What to see in Kerch: you won’t regret not passing by

The eastern gate of Crimea - Kerch - has stood guard between two seas for more than two thousand years. During this time, a multifaceted history developed from the Neolithic and Bronze Age tribes to the capital of the Black Sea Kingdom; the city was in battle many times, was destroyed and rebuilt. That is why a tourist in Kerch will have enough to look at not only for one day, but also for more.

Monuments of ancient times exist harmoniously on its territory - the ruins of ancient settlements, of which there are more than a dozen, and war memorials of recent years. Industrial enterprises are adjacent to the sea and a few resort facilities.

For an easy walk, go to the center, to Mount Mithridates: many attractions are located there, you can only smoothly move from one to another. If you have free time, other interesting places await you that reveal its originality.

Useful information about Kerch is also on its page.

Mithridatic staircase Photo: © acvazul-v2010

Attractions

As in many other cities, places of interest to travelers in Kerch fit quite compactly into the city center. But not all, because on the outskirts and in the surrounding area there is still much that is no less fascinating.

Mount Mithridates

Any tourist coming to Kerch does not pass by Mount Mithridates . Despite the small height of 92 meters, the hill in the city center attracts the eye and beckons you to climb. The Mithridatic Staircase is taken up to it . The ceremonial wide rise with columns and flowerpots, in front of which two griffins - the symbol of the city - greet guests, appeared according to an Italian design in the thirties of the 19th century. and contains 432 steps.

Mount Mithridates from the city streets Photo: © Juliette17

To the west, Mithridates forms a mountain range with several hill peaks. The nearest one is often called the “first chair of Mithridates”; in the distance there is a much smaller second one. The mountain chronicles the history of the city and reveals the modern one, because the platform at the top unites completely different memorable places. Here are the ruins of the ancient Panticapaeum (more about it below), and memorials of the last war years, and the best views of Kerch.

From all around and at the foot, the obelisk of Glory to the Immortal Heroes - a 24-meter sharp stone stele located on a triangular pedestal with three cannons. Near it, on a marble slab, the names of the brave Kerch defenders who gave themselves in the fight against fascism are carved.

Obelisk to the Immortal Heroes and a view of the city from Mithridates Photo: © Juliette17

Nearby, a peak of stone boulders is topped by an eternal flame burning on the roof of a squat turquoise tower of classical architecture. From its foot you can see Panticapaeum - the ruins of the ancient city where Kerch grew up. Among some of the remains, the outlines of buildings are still visible.

Closer to the sea there is a bench with the letters “Crimean Bridge” , which fits perfectly into the sea panorama with the crossing itself in the background. The distance from the top to it is about 2.5 km.

Photo: © Juliette17

The eastern side of Mithridates is also a good observation deck with postcard views of Kerch. They are dominated by colorful ships: in the port with the Genoese pier . The same landscape can be seen from the main staircase on the way up or down.

Lenin Street and Square

Perhaps you will walk along Lenin Street before or after climbing the mountain, but you definitely need to pay attention to the local Arbat . The 700-meter-long street is completely pedestrian and its coziness is the envy of many cities. Plane trees are planted along the edges - the alley creates good shade in the heat, and walkers will not fail to take advantage of this. Antique patterns made from colored paving slabs will remind you of the city’s ancient history. The features of low, colorful houses tell the story of past centuries, although many modern signs for shops and cafes will not let you forget about the present.

Kerch Arbat Photo: © Sergey Vasilets

From the south, the alley abuts the yellow-tiled Lenin Square with a monument to the leader. It is surrounded on all sides by well-groomed park areas. In the Glory Square, the eternal flame burns , which liberated Kerch in April 1944 from the Nazis. In Peace Square there is another echo of those days - a monument to Kerch children - victims of the war . The sculpture depicts a woman with a child. In the Afghans' Square there is a memorial to the internationalist soldiers who died in Afghanistan. Nearby rises a gray column with a golden griffin on top. The Stele of Hero Cities appeared here to commemorate the awarding of the same title to Kerch.

The Church of John the Baptist cannot be confused with others Photo: © Egor Vlasov

Opposite, among the greenery, you can see the Church of John the Baptist . There are certain reasons to consider it the earliest of the Eastern European and Russian ones still operating today. Built according to Byzantine traditions, it is interesting not only for its architecture: the interiors are unusual for their contrasting combination of elements of the past and modernity.

All sights of Kerch

Another building of artistic interest is located to the right of the square towards the Mithridates Staircase (Teatralnaya St., 34/2). Solid masonry of the lower floor, high arched windows, antique porticoes with columns and a tower in the southern wing create the appearance of the palace. However, this is the Romanov Women's Gymnasium , which has been operating since the end of the 19th century. to the present time in the form of one or another educational institution. Now it is being restored, and, according to existing information, it is planned to open it no longer as a school.

Women's gymnasium on the street. Teatralnaya Photo: © Masha Malinovskaya

is being reconstructed for a long time and slowly . Pushkin , once a theater, standing on the right side of the gymnasium. From the outside, the classic “temple” on six columns has been looking fresh for several years now, hosting children’s clubs and periodically various fairs. If time permits, you can look into another cultural site next to Lenin - an art gallery .

Kerch embankment

On the southern side of Mithridates, along the seashore there is embankment of the same name. This is one of the few places in the center that has access to water, since a large part of the coast is occupied by ports, ship repair units and factories. Like Kerch itself, the embankment cannot be called a resort, but you can always meet guests and local residents walking along it.

Kerch embankment Photo: © Juliette17

For most of its length (1.3 km) there is Primorsky Boulevard, somewhere imperceptibly it is joined by a city park. Among the flower beds and tiled alleys there are several cafes and children's attractions. They couldn’t leave such a suitable place without monuments : here stands Pushkin , who visited Kerch in 1820, a schoolboy with a broom helping his parents with cleaning, and a couple of memorials to tragic events . The knot of friendship between the peoples of Russia and Ukraine is unusual , as is the sculpture “Gifts of the Sea” , symbolizing a net with a catch.

At the very beginning of the embankment, at one of the piers there is a popular art object “I love Kerch” . Many visitors consider it their duty to take a photo with him, as is the case with the “Crimean Bridge” bench on Mithridates. By the way, boat trips depart from here, giving you the opportunity to take a closer look at it. On one of the paths of the park there is another installation - “Alley of Love” , formed by aerial structures in the form of hearts and benches.

Sculpture “Schoolboy” Photo: © Juliette17

Sights of Kerch with photos and descriptions

Mount Mithridates and the Great Mithridates Staircase

As for attractions, Mount Mithridates is probably considered the most ancient, since the city was built around it and its history began with it. The mountain is part of the Crimean mountain range and is raised 92 meters above sea level, and there is also a lot of vegetation.

The mountain is located in the very center of Kerch; the ancient city of Panticapaeum previously stood on it. The mountain itself bears the name of the Bosporan king Mithridates VI, who famously fought here with the Roman army and died here. In addition to the fact that it is considered the center of the geography of Kerch, it is its cultural center, which has preserved a lot of ancient, medieval and modern historical monuments.

Mithridatic staircase

In the 19th century, the Mithridates Staircase, which has 436 steps, was erected here. The staircase, built according to the design of the Italian architect Digby, is considered an architectural monument. They say that Pushkin himself walked along these stairs, and the stairs began to be called “the cradle of his Onegin.”

It offers stunning views of the surrounding area; from its top you can clearly see all the beauties of Kerch Bay. In the mountain itself there is the Panticapaean Crypts complex, where excursions are constantly held. This mountain is a memorial of military glory, in honor of the soldiers who defended the city from the Nazis during the Great Patriotic War. Here is the obelisk of Glory.

Yeni-Kale fortress in Kerch

Also in Kerch there is another oldest building located on the coast of the strait - the Yeni-Kale fortress, which was built in the 18th century by the Ottomans. The fortress was built in the shape of a pentagon and on several levels.

For defensive purposes, five bastions were built here, one at each corner; for additional protection, walls with battlements were erected, the height of one of them was about 50 meters.

Yeni-Kale fortress in Kerch

The entire fortress was surrounded by a moat filled with water. On its territory there were warehouses in which ammunition, residential buildings, a bathhouse, a mosque and a large container of drinking water were stored. Three entrances led here, which were equipped with reliable gates, reinforced towers, platforms for battles and were well guarded. The fortress was a mini-city in which at least 2,000 soldiers could fully live.

By the middle of the 18th century, the fortress became part of the Russian Empire, and for more than a century and a half it has simply been a monument to the history of the country. Unfortunately, the fortress has retained some of its buildings to this day, but this does not prevent a large number of tourists from visiting it. Many artists captured it in their paintings. Now this architectural monument is under state protection.

Panticapaeum

To thoroughly touch the distant history of the ancient city, you should definitely visit the prehistoric site of Panticapaeum. This is the most famous archaeological site of Crimea, which still occupies the minds of pundits and is of interest to tourists.

Of course, what remains of the ancient city leaves much to be desired, but even from its remains one can understand how powerful and great it was. Here, lovers of antiquity can see the remains of various churches, the ruins of residential buildings, as well as fragments of tombs, palace buildings of the Bosporan rulers and plunge into those distant times.

Panticapaeum

The settlement of this area began 2.5 thousand years BC, as evidenced by archaeological finds. The settlement itself began its foundation somewhere in the 7th century. BC, after transporting immigrants from Greece across the Bosporus Strait. In its attractiveness and majesty, Panticapaeum was no worse than present-day Kerch, and surpassed its contemporaries in everything.

The advantage and prosperous existence lay in its convenient geographical location, which allowed the then metropolis to become a world trade center. This was followed by all sorts of troubles, which in the 3rd century AD. e. led to the final destruction of the kingdom.

A lot of time passed before another city began to be built in its place, which later became modern Kerch. Unauthorized excavations here began in the 19th century, so-called archaeologists tried to find here the remains of the treasures of the kings who ruled the city. During this time, what was not destroyed by the Huns, nature and the inhabitants themselves, who used the ruins as building materials, was stolen by vandals and treasure hunters.

The part of the city that remained on Mithridates is well preserved, but the most attractive place is considered to be the necropolis and royal tombs, which have not been touched by time. The necropolis is located in the southern part of the city. Here there are burial mounds of Yuz-Oba, consisting of almost a hundred hills, storing the ashes of noble Scythians and military leaders.

Some of them are open for tourists to view. It's not difficult to get there. Route taxis 5 and 28 go there from the local bus station. Drive to “Spare Lenin”, and then walk about 1 km.

Royal Kurgan

Since the peninsula was annexed to the Russian Empire in the 18th century, many archaeologists and travelers have visited here and discovered about 2 thousand mounds. Now most of them have disappeared, thanks to the active actions of people. But some of them are still worth watching today. One of these is the Tsarsky Kurgan.

After all the unjustified attempts to find at least some treasures, the diggers discovered a tomb here that has no equal either on the Black Sea coast or in Greece. The outer part of the burial is surrounded by a stone wall. In the interior there is a tomb and a long corridor paved with relief slabs.

Royal Kurgan

In the rock in the very center of the tomb there is a burial square chamber (dromos), and the masonry of the walls consists of 10 rows, where after the fifth row the wall takes the shape of a dome. If you look back from the burial box, you will find that the exit from it is much longer than the entrance, which is caused by the unevenness of the walls.

And the Greek legend on this matter says that the path to the afterlife is so close, but the exit from it is very far. All the walls of the tomb were laid without a binding mortar, and in some places there were imprints of ancient tools.

According to assumptions, the tomb belongs to Levion the First, one of the Bosporan kings. Unfortunately, at one time the mound was plundered, but even now one can observe the highest level of skill of the builders of that time.

Church of John the Baptist

If you happen to visit Kerch, then you should definitely visit its spiritual heritage, which is the Church of John the Baptist. It is located on Tauride Square, almost in the city center, so getting there will not be difficult.

Church of John the Baptist

This is a cross-domed building, made in the best traditional manners of that time. The exact date of foundation of the church is still debated, but it is believed to date back to the 8th century. The basis for this assumption was the inscription on the column, which states that the son of George was buried here in 752.

After reconstruction, the main columns of the temple were made of marble, which made the structure more original and unusual. The oldest part of the church is now made of white stone and flat brick, which is quite consistent with the architecture of those times.

One of the main elements of the temple is considered to be a slab with a recess resembling the imprint of a human foot, which according to legend belongs to John. The church is endowed with a rich history. It was destroyed and rebuilt many times; there were times when it was closed for a long time, but for many years its doors have been open to parishioners.

Mud volcano Jau Tepe

The Tauride land is interesting not only for its archeology and architecture, its geology is also very informative. Under the layers of steppe rocks there is an accumulation of gaseous hydrocarbons, which, when heavily accumulated, seek access to the surface. Thanks to this natural phenomenon, the mud springs of the peninsula are activated, one of which is the Jau-Tepe hill.

In ancient times, during an eruption, the volcano destroyed an entire village, which is why it got its name - Jau-Tepe, which the Tatar population calls the enemy mountain, this is its literal translation. The volcano woke up several more times in the last century, and the last time it showed signs of life was in the 40s of the last century, and so far no one can guarantee that this was its last eruption.

Mud volcano Jau Tepe

This unique natural creation became a natural monument of national importance in 1975. Not far from Jau-Tepe there is a hydrogen sulfide lake, to which there is a large influx of water. This source has a very good effect on human skin. It is located near the Feodosia-Kerch highway between the villages of Leninskoye and Vulkanovka.

Kerch Historical and Archaeological Museum

To get acquainted with the history of the peninsula, it is enough to visit the historical and archaeological museum in Kerch. This ancient museum was founded from a single rare collection of artifacts from one of the local archaeologists of Dubrux, who donated them to the museum, then still in his home. Due to the fact that excavations were actively going on in this area, the museum’s collection began to be successfully replenished.

Kerch Historical and Archaeological Museum

The Crimean War caused enormous damage to the museum; many valuable exhibits were looted and destroyed. It also suffered during the Great Patriotic War, when almost the entire contents of the museum were irrevocably taken away by the Germans. After the end of the war, the museum continued its work and continues to receive visitors to this day. There are exhibitions here that tell about the entire history of the city, from ancient times to the present day.

There are also exhibitions organized by both museum employees and visiting archaeologists and historians. The museum courtyard will also delight you with various collections. With the help of professional guides, you can learn a lot of interesting things here.

Melek-Chesme mound

Like the Tsarsky, the Melek-Chesme mound is located in the center of Kerch and dates back to the 4th century BC. The tomb is a real architectural monument, and only rich people could afford to build such a structure at that time.

If the mound is considered in terms of architecture, then it can be called perfection. It is called so due to the river flowing nearby with the same name. Despite the fact that the mound is very ancient, it was found only in the mid-19th century.

Melek-Chesme mound

The tomb consists of a dromos and a burial chamber. The dromos is lined with stone slabs, and its decoration is a pediment. The chamber is somewhat similar to an Egyptian pyramid, has a square shape and a pyramidal dome. Unfortunately, archaeologists were able to find little here, but still, a sarcophagus, parts of alabaster dishes and even a bracelet made of bronze were discovered here.

A little later, a stone was discovered that confirms that this tomb contains the ashes of a woman. The mound is open to tourists.

Memorial Adzhimushkai kamenlomoni

Many stories, novels, and novellas have been written about this monument. Adzhimushkay quarries are a reminder of that terrible war and the dedication of the people who defended their land.

Previously, the quarries were a place for extracting shell rock. During the revolution, there was a Bolshevik underground here, during the civil war they hid partisans, and after the occupation of the city by the Germans in 1942, half the population left here, left without a roof over their heads.

Also, after the retreat of the Soviet troops, a group of military personnel covering the retreat was cut off from the main forces, and they were occupied with defense in the quarries. The Germans resorted to any deception to get people out of there. Despite the fact that there was not enough food, water and medicine, the people under siege harmed the enemy.

The quarries were nevertheless captured by the Germans in September; they even captured the few surviving people. Of the 13 thousand people there, only 48 were alive. Literally two months later, the city was liberated by soldiers of the Soviet army. Decades later, the Adzhimushkai quarries became a place for geologists, students, scientists to study rocks and documents remaining from the war.

Memorial Adzhimushkai kamenlomoni

Soon a historical and archival museum, a branch of Kerch, opened here. Nowadays excursions are held here, the route of which is 400 meters. The museum displays exhibits of attributes and equipped premises left over from the war.

Cape Zyuk

The northernmost point of the Kerch Peninsula is Cape Zyuk, located on the Sea of ​​Azov in the village of Kurortnoye, 17 km from Kerch. On both sides of it there are two bays - Reefs and Marine Corps. Near the cape there is a salt lake, Chokrak, famous for its healing mud.

Cape Zyuk

There were settlements in this territory in ancient times. The ancient settlement, inhabited by the Greeks, arose in the 4th century BC. and existed for more than 10 centuries. Excavations are currently underway at this site. If you look at the cape from the west, you can guess a whale in its outline, and the eastern side represents the head of a horse drinking water.

Here you can admire the very beautiful landscape, relax on wild beaches, catch fish, of which there is plenty, there are mullet, and pelengas, a lot of gobies and pike perch.

Crypt of Demeter

One of the iconic places in Kerch is the Crypt of Demeter, an ancient burial that was discovered at the end of the 19th century in a private courtyard. But only a year later, the museum staff managed to agree to see the crypt and buy it with all the valuables that were in it.

In addition to the valuables, the frescoes, which turned out to be intact after a millennium, turned out to be priceless. They depicted Greek mythical characters who, according to Greek beliefs, escorted souls to the kingdom of Hades. After some time, the crypt became a museum, which became accessible to visitors.

Unfortunately, time, nature, and human participation have practically destroyed it; in this state, the crypt cannot serve as a museum. But so that city guests and local residents could see the unique crypt, an exact copy of it was opened at the foot of the stairs leading to Mount Mithridates.

Crypt of Demeter

It completely replicates its dimensions and internal paintings; original archival documents were transferred here, testifying to the discovery of the object and its failed restorations.

Church of Athanasius the Great

On the slope of Mount Mithridates is located one of the oldest churches in the city - the Church of Athanasius the Great. According to the will of Athanasius, Marinaki allocated funds and built a temple near the cemetery, named in his honor.

On the facade of the temple there was a memorial plaque on which information about the church was engraved. In the 1920s, after the cemetery was demolished, it was closed. In 1937 it was reopened as a parish church, but was soon closed again. It began to work again after the Germans arrived in the city, who opened it to the Romanian military and never closed it again.

Church of Athanasius the Great

Now the temple is well-kept, there is a small garden growing in its courtyard, there are ancient graves, you can visit the church shop and Sunday school. The interior of the temple is relatively small and can accommodate no more than 350 parishioners. There are a lot of expensive shrines here that people brought here after the war.

Ancient settlement Nymphaeum

Not far from Kerch in the village of Georgievskoye (Eltigen) you can see the remains of the old city of Nymphaeum. The plateau on which the settlement is located occupies part of the shore of the Kerch (Cimmerian Bosporus) Strait, the western part of which is occupied by mounds and a soil necropolis. In ancient times it was a well-fortified, prosperous city with a well-developed settlement.

Most of the ancient city went under water. After its destruction, the settlement was no longer restored, which made it possible to reproduce all its parameters using the remaining fragments.

The remains of that civilization found on the territory of the ancient city made Nymphaeum a unique place of its kind, where a large number of ancient monuments were collected. The bulk of the exhibits found by archaeologists are kept in the Hermitage. The ancient settlement is now open for viewing.

Ostrich farm "Exotic"

In the east of the Kerch Peninsula on the coast of the Azov Sea in the village of Podmayachny there is an ostrich farm “Exotic”, which began its existence in 2004.

Ostrich farm "Exotic"

In addition to the fact that they breed ostriches here, there is a small zoo on its territory where you can see pheasants, peacocks, squirrels, ponies and many other animals.

There is a restaurant here that serves exotic dishes made from ostrich meat and eggs. Here you can spend some time staying in a small hotel, relax on the beach and swim in the sea.

Museums

Many artifacts of the past have been found on the territory of Kerch, some of which are truly unique, well preserved or reveal a previously unknown page in the chronicle. Therefore, even during a one-day trip, it is worth planning a visit to one of the exhibitions. Evidence of a rich history from ancient settlements to the present day is carefully preserved by the East Crimean Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve, which includes all the museums and archaeological sites of the city.

Don't worry, these aren't dusty shelves with strange leftovers. The exhibits are truly entertaining, and they also come to life through the guide’s narration. Another format for getting to know the past is organized in real burial mounds and crypts, the number and concentration of which are very high here. All objects are often interconnected and represent one or another part of the era.

Greek heritage items in the Historical and Architectural Museum Photo: © vladkonst

The Historical and Archaeological Museum is most conveniently located for walkers in the center: at the foot of Mount Mithridates near the embankment. His collection originates from Paul Dubrux, who has been exploring the area since the end of the 18th century. History from the Neolithic to the Ancient Kingdom is presented in the form of tools, jewelry and children's toys, ceramics, stone and textiles, objects of art and the worship of deities, the age of which is difficult to imagine. Jewelry and coins make up the Gold Treasury . The bulk of the marble sculpture is already in the Lapidarium of Kerch (museum of stone antiquities) , in another area of ​​the city.

From the exhibition of the Historical and Architectural Museum Photo: © vladkonst

A completely different kind of value is the Royal Mound on the eastern outskirts of Kerch, striking in its architecture with special properties and significantly different from other representatives of the tombs, which is why it received such a name. Modern tourists can also appreciate it; excursions are held inside. Another small Melek-Chesme mound

Entrance to the Tsarsky Kurgan Photo: © Alexander Belous

Another topic is revealed by the Adzhimushkai quarries not far from it. They are a monument to the difficult days of 1942. The retreating troops fought for liberation, spending six months in underground conditions - thirst, hunger, cold, and enemy gas attacks. The exhibition is located in one of the underground corridors and recreates the atmosphere of those days as much as possible.

Visitors to the Adzhimushkay quarries are greeted by a massive obelisk Photo: © vladkonst

Sights of Kerch, within walking distance from the city

Mud volcano Jau Tepe

A natural attraction of Kerch are mud volcanoes, which are located 11 kilometers from the city. It is better to get there by SUV or four-wheel drive. Such volcanoes erupt, and the height of the mud column is 8-10 meters. There are legends that transport disappeared in mud volcanoes during the Second World War. The appearance of volcanoes is varied. Some resemble a real crater, others resemble a flat and deep lake. The most famous mud volcano is Jau Tepe. Now it is in an inactive phase. There is no entrance fee and there are no guided tours. Read more about Jau-Tepe.

Ostrich farm Exotic

Near Kerch there is an ostrich farm, which is home to about 50 ostriches. One female brings from 35 to 80 eggs per season, the weight of which ranges from 1.3 kg to 1.5 kg. Ostriches need a lot of space to live, so enclosures are built with a length of 40 meters. The farm is located near the village of Glazovka and is open from 9:00 to 23:00. Ticket price is 200 rubles. Read more about the Exotic Ostrich Farm.

Adzhimushkay quarries

The quarries of Kerch are steeped in history: tragic and heroic events. Here, for 170 days, almost 120 thousand people resisted the German occupiers. Subsequently, a monument was built here in memory of the victims. The quarries were peaceful. Limestone-shell rock was mined here. Many houses and structures were built from this building material on the Crimean Peninsula. These quarries were opened in the 1850s. During this time, the builders dug catacombs 20 kilometers long. Surprisingly, only half of the entire length of the catacombs has been studied to this day. It is very dark in the quarries, the humidity is 100%, the air temperature is constant - 8˚C. Today you can see authentic soldiers' helmets and various military attributes of the war period there. Today, an underground museum is open in the quarries from 9:00 to 18:00. Ticket price is 200 rubles. The tour lasts about 1 hour. Read more about Adzhimushkay quarries.

Tsarsky Kurgan

Not far from the quarry, there is the Kerch Historical and Cultural Reserve “Tsarsky Kurgan”, the burial place of military leaders. The archaeologists who found this tomb were hoping to find a lot of jewelry and historical objects. However, this did not happen; the mound was plundered. Their only reassurance was the fantastic architecture of this tomb. Today, the Tsarsky Kurgan operates as a museum and is open to visitors from 9:00 to 18:00. Ticket price is 200 rubles. With excursion - 500 rub. The tour lasts approximately 25 minutes. Read more about the Tsarskoe Kurgan.

Cape Zyuk

Cape Zyuk is the northernmost point of the Kerch Peninsula and is famous for its beautiful beaches. In addition to nature, on the cape, there are excavations of an ancient settlement. Tourists to Cape Zyuk are attracted by the opportunity to swim in the Azov Sea, which is always several degrees warmer, and by beautiful sandy beaches that are suitable for families with children. Read more about Cape Zyuk.

Fortresses

The area between two seas, at the intersection of several trade routes and cultures, now occupied by Kerch, at any time had important advantages, and with them the need to retain them.

Yenikale

For this purpose, at the beginning of the 18th century. Yenikale fortress was built . At that time, most of the Black Sea region belonged to the Ottoman Empire. The fortress allowed the Turks to control ships passing between the seas. After 70 years of its purpose, it was transferred to Russia under the terms of the peace treaty, and then was used until the end of the century as a fortification and hospital.

View of Yeni-Kale from the highway Photo: © acvazul-v2010

Yenikale is well recognized and favored by tourists. Perhaps thanks to the colorful semi-bastion with three towers, standing almost on the shore next to the port of Crimea - Kerch highway, not so long ago the main connecting highway between Russia and Crimea. The preservation of the bastion is a merit of modern reconstruction. Next to it, the remainder of the fortress wall and gates survived. The contours of the rest of the territory can still be traced, but it is becoming more and more like ruins and is overgrown.

Kerch

Crimean War in the fifties of the XIX century. showed the need to strengthen the tactical positions of Crimea, but the Paris Peace Treaty prohibited the presence of military facilities in the Black Sea. The solution was considered to be fortification in the strait. Over the course of twenty years, the most complex artillery system of the Kerch fortress . A complex network of fortifications, powder magazines, kilometers of underground and auditory passages were located mostly underground, and were surrounded by a three-kilometer ditch along the perimeter.

It was not possible to fully use the Kerch fortress; for many years afterwards it served as an ammunition storage facility, and in 2003 it became part of the East Crimean Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve. The study and preparation of it as an exhibition continues; the found weapons are being neutralized. Entrance is open to tourists only with a guided tour, which is assembled from individual guests three times a day.

Kerch attractions

In the very heart of the city of Kerch, almost all of its attractions are collected. They are located close to each other. You can visit the magnificent Pushkin Theater, you can visit the Memorial to those who died in the Great Patriotic War. In the center is located the oldest functioning temple of St. John the Baptist in Eastern Europe. It is beautiful and rich in centuries-old history both outside and inside. In the heart of Kerch there is a mythical creature - the Griffin, who in his hands holds the key to two seas: the Azov and the Black. Lenin Street is the pride of the city of Kerch. This is a long and beautiful pedestrian street, along which locals and visitors walk in a continuous stream.
​

Ancient cities

More than one ancient city stood on the site of modern Kerch. History has preserved many references to different peoples across several eras. Today we can see parts of at least eight settlements dating back to ancient times. You can get acquainted with the most famous - Panticapaeum - in the center, on Mount Mithridates, on Cape Quarantine in the eastern part - with Myrmikei. Others are scattered around the area and their remains are not always visible or numerous.

Ruins of Panticapaeum from the height of the “first chair” Photo: © Juliette17

Panticapaeum

The ruins of Panticapaeum are easy to discover by climbing Mount Mithridates; they lie at the top, closer to the western and northern slopes. Walking between the foundations of the buildings, the surviving staircases and some of the newly assembled walls, only through your own imagination can you imagine the life of immigrants from Greece in the 7th century BC.

The twists and turns of the history of those years are intricate, no less recent, and full of dozens of characters that wouldn’t be enough to cover in a whole book. However, it is clear from it about the important role of Panticapaeum and King Mithridates of the 6th century. the fate of the Pontic and Bosporan kingdoms. The moment when the mountain was named after the ruler is unknown, but the modern monument was erected in 2006 in the courtyard behind the building of the Romanov Women’s Gymnasium.

A model of part of the Prytaneum colonnade assembled from debris Photo: © Masha Malinovskaya

Many crypts and mounds located on the territory and in the vicinity of Kerch date back to antiquity. Only in the depths of the main mountain was an extensive network discovered. From those closest to the center, tourists can access an accurate reconstruction of the crypt of Demeter . It is located at the first flight of the Mithridates staircase and fully represents the size of the room and its frescoes, which are of major value due to their good preservation. The tomb is named after Demeter from the inscription on the female image.

Photo: © Sergey Dukachev

Mirmekiy

Excavations of another ancient settlement are located in the main part of the city on Cape Karantinny. Mirmekiy can be visited if you are staying near the Moscow-Crimea sanatorium or come to one of the city beaches that are located nearby. For ordinary tourists, after the previous one and without a tour, they will not discover a new one, since in appearance these are the same ruins with the contours of once-existing buildings.

The city existed in parallel with Panticapaeum. It was also built and destroyed, changing rulers and states. The place is valuable for important archaeological finds: large treasures of coins and a richly decorated sarcophagus. One of the first is kept in the Kerch Museum, the second in the Hermitage. A marble sarcophagus with carvings was found in the 30s. XIX century and still occupies the minds of its researchers, because, presumably, it belonged to a noble person from the Tiberius Yuliev family.

On the Yandex maps panorama: Myrmekii on the right, Molodezhny beach on the left

Beaches

The coast of Kerch is not popular among vacationers in terms of beach holidays, but the proximity of the sea often raises the question of a place for swimming in the warm season. The beaches closest to the center are on Cape Quarantine, not far from ancient Myrmekia. Several buses, minibuses and a trolleybus go here. From the stops “Ulitsa Kazakova” or “Factory Kitchen” on the street. Voikov needs to walk about a kilometer.

The beach of the Moscow-Crimea sanatorium is well equipped : awnings and umbrellas will protect you from the sun, showers and foot taps will give you the opportunity to rinse off. In addition, there are sun loungers, a playground and a trampoline, and the coastline is mixed - with a sandy approach and stairs. The beaches of Smorzhevsky and Molodezhny , located on opposite sides of the previous one, are inferior to it in comfort. The presence of gazebos for relaxation and other amenities of civilization vary from year to year; the shore is very narrow.

Visitors to this coast agree on the good landscape with a view of the Crimean Bridge and are happy to sunbathe, but for some, entering the water was marred by algae.

Port from the height of Mithridates' stairs Photo: © Masha Malinovskaya

Stories, reviews and tourist routes

From the stories of tourists, it is noticeable that Kerch is often the first stop on a trip to Crimea - all thanks to its location and the availability of appropriate infrastructure. And, conversely, it is far from important if guests arrive by plane - also due to its position, remote to the east from the center of the peninsula. Despite the abundance of attractions, one-day and shorter visits are in demand. Read more about what travelers look for in Kerch in the reviews:

• From the depths of centuries - history and photos about the Church of John the Baptist from Magdalene happiness;
• A time machine called “Mount Mithridates” - a story from Oksana Razorenova;
• Kerch is now not a hole, but a new gate to Crimea - photo album from Vladimir;
• To Lake Koyashskoye for ticks and tulips. Kerch - a story from Julia.

All tourist reviews about Kerch on Tourister. RU

Lenin Square Photo: © Alexander Belous

Kerch photo gallery

Lenin Square

Monument to Peter I

Embankment

Construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait

Ferry

Where to stay in Kerch

Kerch is a port city, one of the industrial centers of Crimea and a place rich in history. Only last but not least is it a resort. When choosing to live here, you need to determine your goals. If you are planning to walk around the city, explore the remains of the fortress on Mount Mithridates and then continue your journey across Crimea, choose any of the hotels and guest houses in the city. If you want to combine it with a seaside holiday, it is better to consider housing in the nearest villages - Geroevsky on the Strait or Kurortny on the Sea of ​​Azov. In the city itself, you shouldn’t count on the sea - the beaches in Kerch are not the best.

• Kerch Hotels
• Hostels for Budget Travelers
• Flats and apartments
• Guest houses in Kerch

When checking availability for specific dates on Booking.com, be sure to check the “I am traveling for work” checkbox. Otherwise, room reservations will not be available.

Modern travel is also unthinkable without cashback: when booking accommodation on Booking.com, take a look at the page: Cashback promotion on Tourist. RU

Photo: © Juliette17

Excursions around Kerch

It can be difficult to find the best route to explore a city for the first time or in one day. The saturation of Kerch with cultural and historical values ​​and modern reality impose an additional task for its implementation. Professional guides will offer the right path among the centuries-old heritage of Kerch: they will show you the most interesting and popular places among tourists, reveal secret details of history and answer questions that arise. Ready-made excursion programs will allow you to fully immerse yourself in pleasant moments of relaxation and not think about organizational nuances either before or after.

All excursions around Kerch from Tourist Experts. RU