The largest city of the Crimean peninsula in terms of population - the city of Sevastopol - 398973 inhabitants (as of 01.01.2015), the capital of Crimea - Simferopol in second place - 332608 inhabitants.

Sevastopol is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and it is universally recognized. Constructed from a white Inkerman stone, climbing up the hills, reflecting in the waters of the coves, surrounded by a lush green outfit, Sevastopol is amazing.



Hero-city Sevastopol is located on the south-western tip of the Crimea, on the shores of Sevastopol Bay - one of the best natural harbors in the world.

The climate is warm, usually dry summer is replaced by dry, sunny and long autumn - the best season in Sevastopol. Winter is mild, with occasional frosts. The average temperature in February is + 2.6 ° C, July + 22, 4 ° C. The swimming season opens in June and lasts until September.

By its climatic properties, the city could become a good resort. But the beautiful Ahtiar Bay, containing a fleet of a hundred ships, predetermined his fate: to become an outpost on the southern sea borders of Russia.



In the fall of 1773 during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774. The Russian sailors visited the Ahtiyar Bay for the first time. The navigator Ivan Baturin compiled the first map of the bays and their immediate vicinity. He also took a small - only 9 courtyards - Tatar village Ahtiyar (White cliff), so the bay and called some time Ahtiarsky. Its strategic value was appreciated by AV Suvorov: "... there is not such a harbor not only in the local peninsula, but also in the entire Black Sea, wherever the fleet is better preserved and servicemen placed on it more conveniently and calmer". By his order, temporary fortifications and barracks were built, where the crews of the frigates "Brave" and "Careful" spent the winter defending the entrance to the bay, and in 1783 ships of the Azov flotilla entered here. So the base of the Black Sea Fleet began to be created.

The year of foundation of Sevastopol is 1783: at that time the first stone buildings were laid: the house for the admiral, the pier, the forge and the chapel. The new city was called Sevastopol, which in Greek means "majestic, worthy of worship." The name was symbolic, repeatedly making military and labor exploits, Sevastopol proved that its name is worthy.



The city grew quickly thanks to the relentless care of the commanders of the Black Sea Fleet Admiral FF. Ushakov and M.P. Lazarev. Powerful coastal fortifications (Mikhailovskaya and Konstantinovskaya batteries on the North side have survived to this day), barracks for crews, a hospital, docks, Primorsky Boulevard and Grafskaya wharf turned Sevastopol into a sea fortress and a beautiful city.

The growing military power of Russia could not leave England and France indifferent, they pushed Turkey to declare war on Russia. But the Russian squadron under the command of Nakhimov in 1853 defeated the Turkish ships in Sinop Bay. And in the autumn of 1854, the combined forces of England, France, Turkey and Sardinia landed south of Evpatoria and moved to Sevastopol. The allies were going to easily seize Sevastopol, because the city, well fortified from the sea, was weakly protected from the land. But the sailors, soldiers and ordinary citizens under the leadership of talented naval commanders Kornilov, Nakhimov and Engineer Totleben under the fire of the enemy in a short time built powerful defensive fortifications. Unable to immediately capture the city, the enemy was forced to proceed to a siege lasting 349 days.



The first defense of Sevastopol was for the whole world an example of the fortitude, courage and heroism of Russian soldiers and sailors.

The Crimean war ended in the defeat of Russia. According to the peace treaty signed in Paris, Russia was deprived of the right to have a navy in the Black Sea. Sevastopol lay in ruins, after artillery shelling, only 14 buildings were preserved. The city was being restored for a long time.

After the abolition of the terms of the Paris Treaty in 1871, the importance of Sevastopol as the main naval base of the Black Sea Fleet was restored. Russia needs a powerful, efficient fleet, so in Sevastopol begin to build destroyers and armored ships. The rapid revival of the city begins, and by the end of the 19th century it has become the largest industrial and commercial center of the Crimea.

In the first years of the XX century, Sevastopol began to develop as a resort. In the city there were new hotels, boarding houses, built a mud baths.

The revolutionary ideas that worried the entire country at that time did not bypass the Black Sea Fleet. In June 1905, a red flag flew over the Potemkin battleship, in November the sailors of the Ochakov cruiser, led by Lieutenant P.P. Schmidt.



In 1920, in Sevastopol, the first of the Crimean cities, Soviet power was consolidated.

During the Great Patriotic War, Sevastopol once again began to attract the attention of the whole world. The country was still sleeping in a peaceful sleep, not knowing what trouble was at its doorstep, and Sevastopol had already bombed enemy planes, trying to destroy the Black Sea fleet, minami blocking its exit from the bay. In the autumn of 1941, the fascist troops entered the Crimea, and on October 29 the Second Heroic Defense of Sevastopol began.

250 days and nights restrained the city's defenders fierce attacks of the enemy. During this time the Hitlerites lost up to 300,000 soldiers and officers killed, wounded and wounded, 400 tanks, 900 aircraft, and many guns. Every inch of the Sevastopol land is watered by the blood of its heroes. Their names live in people's memory, in the names of streets, squares and squares.

In May 1944, Soviet troops, despite powerful fortifications and brutal resistance, crushed the enemy's defense in three days. For unbending steadfastness, courage and perseverance in the fight against the enemy Sevastopol in 1965 was awarded the title Hero City.




After the war the city lay in ruins. Sevastopol have made another feat-labor. Already by 1957 the rebuilt and renewed city was pleased with the beauty of its buildings, lined with beautiful Inkerman stone, streets, boulevards and squares.

The modern Sevastopol is a large seaport, an industrial, scientific, cultural and tourist center. All the year round the city welcomes guests who aspire to learn about the heroic past of Sevastopol, inspect its numerous monuments, admire the beautiful appearance of the city, rest on the shores of the blue bays.

Sevastopol is rightly called a city-museum. About 1500 archaeological, historical and architectural monuments can not be seen even for a few days, so you decide what to visit this time, and what to leave until your next visit ...