Sights of Kerch: hero cities

Kerch is the most ancient city of Crimea, unlike others. The sights of Kerch include historical monuments, witnesses to the city’s glorious military past, and sandy beaches stretching for many kilometers, with their picturesque and little-explored bays. Kerch is a real open-air museum.

During the Great Patriotic War, Kerch became the scene of fierce battles; the front line passed here four times, twice it was occupied by German-Romanian troops. During the war years the city was almost completely destroyed. For mass heroism and courage in defending the Motherland, Kerch received the title of hero city.

Sights of Kerch

Mount Mithridates
Kerch is a unique tourist center of Crimea, which dates back 26 centuries. It has the largest concentration of archaeological sites on the entire eastern coast of the peninsula. Many historical sights of Kerch are associated with its strategic location near the Kerch Strait, separating the Azov and Black Seas.

Lenin Street

These monuments are evidence of centuries-old rivalry over the strait. These include mounds preserved from the time of the Bosporan kingdom and the ruins of ancient cities. The highest point of Kerch is Mount Mithridates (91.4 m), around which most of the city’s attractions are concentrated. The newest attraction of Kerch is the Crimean Bridge.

Kerch is a resort with a non-resort character

When you first get acquainted with this city, you get the feeling that it is not like most in Crimea. Everything is different here. The streets and roads are much wider than in Yalta and Alushta. Here you can safely drive a car without fear of oncoming traffic in a narrow alley.

On the city embankment, even in summer you won’t see crowds of tourists in swimsuits. Swimming on the Embankment, unlike most seaside towns, is not customary here. The embankment is rather a place for walks and family recreation, where you can stroll in the evening, enjoying the stunning sea air, sit in one of the many cafes and watch children frolic on trampolines and in playgrounds.

The sea is everywhere here. The city stretches along the coastline for a long 50 km, and therefore each area has its own beaches. “Turtle”, “Institute”, “Gorplyazh” are popular vacation spots in the summer. But it’s rare for a Kerchan to go here, perhaps without his own car. Accustomed to spacious, calm, secluded beaches, local residents travel out of town.

wikipedia.com / Andrew Butko / CC BY-SA 3.0

If you want civilization, then go to the village of Geroevskoye. It is gradually turning into a local Malibu. This is a resort town with an abundance of boarding houses, cafes and comfortable beaches.

If you want to see as few people around as possible, then go to Novootradnoye or Zolotoye, where the beaches are so large that even many vacationers disperse here absolutely freely.

And if you want really wild places, then go to Presnovodnoe, General’s beaches or Cape Opuk. People go here for several days with tents and in full confidence that there will be almost no one there except you and the sea.

“Kerch has a unique geographical location,” comments Tatyana Umrikhina, general director of the East Crimean Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve. — The city stands on the shores of the Kerch Strait and two seas - the Black and Azov. It is all the more surprising that this is not a resort town. The tourism industry here is quite young - it is no more than 20 years old. And even these years cannot be called systematic and purposeful development of the hospitality industry. Therefore, the city does not yet have a resort “glamor”. He has a different character."

It is also different because Kerch is an ancient city, the oldest in Russia. It is more than 26 centuries old, which means that it is the same age as Rome, Istanbul and Naples. It began as Panticapaeum, the capital of the ancient Bosporan kingdom, and traces of ancient eras are still preserved here in numerous ancient monuments.

Press service of VKIKMZ /

Another reason for his special character is his heroic past. Along with Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Sevastopol, Kerch is included in the cohort of hero cities. The memory of the war years and the people's feat is revered here sacredly.

All these features make Kerch an amazing holiday destination for its richness of impressions.

“There is no other city in Crimea where so many cultural, historical and natural monuments are concentrated in one square kilometer,” continues Tatyana Umrikhina. “It definitely won’t be boring here.” And it will also be very educational for families with children.”

Crimean Bridge

The Crimean Bridge connects the Crimean Peninsula with the Taman Peninsula (Krasnodar Territory) across the Kerch Strait. Its length is 19 km. The bridge begins on the Taman Peninsula, near the village of Taman, passes along the sandy island of Tuzla, crosses the strait and goes to Kerch.

Construction of the bridge began in February 2021. The Crimean Bridge received its official name at the end of 2021 after online voting. The grand opening of the four-lane road bridge (section of the A-290 highway) took place on May 15, 2018, and its operation began the next day. The second parallel part of the bridge, the railway part, was inaugurated on December 23, 2021 with the participation of President Putin.

Thanks to the Crimean Bridge, the sights of Kerch and the entire Crimea have now become more accessible to residents of Russia.

What excursions are worth visiting?

The most popular among tourists are sightseeing tours around the city. Since Kerch has many attractions, sightseeing tours can take the whole day.

The cost of excursions in 2021 is from 700 to 1000 rubles.

Other popular excursions:

Visit to the Opuksky Nature Reserve. The best time for a tour to Cape Opuk is spring, when you can watch the steppe and tulip fields bloom. In summer, here you can see how Koyash Lake changes color to purple. Cost – from 1000 rubles.
Visit to Adzhimushkay quarries. Cost – from 500 rub.
Excursions to Yalta, including the embankment, Nikitsky Botanical Garden, Swallow's Nest, palaces. Cost – from 1500 rubles.

Great Mithridatic Staircase

The Great Mithridates Staircase is a real visiting card of Kerch, which is depicted on all postcards with views of the city. This impressive staircase, decorated in a classical style, was built between 1833 and 1840. designed by the Italian architect A. Digby. It was designed to connect two key attractions of Kerch - Mount Mithridates and the Church of John the Baptist.

The staircase has 432 steps, the landings between which are decorated with beautiful decorative niches with vases. This difficult climb is worth the effort - from the top of the mountain there are panoramic views of the city and the bay.

On the upper tier of the stairs, the visitor is greeted by stone griffins - mythical creatures with the wings and head of an eagle and the body of a lion.

Beaches

The coast of Kerch is not popular among vacationers in terms of beach holidays, but the proximity of the sea often raises the question of a place for swimming in the warm season. The beaches closest to the center are on Cape Quarantine, not far from ancient Myrmekia. Several buses, minibuses and a trolleybus go here. From the stops “Ulitsa Kazakova” or “Factory Kitchen” on the street. Voikov needs to walk about a kilometer.

The beach of the Moscow-Crimea sanatorium is well equipped : awnings and umbrellas will protect you from the sun, showers and foot taps will give you the opportunity to rinse off. In addition, there are sun loungers, a playground and a trampoline, and the coastline is mixed - with a sandy approach and stairs. The beaches of Smorzhevsky and Molodezhny , located on opposite sides of the previous one, are inferior to it in comfort. The presence of gazebos for relaxation and other amenities of civilization vary from year to year; the shore is very narrow.

Visitors to this coast agree on the good landscape with a view of the Crimean Bridge and are happy to sunbathe, but for some, entering the water was marred by algae.

Port from the height of Mithridates' stairs Photo: © Masha Malinovskaya

Obelisk of Glory

Kerch is one of 12 cities in the Soviet Union that received the title of hero city. In May 1942, the city was captured by German troops, and during fierce fighting the city was heavily destroyed. Then Kerch became the last frontier of the Crimean Front, which had to retreat through the Kerch Strait to the Taman Peninsula. The remnants of military units that were unable to evacuate concentrated in the Adzhimushkai quarries and continued resistance.

At the top of Mount Mithridates there is a 24-meter Obelisk of Glory - a monument to the defenders of the city who died in the battles for the liberation of Crimea during the Great Patriotic War. Near the obelisk there is a marble memorial plaque in the shape of an open book. The obelisk was erected in 1944, and in 1959 the eternal flame was lit here.

Kerch-Feodosia landing operation

On December 30, 1941, during the Kerch-Feodosia landing operation, troops of the 51st Army liberated Kerch. This was the first such large-scale combat operation in the history of the Russian Marine Corps. And so daring and successful that it is studied even in the United States as part of the training of American Marines. Since the entire peninsula, except for Sevastopol, was occupied, the Nazi command pulled most of its forces to Sevastopol, and left one infantry division in Kerch.

The Soviet command decided to land the 51st and 44th armies in the Kerch area and in the Feodosia port, encircle and destroy the enemy’s Kerch group, and then strike behind enemy lines and liberate the entire Crimea. Before the start of the operation, small reconnaissance groups were transferred to the coast. This is how Marine Alexander Grigorievich Lubentsov recalls the beginning of these events:

“It was stormy in the Kerch Strait, it was up to force six, and when we went out to sea, the deck was literally flooded. By the time we walked 22 kilometers along the sea, we were soaked to the skin. At the same time, I would like to emphasize that we were going to liberate our land, so the spirit in everyone was strong, the mood was very militant, heroic.

I will never forget the moment of landing on the shore. The torpedo boat's nose literally buried itself in shallow water, large waves rolled over the side. We started jumping straight into the water. I raised the rifle and ammunition above me and jumped into the water. They went ashore and immediately fell to the ground. But the Germans did not detect us, because our corn planes were flying everywhere and dropping bombs on enemy positions. As a result, we moved forward and cleared the pier.”

Photo: TASS

Panticapaeum

Panticapaeum is the former capital of the Bosporan Kingdom, founded by the Greeks back in the 7th century BC. It occupied an impressive territory: about 100 hectares - almost the entire top of Mount Mithridates. It included the temple of Apollo, a palace, a theater, an agora - a square for public meetings - and other buildings. Panticapaeum flourished - it was located at the intersection of many trade routes leading to China, the Mediterranean, and Central Asia. In the first centuries AD the city was destroyed by the Huns.

Today, numerous tourists have the opportunity to appreciate the former scale and grandeur of the ancient city from the surviving remains of buildings. The main dominant feature of the Prytanean polis is a structure with two columns (III century BC). On the northern slope of Mount Mithridates, archaeologists also discovered an ancient necropolis with more than 3.5 thousand crypts.

Leisure

The city's infrastructure is well developed . There are a large number of sports grounds and centers for active recreation enthusiasts: diving, sailing, surfing.

Horse rides

Horseback riding by appointment is organized by the Exotic ostrich farm in Podmayachny .

Prices – from 100 to 500 rubles. Horse riding training is also provided at a cost of 750 rubles. in an hour.

Windsurfing and kiteboarding

On Arshintsevskaya Spit there is a windsurfing and kiteboarding school “SevenWinds”, where they teach both adults and children from 9 years old .

Location: Arshintsevskaya Spit, recreation center “Strait”. Prices: equipment rental (windsurfing) – from 1000 rubles. per hour, SUP board rental – from 500 rubles, 10 lessons with an instructor (windsurfing) – 15,000 rubles, kiteboarding classes – 2,500 rubles. per hour, 10 lessons – 22,000 rubles.

Paintball

The games are held by the Adrenaline club. Their duration is about two hours, 3-4 scenarios are played out. As a bonus - a free photo session .

Prices – from 700 rub.

Crypt of Demeter

Technological model of the Crypt of Demeter
An antique burial chamber (2nd century BC), dug in natural soil and covered with fresco paintings, was discovered in 1895. In the center of the painted vault is an image of the goddess of fertility and agriculture, Demeter, which is why the crypt was named after her. Throughout the 20th century, the crypt was destroyed mainly by dampness.

In 1998, at the foot of Mount Mithridates, a technological copy of the crypt was created, painted with frescoes like the original crypt.

Museum of Marine Flora and Fauna

You can diversify your holiday with children by visiting the Museum of Marine Flora and Fauna. The beautiful three-story building is interesting for children of any age:

on the ground floor you will meet exotic sea inhabitants. Visitors especially like hammerhead fish. There are swordfish, sailfish, sea fox, stingray;
on the second floor there is a collection of corals of different sizes and colors. Marine crustaceans and snakes are interesting;
on the third floor you can see birds that live on the peninsula.

There is a historical hall with exhibits found during archaeological excavations.

The museum is located on Sverdlova Street, building 2 - in the city center near the Embankment.
You can get there by buses No. 5, 6 or 19 to the Lenin Square stop.
The museum is open every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The cost of a child ticket is 150 rubles, adults pay 250 rubles.

You can book a tour for 500 rubles. On it, the guide will tell you about the marine inhabitants, their way of life, and nutrition.

Adzhimushkay quarries

Memorial complex “To the Heroes of Adzhimushkay” and the museum entrance to the quarries

Address: microdistrict Adzhimushkay, st. Brothers Malchenko, house 34-36. Opening hours: from 9.00 to 17.00. The ticket office closes at 15.45. Closed on Monday. Children under 6 years old are not allowed into the museum. Cost: underground museum (1.5 hour excursion) - 400 rubles, beneficiaries - 300 rubles, under 16 years old - 85 rubles. Exhibition “Weapons 1941-1945” - 120 rubles, under 16 years old - free.

The most famous military-historical monument of Crimea and one of the most visited military museums of the peninsula, opened in 1967, is the Museum of the History of Defense of the Adzhimushkay Quarries . Once upon a time, shell rock was mined here, first in an open, then in a closed way, from which underground caves were formed. Here in May 1942, the remnants of the Crimean Front took refuge, unable to evacuate with the main personnel to the Taman Peninsula.

The Adzhimushkai quarries are a real underground fortress, the garrison of which in 1942 heroically fought for 170 days against the fascist invaders in the completely occupied Crimea.

Museum Adzhimushkay quarries

With an acute shortage of food and supplies and the constant inhumane attempts of the Germans to break resistance, the soldiers steadfastly held the line and even made regular attacks. As in the Brest Fortress, the most important thing was missing here - water, every drop was precious. We had to live without light and in constant cold.

The enemy nevertheless captured the quarries, and the defenders of the underground garrison did not wait for help. Of the more than 13 thousand people, very few remained alive. The survivors were taken into captivity, which not all survived; some of them died in battles after being freed from captivity. About 200 people survived the war; at present, none of them are alive.

Museum visitors will be able to see the former gas shelter, operating room and garrison barracks. The total length of the route is about 400 m. Of the 170 hectares of quarries, only 1 belongs to the museum. A visit to the Adzhimushkay quarries is not an entertainment event; this place is considered one of the most terrible and tragic in the Crimea. To pay tribute to the courage and self-sacrifice of Soviet soldiers, to remember at what terrible cost the victory was achieved - this is what people come here for.

Architecture and best monuments of Kerch

Among what tourists can see in Kerch, it is worth highlighting the colorful buildings and monuments. Getting to know them will bring pleasure to sightseeing hunters.

Kerch Fortress (Fort Totleben)

Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 18:00. Tours are available for those interested at 10:00, 14:30 and 15:30.
Ticket price: adult 200 rubles, children 60 rubles.
Address: Cape Ak-Burun. Transport stop "Woodworking plant".

The Kerch Fortress is a unique historical and architectural monument, the inspection of which will allow you to get a clear idea of the Russian fortification art of the 19th century. Construction of the citadel, which lasted about 20 years, was completed in 1877.

During the Second World War, it became a real stronghold for the city’s defenders and was heavily damaged by bombing and shelling. Fragments of fortress walls, structures and forts, connected by underground corridors, have survived to this day.

Rotunda on the embankment

Address: st. Embankment. Transport stop "Museum".

Kerch acquired this architectural landmark in the 70s of the last century. Then the city was being restored after the war and they decided to decorate the embankment with an elegant structure. The dome of the rotunda is supported by seven slender columns with capitals decorated with ornate monograms. It fits perfectly into the landscape composition, pleasing the eyes of townspeople and numerous tourists who certainly take photos here as a souvenir.

Monument to the 2600th anniversary of Kerch

Address: Lenin Square. Transport stop "Lenin Square".

In 1973, Kerch was awarded the title of Hero City. 27 years later, the authorities decided to immortalize the significant event monumentally. The opening of the monument on the central square was timed to coincide with the celebrations of the 2600th anniversary of the founding of the policy.

A light gray Ionic column rises above a polished granite pedestal. At its top is the companion of the god Apollo - the griffin. The sculpture is covered with gilding. In its claws, the mythological creature holds the symbolic key to the city. For several decades now, the monument has been considered one of the symbols of Kerch.

Cinema "Ukraine"

Address: st. Sovetskaya, 11. Transport stop “Ulitsa Samoilenko”.

One of the main architectural attractions of Kerch rightfully includes the building of the cinema "Ukraine", erected in the 60s of the last century. The exterior of this beautiful example of “Stalinist” architecture attracts attention with its ideal proportionality.

The solemnity of the front facade is given by a divided portico supported by columns with luxurious capitals. According to the tradition that existed in those days, the building is decorated with stucco. Above the central entrance there is a high relief with the coat of arms of the Ukrainian SSR.

Art object “Seafood”

Address: st. Embankment. Transport stop "Voenkomat".

During the celebrations of City Day in 2008, Kerch acquired its most colorful monument. It is an openwork metal structure, symbolizing a fishing net with a catch. In the interweaving of metal strips, figures of sturgeon, katran, gobies, herring, anchovy, seahorses, and crabs are visible. The six-meter art object weighs several tons, but seems surprisingly lightweight. You should definitely take a photo in front of it.

Royal Kurgan

GPS coordinates: 45.373986, 36.526215.

Witnesses to the rich history of the ancient city of Panticapaeum, located on the territory of modern Kerch, are the burial mounds of the ancient rulers of the Bosporan kingdom. The most famous of them is the Royal Mound, it is visible from Mount Mithridates.

The mound was created more than 25 centuries ago and consists of a long corridor, a burial room and an earthen mound. Archaeologists have not found any burials here. There are different answers to the question why. Some believe that the mound was looted, others are of the opinion that for some reason the burials did not take place.

Melek-Chesme mound

Address: Gaidar street.

Witness to the ancient history of Kerch. It was used for burials of the Scythian nobility back in the 4th century. BC. But the mound was discovered only in 1858 during major archaeological excavations. In 1871, the pediment of the main entrance and the hill itself were restored. Named after the river flowing nearby, the name of which, translated from Crimean Tatar, means “source of angels.” The Melek-Chesme Kurgan is located next to the bus station.

Nymphaeum

Address: microdistrict Geroevskoye.

17 km. from Kerch, near the village of Geroevskoye (Geroevka), an ancient settlement was found. It is one of the oldest known settlements on the territory of the Kerch Peninsula. Nymphaeum was founded by the ancient Greeks in the 6th century BC. The location was well chosen.

On the shores of the navigable bay, the lands were fertile and there were sources of fresh water. The walls of the ancient settlement have survived to this day. The historical landmark is available for viewing free of charge at any time of the year.

Memorial bench “Crimean Bridge”

Address: Mount Mithridates.

In 2021, a new tourist attraction was installed on Mount Mithridates - the “Crimean Bridge” bench. From the bench you can actually see a new miracle of modern architectural engineering, and the attraction is an original blue-blue structure consisting of a bench and the inscription “Crimean Bridge”.

Tiritaka settlement

Address: Arshintsevo microdistrict.

A witness to the pre-Hellenic history of the area, one of the proofs of the Cimmerian civilization in the Crimea. The Aborigines lived in dugouts covered with algae and ate fish. In subsequent centuries, as the cities of Panticapaeum and Nymphaeum grew, the Cimmerian civilization flourished.

An interesting excursion object has been preserved in the settlement - the so-called. "fisherman's house", including a two-story dwelling and a courtyard. A treasure of coins was discovered in the basement of the house. The ancient settlement is part of the Kerch Archaeological Museum.

Royal Kurgan

The Royal Mound, built at about the same time as Melek-Chesmensky on the outskirts of the village of Adzhimushkay, is an impressive structure with a perimeter of 250 meters and a height of about 18 m. It is a mound, inside of which there is a burial room and a long 36-meter path leading to it. meter long corridor - dromos.

The walls of the burial room narrow towards the ceiling, forming a dome: the ancients believed that through it the purified soul passes into eternity. No burial was found in the mound: it was either looted or the burial did not take place.

Reviews from tourists about holidays by the sea

Many tourists mistakenly consider Kerch a “passage” city connecting Russian cities with Crimea.
However, Kerch is a great place with plenty to do, see and relax.
Among the advantages of the city, travelers who have visited Kerch note a well-developed infrastructure, relatively low prices for rental housing and food.
In addition, the city is very interesting historically and older children will enjoy visiting its many attractions.
Many travelers come to Kerch for a seaside holiday . The city provides its guests with a unique opportunity to visit the shores of two seas at once - the Azov and Black Seas.

Yeni-Kale Fortress

Address: Kerch, st. Minina

The remains of this landmark of Kerch are evidence that the city at all times occupied an important strategic position. The Yeni-Kale fortress “new fortress” was built by the Crimean Tatars in 1706. During the Russian-Turkish War, the fortress was surrendered to the Russian army without a fight in 1771.

During the Great Patriotic War, the fortress again temporarily became a strategically important object in which the defenders of the city took refuge. After the war, Yeni-Kale was restored and received the status of an architectural monument.

During its heyday, the Yeni-Kale fortress was an impressive three-tiered structure in the shape of an irregular pentagon. Outside, the fortress was surrounded by a rampart and a ditch. On its territory there were gunpowder warehouses, an arsenal, barracks, a mosque and a reservoir with drinking water supplies.

Entrance to the fortress territory is free. The walls, the Azov Gate and the bastions of the fortification have been preserved to this day. The picturesque surroundings of Yeni-Kale are also of interest to tourists and hikers: it offers a beautiful view of the Kerch Strait.

Where to go in Kerch with a child: review of entertainment

If you are planning to go to Kerch, be sure to take your child with you. The hospitable city will offer young travelers a wonderful cultural and entertainment program.

Yeni-Kale Fortress

Address: st. Minina. Transport stop "Yenikale".

No boy would refuse to visit a real Medieval fortress. The citadel at the narrowest point of the Kerch Strait was erected at the beginning of the 18th century. Turks. A fortification structure with thick walls, surrounded by a rampart and a ditch, allowed the Ottoman Empire to control the exit from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.

The fortress did not lose its significance even after Crimea became part of the Russian Empire. During the Second World War, it became an important part of the defense of Kerch and was heavily damaged by bombing and shelling. Today you can see the remains of the fortress wall, the Azov Gate of the citadel and the bastion with colorful bay window towers. The excursion should be combined with a walk through the picturesque natural recreation in the vicinity of the citadel.

Farm "Exotic"

Opening hours: daily, from 9:00 to 23:00.
Ticket price: 200 rubles, children under 6 years old are admitted free.
Telephone.
Website: https://exotic-kerch.ru
Address: Podmayachny village, 1. Transport stop "Pensions".

A trip to a wonderful entertainment center will bring great joy to your child. There is everything here to have a great day. Young children will enjoy frolicking in the playground, teenagers will be interested in the trampoline and paintball, and those who wish can take a horse riding lesson.

However, the main highlight of the entertainment center is the ostriches. The fertile climate of Crimea is ideal for the traditional inhabitants of the African savannas. The world's largest and most curious bird is amazingly exciting to watch. In addition to thirty ostriches, the farm also houses nutria, peacocks, pigs, and rabbits.

Mud volcanoes of the Bulganak Basin

Address: Bondarenkovo village. You can get there by regular buses from the city bus station.

To get to this amazing place, you will have to make an 8-kilometer journey from Kerch in the direction of the village of Bondarenkovo. Here, in a desert basin with an area of about 4 km², you can admire a unique creation of nature - mud volcanoes. Seven of them have names, and from time to time they emit streams of silt that flow down the slopes of the craters.

Over millennia, sedimentary rocks contained in the mud have formed cone-shaped hills, very reminiscent of ordinary volcanoes in shape. The highest of them is considered to be “Obrucheva Hill”, and “Androsov Hill” has the largest diameter of 50 m.

Youth Park

Address: Chernomorskaya street.

In 2021, after the reconstruction of the old Soviet-era square, a new attraction appeared in Kerch - the Youth Park. The park has children's and sports grounds. Tourists are attracted by benches - “for reconciliation” and “for kissing”. LED lights add solemnity to the atmosphere at night.

Komsomolsky Park

Address: General Petrov Street.

The park, founded in the 1950s, is experiencing a rebirth. Reconstruction is taking place here. The singing fountain and a mini-copy of the Crimean Bridge are the highlights of this attraction. In the same park there is the Palace of Children and Youth Creativity, which can also be seen during a tour of Kerch.

Kerch fortress

Another masterpiece of fortification art, located on Cape Ak-Burun. The fortress was built under the leadership of the general and architect E.I. Totleben and has seen many historical events in its lifetime. Construction began back in 1857 after the Crimean War and lasted 20 years, ending only at the beginning of the Russian-Turkish War of 1877. During the Great Patriotic War, the fortress was repeatedly bombed, but its defenders managed to hold back the onslaught of the Nazis until the last.

There are underground passages on the territory of the fortress, with which many stories are associated. They connected the fort with the coastal batteries. Even today, not all underground tunnels have been found.

Lake Chokrak

Chokrakskoye Lake (from the Crimean Tatar “chokrak” - “spring”) is located east of the village of Kurortnoye.
The mud of the lake has medicinal and healing properties: it contains iodine, magnesium, calcium and other substances beneficial to the human body. Doctors recommend using medicinal Chokrak mud to treat a wide range of diseases: from rheumatism to diseases of the digestive system. A little to the west of the lake there is a series of wild bays with sandy beaches that are striking in their beauty. Also in this area you can find many historical monuments and memorials.

How to get there? If you are in Kerch, then in order to get to Lake Chokrak, you need to take a bus going to the village of Kurortnoye, and then walk a little in an easterly direction.

Melek-Chesme mound

The Melek-Chesme mound is located in the central part of the city and is named after the river flowing nearby. This monument of ancient funerary culture dates back to the 4th century BC. e. The height of the mound is about 8 meters. The mausoleum is made in the form of a pyramid, reminiscent of an Egyptian one. The first excavations began in 1858. To the chagrin of the scientists, the mound turned out to be plundered - no valuables were found in it.

The walls of the mound were made of carefully cut stones without the use of mortar - this technique came from Greece and Asia Minor.

Rocks-Ships

Rocks unique in their shape are located at Cape Opuk, 4 kilometers from the coastline.
They got their name because of their resemblance to ships sailing. There are many ancient legends and myths that explain the appearance of these wonderful creatures of nature.

The Opuk Rock-Ships played an important role during the Kerch-Feodosia operation. During the Second World War, the highest of the rocks, Elchen Kaya, served as a temporary lighthouse.

How to get there? You can enjoy the beauty of the Crimean miracle of nature at Cape Opuk. You should take a bus or minibus to Yakovenkovo or Maryevka, and then walk a little.

Temple of John the Baptist

Address: per. Dimitrova, 2.

According to legend, the Church of John the Baptist was built on the spot where the Apostle Andrew preached. This is the oldest operating Orthodox church in Eastern Europe, built in the 8th century. One of the magnificent examples of Byzantine architecture, with a series of white and red stones characteristic of this style and a single dome.

During the era of the Crimean Khanate, the Church of John the Baptist was converted into a mosque. It became Orthodox again only in 1774, when Crimea became part of the Russian Empire. During the war years, this religious building was badly damaged by fire. In the 80s of the last century, the temple was restored, and in the 90s it was reopened to parishioners.

Disney Park

The shopping center has a Disney park that is interesting for children. Lots of rides, carousels, trampolines, inflatable mazes and slides. Any child will find entertainment to their liking.

For quiet games there are houses and toys. School-age children will enjoy slot machines and mini-bowling. The animators put on interesting performances.

The entertainment center is located at: Kooperativny Lane, building 26.
It is better to get from the bus station by bus No. 19 to the Dubinina Street stop.
You can visit Disney Park daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
If you travel by car, a map will help you find your way.

You can order a birthday celebration - there is a cozy children's cafe.

Lapidarium

Address: st. Rosa Luxemburg, 24. Opening hours: Tuesday from 10.30 to 19.00 (ticket office until 18.15), Wednesday - Sunday: from 9.00 to 17.00 (ticket office until 16.15). Cost: 120 rubles, beneficiaries - 100 rubles, under 16 years old - free.

The Lapidarium is a museum of stone antiquities. Its name comes from the Latin word lapidarius - “carved on stone”.

The lapidarium in Kerch is the second collection of stone antiquities in the world after the Athenian one: bas-reliefs, statues, architectural fragments, tombstones, more than 3,000 objects in total. Particularly noteworthy are the statues of ancient gods and mythical heroes, in particular Artemis and Hercules. Many bas-reliefs contain inscriptions in ancient Greek, Hebrew, Turkic, and Latin.

Temples and churches worth visiting in Kerch

People of more than 17 nationalities live in Kerch, professing almost all world religions. Representatives of the main faiths have the opportunity to perform religious rites in their own churches.

Cathedral of John the Baptist

Opening hours: daily, from 7:00 to 19:00.
Telephone.
Address: Dimitrov Lane, 3. Transport stop “Lenin Square”.

A delightful church built in the 7th century. and reconstructed 300 years later, it is considered the oldest Orthodox church in Crimea. The elegant building is one of the few religious buildings in the colorful Byzantine style that has survived to this day.

The exterior of the cathedral immediately attracts the eye. The façade of the building is decorated with arches and arcade belts. A small dome on a high drum and the roof of the main volume is covered with tiles. The composition is complemented by an elegant two-tier bell tower, attached to the temple in the 19th century.

Temple of Athanasius the Great

Opening hours: daily, from 7:00 to 19:00.
Address: st. Rybakova, 69. Transport stop “Ulitsa Samoilenko”.

Perhaps the most colorful temple in Kerch was erected and consecrated in the name of St. Athanasius of Alexandria in 1864. The exterior of the church is eclectic. The white stone building with a hipped dome and roof painted green looks festive and seems weightless.

The facade of the church is decorated with elegant carvings in the Byzantine style. During the Second World War, the building was seriously damaged, but was restored. After the reconstruction in 2009, when the dome was replaced, the temple looks great. Among the main shrines of the church is the mosaic icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands.

Assumption Catholic Church

Opening hours: daily, from 9:00 to 19:00.
Telephone.
Address: st. Teatralnaya, 32. Transport stop "Lenin Square".

The only Catholic church in Kerch was built in the mid-19th century. with funds raised by the very large Italian community. It is quite difficult to guess his affiliation with this denomination at first glance. The white stone building with a portico supported by four columns looks more like an ancient sanctuary.

Only the Latin crosses on the facade indicate that Catholic masses are celebrated here. During the Soviet era, a gym functioned within the walls of the temple. In order to restore the interior and exterior of the church, a six-year reconstruction was required.

Art Gallery named after But

Address: Teatralnaya street, 36/3. Opening hours: Tuesday from 10.30 to 19.00 (ticket office until 18.15), Wednesday - Sunday: from 9.00 to 17.00 (ticket office until 16.15). Cost: 120 rubles, beneficiaries - 100 rubles, under 16 years old - free.

The art gallery in Kerch was opened in 1985 in a two-story mansion of the early 19th century, at the base of the Mithridates Staircase. The basis of the gallery was the collection of military artist Nikolai Yakovlevich But (1928-1989). In 1960, he first came to Kerch and went down to the Adzhimushkai quarries. The feat of the underground garrison so impressed the artist that he painted 29 paintings dedicated to him.

In the cycle of these works, called “Adzhimushkay. 1942" includes studies and sketches for paintings - a total of 150 works. This is the Oath. Adzhimushkay, 1942”, “The Last Grenade”, “The Last Frontier”, “Sorrowful Minute”, “In the Name of Life”, two versions of the painting “The Oath” and others. For a series of these works in 1968, Booth received the title “Honored Artist of the RSFSR.”

The collection was successfully exhibited at traveling exhibitions in different cities of the USSR. In Kerch, the temporary exhibition became permanent, located in the Kerch Historical and Archaeological Museum. In 1985, it moved to a separate building.

Also in the art gallery there is a diorama “Temple of John the Baptist”, as well as a unique mosaic of St. Peter’s Cathedral “Christ Pantocrator”, donated by Pope John Paul II in 1986 to M.S. Gorbachev. Temporary art exhibitions are held.

Entertainment - what to do in the city?

An excellent place for a family pastime in Kerch is Exotic ostrich farm . Not only ostriches live here, but also peacocks, deer, horses and other animals and birds. On the farm you can ride horses, play paintball, there is also a trampoline arena, a children's play complex, a playground, and a restaurant with exotic cuisine.

The cost of visiting is from 100 rubles. Location: Podmayachny village.

Kerch Historical and Archaeological Museum

Website: kerchmuseum.ru Address: st. Sverdlova, 22. Opening hours: Tuesday from 10.30 to 19.00 (ticket office until 18.15), Wednesday - Sunday: from 9.00 to 17.00 (ticket office until 16.15). Cost: 120 rubles, beneficiaries - 100 rubles, under 16 years old - free. Museum courtyard - 50 rubles, Golden Pantry - 300 rubles, children - 150 rubles, Pottery workshop - 50 rubles, master classes are paid additionally.

The Historical and Archaeological Museum in Kerch is located opposite the embankment in the building of an ancient mansion from the late 19th century. The museum has more than 200,000 exhibits, including coins, ceramics, and fragments of statues found during excavations on the Kerch and Taman Peninsulas.

Most of the valuable exhibits did not survive the Great Patriotic War. After the war, they began to assemble a new exhibition, which today is regularly replenished with artifacts found during archaeological expeditions on the territory of the peninsula.

Many will be interested in seeing the Golden Pantry with its collection of ancient coins and jewelry, as well as visiting the Pottery Workshop, where you can take part in master classes on working on a pottery wheel and painting finished products.

What to see with children?

Undoubtedly, the main pride of Kerch is the sea.

On the central city beach you can relax and have fun with the whole family. There is a convenient sandy beach, cafes and fun water attractions.

Trampoline center

At the “Extreme” trampoline center, children (and adults too) have the opportunity to jump with all their hearts. The instructors will teach some acrobatic elements if desired. A boost of energy is guaranteed!

Address: Kirova street, 41 B.

Ostrich farm

At the Exotica ostrich farm near Kerch, kids will be delighted by ostriches, deer, peacocks, dwarf pigs, llamas, rabbits and other animals. Horseback riding is possible on site. Visitors will not go hungry, as “Exotic” has a family cafe.

Address: Podmayachny village;
Opening hours: daily 9:00 – 23:00;
Ticket price: 200 rub.

Puppet show

A visit to the children's puppet theater will be a pleasant pastime. Bright scenery and interesting performances will appeal to both adults and children.

Address: Lenina street, 46.

Disney park

This is where the restless ones will definitely have a blast, it’s in the Disney park, located in the Furshet shopping center. There is a lot of entertainment here: carousels, swings, inflatable rides, slot machines. Funny animators will not let anyone get bored.

Address: Kirova street, 2;
Opening hours: daily, 10:00 – 21:00.

Many travelers choose to travel by car around the peninsula. For these purposes, we recommend renting a car in Crimea inexpensively . Here you can rent cars from economy class and with good service.

Order a car

Square of Glory

In the Square of Glory we examine the granite slabs installed there with the names of all the Heroes of the Soviet Union who became such in the battles for Kerch. We approach the Eternal Flame.

Square of Glory

is one of the elements of the unique Memory complex organized here, which includes
the Peace Square
, located on the left, and
the Afghans' Square
, located slightly in front. Here you can see the Stele of Hero Cities, the Monument to Children Victims of War, and the Monument to Afghan Soldiers.

Valley of Mud Volcanoes

Another attraction of the Kerch Peninsula is the Valley of Mud Volcanoes, which has about 50 springs.
It is located near the villages of Bondarenkovo and Vulkanovka. The valley's volcanoes spew mud at varying frequencies. For example, Jau-Tepe erupts with great frequency, and the Bulganak hills almost constantly. So, no one will remain indifferent.

How to get there? Minibuses regularly depart from the Kerch bus station to the villages of Vulkanovka and Bonadrenkovo, which will take you to the amazing valley of mud volcanoes.

Reserve "Astana Plavni"

The ornithological reserve is located in the north of the Kerch Peninsula.
The second name of the state reserve is “Oysulskie plavni”. The reserve, which is under state protection, occupies an area of 50 hectares. On the banks of the estuary in the reserve you can see a huge number of amazing birds. The rarest representatives of the Crimean fauna living in the “Astana floodplains” include gray cranes, demoiselle cranes, mute swans and red-headed ruddy ducks.

How to get there? In order to enjoy the wonderful nature and amazing representatives of the Crimean fauna, you should get to the village of Ostanino by bus coming from Kerch.