 The first
big settlement on the territory of the today`s Bakhchisarai spang up in
the early medieval times, this being the city of Eski-Yurt, but
Bakhchisarai is considered to be founded in 1502, when Mengli 1 Girey
started building a new capital of the Crimean Khanate in the Churuk-Su
valley. The
city was named Bakhchisari under Sakhib 1 Girey, when the khan`s
residence was moved from Salachik to the area of the today`s Khan`s
Palace location. As time went by, the Crimea was more and more
influenced by its powerfull southern neighbour - Turkey. A union between
the Crimean Khanate and Tutkey stemmed from the 1475-year events, when
Mengli 1 Girey trying to offer resistance to Turks was taken prisoner by
the military expedition of Sultan Mekhmed 2 Fatikh. The Khan had been
kept in captivity in Istanbul for three years and than he would
recognize supremacy of Turkey over the Crimea.
 In the 18th century, Bakhchisarai was the
biggest city in the Crimea. Thousands of traders flocked into
Bakhchisarai`s marcet-places and caravanserais, five hundred workshops
made all kinds of handicrafts (including skillfully adorned arms readily
bought by Europe and Russia), over one hundred of fountains babbling
with the water of springs, over two dozens of mosques and a number of
churches (Greek, Armenian, Latin) gathered crowds of people on religious
holidays. The city population was about 7,000 people.
We can suggest a lunch at the Crimean Tatar cafehttp://alie.com.ua/foto after
excursion: local cuisine, oriental flavor,
natural products, Crimean Tatar music.
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