Sights of Balaklava

In Balaklava there is one of the most popular attractions of the whole Crimea – the Museum of submarines. In addition, here you can visit the Museum of the history of Balaclava, see the ruins of the Genoese fortress of Cembalo, the barrel of death. The city has preserved several architectural objects, the most famous of which are the House of Prince Yusupov (an old dilapidated building), and the temple of the 12 Apostles built in the 18th century. There are no other attractions in Balaklava, but you can independently go by city buses to Sevastopol and get acquainted with its sights, or buy excursions to other interesting places of the Crimea.

Entertainment in Balaclava is not very much, but for a few days of stay is enough. In addition to recreation and entertainment on the beaches, every guest of the city should take a boat trip to the beautiful places on the coast, which are offered on the waterfront. Here you can buy tours on quad bikes in the surrounding hills. Both children and adults will be interested to visit the park of extreme entertainment "Academy of espionage", which is located at the end of the embankment of Nazukina. The best place for evening walks is the same nazukina embankment, and in the afternoon you can have fun on simple attractions: a prize shooting range, children's trampolines.

Submarine Museum

The submarine base, named secret facility 825 GTS, was built in Balaklava in the mid-20th century, and put into operation in 1957. Another secret 820 RTB facility is a nuclear arsenal repository. With the collapse of the USSR, the base went to Ukraine, and was successfully abandoned in 1993, after which it was looted. Only in 2002, this place was remembered again, founding a museum complex here.

Today, only about 30% of the area of the complex is available for viewing by tourists, but even these scales are amazing. During the tour, they say that in case of a threat, all the inhabitants of Balaklava could hide in this underground city. The museum includes a central tunnel with a length of 600 meters, living quarters, repair shops, docks of submarines, premises of the nuclear arsenal. Part of the premises is equipped with expositions: nuclear arsenal, mine-torpedo weapons, Cold War Museum, Paleontological Museum and others. The only thing missing from the complex is the submarines themselves.

To get to the museum, it is best to take care of tickets in advance, especially in the summer. It is best to purchase them early in the morning on the day of the visit, or try to book an excursion in advance.

Visiting takes place only in groups accompanied by a museum guide, you can not wander here on your own. Groups of up to 50 people gather at the entrance to the museum. The tour lasts 1 hour 20 minutes, starts every hour. Inside it is cool, the temperature is not higher than +15℃, so you need to dress warmer. Children under 5 years old are not allowed in the museum. Learn more about the submarine museum here.

Balaclava History Museum

This small museum is dedicated to the history of Balaclava during the first defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855. Despite the modest size, the museum presents a lot of exhibits, including military uniforms of that time, household items of soldiers, weapons, Awards. All exhibits are original, found during archaeological excavations in the vicinity, as well as raised from the bottom of the sea. An interesting excursion is held during the visit. The museum has a gift shop.

Boat trips

Boat trips along the coast are one of the most popular activities in Balaclava. There are options for short excursions lasting 1 hour with a trip ashore on one of the distant beaches, and there are two – hour tours, during which boats sail to Cape Aya, or to the southernmost point of the Crimea-Cape Sarych. Large companies can hire a boat as a whole, and set their route.

Nazukina Embankment

This is the main walking and tourist area of Balaklava. Along it there are several hotels, shops, cafes and restaurants. Here, right on the street, excursions, accommodation, boat trips are offered, fast food and drinks are sold, there is a small market with goods for tourists. At the end of the beach is a concrete City Beach. If there is anywhere for tourists to walk in a balaclava, then along the embankment, there is nowhere else.

Tavrichesky embankment

This promenade is on the other side of the Bay. It is not as developed as the embankment of Nazukina, and there is almost nothing here, except for the pedestrian alley itself and the shops on it. Here you can fish from the shore.

Espionage Academy amusement park

This amusement park is the only place in Balaklava itself where you can actively have fun, including with children. Here you can go through a rope park, climb a climbing wall, compete in a paintball competition or laser tag, shoot in a shooting gallery, go down on a zipline, and many other entertainments, all of which are described on the official website. Entertainment prices are reasonable.

Cembalo Fortress

The Genoese fortress of Cembalo is the only ancient landmark of Balaclava. It was originally built in the middle of the 14th century by the Genoese, but could not resist the onslaught of the Horde troops, and was completely destroyed. After the conclusion of the peace treaty, the territory was returned to the Genoese, and after three years it was restored, and even made more impregnable. After that, the fortress changed hands several times, partially destroyed and restored, and remained in good condition until the 20th century, until it was seriously destroyed during World War II.

Today, the ruins of the fortress can be viewed by every tourist. Part of the ruins is periodically under restoration, and access to them is limited, but the rest is available for inspection. You can even climb the ruins, but it is better not to do this, so as not to destroy the monument. From the nearest ruins there is a wonderful view of the Balaklava Bay.

The barrel of death

It is an observation post of a Fort originally built in the early 19th century for the Russian-Turkish War. The "barrels" themselves, as observation posts, appeared at the end of the 19th century. Two barrels were built, one of which has not survived to this day.

The name "Barrel of death" was given to the observation post because of its external resemblance to a barrel and also in connection with the version that during World War II the Germans shot captured Red Army soldiers in them and threw them off a cliff.

Prince Yusupov's House

The Yusupov dynasty was one of the wealthiest in Imperial Russia, and at the beginning of the 20th century, Prince Felix Feliksovich Yusupov acquired an estate in Balaklava, built a beautiful hunting lodge here. However, the revolution and the coming to power of the Bolsheviks prevented the family from settling in this house. Over time, the House has become dilapidated, and now it is a sad sight, in need of restoration. It can be examined from the outside, but it is better not to go inside, it is dangerous.

Temple Of The 12 Apostles

The Church of the Holy Twelve Apostles is a unique architectural monument of the XVIII century and at the same time a functioning temple. It was erected in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in 1794. According to another opinion, it dates back to 1375, since the building was erected on the foundation of an old Genoese church built here in 1375. In Soviet times, the temple was closed and partially destroyed, returned to the bosom of the church in 1990.

Balaklava sights on the map