almost to the ground during the WWII. Crimea was of great strategic importance. In 1942, the Russians defended the city for 250 days, but in the end the Germans were able to capture it. Sevastopol was liberated on May 9, 1944 after the assault on Sapun Mountain. Now there is a Museum-diorama Assault of Sapun-Mountain.
Sights of Sevastopol
The best place to start an excursion of Sevastopol is Nakhimov Square, in the historical center of the city. Many historical and war memorials are within walking distance. Here is the Count’s Pier, which was named after Count Marko Voinovich. On the other side of the square is Seaside Boulevard - the main walking area on the shore of Sevastopol’s Bay.
In 1905, a Monument to the Submerged ships was erected 20 meters from the shore, which became a symbol of Sevastopol. It was built in memory of the events of the Crimean War of 1853-56. Russian sailing ships could not resist the steam navy of the British and French, so the commanders decided to submerge them at the entrance to Sevastopol Bay. Their masts towered above the water.
On the shore of the Artillery Bay are the Palaces of Sevastopol, which were built as educational institutions. Now they house the Palace of Childhood and Youth, as well as the Sevastopol Aquarium. Nearby there is a pier where you can board a boat that runs along the excursion route along the Bays of Sevastopol. Nearby are the Art Museum and the Museum of the Black Sea Navy.
There is a Historical boulevard 2 kilometers south of Nakhimov Square. It is a park area on the hillside, where the Fourth Bastion was located during the Crimean War. This bastion, as well as Malakhov Mound, were the sites of the fiercest battles during the Crimean War. Now there is a memorial complex here. In the center is the building of the Panorama Defense of Sevastopol 1854-55. There you can see a painting canvas by Francois Roubaud, which depicts the storming of Malakhov Mound.
The main memorial dedicated to the events of the WWII is located in the southern outskirts of Sevastopol on Sapun Mountain. There you can visit the Museum-diorama Assault of Sapun-Mountain. On the southern shore of the Heraclea Peninsula are the famous Balaklava resort, as well as Cape Fiolent. Residents of Sevastopol go to Cape Fiolent to swim on the Jasper beach. Next to it is the St.George Monastery.
Balaklava is located in a narrow bay. Its appearance resembles a Greek resort. In Balaklava, you can take a boat to go to the Cape Aya Nature Reserve. There you can swim on the beautiful beaches. Also, the Great Sevastopol Trail begins in Balaklava. This is the longest walking route in Crimea, but here you can walk from the Chembalo Fortress to Fig Beach to see the beauty of the Crimean Mountains. The length of this segment of the Sevastopol trail is only 6 kilometers.
