About Kerch
The Eastern Crimea is Terra incognita of the Crimean peninsula. Only a few latest years this region has become a place of interest for wide tourist society. Steppe dry climate, softened by nearest two seas, broad sandy beaches that are not crowded by resting people yet, the richest historical heritage and unique natural features. These are the advantages of the above region.
Due to the chronicles Kerch is 26 centuries old and has a great historical heritage. A lot of the mankind's and nature's roads have run through Kerch. The Great Silk Road, the Crimean War and World War II left their scars on this land; the migration ways of birds and fishes cross the Kerch Peninsula and the Kerch Strait.
Past different names of Kerch - Panticapaeum, Bospor, Charsha, Krh, Korchev, Cherkio and others - show that this place has always been a subject of passionate interest of different nations. Cimmerians, Scythians, Greeks, Sarmats, Goths, Guns, Khazars, Pechenegs, Polovtsy, Italians, Mongol-Tatars, Turks, Slavs are in the Kerch people's blood. The special pride, of course, is the connection with the Ancient Greece. The elements of its culture and harmony in the Ancient Greek personal development wonder even now and stimulate the great interest to those times. But the main thing is that you can see and touch the monuments and artifacts of those epochs. They are still safe and preserved.
Kerch great history formed on the base of the unique natural criteria. Perched at the confluence of the Black and Azov Seas in the convenient harbor Kerch has the shortest sea way to its neighbors – Russia, Georgia, Turkey. You can reach the city by any transport mean – a bus, a train, a car, a plane, a boat or a ship. The most sunny days a year, the warmest sea, the widest sandy beaches, diverse sea-food are the main natural treasures of the area.
A brief list of Kerch historical sites
The Mithridate Mountain top with the ruins of Panticapaeum – once the capital of the Bosporan Kingdom ( IV century BC – V century AD). The place of Mithridate VI Eupator’s death. The ancient city of Panticapaeum is listed in World Monuments Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites.
Tsars’ Burial Mound – the unique architectural monument of the IV century BC. There is the only one similar mound in the world in Greece.
The Ottoman fortress of Eni Kale erected in 1703 with the assistance of French military engineers. Famous Russian Tsar Peter the Great had led his first sea squadron passing by the fortress shore.
The Technological Model of Demetra’s Crypt. This is a modern copy of the crypt dated the 1st century AD, where the funeral camera and the wall paintings have been reproduced as they have originally been made by the ancient artists.
The Church of St.John the Baptist – the oldest Christian church in Ukraine(century AD). The most impressive part of the church is an old one, which looks now as it was constructed by the Byzantine architects.
Kerh Museum of Antiquities founded in the early XIX century has the great collection of the unique artifacts of Scythian and Greek period of the city's history, and also the Golden Treasury where you can see the original golden things made by Scythian and Greek craftsmen more than 2000 years ago.
Fortress “Kerch” , the unique monument of the fortification art was constructed in 1877 as a result of Crimean War by the famous Russian military architect Totleben. It is situated in the narrowest place of the Kerch Strait and can never be discovered from sea or air. It used to be the only fort post of Russian Empire on the Black sea.
The underground museum “Adjimushkai” is the memorial devoted to the heroism and courage of the Soviet soldiers and Kerch inhabitants. There are no a lot of cities on the territory of the former Soviet Union, where the Victory day has been celebrated so dramatically. Kerch was awarded by a special honor of Hero-City for the incredible heroism and bravery of Kerch people, who fought against Hitler’s aggressors on the land, on the sea and even underground. You can participate in the march with the torches on the 8th of May, theatrical performance showing the scenes of Kerch liberation, you can taste the soldiers' food and see the marvelous fireworks.
Kerch is well-known as a historical place but there are many natural features around the city as well that can impress any tourist.
There are only 70 places in the world where you can see the mud volcanoes activities. One of the mud volcano valleys is situated in the settlement of Bulganak 20km away from Kerch. Besides the marvelous sight the Bulganak mud contains a lot of useful minerals.
Natural Preserve “Opuk” (area of 1592.3 ga) is the next place of interest in the Eastern part of Crimea. It was founded in 1998. This is the only place in the world where the pink starlings make their nests. More endemic plants and animals such as bats living in the picturesque caves, Mediterranean seals and tulips named by Shrenk can be also seen in Opuk. You can visit the ruins of the ancient citadel, clime the Opuk mountain and see the salt lake.
20 km away from Kerch there is one more unusual natural site – Chokrak mud lake. At the beginning of the XX century AD there was a balneological hospital there. Historians says that there was a big hill of crutches left by patients who had been cured by Chokrak mud. Its recovery qualities surpass the Dead sea mud because of the present volcano activity at the bottom of the lake.
As it has been noticed above, you can reach Kerch by any means of transport. regular buss and railway routs connect the city with the most of big cities of Ukraine and Russia. Besides that, you can take a ferry to Caucasus ( it takes 20 minutes to reach the other shore). There is an airport in Kerch located 6 km from the city center. Unfortunately, it doesn't work regularly but is equipped with all necessary radio and technical facilities. There is a meteorological, medical and flight control service (works in Russian and in English), customs and boarder control service, refueling. 1650m landing ground can receive 25 t aircrafts.
Kerch Trade Sea Port has a passengers' pier in the center of the city. Since 2005 every year the cruise ships come to Kerch. Port is open for 24 hours. In 2008 it will become an official passenger point. However, even now having the special permission you can arrange the passport and customs control for foreigners. The pier is available for the ships of 230 м length and 8,3 м draught.
- During the last few years the hotel construction has developed in Kerch. We recommend to visit the following accommodation: - Hotel “Classic”
A small private hotel is situated close to the beach. 17 comfortable single, twin and double-suite rooms for 28 guests are equipped with air-conditions, telephones, TVs, refrigerators etc. At the hotel restaurant you will be offered to taste diverse sea-food dishes, traditional Ukrainian, Russian or Tatar cuisine. Numerous bus routes provide easy access to the down town. There is a small car or mini-bus parking at the hotel yard.
- Hotel “Meridian”
- A big eight-storey reconstructed hotel can receive about 400 guests. Most rooms are standard twins. 5-minute walk takes you to the sea beach at the end of the city embankment. There are many services on the ground floor of the hotel: a restaurant, a bank department, a ticket booking desk etc. Buses and trolleys stops are right next to the hotel. It is the newest and the cheapest hotel in the city.
- A private owned villa “Yurkino-Faso”
A two-storey 6-bedroom house for 12 people is situated 15 km from Kerch in picturesque fishermen village Yurkino.. There is a swimming pool, a barbecue zone, a car parking, a small park and a cafe with home-made cuisine. B&B. You can order lunches and dinners for the additional cost. The villa is located 100 m from the sea-coast with a sandy beach and a yacht pierce. It is suitable for honey-moon tours and family vacation.
There are a lot of restaurants and cafes in the any region of the city. The best service is in the restaurant “Kerch”. Glamorous interior, European cuisine, international level of services ( English-speaking waiters), banquette hall, cabinet, gallery at the open air, 150 dining places, convenient situation – downtown are the advantages of the restaurant. The disadvantage is a pretty high level of the prices.
If you want to have a rest in a quiet place, we recommend to visit a restaurant at the ostrich farm “Exotic”. You will be impressed by the high level of services, exotic cuisine – dishes made of ostrich meat and eggs, nice interior, air conditioning.. Besides that , the qualified guides will take you for a farm tour where you can watch different exotic birds and animal, ride a horse etc.
Kerch is one of the ten eternal cities in the world. More then 26 centuries people have lived here. We invite you to have the most incredible journey you ever had!
