Evpatoria, "Little Jerusalem": how to get there, photos and reviews

The most beautiful Russian city of Evpatoria is one of the oldest in the world. It is mentioned in the annals dated to the fourth century BC. And in our days the old part of the city was called "Lesser Jerusalem". Here there are temples of six religions: an Orthodox cathedral, a mosque, two synagogues, three kenases, an Armenian church.

History of the city name

On the site where today is Evpatoria ("Small Jerusalem"), in ancient times was located the Greek settlement, which was called Kerkinitida. After its destruction for many centuries, there were no settlements on this territory.

Only in the times of the Crimean Khanate was revived the city, which the Tatars gave the name of Kezlev (Gezlev), and the Russians began to call him Kozlov. When Crimea joined the Russian Empire (1784), the city was renamed because of the cacophony of the name. So there was Evpatoria (in translation from Greek - "noble", "born of a noble father").

"Small Jerusalem"

Over the years, for many citizens of the former Soviet Union has been and remains the favorite vacation spot of Evpatoria. "Lesser Jerusalem" is a restored and restored part, to be exact, the Old Town (Kezlev), located on its territory.

In addition, the same is called the pedestrian tourist route, which unites twelve magnificent monuments of history and architecture. Some of the buildings of the Old City, which has a plan for the eastern cities, in which small twisting streets are intertwined, have a very advanced age (more than five centuries).

From the history of Kezlev

In this ancient city lived Cimmerians, Greeks, Tauris. Kerkinitis was called by the Greeks, and the Turks were renamed into Kezlev. In the 16th century it became a large fortified city (commercial). Vessels from Asia Minor came to the harbor, Russian merchants called in. From 1784 Kezlev became a district town within Russia.

Kezlev Gate

In the medieval city you could only get through the fortress gates. There were five of them, but to this day only one has survived, which today is called Kezlev. They were also destroyed in 1959, but in 2004, thanks to the efforts and means of patrons, they were restored in their original form.

On the third floor of the Kezlev Gate today is the Museum of Tatar Life. The exposition acquaints him with the period of the history of the city, which belongs to the Middle Ages, when it was the main port of the Crimean Khanate. The basis of the museum's exposition was a mock-up of the ancient Kezlev, 5x9 meters in size, which, to the accuracy of every house, recreates the city of the 16th-17th centuries.

The tour of the museum is accompanied by light design and music, which symbolizes the morning awakening of the city.

Juma-Jami

Today's Evpatoria is beautiful and attractive for tourists. "Small Jerusalem" by kind tradition is included in the excursion program for almost all guests of the city. The mosque, built in Geslev in 1552, is the largest and the most majestic on the peninsula.

Her project was developed by the Turkish architect Hoxha Sinanu, who at one time created the magnificent mosques Suleymaniye and Shehzadeh in Istanbul. The only, preserved to our days in Europe, a multi-domed mosque is a monument of world significance.

Cloister of the Dervishes

It is impossible not to say that Evpatoria ("Small Jerusalem"), a photo of which you can see in this article, amazes with its magnificent facilities. This fully applies to the ancient monastery of Muslim wandering dervish monks.

They did not recognize luxury and wealth and were ascetics. This unique architectural monument became one of the first religious buildings in the Crimea. The Muslim monastery is a Sufi current in Islam. It arose around 800 AD. E. After the desire for wealth increased in high society.

Dervishes are Muslim monks. They were wandering, or living in the abodes under the direction of the sheikh. Dervishes living in the monasteries often wandered, ate alms, but regularly returned to perform joint prayers and fasts.

Prayers were held in the prayer hall of the monastery in the evenings, accompanied by the sounds of a pipe and drums. The dervishes circled and performed surahs from the Koran. Gradually they began to move faster and soon fell into a trance, completely abandoning the world.

Keraim kenases

Today for many tourists from our country Evpatoria ("Small Jerusalem") is not just a resort city, it is an opportunity to get acquainted with the history of the disappearing nationalities of the Crimea.

The word "kenasa" can be literally translated as "meeting". This is the name of the construction for the services of the Karaites. The basis of their religion is the "Old Testament" in its original purity. Karaites are the smallest nationality. Today there are less than two thousand people. And, unfortunately, the process of the disappearance of this people is irreversible.

One of the main national traits of the character of the Karaites is the desire for charity. And in ancient times the Karaite rich even competed to deserve the right to help the poor. The walls of the kenas are covered with magnificent molding in the form of vines, they are carved out words from the "Old Testament".

Turkish baths

The multinational city of Evpatoria, "Small Jerusalem" is proof of this. Until now, one of the Turkish baths (hammam) is perfectly preserved here, which is an invaluable sight of the city. It is interesting primarily because it has been preserved and operated since the Middle Ages.

Evpatoria, "Little Jerusalem": how to get there?

We are sure that after reading about this amazing place, many of our readers will get together on a trip. Therefore, we will tell you how to get there. From the museum complex "Kezlev Gate" begins a tour of Evpatoria-Lesser Jerusalem (address: 13a, Karaev St.).

From the central bus station of the city you need to go on the street. International in the direction of st. Karaev, then turn right, and after two hundred meters you will stop at Kezlev Gate. The journey will take no more than five minutes.

By car from Simferopol

It is necessary to go to Evpatoria Highway H05 and move along it to the north-west. Keep a little to the left and continue along the P25 to Evpatoria (53 km). Entering the city, follow P25 and turn left at the first ring. After the railway tracks, on the ring, take the third exit at the intersection on ul. Matveyev. Fifty meters in front of you will be a museum complex. Now it remains to wait for the formation of the excursion group and go to inspect the unique complex.

Evpatoria, "Little Jerusalem": reviews

Many tourists say that for many years they spent their holidays in Evpatoria, but did not know that there is such an amazing historical monument. They emphasize that they have received great pleasure from the excursion, learned a lot about the history of the Crimea and the peoples who inhabited it.