Mysterious balaclava. History of the balaclava Balaclava population
Sevastopol, as they say local residents, is one of the sunniest cities in southern Russia. The sun burns here two thousand hours a year. Now, of course, winter is upon us - but the memories of summer also warm us.
On other summer days in the sunshine of the western embankment Balaklava Bay You won't last long. It would seem, what to do here: yachts and fish restaurants on the other, promenade side. But on this one you can get into the museum, which is called “Balaclava”. People go there not only to get acquainted with the history of submarines and look at ship models - in the summer they escape the heat there.
Not far from Balaklava, in another Sevastopol suburb with the romantic foreign name of Holland, the buildings of the Sevastopol Polytechnic Institute are now located. The stela installed here reports that half a century ago famous Soviet scientists worked in these buildings Kurchatov And Alexandrov. For anyone familiar with the history of Soviet science, it is immediately obvious what two outstanding Soviet nuclear physicists could have worked on in the 1940-1950s.
For many years in Soviet times, Sevastopol was a closed city, which the townspeople remember with nostalgia and almost create myths about it. So, the city was announced closed area, perhaps not so much because of the basing of the Black Sea Fleet, but because of the deployment of nuclear weapons here and the research conducted in this area.
After the explosions of American atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, one of the responses to US research in the field of nuclear weapons was the construction of a Soviet submarine fleet with nuclear weapons on board. There was an order Stalin: Find a place where you can hide submarines with nuclear missiles. With water and dry docks, torpedo arsenal storage. We've been looking for several years. And the solution lay almost on the surface. The Balaklava base became this unique hydraulic structure.
Login to secret base submarines. Photo: / Andrey Dorofeev
What was hidden in Mount Tavros?
For many centuries, Balaklava was not just a fishing village, but also a military port. At first it was chosen by the Genoese, who built the impregnable fortress of Chembalo. There was a time when a Turkish garrison stood here. In the years Crimean War I was in Balaklava English camp. Not far from here, the elite "Light Brigade" of the British cavalry tried to make their famous but doomed charge - and were defeated by the defenders of Sevastopol.
Balaklava Bay is really not visible from the sea. Sailors even have a saying: “The shore is on the left, the shore is on the right - Balaclava is in the middle.” So, military builders moved here in 1953 to implement the directive to create a fleet of submarines on the Black Sea.
The main water channel inside the complex. In the event of a nuclear attack, 7 to 9 submarines could take refuge here. Photo: / Andrey Dorofeev
A secret military base was built inside Mount Tavros, in which up to one and a half dozen submarines could hide from enemy eyes. If necessary, they were repaired here and additionally loaded with torpedoes.
At any time of the year, it is cool inside the mountain (no higher than 10-15 degrees Celsius) and damp. The submarine base, created at a depth of several tens of meters, is one of the most secret military facilities of the USSR, designed under the leadership of Lavrentiy Beria, when he oversaw the country's nuclear program. The base is capable of withstanding a direct hit of 100 kilotons atomic bomb, 5-6 times more powerful than those dropped on Japan. It was believed that it was practically indestructible.
Model of a submarine's torpedo compartment. Photo: / Andrey Dorofeev
The base was immediately classified and received the meaningless name “Object 825 GTS.” It took 8 years to build. The rock turned out to be so difficult to pass that they turned to Moscow metro builders. With their help, 120 tons of rock were cut and removed. Huge underground chambers, open to water, were formed in the voids.
As promised, I’m telling you about our further adventures in Sevastopol. Here great amount places worth visiting and exploring. I covered most of the sights of Sevastopol in. Now I’ll tell you about an equally interesting suburb.
Balaklava is a ghost town
Just 15 minutes by car from Sevastopol, and we arrived in the wonderful town of Balaklava. This is a huge bay surrounded by rocks, on the slopes of which snow-white houses are freely located.
The bay has a curved shape, and it is for this reason that the entrance to the seaport is completely invisible from the sea. The sea here is very quiet, due to the fact that the bay is surrounded by mountains. There is practically no wind. Swimming is a pleasure. Which we did not fail to take advantage of, the shore is quite flat and even a child was not afraid to go into the water.
Interesting fact, it turns out that Balaclava is already 2500 years old. She was sung by many poets and writers. In particular, Kuprin dedicated a whole series of stories called “Listrigons” to this town. And it is also this coastline that Homer describes in the Odyssey.
Until recently, this city did not exist at all. No, in reality, Balaklava existed, but it was not on any map. Since it was a very important strategic object. Why? Read below.
Balaklava embankment
The embankment of Balaklava is very beautiful. It’s so cool to stroll here on foot and admire the magnificent marine species. It's also nice to have free internet. 
But there is also a certain fat minus here. All motorists park their cars right on the embankment. Everything was packed quite tightly, but everything would have been fine if we hadn’t met a couple of reckless drivers who were driving at a fairly high speed right along the pedestrian paths.
The strange thing was that there was not a single policeman or even a security guard within sight. So, if you are with children, do not relax and do not let the child go alone.
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Balaclava reminded me of Monte Carlo. 
True, there are certain similarities. Beautiful dachas of wealthy majors, luxurious yachts near the embankment.
Church of the 12 Apostles
On Rubtsova street 43 there is the most ancient church Crimea. The year of its construction dates back to 1357. In fact, there is nothing particularly remarkable in the construction, everything is simple, without frills or frills. You know, I can’t even describe the structure. Everything is banal.
Submarine Museum in Balaclava
Submarine Museum
Marble Street 1
This is where it gets really interesting. The thing is that during the Cold War, Balaclava was a strictly classified object. Even the village itself was not on the maps. Here, a tunnel was cut through a huge rock, which contained strategically important facilities for the construction and repair of submarines. The complex is truly huge and was also a bomb shelter in case of a possible war.
Twenty centimeter steel doors and reinforced concrete walls can easily withstand the impact of a nuclear bomb. A huge number of workshops, each interesting in its own way. It can easily accommodate 10 submarines with crews and more than 3,000 people. Can you imagine the scale? Here we were offered 2 options for excursions by water and by land.
First we examined everything from the water, and the next day we returned again for a land excursion. You can believe me, but it’s incredibly interesting here and it didn’t bother us at all that it was a double excursion. I want to warn you right away, it’s very cold in the complex, no more than 10 degrees plus. Therefore, do not be frivolous and stock up on warm clothes.
Cape Fiolent
Tiger Cape is located in the west of Balaklava. Many legends are associated with this place. They say that it was here that the ancient priestess of the Taurus tribe made human sacrifices to appease the appetite of the idols. The victims were always foreigners. And the ancient Greeks built a temple here to the goddess Artemis and called this cape Divine Country.
Christians did not lag behind their predecessors, erecting here the temple of St. George, who, according to legend, saved the Greek sailors who were shipwrecked.
On the territory of the temple there is a spring with holy water, which anyone can take with them. This water has miraculous properties and heals the sick.
In general, this place is very beautiful, especially in the morning, when the sun just rises into the sky and illuminates the sea and mountains with its rays. There are also some great beaches here: lost World or Jasper.
The cleanest water, well-groomed coastline - all this is absolutely free. There are also free sunbeds with umbrellas, but this really surprised me.
Frigate "Black Prince"
Yes, I’m probably not the only one who would like to see this ship. There are obviously a lot of people willing, and after I tell you the legend, my dear readers, there will definitely be more people wanting to meet this frigate. Back in 1854, a very powerful storm broke out off the coast of Balaklava, sinking a considerable number of ships. Among those who sank was the famous “Black Prince,” on board which was a huge amount of gold intended to pay the entire English army. And now attention, the treasure has not been found yet! Well, what are we going to do without looking at the treasure hunt?
Balaclava hat 
The well-known cap-mask with slits for the eyes was invented in Balaclava. This idea belongs to the British. During the Crimean War, there was an incredibly cold winter and the soldiers of the English army came up with this attribute for insulation. Now it is an indispensable accessory for special forces and extreme tourists.
In the south of Balaklava there are very picturesque mountains, which we did not fail to visit with the whole company. Charming pine forest, flowers and herbs. Healing Mountain air simply filled with the aromas of herbs and pine trees. We pitched a tent right in the forest not far from the bay. 
A bonfire, barbecue and songs with a guitar under the glow of huge southern stars, what else do tourists need? It was an unforgettable night that we all will remember for a long time. By the way, there are a lot of savage tourists there. So don’t be afraid to climb into the mountain thicket, even there you won’t be left alone in the mountains. But still follow safety measures, do not be fooled by the dizzying mountain air and all-encompassing tranquility.
Dolphins
We learned that you can easily see dolphins in the sea. Without thinking twice, a boat was rented. Beauty, I tell you. Balaclava from the sea is even more magnificent than from land. Green Bay. We were lucky and we actually met dolphins. They frolicked very funny and squeaked in the water.
I counted more than 15 pieces. Our friend did an extreme thing: he jumped into the sea with the dolphins. To everyone's surprise, they surrounded him in a dense flock and began to communicate. He even managed to ride on the fin of one of the dolphins. 
These fish are really very sociable and kind.
While we were traveling around the city, we visited several wonderful cafes and restaurants.
Where to eat in Balaclava
Restaurant "Kapral"
Naturally, while at sea, it would be a crime not to try the fish.
On the city embankment the number of restaurants is simply off the charts. This is not surprising, because Balaclava is tourist town. We couldn't get past one interesting name"Corporal." This restaurant has a terrace where you can sit and taste seafood. The prices are affordable and the dishes are extremely tasty.
The fish used is the freshest, caught locally. Go to good restaurant. Of course, you will leave more money than in a cafe, but the memories will also be more significant.
Cafe on wheels
There is also a catering cafe. Such little cars. You can have a snack there on the run. The menus in different machines differ significantly, that is, you can choose different dishes for the belly celebration. 
There are even McDonald's analogues where you can buy hamburgers and fries.
Where to stay in Balaklava
There will be no problems with housing here. There are many hotels, hotels and even hostels in Balaklava. Well, of course private sector no one canceled. Everything will depend on the capabilities of your wallet. Or you can do, like us, stay in Sevastopol and go on excursions to the suburbs.
In general, I really liked Balaclava. There really is something to see and remember here. Come and enjoy your holiday on the Black Sea coast.
Bye everyone, the continuation of our story will be released soon.
Balaklava is a picturesque area a few kilometers south of the center of Sevastopol. Even if you plan to spend your vacation in another area of the main port city of Crimea, you should definitely come here for at least a couple of hours. Balaklava is a nice resort, popular among tourists in the summer - there are many picturesque beaches in its vicinity, which can be reached by boat. After enjoying the sea and sun, you can spend a little time rich history of these places - climb to the Genoese fortress and go down into the adits of the former secret naval base. At the end of your exploration of the town, we recommend stopping by one of the local restaurants and tasting dishes from the freshest fish and seafood.
The name of the city has two versions of origin: from Turkish “fish bag”, and from Crimean Tatar - “fish weather”. In addition, a helmet-hat is called a “balaclava,” which is bought en masse by tourists as a souvenir.
The decoration of the city is Balaklava Bay, located between high mountains. It is connected to the sea by a narrow, winding strait of 1.5 km, and since at the entrance to the bay the rocky coast makes several turns, from the side open sea The harbor is not visible at all. Here, during the Crimean War, a beautiful embankment was built, which was originally called the English embankment, and today - the embankment named after. Nazukin, in honor of the hero of the civil war.
How to get to Balaklava
Balaklava is one of the most remote areas of Sevastopol from the center, so the road here is equivalent to a trip to the suburbs. In addition to the Hero City itself, you can get to the famous bay from Simferopol, as well as a number of other Crimean cities, but with a transfer.
There are only 4 direct flights Sevastopol - Balaklava, buses depart from the bus station located in the city center, you will be there in 30-40 minutes. During the summer months this destination is especially popular, so the chance of leaving is slim. Fortunately, there is another way, however, you will have to make a transfer, due to which the journey will take longer.
Travel on buses and minibuses in Sevastopol costs 15 RUB (when paying with a single city card). Prices on the page are indicated as of November 2018.
First you need to get to the stop “5th km of Balaklava Highway”. There are many buses coming here from the city center - No. 14, 20a, 12, 120, 2a and others. They depart from the railway station, bus station and square. Nakhimov. Next you need to change to minibus No. 9. The stop is located a little away from the one where buses from Sevastopol arrive. There are many flights to Balaklava, so you won’t have to wait long. The stop you need, “Pl. 1st May", located near Balaklava Bay. Read how to get to Sevastopol.
The balaclava is connected directly bus service with Simferopol. Transport from the Airport bus station departs daily, although there are few flights. In summer, the demand for tickets increases, so additional flights are introduced. Tickets will cost 230 RUB and the journey will take about 2 hours. Read how to get to Simferopol.
Search for air tickets to the city of Sevastopol (the nearest airport to Balaklava)
Transport
Balaklava is a relatively small area, public transport needed only to get to the center or one of the nearby villages. The town itself can be explored on foot in a few hours. From a tourist point of view, of interest is bus No. 126 of the carrier Rubin LLC, connecting Balaklava with Inkerman, where the vintage wine factory of the same name is located. On route 119 you can get to the beaches in Omega and Kamyshovaya bays.
To get to other attractions of Sevastopol, you must first get to the “5th km of Balaklava Highway” stop, from where buses depart to most districts and suburbs.
During the summer months, sea transport becomes especially important - it connects the city with many picturesque beaches. Getting to them by land is not so easy - the path runs through the mountains. Agree, a 20-minute boat ride is much more pleasant than an hour-long climb in the sun. Today, city boats run between the pier in Balaklava Bay and the beaches of Vasili, Yashmovy, Silver and Zolotoy. Depending on the distance, a one-way ticket will cost 150-250 RUB.
You can also get to the beaches by private yawls - small motor boats. The fare costs about the same, but they depart more often. In addition, official transport stops running quite early, and then the skiff becomes the only way to return to the bay.
Rent a Car
Beaches of Balaklava
Picturesque beaches are one of the main attractions, attracting thousands of tourists to this bay year after year. In its vicinity there are probably more places for swimming than in the whole of Sevastopol. Moreover, they are considered the best in the city.
There are 3 beaches within walking distance from the Central Embankment; the path to the rest runs through the sea or mountains.
The closest, but far from the most interesting, “City” beach is located in the center, not far from the “Pl. May 1st." Infrastructure: benches and sunshades, no equipment rental. Vacationers sit on towels, directly on the concrete surface. There are stone steps leading to the water, which is not very convenient for bathing children.
There are 2 more beaches 4 km from the center, which are easily accessible on foot. “Marble” and “Matrossky” are better equipped than “Gorodsky” - there are rentals of sunbeds, umbrellas and rescue towers. Concrete platforms ending in a steep iron staircase lead to the water at Matrossky. The sand and pebble beach “Marble” with a gentle slope is quite suitable for families with small children.
Many beaches are located on the shores on both sides of the entrance to Balaklava Bay. The most famous of them are “Golden” (“Far”), “Silver” (“Near”), “Vasili” (in Vasilyeva Balka) and “Yashmovy”. All of them are washed by the waves of the open sea and covered with pebbles, so the water here is always clean and clear, but cooler than in the bay. The beaches are well-groomed and equipped - cafes, lifeguard towers, rental points for umbrellas and sunbeds.
At Yashmovoy you can ride a jet ski or a banana boat, and for scuba diving enthusiasts it is better to go to Zolotoy - there is a diving club there. Dives are also carried out in other parts of the coast - undersea world in these places it is very interesting, and thanks to the crystal clear water it can be seen in great detail.
Treatment in Balaclava
The balaclava attracts not only devotees beach holiday, but also those who care about their health. And this is not surprising, because the dry and mild climate of these places is considered healing in itself, and the air, saturated with sea salts and iodine, has a healing effect on the entire body. The bay is surrounded on all sides by rocks. Walking tour on hilly terrain will strengthen the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems.
Holidays in this area are especially useful for people with respiratory diseases. In addition, it is worth coming here with children if they often catch all kinds of viruses and infections - the maritime climate will help strengthen the immune system.
There are also health resorts in Balaklava that offer their guests a whole range of medical procedures. They are equipped with gyms, playgrounds, swimming pools and tennis courts. Wellness services include sauna, massage and physical therapy.
Maps of Balaklava
Diving in Balaclava
Balaklava has everything for diving lovers - a rich underwater world, clean clear water, beautiful rocks and interesting objects. In the vicinity of the bay there is a large selection of dive sites - Cape Aya, the beaches of Batiliman, Fiolent, Zolotoy, etc.
You should make a choice in favor of a particular dive area based on what you want to see.
And in the depths near Balaklava there is something to see - seascapes formed from fragments of rocks and seething underwater life - algae and sea anemones, schools of colorful fish, several varieties of crabs. Another feature of the underwater terrain is numerous crevices, caves and grottoes. Wreck divers will also be pleased - Italian, French, Russian and German ships from the Crimean and World War II, as well as fragments of ancient ceramics and other objects are generously scattered along the seabed.
Anyone can go diving in Balaklava - most clubs offer special test dives with an instructor for beginners. No training required, instructions provided. All the fun, including equipment rental, will cost 2650-3500 RUB. For certified experienced divers, the choice of dive areas is larger, and the price is lower - from 1200 RUB. It includes the services of a guide and equipment - a cylinder and a weight belt.
Hotels in Balaklava
Due to the particular popularity of the resort among tourists, in small Balaklava the choice of accommodation options is quite large - hotels, guest houses and apartments. With budget housing, however, things are not very good. There is only one hostel here, and that one has 3 shared rooms. But they are quite well equipped - satellite TV, air conditioning and free wifi. And the location is good - just a 5-minute walk from the Central Embankment. Bed in shared room will cost 700 RUB per night.
Most hotels are concentrated in the center, but there are also options on the outskirts. However, this does not mean that you will be able to save a lot on accommodation. Prices for a room in a three-star hotel on the shore - from 2500 RUB.
IN central region many middle class hotels. A day in an economy class room costs from 1200 RUB per person, a double room is 2 times more expensive. However, nearby you can find hotels without a category, but with a fairly high cost of accommodation - from 4000 RUB per night.
What to bring
You won’t have to look for souvenir shops and shops in Balaklava for long. Most of them are concentrated on the Nazukin embankment. One of the main symbols of the city is the hats of the same name.
They owe their name to heat-loving English soldiers who wore them during the Crimean War to protect them from severe frosts.
Other traditional Balaklava souvenirs are essential oils and teas made from local medicinal herbs. Also popular among tourists are products made of wood and ceramics - kitchen utensils, jewelry and magnets. Since this area is famous for its beautiful mountain and seascapes, they can be found here in any form - on magnets and plates, bags, T-shirts and towels, photographs and canvases.
Balaklava is home to one of Inkerman’s two branded wine stores, so people often bring a bottle of “Inkerman’s Legend” or “Crimean Riviera” as a souvenir. Not far from it is the store of the Zolotaya Balka champagne wine factory.
The range of prices for souvenirs is quite large - from 100 RUB for a magnet or keychain to several thousand for an oil painting. As for shopping, it’s definitely not worth going to Balaklava for it - there are no large shopping centers or brand boutiques here.
Cafes and restaurants in Balaklava
Despite the small size of Balaklava, its streets have many cafes, bars and restaurants. Back in the 19th century, these places were famous for their hospitality and exquisite cuisine. By the way, most of the restaurants in modern Balaklava are concentrated on the Nazukin embankment, in buildings that have survived from those times.
Seafood dishes are considered the hallmark of restaurants. You will find a fish menu in almost every establishment, and most of the main dishes and snacks are prepared from the freshest, recently caught fish. For those who want to try all the variety local cuisine, it’s worth visiting one of the restaurants on the Central Embankment. Prices, however, can be steep - the average bill sometimes reaches 3,000 RUB.
Those who want to save money are better off going to a cafe, further away from the center. There you can find a pretty good kitchen and have breakfast for 300-400 RUB, and even less in the canteens. The golden mean is cafes and bars with a varied and tasty fish menu, but a rather simple interior. The average bill there is from 1000 RUB. For those who prefer Italian or Japanese cuisine, Balaklava has a pizzeria and a sushi bar.
Entertainment and attractions of Balaklava
Despite the fact that Balaklava gained fame as a resort back in the 19th century, it was inaccessible to our contemporaries until the collapse of the USSR. In the mid-20th century, Soviet authorities placed here underground plant for repair and equipment of submarines. The object was secret, and Balaclava was classified along with it.
Today the base has been replaced by the Naval Museum Complex - one of the main historical attractions of the city. Its exhibition is located there, in the depths of Mount Tavros. Guests are invited to visit walking tour or take a boat trip along the shipping canal.
The naval base in the bay was secret, and Balaklava was classified along with it.
However, the secret plant dates back to relatively recent history, but in Balaklava monuments of much earlier events have been preserved. One of them is the ruins of the Genoese fortress Cembalo, once proud and impregnable. Today, all that remains of its former grandeur are several dilapidated towers and fragments of the fortress walls.
Chembalo stands on Mount Krepostnaya, and the path to it cannot be called easy. However, it is worth it - the ancient stones preserve the memory of past battles, and the steep cliff that once reliably protected the Genoese from enemies is literally breathtaking. In addition, from there there is a wonderful view of the mountains and Balaklava Bay.
A little further from the embankment, on the street. Rubtsova, is the oldest in Crimea Orthodox church- Church of the Twelve Apostles. It was built in the mid-14th century by the Genoese. The building has undergone several alterations and reconstructions; the appearance it acquired in the 18th century has survived to this day. Tourists are attracted by the architecture of the church, as well as its main shrines - the relics of St. Blessed Basil and St. Venerable Sergius of Radonezh.
Not far from the bay, near the Fiolent metro station, there is another religious attraction - St. George's Monastery. According to legend, it was founded in the 9th century. The monastery is famous for its long staircase of 800 steps leading to the picturesque Jasper beach.
The holiday season begins in May and lasts until mid-September. Summer in Balaklava is hot and dry, precipitation is rare but very abundant. The best time to relax is at the end of August - beginning of September. By this time, the air temperature drops to a comfortable level, and the water remains warm.
- a unique creation of nature. It extends like a narrow ribbon into the depths of the land, separated from the sea by a narrow entrance. At the entrance to the bay, the rocky coast makes several turns. Therefore, the harbor is not visible from the open sea.
The first historical people of Crimea, who left traces of their stay on the ancient land of Balaklava, are called Tauris. Ancient writers characterize the Taurians as a wild people making human sacrifices. One of the famous myths is associated with Balaklava ancient Greece- about Odysseus’s visit to the country of the Laestrygonians (as Homer called the Taurians).
Greek colonization began in the 6th century BC Crimean peninsula. In 528 BC. In the west of the Heraclean Peninsula, the Greeks founded the city of Chersonesos. Since the founding of Chersonesus, the Greek name of Balaklava Bay has become known - Sumbolon Limen (“bay of symbols” or “bay of omens”). In II BC, the Chersonesites, exhausted by constant wars with the Scythians, were forced to ask for protection from the ruler of the Pontic state, Mithridates VI Eupator, whose life goal was the creation of the Pontic Empire. At 110 BC. The Pontic army was sent to Crimea under the command of the commander Diophantus, who defeated the Scythians during several campaigns. However, Mithridates had a very serious and strong rival - Rome, which at the same time was conducting conquests in the Balkans and Asia Minor. Since 89 to 63 BC The “Roman-Pontic wars” continued, from which Rome emerged victorious.
At the beginning of a new era in the history of Balaklava, the Roman period began. Balaklava land in the Roman era was a prosperous and peaceful region, but this prosperous time lasted only a century. In the middle of the 3rd century, the great migration of peoples began, caused by global cooling. The Roman Empire fell into a deep crisis; hordes of nomadic tribes poured into Crimea (the most famous are the Goths and Huns). Crimea and Balaklava, among others, needed a new ally and patron.
It became the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium), which from the beginning of the 6th century until the 13th century determined the fate of the Balaklava land. Until the end of the 12th century, Black Sea trade was completely in the hands of the Byzantines, which did not suit their trade competitors, the Venetians and Genoese. They were just waiting for the right opportunity to eliminate the Byzantines. And this opportunity presented itself - it turned out to be the IV Crusade to the Holy Land. The Venetian fleet transporting the crusaders headed not to the Holy Land, but to Constantinople. After the capture and sack of Constantinople (the capital of Byzantium) by the Crusaders in 1204, the Byzantine possessions in Crimea came under the rule of Trebizond, and maritime trade passed into the hands of the Venetians. But their trade monopoly lasted only half a century. The Greek population of Crimea and in particular Balaklava left the lands of their ancestors desecrated by Catholics and moved under the rule of the same faith emperors - to Trebizond and especially to Nicaea.
In 1261, the Genoese (the main trading competitors of the Venetians) entered into a military alliance with the emperor of Nicaea, who captured Constantinople, expelled the “Latins” from there and restored Byzantium. The Genoese received a monopoly right to trade in the Black Sea.
In 1357, the Genoese began to build a fortress near Balaklava Bay, which was named Chembalo (a corruption of the Greek word Sumbolon).
One of the first buildings erected by the Genoese near Cembalo is the Orthodox Church of the 12 Apostles, which has survived to this day.
Despite the fact that Cembalo was an important outpost of Genoa in Crimea, its position was not strong. In 1433, the revolt of the Greek population of Balaklava against Genoese colonization was supported by the Principality of Theodoro. For almost a year the rebels held the fortress and the city in their hands, and only in June 1434. A six-thousand-strong army of Genoese, arriving on ships from Genoa, managed to suppress the uprising and return Cembalo.
In 1453, under attack Ottoman Empire Byzantium fell. After 1453 the Genoese were forced to pay tribute to the Turks and the Crimean Khan. Management of the Genoese colonies in Crimea passes to the Bank of St. George. In 1475, a Turkish armada of almost 500 ships, with an army of 30 thousand soldiers, arrived on the shores of Crimea. The Turks captured the Cembalo fortress without a fight (its garrison, led by the consul, chose to “go on the run”). From this moment in the history of Balaklava, the Turkish period begins. Balaklava receives a new name “Balyklagy”, which means “fishing place, nest”.
On a short time summer of 1625 Zaporozhye and Don Cossacks captured Balaklava, but soon suffered defeat in a battle with the Turkish fleet.
In 1771, Chembalo was surrendered without a fight to the army of Prince Dolgorukov.
In the 18th century, Balaklava Bay became the first refuge for Russian ships that relocated to Crimea even before its official annexation to Russia. The first Russian officer to fortify Balaklava Bay was Fedor Fedorovich Ushakov (at that time the commander of the 16-gun ship Moreya).
In 1774 Having signed the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty with Russia, Turkey recognized the independence of Crimea, and in April 1783, Catherine II signed a manifesto on the annexation of Crimea to Russia.
During the Crimean War of 1854-1855. English troops were stationed in Balaklava. The British built the first in Crimea in Balaklava railway. Shops, hotels, and entertainment venues appeared in the town. Piers were built on both sides of the bay.
On October 13 (25), 1854, the famous battle took place in the Balaklava Valley, called Balaklava, during which the British lost most light cavalry, in which the scions of the noblest families of Britain served.
On November 14, 1854, a storm of unprecedented force broke out in the Black Sea, which sank at least 30 and caused severe damage to at least 40 allied ships and gave rise to the legend of the “gold of the Black Prince” and subsequently the founding of the Special Purpose Underwater Expedition on December 17, 1923 ( EPRON).
The literary fame of the Balaklava land began with A.S. Pushkin. In September 1820, a trip to the ancient St. George Monastery will leave vivid memories in the poet’s soul. A very popular legend is about a visit to Balaklava in the fall of 1840 by another Russian poet, M.Yu. Lermontov, on the schooner “Yulia”, accompanied by his French lover Adele Ommer de Gehl. In August 1907, the famous poetess Lesya Ukrainka visited Balaklava. She settled in the house of actress Sokolova. Here she lived for a month and a half, continuing her literary activity despite her illness (tuberculosis).
Many famous writers, such as A.S. Griboedov, A.N. Ostrovsky, I.A. Bunin, A. Green, L.N. Tolstoy, A.P. Chekhov, Maxim Gorky, visited Balaklava land, although not all dedicated their creations to her. The first writer to glorify Balaklava was Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin, in his cycle of essays “Listrigons” and the story “Svetlana”. He lived in Balaklava since September 1904. to December 1, 1905, until he was expelled from Balaklava for his essay “Events in Sevastopol.”
During the second defense of Sevastopol during the Great Patriotic War, Balaklava with its convenient harbor turned out to be as attractive to the Germans as it was to the British in 1854. The Germans sent the 72nd infantry division, supported by tanks, to capture it. The first enemy attack was taken by the NKVD battalion, which broke through to the city on November 4, 1941, as well as soldiers of the 514th Infantry Regiment of the Primorsky Army and marines. Having carried big losses The defenders of Balaklava were forced to retreat to the area of the Genoese fortress. The Chembalo fortress again, as in ancient times, becomes the last defensive line of Balaklava. The defenders of the Genoese fortress, having taken up the defense on November 20, repelled up to 70 fascist assaults over the course of several months, without losing a single person. The defense of Balaklava lasted from November 4, 1941 to June 29, 1942. And in 1944, on April 15-16, Soviet troops reached the enemy’s defensive lines and on April 18 Balaklava was liberated.
After the war, life in Balaklava changed dramatically. A division of submarines was stationed in the bay, and Balaklava turned into one of the most secret military bases in the country. The submarines stationed in Balaklava were equipped with nuclear weapons in the 60s, and on the western shore of the bay an underground submarine repair plant was built in the rock. In March 1995 The last Russian submarine was withdrawn from Balaklava, and in 2003 the Zaporozhye submarine, belonging to the Ukrainian Navy, left for Sevastopol.
Today Balaclava is becoming popular tourist place. Here you can take a tour of picturesque bay, climb to the ruins Genoese fortress, admire the snow-white yachts of the Golden Symbol yacht club and go to boat trip to Cape Aya, St. George's Monastery, Diana's Grotto, visit the most secluded coves of the Balaklava coast, go scuba diving into the depths of the sea and just swim and sunbathe.
Once you visit Balaclava, you will definitely want to come back here.