Small Khan Mosque

Silent witness in Crimea: The Cuma Han Mosque

The Cuma Han Mosque, the only building built by Mimar Sinan in Crimea, which witnessed many leaders rising and falling as well as numerous disputes over the peninsula, has remained intact after hundreds of years

Built in 1552 to mark the victory of Crimean Khan Devlet I Giray following his campaign against Moscow, the Cuma Han Mosque, which is the only building built by Mimar Sinan in Crimea, is reminiscent of the Fatih Mosque in Istanbul, with one medium and four small domes and two minarets. The mosque is located in Yevpatoria, which is located 70 kilometers from Simferopol. On the left side of the mosque's courtyard, there is a symbolic grave of Numan Çelebi Khan, whose dead body was thrown out in the Black Sea after he was killed in 1918, as well as the graves of his father Abdülkerim Çelebi and his grandfather Ali İbrahim Çelebi. Having survived for years, the mosque is not only a place of prayer for Crimean Muslims, but also a popular tourist attraction.

Speaking to an Anadolu Agency (AA) reporter, Crimean Deputy Mufti Ayder İsmailov said Crimea is like a mirror that reflects the Ottoman era. Recalling that the mosque is one of the most significant structures of the region, İsmailov said the mosque is a silent witness to the existence of the Ottoman Empire, the Crimean Khanate and their history. He said khans officially succeeded to the throne in this mosque, which is also where their firmans (royal decrees) were announced.

A church is situated near the mosque as well as some buildings belonging to Crimean Jews of Turkish origin, İsmailov continued. There are also some other buildings of the representatives of the three monotheistic religions. This is because Yevpatoria is a city with interesting and precious values, he said. İsmailov added that the mosque hosts tourists from different religions. A special section is allocated for tourists where they can get information about the mosque and Islam. Imams inform tourists about the basics of Islam and the mosque's history, and many tourists are curious about it. They can visit not only Islamic sites, but also other historical places belonging to different religions. The Cuma Han Mosque is the center of attraction in this regard, he said.

Devlet I Giray was the Crimean Khan from 1151-1577. When the Russians surrendered Kazan, Devlet sieged Moscow. During the 40-day siege, everything around the city was demolished. He imposed a duty on Russian Tsar Ivan IV who then returned Crimea. Thanks to his significant success, he was named Taht Algan, which means someone who takes the throne in Tatar.

Orta Jami Mosque

Bakchisaray (QHA) - An official opening of the renovated Orta Jami Mosque in Bakchisaray will take place soon. This mosque is an architectural monument of the XVIII century. The restoration works became possible thanks to financial contributions of Enver Umerov, and his sons Aslan and Rustem.

The restoration was initiated by Umerov’s family and Mufti of Crimean Muslims Emirali Ablayev. According to organizers, head of Mejlis of Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev is to speak at the opening of the monument, among others.


After the opening, there will be an opportunity to perform Namaz (Muslim prayer).


Note: Orta Jami is one of the oldest mosques in Crimea situated in the old town of Bakchisaray. It used to be the main Friday prayer mosque in the capital of Crimean Khanate. The mosque was in a bad condition, its minaret along with some other small surrounding buildings were completely destroyed until the end of 2012 when its reconstruction started. The reconstruction involved rebuilding of the minaret from scratch as well as some minor buildings previously located next to the mosque.

Burlyuk, one of the biggest villages of Crimea

Burlyuk (Vilino) village is one of the biggest villages in Crimea. It is located near Bakhchisaray. The village was founded 400 years ago. Alma battle, the biggest battle of Crimean War, took place here in 1854.

Palacio Tártaro de Bakhchisaray- Crimea -

Este palacio está situado a 50 Km. de Sebastopol en la península de Crimea (Ucrania) y junto con el palacio Topkapi en Estambul y la Alhambra de Grananda son los palacios de arquitectura musulmana que quedan en Europa.El palacio data de 1532 cuando Bakhchisaray se convierte en la capital del Kanato de Crimea.El palacio es un complejo de diferentes edificios creados por maestros italianos, persas, turcos, ucranianos y rusos.Consta de una Mezquita grande, otra pequeña,la Fuente de las Lágrimasel Harem,el Jardin de las Piscinas,las Glorietas de Verano, el Salón de Embajadores....impresionan por su enigmática atmósfera oriental .La música es Tocata y fuga de Bach. Visita en Mayo 2012.


This palace is situated 50 km from Sevastopol in the Crimea (Ukraine) and together with the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul and the Alhambra palaces Grananda are Muslim architecture remaining in Europe.The castle dates from 1532 when it Bakhchisaray becomes the capital of the Khanate of Crimea.El palace is a complex of several buildings created by master Italian, Persian, Turkish, Ukrainian and rusos.Consta of a large mosque, another small, the Source of Lágrimasel Harem, the Garden of pools, Summer Bowers, the Hall of Ambassadors .... impress with their enigmatic oriental atmosphere. Music is Toccata and Fugue in Si Minor Bach.Visita in May 2012-

Karaite Kenassas in Simferopol

Karaites' Kenasas is an amazingly beautiful and unusually harmonic temple complex. For two centuries it was the center of Crimean Karaites' spiritual and religious life. Today it is one of Yevpatoria's most original architectural sights.
Karaites are the most mysterious and scanty Turkic people, representatives of which traditionally profess Karaism - peculiar branch of Judaism. Cavern town Chufut Kale in Bakhchysarai's outskirts used to be their major center in Crimea for a long time. However, after the peninsula was annexed to Russian Empire in the late 18th century, the majority of Crimean Karaites moved to Yevpatoria. At the same time the necessity of the large temple, where the community's representatives could gather for divine services, arose.
Thus, in 1805 a wonderful light building of the Large, or Cathedral, Kenasa - the prayer house meant for festive services - appeared in Yevpatoria's spiritual center. Ten years later the Small Kenasa for regular divine services was built near it, on the place of old (dated by 16th century) Karaites' Temple. Both buildings were carried out in classical style, 'flavored' with Crimean architecture's coloring.
Three elegant inner courtyards lead to the Kenasas' complex. Slabs with Hebrew writings decorate the first one - the Grape Yard. There is also a marble fountain here that served for hand washing before prayer. Slabs with the names of Kenasas' sponsors and marble slabs with information about the most significant events in Karaite community's life decorate the second - the Marble Yard. The oldest slab dates back in 1790. The Marble Yard is notable for marble stele, installed here in memory of Russian Imperator Alexander the Firsts' visit to Kenasas in 1825.
In the year 1921, when Soviet government assumed the power, the Large and the Small Kenasas were closed. Only twenty years later - during the World War II - the Small temple was reopened, and a charity canteen was adjoined to it. The canteen may be seen even today. In the 60s years, the temple complex's premises were occupied by museum of local lore's expositions, sports groups and even by kindergarten. Only in 1999 Kenasas' buildings were returned to Karaites and restored.
Today Karaites' Kenasas are not just a working temple, but a very interesting tourist sight. Excursions are carried out here on free from divine services days. Today an original cafe, offering Karaites' national cuisine, 'Karaman' and the Museum of Karaites' History and Culture function not far from the temple complex.

Viking River Cruise: Magnificent Bachtschisarai/Bakhchisaray Palace

It is approximately a one-hour drive from Sebastopol to Bachtschisari/Bakhchisaray for an included tour of the Khan's Palace of Hansaray. The drive passed through vineyard areas, monastery caves that have been closed for eons, residential dachas; the Soviets referred to their weekend houses as dachas. Not only was there no public transportation in this area but also no water supply. People have to walk to a water tank and then carry water back to houses.

Bakhchysarai/Bakchisaray was founded in 1532 as the main residence of the dynasty that ruled the Crimean Khanate. The complex includes: Pushkin's Famous Fountain of Tears, the Palace gardens, harems, mosques and other buildings. It was a long, included Viking Tour that took three videos that still shows only a small portion of what we saw.

This Middle Eastern architecture is unique and is considered, along with the Alhambra and Topkapi Palaces, to represent the Middle East in Europe.

Bakhchisaray Fountain

Bakhchisaray [Turk.,=garden palace] city, in Crimea, Ukraine.

From the early 15th cent. until 1783 it was the capital of the khanate of Crimea, or Little Tatary.

The palace of the khans, celebrated by Pushkin and Mickiewicz for its beauty, notably for its white marble fountains, was built in the 16th century and is now a museum.

In the city are many mosques and the tombs of the khans.

Nearby are the ruins of Chufut-Kale.

Zyndzhyrly-Madrasa

There is a suburb Staroselye in Bakhchisarai. Once it was a settlement Salachik, but after deportation in 1944 the majority of the Crimean-Tatar names have disappeared from the map of Crimea. Five centuries ago Salachik has been chosen by the second Crimean khan Mengly І Gyrey for the erection of the temple of science - in this way noble descendants call Zyndzhyrly-madrasa hitherto.

According to the legend, khan's astrologer has disclosed to his master the Divine will - to construct in this place the House for studying sciences. Khan obeyed the will of Allah. He has ordered to all city dwellers to gather on laying the madrasa’s building and addressed to them with the following words, With the Divine help we begin here today the erection of the sanctuary of science. It will help us to become more perfect people in this world and will clear for us the road to Paradise in the other world. All of us will give our force on the service to this duty. And confirming his words by his deeds khan was the first to start the work. He dug the ground and carried the stones together with the others laying the foundation for the future madrasa. Mengly Gyrey used every opportunity to come to participate in the madrasa’s building, and when the edifice was ready he ordered to hang up a massive on the madrasa's doors circuit …

At the solemn opening of the madrasa khan said:

The reason makes the person noble, and the way to the perfection of reason lays through science… the one who does not respect science, be he a khan or a padishah, cannot create anything sound, anything created for future, and dishonor will sooner or later befall him. I have ordered to hang up on the madrasa's doors this circuit to make everyone, no matter who he is, bow his head while entering this sacred temple to show his respect for science. And khan was the first one to enter madrasa, bowing himself low…

The name of this educational institution stems from a word “zyndzhyr - a circuit; “Zyndzhyrly means “connected by circuits”.

And over the entrance there is an inscription in Arabic, which is preserved to our times, This school with the help of Allah the Almighty ordered to build khan Mengly Gyrey, the son of the khan Adzhy Gyrey. May Allah extend the term of his reign up to the end of the age, year 906. [1500].

In Zyndzhyrly people always adhered to three precepts: faith helps those who are wise; only knowledgeable will be loved and respected; authority is nothing if it reigns without knowing and believing.

From the first days of existence of madrasa here reigned severe discipline, order and mutual respect between students and teachers.

To the teaching in Zyndzhyrly-madrasa were accepted only those who due to pure conscience and honor, without predilection and own self-interest, eliminating enmity and connections of family relationship and friendship, on mind and conscience quality appeared to be the most capable and the most worthy, in order not to drop in public estimation educational and moral value of this educational institution. Here lectured first Ulama - experts of theology and jurisprudence. The curriculum lasted ten years - twice less than in other madrasas due to the intensive program.

The students (sokhts) who obtained only elementary education (were able to read Quran and to write) were accepted at the low course where they studied the Arabic language. Those who graduated from other Crimean or Caucasian madrasas on the Аlibiya course were accepted to Zyndzhyrly at the high course and became experts of the Arabic language. Except for Arabic the sokhts studied Quran and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Turkish language, calligraphy, arithmetic, rhetoric, logic and jurisprudence, the science about morals and poetry, Muslim philosophy and aesthetics. In 1867 in the course has been added also the Russian language. Besides the sokhts attended craft classes. The classes were carried out daily for 7 hours.

In Zyndzhyrly were trained imams, teachers, civil servants, and graduates of the temple of sciences had the same level of training as graduates of oriental faculties of universities.

【Crimea 2014】Bakhchysarai - What's Happening!?! Russian Troops????

12 March 2014

Путешествие в Крым #5. Cредневековый город-крепость в Крыму Чуфут-Кале

Малые (южные) ворота
Малая кенасса XVII в.
Большая кенасса XIV в.
Место бывшей караимской школы
Место старого базара
Руины мечети 1346 г.
Водосборный колодец
Банная пещера (Хамам Коба)
Мастичная пещера (Сакыз-Коба)
Мавзолей Джанике-Ханым 1437 г.
Большой и малый крепостные рвы
Хозяйственная пещера («темница»)
Место ханского монетного двора
Средняя оборонительная стена
Сквозной колодец (Копка-Кую)
Усадьба А. С. Фирковича XVIII в.
Руины дома караимских обществ 1896 г.
Усадьба Чал-Борю XVIII в.
Место дома С. Бейма XVIII в.
Пещеры
Восточная оборонительная стена XIV—XVI вв.
Водосборочный бассейн
Ворота восточной оборонительной стены
Ворота средней оборонительной стены
Пустырь (м. «бурунчак»)
Руины «дворца»
Крепостной ров перед восточной оборонительной стеной
Древнее гидротехническое сооружение Тик-Кую

Vorontsov Palace (Alupka)

The Vorontsov Palace (Ukrainian: Воронцовський палац; Russian: Воронцовский дворец) or the Alupka Palace is an historic palace situated at the foot of the Crimean Mountains near the town of Alupka in Crimea. The Vorontsov Palace is one of the oldest and largest palaces in Crimea, and is one of the most popular tourist attractions on Crimea's southern coast.

The palace was built between 1828 and 1848 for Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov for use as his personal summer residence at a cost of 9,000,000 silver rubles It was designed in a loose interpretation of the English Renaissance revival style by English architect Edward Blore and his assistant William Hunt. The building is a hybrid of several architectural, but faithful to none. Among those styles are elements of Scottish Baronial, Mughal architecture, and Gothic Revival architecture. Blore had designed many buildings in the United Kingdom, and was later particularly well known there for completing the design of Buckingham Palace in London.

Once completed, the Palace was visited by many members of the Russian Empire's elite ruling class; a great number of these vastly wealthy nobles were so taken with the palace and its seaboard site that they were moved to create their own summer retreats in the Crimea. By the early 20th century not only many aristocrats, but also members of the Imperial Family, including the Tsar himself, has palaces in an assortment of architectural styles in the vicinity.

An important feature of the Vorontsov Palace is the adjoining park ensemble, which features 40 hectares (99 acres) of greenery and forestry arranged by German landscape gardener Carolus Keebach. Today, the Vorontsov Palace is a part of the Alupka Palace-Park Complex, a national historical preserve including the Massandra Palace in neighbouring Massandra.

Owing to its status as an important local tourist attraction and architectural monument, the Vorontov Palace and its surrounding park complex were commonly featured in Ukrainian and Soviet cinema productions such as: An Ordinary Miracle (1964), Nebesnye lastochki (1976), Crazy Day or The Marriage of Figaro (2004), and Sappho (2008).[6][12]

Russian poet Ivan Bunin visited the palace in 1900 and wrote a short poem entitled Long alley leading down to the shore ... (Russian: К прибрежью моря длинная аллея ...)

Crimean Khanate | Wikipedia audio article

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SUMMARY
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The Crimean Khanate (Mongolian: Крымын ханлиг; Crimean Tatar / Ottoman Turkish: Къырым Ханлыгъы, Qırım Hanlığı, قرم خانلغى‎ or Къырым Юрту, Qırım Yurtu, قرم يورتى‎; Russian: Крымское ханство, translit. Krymskoje hanstvo; Ukrainian: Кримське ханство, Krymśke chanstvo; Polish: Chanat Krymski) was a Turkic vassal state of the Ottoman Empire from 1478 to 1774, the longest-lived of the Turkic khanates that succeeded the empire of the Golden Horde of Mongol origin. Established by Hacı I Giray in 1449, the Crimean khans were the patrilineal descendants of Toqa Temür, thirteenth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan through marriage; Temür married one of Genghis Khan's granddaughters. The khanate was located in present-day Russia and Ukraine.
Ottoman forces under Gedik Ahmet Pasha conquered all of the Crimean peninsula and joined it to the khanate in 1475. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Crimean Khanate was an important center of the slave trade. In 1774, it was released as a nationally independent state, following the Russo-Turkish Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, and formally annexed by the Russian Empire in 1783, becoming the Taurida Governorate.