Holy Uspensky cave monastery.
Our walking tour started on the outskirts of Bakhchisaray. We climbed slowly up the mountain from the tour bus stop for 10 minutes. In front of us is a breathtaking view-a cave monastery, one of the oldest in the Crimea. At the highest points of the gorge are located cave cells, cut by the Byzantine hermit monks .Under the cells, the Holy Dormition cave monastery grows out of the rocks. it was founded by Byzantine monks presumably in the 8th century.
On the main square of the monastery there is a house with a belfry, a chapel over the Holy Integral spring that gushes from the wall on the edge of the cliff. A wide staircase, which is cut right in the response rock leads us to the ancient assumption Church, which is located in the massif of the rock. Here you can relax in the shade of trees, admire the flower garden of roses, taste delicious rolls and bread baked by monks, homemade kvass and wine.
After a rest, we went higher up the gorge to see the medieval fortress city of Chufut-Kaleh. . This city appeared in the 5th-6th century as a settlement. The inhabitants of the reserve city were descendants of Scythians, Taurians, and Greeks. They built houses, grew grain, dismantled vineyards, and conducted trade. But their peaceful life was disrupted by alien invaders .Many settlements of the city were destroyed by fires, the ruins are covered with earth. Only the caves cut out of the rocks remained intact.
You can watch my photo album-this is really unique place.
This monastery is indeed beautiful. Thank you for sharing your nice experience with us.