Bakhchisaray
Bakhchisaray, a town in Crimea,Ukraine.
Original Crimean Tatar Bağçasaray, meaning the Garden Palace; Turkish Bahçesaray, Ukrainian, Russian: Бахчисарай.
Located in a narrow valley of the Çürük Su river which is known as an old local center of civilization (the first artefacts of human presence in the valley date up to mesolith). The settlements existed in the valley before Bakhchisaray was founded (Qırq Yer / Çufut Qale fortress, Salacıq and Eski Yurt) are nowadays incorporated into the urban area of the modern Bakhchisaray.
Bakhchisaray was established as the new khan residence by the Crimean khan Sahib I Giray in 1532. Since then, it was the capital of the Crimean Khanate and the center of political and cultural life of the Crimean Tatar people. After Annexation of the Crimean Khanate by the Russian Empire in 1783, it was turned in an ordinary town, having lost administrative significance. However, it remained the cultural center of the Crimean Tatars until Surgun, 18 May 1944.
The Palace of the Crimean khans ("Hansaray") still preserved in the town as a museum, showing the only example of Crimean Tatar palace architecture in the world.
Categories: Cities in Ukraine | Crimean Khanate | Crimea