Address: Russia, Republic of Crimea, city of Sudak
Start of construction: 1371
Completion of construction: 1469
Coordinates: 44°50"30.0"N 34°57"30.0"E
The Genoese fortress, located in the Crimean city of Sudak, is a unique complex of buildings reflecting the romantic style of the Middle Ages. It is located on Fortress Mountain, which in ancient times was a coral reef and extends into Sudak Bay.
All the structures of the fortress occupied a total of 30 hectares, and they were erected by the Genoese, who considered it necessary for defensive purposes to build a majestic fortress and make it a military base. The 14 crenellated towers that make up the Genoese fortress in Crimea later became the symbol of Sudak.
The construction of the fortress took almost a century - work was carried out from 1371 to 1469. However, the result of the painstaking work of ancient engineers was a powerful, long-term structure, made in accordance with all the rules of Western European fortification. The entire complex, represented by more than a dozen towers, was connected by massive walls and had an entrance to the territory in the form of the Main Gate. The builders named each of the 14 towers differently - in honor of the consuls who ruled Sugdea ( ancient Greek name Sudak) during the years of construction of this or that structure. Historical evidence of this is the foundation slabs of the towers, on which the corresponding inscriptions and heraldic symbols are applied.
Defensive fortifications of the Genoese fortress
The defensive fortifications of the fortification system are represented by two tiers, or defense belts, independent of each other - upper and lower. The name of the tiers was determined by their position in relation to the Main Gate.
Tower of Corrado Chigalo
The upper zone of this landmark of Crimea is represented by the Consular Castle and defensive walls with towers: Watch, Bezymyannaya, Georgievskaya and Verkhnyaya. On the lower tier, on the north-eastern and north-western sides, there were 2 fortification zones, between which there was a gate structure with a bridgehead. On both sides of the gate are the towers of Jacobo Torsello and Bernabo di Franchi di Pagano. All components of the fortress were assembled into a full-fledged complex by connecting them with a powerful wall.
As in ancient times, now above the Main Gate hangs a slab with an inscription confirming the construction of the structure in 1389. In addition to the towers mentioned above, the northeastern section of the fortification contains on its territory three Nameless towers and a Semicircular tower, the towers of Luchini de Flisco Lavane, Corrado Cicalo, and Pasquale Giudice. On the northwestern side of the fortification, when moving towards the Main Gate, there are the remaining towers: Cornerstone, Gvarko Rumbaldo, Giovanni Marione and Ruined.
Consular Castle
As the events of 1475, significant with the capture of the fortress by the Turks, ended, the fortification structure underwent repairs. The transfer of the Genoese fortress into the ownership of the Russian Empire, dating back to 1783, did not affect the fortress in the best possible way– it began to deteriorate. However, restoration work carried out in the 70s of the last century made it possible to preserve some of the towers intact and partially restore the damaged walls, while the Consular Castle preserved its original shape better than anyone else. Its design is represented by a quadrangular donjon tower, a corner tower and walls running between them and forming a closed courtyard. The first tier of the Consular Castle was used for economic purposes. It also contained an impressively sized container designed to store water. The second and third tiers housed ordinary rooms. The entire structure of the Consular Tower in Crimea is completed with battlements located on the arcature belt. And its side passage provides a connection with another tower - St. George's, which even today has its primitive shape.
Padishah-Jami Mosque
It looks like a 2-tier, 3-walled structure with battlements, in the walls of which there are slit-like loopholes in 2 tiers.
The highest point of the upper fortification is considered to be the Watchtower, the construction of which took place from the 10th to the 13th centuries. Castle of St. Elijah is its second name. The tower, shaped like a quadrangle, was previously intended for a watchman, and today it is an observation deck. When examining the lower defensive belt, it is not difficult to notice the restored Main Gate complex, represented by such parts as:
- barbican;
- arch bridge;
- deep ditch;
- tower of Bernabo di Franchi di Pagano;
- tower of Jacobo Torsello;
- Battisto di Zoaglio is the name of the portal, i.e. wall separating the towers.
Tower of Pasquale Giudice
The open three-tier tower of Jacobo Torsello looks like a quadrangle building, the beauty of which is emphasized by a double arcature belt. According to the inscription on the heraldic plate, the appearance of this tower in the fortification system dates back to 1385. A similar design is inherent in another tower - Bernabo di Franchi di Pagano, but it was erected much later - already in 1414.
Considering the towers located in the northwestern section of the lower defense belt, Special attention It is worth paying attention to two, named Giovanni Marione and Gvarko Rumbaldo. The construction of the first, by Giovanni Marione, dates back to 1388. Its quadrangular structure was eventually supplemented with a fourth tier, on which the battle passage and parapet were located. Next to it stands the Gvarko Rumbaldo Tower, decorated with a heraldic slab as a reminder that the tower owes its construction to the consul Gvarko Rumbaldo, who ordered its construction in 1394. A square-shaped structure built according to open type, has 3 tiers. The towers are separated from each other by a curtain.
View of the main gate from the fortress
In the northeastern area, which belongs to the lower defensive zone, the Pasquale Giudice tower has been preserved better than the others to this day. A multi-layered open structure with three tiers complemented the creation of the Genoese in 1392. No less interesting in terms of architecture are the Semicircular Tower, which stands out against the background of the entire fortress system with its shape, and the tower with the name Corrado Cicalo, which complemented the entire complex in 1404. All that remains of the port fortification is the square tower of Frederico Astagvera, or the Port Tower. This three-tiered building decorated the fortress in 1386. In general, the Genoese fortress in Sudak is a significant historical and cultural value and is considered one of the most unique attractions of Crimea and a feature of the defensive architecture of ancient Tavria, reflecting the traditions of the 10th – 18th centuries.
Temple on the territory of the Genoese fortress
However, it is not the towers alone that make the Genoese fortress attractive - on its territory there is a Temple with an arcade. It was built by the Turks, who wanted to have a mosque, but later other owners of the fortress rebuilt the mosque, first into an Orthodox cathedral, and then into a Catholic one.
Main Gate
At the end of the 18th century, the building changed its subordination again and again. Despite the fact that the design has not been changed, the building has been Orthodox Church, and a German church, and an Armenian church intended for meetings of Catholics. Today there is a historical and archaeological museum here, rich in many interesting exhibits.
The Genoese fortress itself, which has preserved the atmosphere of the Middle Ages, has since 2001 turned into a venue for annual festivals that gather the best masters knightly art. And these are not just holidays - these are real tournaments, breaking the silence with the ringing of swords, the clanging of blacksmith anvils and surprising visitors to the fortress with the battles of warriors clad in armor. Such festivals are usually held in August, and they are called the “Genoese Helmet”.
The Genoese fortress in Sudak is a unique historical monument from the Middle Ages. The structure is located on Fortress Mountain (height 157 meters), which is a continuation of Cape Kyz-Kule-Burun (translated from Crimean Tatar as “Cape of the Maiden Tower”).
The area occupied by the Sudak fortress is 30 hectares. This attraction is the most visited in Sudak. A museum with archaeological ancient finds is opened on its territory, excursions are organized for tourists and festivals are held annually.
Story
The Genoese fortress was built in the 14th century in Sugdea (the ancient Greek name for Sudak). In those days, the coast of Crimea from the Bosporus to Chersonesus belonged to merchants from Genoa and Venice, the capital of their colony was Kafa (Feodosia), and Sugdei became the site of construction military base- stronghold of the colony.
Construction of the fortress began in 1371 and was completed in 1469. It took almost a century to build an impregnable fortress, and the Genoese succeeded. From the west the passage to the structure is difficult to access, from the southeast there are steep mountain walls and the sea, and from the northeast a deep ditch was dug.
Sudak fortress: description and features
The entire defense complex included two protective tiers - lower and upper. On the lower tier a wall seven meters high and 14 towers were erected. At the top there is the Consular Castle (donjon) and several more towers, including the Watchtower, located at the highest point of the mountain. All structures are connected by a wall running along the ridge of the mountain.
The fort was entered from the main gate; inside there were fortifications, a mosque, a temple, soldiers' barracks and a warehouse for military supplies. Over the course of several centuries, the defensive fortress was modified; in the 18th century, by order of Potemkin, two more barracks of the Kirillovsky regiment were built here.
Today, in the Genoese fortress you can see only a part of the indestructible buildings: the main gate, St. George's Tower, the Corrado Cicalo Tower, the Torsello Tower, a mosque, the Temple of the Twelve Apostles, a warehouse and the remains of barracks. Many buildings, during the destruction by numerous assaults and several centuries later, remained only in the form of picturesque ruins.
- There are only three Genoese fortresses in Crimea: in Sudak, Feodosia and Balaklava.
- More than 40 films were shot on the territory of the Sudak fortress, the most famous of them: “Amphibian Man”, “Chief of Chukotka”, “Pirates of the Twentieth Century”, “The Master and Margarita”, “Hamlet”, “Socrates” and “Marco Polo”.
- Every year in August the festival of knightly art “Genoese Helmet” is held here, where reconstruction takes place historical events and knightly tournaments. It is important that the atmosphere is truly in the spirit of the Middle Ages, so you will only be allowed in here in an image that matches the era.
Tour of the Genoese fortress
Price:
- adult ticket - 200 rub.
- schoolchildren, students, pensioners - 100 rubles.
Excursion groups are formed every half hour from 9:00 to 17:30.
Duration of the excursion: 40 minutes.
Tourist information: events, opening hours and ticket prices
Operating mode:
- May - September: from 8:00 to 19:00 (ticket office open until 18:00)
- October - April: from 9:00 to 17:00 (ticket office open until 16:00)
- no days off or breaks
Prices in the Genoese fortress:
- adult ticket - 150 rubles
- schoolchildren, students, pensioners - 75 rubles
- under 18 years of age, students and large families - FREE (only the first Tuesday of every month)
During festivals and other events, prices may vary.
The schedule of events at the Sudak Fortress Museum-Reserve can be viewed on the official website: http://www.sudakfortress.ru.
contact number: +7 (365 66) 3-16-06
Website of the festival "Genoa Helmet": www.dospex.com.
Where is the Genoese fortress in Sudak and how to get there
Address: Republic of Crimea, Sudak, st. Genoese fortress, 1
How to get there:
- minibus in Sudak: No. 1 (stop right under the walls of the fortress)
- suburban trolleybus or minibus Sudak - New World: No. 5 (stop “Uyutnoye village”)
- by personal car: take the Tourist Highway, which will lead you straight to the fortress.
The Genoese fortress in Sudak is a unique historical monument from the Middle Ages. The structure is located on Fortress Mountain (height 157 meters), which is a continuation of Cape Kyz-Kule-Burun (translated from Crimean Tatar as “Cape of the Maiden Tower”).
The area occupied by the Sudak fortress is 30 hectares. This attraction is the most..." />
There are many fortresses in Crimea, we even came across the name Genoese a couple of times in other populated areas. But there is only one fortress in Sudak, built on a 157-meter high cone-shaped and impregnable mountain with an area of 30 hectares. Yes, today we will visit the quite famous Genoese fortress in Sudak.
How to get to the Genoese fortress
Getting to the fortress will not be difficult, because it is located in the city of Sudak itself. You can simply walk along the embankment to the cape of Fortress Mountain, where at the top, already halfway along the way, the towers of the Genoese fortress will be visible.
Genoese fortress on the map.
That’s exactly what we did, while admiring new views of the city of Sudak.
Excursions
Group excursion (from Alushta):— 11 hours, up to 30 people (children allowed)
Individual excursion (Sudak):— 1 day, up to 3 people
Opening hours of the Genoese fortress. Ticket prices
The fortress is truly impregnable: on one side there is a sheer cliff and the sea, and on the other, the builders easily turned deep natural beams into a moat.
In general, you can't pass by the cash register. So let's find out how much a ticket costs.
Cost of independent inspection of the Genoese fortress:
- adult - 150 rub.
- children (up to 16 years old) - for free
- 75 RUR
- entrance by invitation card – 1 rub
The last point amused me. I wonder where to get these same invitation cards and why do they need my ruble in this case?
Cost with excursion:
- adult - 200 rub
- children (up to 16 years old) - 50 rub
- students, pensioners, local residents (Sudak district) – 125 rub.
Excursion groups are formed every 30 min. Duration of the excursion - 40 min.
Working hours:
- cash register - from 8 to 19 seven days a week
- museum-fortress – from 8 to 20 seven days a week
We grabbed our self-guided tour tickets and headed to the main gate.
What to see in the Genoese fortress
The entire fortress can be divided into two tiers.
The top one is the Consular Castle with the Watchtower. Here, as a rule, lived the city ruler or consul, who was appointed by the Genoese government for a year of reign, and also served as a military commandant and managed finances. , various weapons and food supplies were stored.
In the event of an enemy breakthrough into the fortress, the upper tier became a refuge for the defenders. In those days, Soldaya lived according to the “statutory of the Genoese colonies”; everything here was subject to protection from enemies.
The lower one is presented in the form of a defensive wall of 14 towers and the Main Gate. When darkness came, the gates of the fortress were locked and the bridge across the moat was raised. Even in peacetime, the consul had no right to leave the fortress, the garrison of 37 soldiers had to be in constant combat readiness, and the residents could not go outside after the bell rang. For violation of these strict rules a large fine was levied.
We will begin our walk around the fortress from the lower tier.
1. The main gate of the Genoese fortress. At the entrance we see two impressively sized towers, next to which a knight in a not at all old chain mail flaunts in front of everyone who comes in. Yes, you thought correctly - this is the same knight who wants money for a photo with him. For those who like to be alone in the frame, you can also pick up medieval clothes here.
The place in front of the gate was the so-called customs house, where visiting traders were charged a duty for imported goods. So almost nothing has changed since then.
2. City. Having walked a little forward, a huge, almost empty square opened up to our eyes. Previously, on this site there was a city with a population of 8 thousand, which is quite a lot for the Middle Ages.
3. Fortress towers. We moved along the eastern wall of the fortress, where every 200 meters we could see some tower up to 15 meters high.
The towers bear the names of the consuls during whose reign they were built. This is evidenced by slabs with inscriptions in Latin, and for tourists - information signs. However, if initially there were 14 towers, only 8 have survived to this day.
4. Mosque. That’s at least what this building is called, because no one still knows exactly what it was originally.
But unlike other buildings, it is perfectly preserved, and inside there is a small museum with frescoes, heraldic plates, dishes, etc.
By the way, in front of the museum there is a platform for viewing the city from the walls of the fortress. I must admit, there is an excellent view of Sudak from here.
5. Consular Castle. Gradually, gradually, we reached the upper tier with the Consular Castle and the Watchtower.
The castle consists of towers connected by a fortress wall, between which there is a courtyard. This yard is small, only 9 by 15 meters.
In the Middle Ages, the Consular Castle was the military residence of the consul, so there are also living quarters here.
We looked into one of the towers. Somewhere on the 3rd floor the window offers an excellent view of the fortress walls.
6. Watch (Maiden) tower. The watchtower is located next to the castle, we walked there through the platform, and at the same time admired the excellent panorama of the Genoese fortress.
The tower is located quite high, and not all tourists risk climbing to it along a steep rock with ledges that are slippery even in dry weather. We went up a little to the right, where it was more or less flat.
From here another excellent view opens up, now of the sea from Cape Meganom to Ayu-Dag.
Watchmen from the tower monitored the approach of the enemy, and during bad weather they lit a fire here, which acted as a beacon for ships at sea. Hence the name Watch, and it was nicknamed the maiden tower because, like any other tower, this one also has many legends, the heroine of which is a young girl.
You can't climb into the tower itself, and it's dangerous. Now only 3 walls remain of it, since the fourth collapsed into the sea.
7. Port Tower. After wonderful views of the sea, we descended to the Western part of the fortress.
Here, in the distance, I noticed another tower with a small temple of the Twelve Apostles. This is the tower of Frederico Astagvera, standing on the defense of the port, so it was given a second name - Port. In the Middle Ages, this tower was connected by a wall to the corner towers of the Genoese fortress. Now, to get to the tower, you had to leave the main gate. We did not do this, capturing the Port Tower with the temple only in photographs.
On this, Dear friends, I want to complete our trip to Crimea. And as always, in the next article you will find Don't miss it! Until next time!
The Genoese fortress in Sudak was built between 1371 and 1469, on the site of another fortress, Sugdea, which, according to a 13th-century Greek manuscript, was built in 212. The fortress defended the city, later known in Russian chronicles under the name of Surozh. Among eastern geographers and Arab merchants it was known as Sudak. It is not precisely established who lived in the city at that time.
Sudak during the Crimean Khanate
In January 1223, the city was captured by the Mongol-Tatars. The Arab writer Ibn al-Athir described the invasion this way: “Arriving at Sudak, the Tatars took possession of it, and the inhabitants scattered, some of them with their families and their property climbed the mountains, and some went to the sea" The next invasion of the Mongol-Tatars, already under the leadership of Batu, occurred in December 1239. As soon as the influence of the Tatars weakened, the Genoese reappeared on the coast.
Restoration in the second half of the 13th century Byzantine Empire, which Genoa actively contributed to, led to active confrontation between the Genoese and Venetians. The Charter of the Genoese colonies on the Black Sea, adopted in 1316, emphasized that “The Genoese, or those who are considered or called Genoese, or enjoy or are accustomed to enjoy the benefits of the Genoese, shall not buy, sell, acquire, alienate, or transfer to anyone, either personally or through a third party, any goods in Soldai under pain... of a fine... of 100 gold perpers from each violator for each time".
Soon after the defeat by Russian regiments Tatar hordes Mamaia on the Kulikovo Field in 1380, the Genoese, by a special treaty with the Tatars, finally secured Sudak and its surroundings.
Fortress at the Genoese Gazaria
Genoese trading posts and trading cities on the Crimean coast began to appear in the 13th century. In the first quarter of the 14th century, the Italians received Kerch (Cherchio, or Vosporo), in 1357 - Balaklava (Chembalo), then bought Feodosia (Kafa) from the nomads, and Sudak (Soldaya) was taken from the Venetians in 1365. The remaining lands were given to the Genoese under an agreement with the Tatars.
All Crimean territories, where the Italians lived, was called the Genoese Gazaria, with its center in Cafe, where a fortress was also built to protect against the Venetians and Tatars.
Genoese fortresses were built in the form of two rings of walls. Behind the first ring were workers' houses and workshops, and behind the second wall (the citadel) was the consul's house, administrative buildings, warehouses with especially important goods and, possibly, the homes of the nobility. Despite the huge area - almost 30 hectares, the Genoese fortress in Sudak was practically impregnable due to its location. It was built on Mount Genevez-Kaya (Fortress Mountain), 157 meters high. By its origin, the mountain is an ancient petrified coral reef and is a flat massif from the north and steep from the south, which juts out into Sudak Bay. The height of the walls of the fortress reached six, and in some places eight meters, their thickness was one and a half to two meters. The height of the towers reached 15 meters.
The walls were crowned with battlements, reliably protecting the garrison from shelling. In the outer defense zone of the fortress there were 14 towers on Fortress Hill and one in the port area. Twelve of them still rise above the walls, one stands alone, and of two only the foundations remain. In the inner defensive line - the citadel - there are four more towers and the castle of St. Elias. The citadel was especially well fortified. Its walls and towers were located on the high rocky part of the Fortress Mountain. The main unit of defense was the castle; it seemed to complete the citadel from the east.
Three gates led to the fortress; only the main one has survived to this day. The walls of the fortifications and the tower are made of local materials: gray limestone, sandstone and shell rock. The nature of the masonry suggests that the fortress was built mainly by local masons. In the water supply system of the fortress, the law of communicating vessels was used: perhaps water was supplied to the city through pipes by gravity from a source on Mount Perchem (which is higher than Fortress Mountain), and then distributed throughout the city. The only well-preserved architectural structure on the territory of the fortress remains the mosque.
After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the victorious Turks turned their attention to the Crimea. On May 31, 1475, a squadron of the Ottoman Empire approached its shores, the siege of Kafa began, and on June 6 a large garrison of the powerful fortress capitulated. Following Kafa, Soldaya and other Genoese possessions in Crimea fell.
Sudak fortress from the times of the Russian Empire
During Russian-Turkish War 1768–1774 Crimea was occupied by Russian troops. Ottoman Empire, however, did not give up hope of regaining the peninsula and many times the Turks tried to land military troops on the Crimean coast. To combat them, the commander of the troops in Crimea, Alexander Suvorov, began to fortify the coast. An artillery redoubt was erected on the territory of the Sudak fortress, and later barracks were built for the Russian garrison of soldiers and officers of the Kirillovsky regiment. These were the last military buildings in the fortress, which, after the withdrawal of Russian troops from it, was completely depopulated and quickly began to turn into picturesque ruins. The population used the dilapidated fortress for their needs.
Damage to the monument was also caused by German colonists, immigrants from Bavaria and Württemberg, who founded one of their settlements near the very walls of the fortress. The famous Russian traveler and writer Evgeny Markov, who visited Crimea in the 60s of the 19th century, wrote: “Surozh is captured by the Germans. They graze their horses and oxen inside its strongholds, they planted its ditches and trenches with vineyards and vegetable gardens, they dragged away its stones for their houses, fences and cisterns.”.
Fortress-museum
By the end of the 19th century, the Sudak fortress had undergone such significant destruction that the question arose about the need to save this unique historical and architectural monument from destruction.
After the establishment of Soviet power in Crimea, the fortress in Sudak was declared historical monument, was taken under state protection, and in the mid-20s of the twentieth century, an archaeological and architectural survey of the Sudak fortress began, associated with the beginning of restoration work, which, however, was of a local nature.
After the Great Patriotic War On the territory of the Sudak fortress, a historical and archaeological reserve was created, which was under the jurisdiction of the State Historical Museum in Moscow. During this period, further steps were taken to study the monument.
Large-scale restoration work began in 1968. First of all, their targets were those parts of the fortress that were located in in emergency condition: upper defensive belt, sections of the western wall of the lower belt with the Corner Tower and the eastern wall with the Nameless and Corrado Cicalo towers.
Nowadays, the Sudak fortress has been turned into a museum-reserve. Its area is 29.5 hectares. Among the architectural structures of the 10th–15th centuries, the defensive walls, the Watchtower (Maiden) and Astaguerra (Portovaya) towers, the Consular Castle, the mosque, the temples of the Twelve Apostles and Catholic Cathedral Virgin Mary, remains of urban development and a seaside fortification from the 6th century.