| Sevastopol Севастополь | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms and flag   | ||
| State | Russia (de facto) | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Crimea | |
| Altitude | 50 m a.s.l. | |
| Surface | 1,080 km² | |
| Inhabitants | 348.513 (2014 estimate) | |
| Prefix tel | 7 869 | |
| POSTAL CODE | 299000-299699 | |
| Time zone | 3 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Sevastopol is a city of Crimea.
To know
Geographical notes
It is also a popular seaside resort and tourist destination, especially for visitors from Commonwealth countries. There are more than 30 bays within the region's borders. The total area of the city is 1079 km². The water area of the inland bays takes 216 km² of the total surface.
Background
Sevastopol is an important historical port on the Black Sea. In Greco-Roman times it was known as Cherson Taurica. This settlement was sacked by the Mongol horde several times in the 13th and 14th centuries, and finally totally abandoned, only to be refounded in 1783 as a base for the Black Sea Navy. It was besieged by the British in the Crimean War. The unique geographical position and navigation conditions of the city's ports make Sevastopol a very significant naval strategic fortress, not unlike Gibraltar is Halifax. As a historic port of the Soviet Black Sea navy fleet (and later of the Russia), the city has always had a significant Russian naval presence. Before the Russian annexation of Crimea, the headquarters of both Ukrainian naval forces and the Black Sea navy fleet were located in the city.
The population is largely Russian, so the sympathies of the population lie largely with Moscow rather than Kiev. Some residents of the city have strongly protested the visit of American ships and the interest of theUkraine to join the NATO alliance. The political orientation towards Moscow affects the political and economic management of the region.
Languages
According to a Ukrainian national census, a Sevastopol 72% of the population speak the as their mother tongue Russian, 14% theUkrainian, 4% on Crimean Tatar and 1% the Turkish.
How to orient yourself
Sevastopol: full screen map.
The main features of the city are on two roads, ulitsa Lenina is ulitsa Bolshoya Morskaya; there is a hill between them, on which it is ulitsa Sovietska; There are numerous steps to climb and cross the hill. Marshrutki (mini bus) tend to get on one of these roads and vice versa; South of ul. Lenina you can turn left to reach the train station and the bus station.
To the west near the coast, on the outskirts of the city is the important archaeological site of Cherson. But the real reference of the city is undoubtedly the coastline (Primorsky Boulevard) and the port of the city which is wedged within the strip of land.
How to get
By plane
- 1 Sevastopol International Airport. Airport with connections to Russia, although less important than that of Simferopol.
On the train
.jpg/220px-14.Севастополь_(3).jpg)
- 2 Railway station, st. Vokzalnaya, 11, ☎ 7 (8692) 488199, 7 (8692) 488582, 7 (8692) 489242.
5:15-22:40. Sevastopol is poorly served by long-distance trains, but the nearby city of Simferopol is well connected with many large cities in western Russia. There are up to 20 connections each day between the two cities and with a journey of just two hours it is easy to get there by train. The station has a left-luggage office (7 am-7pm).
5:15-22:40. Sevastopol is poorly served by long-distance trains, but the nearby city of Simferopol is well connected with many large cities in western Russia. There are up to 20 connections each day between the two cities and with a journey of just two hours it is easy to get there by train. The station has a left-luggage office (7 am-7pm).By bus
- 3 Suburban bus station. Inside the bus station you can also find a left-luggage office open from 7:00 to 21:00.
- For Balaklava you have to reach the 4 interchange stop 5 km from the city (you can take trolleybus 12 from the center, but there are many other possibilities) and then take marshrutka nº 9.
- The bus from Bachčysaraj takes 40 min and costs 92 rub.
How to get around
Crossing Sevastopol, in a full day, can be done on foot, by mini-bus (marshrutka) and by city bus. Being the hilly terrain and surrounding roads created like Sevastopol around its bays and shoreline, the walk is less straightforward to be efficient, especially after leaving the city center.
By public transport
Please note that English maps and timetables for buses are not available and you may need to depend on the word of citizens, operators and passengers to find the right route and stop. Buses and marshrutkas are cheap, although often crowded, marshrutkas are faster and slightly more expensive.
By taxi
Some taxi numbers:
- "Фараон", 15-58, 7 (978) 7642227
- «Лидер», 15-53; 7 (978) 879-13-69
- «Метро», 15-56; 7 (978) 742 1556
- «Радиотакси», 15-51, 15-58; 7 (978) 748-53-30
- «Вояж», 15-01; 7 (978) 846-73-44
- "UpTaxi", 7 (978) 700-04-01
By car
Renting a car is a great way to experience Crimea without dealing with public transport which is often late and can be uncomfortable. Car rental is possible in many places, but the cheapest seems to be at number 43 Proletariarskaya ulitsa at the southern end of the city. Starting at USD 10 per day (250km included) and a USD 200 refundable deposit, it's quite easy to rent a car and enjoy the south coast this way.
Ferries
Sevastopol connects the two shores of the port through a ferry service:
- 5 Ferry boarding (Artbukhta (Артбухта)). Connects with the other bank (Pivnichna or Північна).
- 6 Ferry boarding (Hrafs'ka prystan '(Графська пристань)). Connects with the other bank (Pivnichna or Північна).
- 7 Ferry boarding (Pivnichna (Північна)). Connect with two points on the other side Hrafs'ka prystan is Artbukhta.
What see
There are more than 2,000 monuments in the city, many historical places, museums, theaters, numerous parks and boulevards.
Sevastopol is a good place to see some of the Crimean War sites. There are also many Soviet war monuments - Sevastopol is one of the thirteen heroic cities of the Great Patriotic War. There is a large statue of Lenin, with soldiers, peasants and workers, on Sovietska ulitsa, which is the backbone of the main section of the city. There is a statue of Admiral Nakhimov, who defeated the Turkish fleet and led the defense of Sevastopol at the time of the Crimean War, in a square at the head of the main part of the city.
- 1 [link not working]Vladimir Cathedral (Владимирский собор), Corner between the streets Marata and Frunze. Vladimir Cathedral was built after the Crimean War, as a memorial to the heroes of the siege of Sevastopol (1854-1855). Its dome rises to a height of 32.5 meters. The architecture of the church is Neo-Byzantine. The marble interior was decorated by a team of Swiss and Italian artists. The names of the heroes of the 1950s siege are inscribed on the walls. The cathedral was the site of the graves of the Russian imperial admirals Lazarev, Nakhimov, Kornilov and Istomin, destroyed by the Soviets in 1931. The church suffered further damage in the Second World War. You can admire the view of the port of Sevastopol from the top of the central hill of the city, where the cathedral is located.
The statue of Lenin
- 2 Monument to Lenin (Памятник Ленину), Inside the Lenin Park (In front of the Cathedral).
Monument to Pavel Nakhimov - 3 Nakhimov Square (Площадь Нахимова). The central square of the city. In the middle of which you can see the monument to the admiral Pavel Nakhimov the hero of the Battle of Sinop and the first heroic defense of Sevastopol during the Crimean War, the naval commander and true patriot of Russia.
- 4 Black Sea Fleet Museum, 11 Lenina st. Wed - Sun, closed on the last Friday of each month. The Museum reflects the history of the Black Sea Fleet of Russia from the very beginning (from the periods of the founding of the city, the Crimean War, the revolutions of 1905 and 1917, the Second World War). The museum has a large number of rarities of great educational value (XVIII - XX centuries). There is also a small exhibition of Russian and Soviet weapons outside the building. A couple of doors down ul. Lenina there is the Church of the Black Sea Fleet.
5 Cherson (Χερσόνησος) (About 3km from the city center. Take mashrutka nº22). 
Free admission except for guides and museum tickets. The Greek city of Cherson Taurica ("Taurica" stands for the Crimean peninsula) is the place where Vladimir the Great was baptized, the first leader of the Kievan Rus who converted to Christianity and was baptized; on the site there are various Byzantine basilicas, including a famous one with marble columns, and the "misty bell", made of loose Turkish cannons at the end of 1700, brought to Paris after the Crimean War and returned in 1914. There is also a Greek theater, the Byzantine town and the city walls.
Free admission except for guides and museum tickets. The Greek city of Cherson Taurica ("Taurica" stands for the Crimean peninsula) is the place where Vladimir the Great was baptized, the first leader of the Kievan Rus who converted to Christianity and was baptized; on the site there are various Byzantine basilicas, including a famous one with marble columns, and the "misty bell", made of loose Turkish cannons at the end of 1700, brought to Paris after the Crimean War and returned in 1914. There is also a Greek theater, the Byzantine town and the city walls.- Consider bringing your bathing suit - the locals do, as there is a narrow but beautiful beach located in the park. It is a World Heritage site UNESCO.
- 6 Cherson Cathedral (Владимирский кафедральный собор в Херсонесе), Bulitsiya Davnya 1. This Neo-Byzantine cathedral commemorates the alleged baptismal site of St. Vladimir. According to legend and historical facts, the baptism of Vladimir the Great took place in 988 in Cherson. The idea of immortalizing the place of the Baptism of the Holy Prince came for the first time in 1825, by the chief of the Black Sea fleet, Vice Admiral Alexey Greig. On his initiative, excavations were conducted at the site of Cherson in 1827. In the center of the market square, some remains of ancient Christian churches were discovered. Construction lasted 15 years and was finished in 1874-1876. The consecration of the cathedral took place on October 17, 1891, although the final decorative project was only completed in 1894. After the construction of the Cathedral, the saint's relics were placed in the lower church near the ruins of the ancient basilica. It was then closed by the Soviets in the 1920s and devastated by the Nazis in 1944. Its restoration began in the late 1990s, although it only became more active in 2000. The consecration of the main altar took place on April 3. 2004.
- 7 Monument to Catherine II (Памятник Екатерине II). Empress Catherine II of Russia founded Sevastopol in 1783. She visited the city in 1787 accompanied by Joseph II, the Emperor of Austria and other foreign dignitaries.
- 8 Sevastopol Museum of Art (Художественный музей), Prospekt Nakhimov, 9. The Museum is one of the richest art collections in Crimea. Although its staging is relatively recent, in 1927, its history is remarkable and, on the one hand, it could be dated further in the first days following the end of the civil war in Crimea. So far it has around 8,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings and decorative and applied art objects from different times and countries.
- 9 (Памятник зотопленным кораблям), Primorsky Boulevard. Built in 1905 and erected in the sea in memory of the Russian ships sunk here to block the entrance to the port of Sevastopol, this monument is a world symbol of Sevastopol.
- 10 Museum of the siege of Sevastopol. This museum represents the siege of Sevastopol, from the Russian point of view, with a display like a diorama, but much more impressive: there is a large circular canvas of about 2000 square meters as a backdrop and then a lot of objects like cannons and featured models. It is narrated in Russian, but it is possible to rent an audio guide in English or French.
- 11 Monument to the soldier and the sailor. This monument celebrates the glories of the Great Patriotic War and the heroism of Soviet soldiers and sailors. The enormous monument is clearly visible from the sea and its heroic and propaganda style makes it a monument that stands out in many parts of the city.
- 12 Obelisk bayonet and sail (At the Cape Khrustalny). Obelisk 60 meters high which symbolizes the union between the armed forces of land and sea. The monument is so tall that it can be seen perfectly from the sea and the coast.
- 13 "Zheleznyakov" armored train (near the bus station.). Model of armored train with cannon on display.
Events and parties
- Victory day. May 9. Day of celebration of the victory over Nazism with military parades on the port.
What to do
Take the ferries that cross the bay. The known routes include a number of locations on the north side of the city, where there are the best white sand beaches and the small airfield. The locals use these ferries for various trips. They are also a great way to get photos of the different landmarks of the city.
In summer, there are numerous waterfront bars. It is a great place to watch the ships coming into the bay and the beautiful Ukrainian and Russian girls.
- 1 Harbor boat tour, Seafront of Sevastopol (If you can't find the boat, you will find a saleswoman who will suggest the tour of the port and take you by boat.). 350 rub. in the summertime. Sevastopol Port Sightseeing Boat Tour. The bay and part of the Russian Navy fleet will be shown. Explanations are in Russian only.
- 2 Aquarium (Аквариум), Prospekt Nakhimov 2. It is in the center of Sevastopol, on Nakhimov Avenue, in a classic white building of the Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It was founded in 1897. Expeditions by scientists from the Institute took place all over the world, including the famous Cousteau team, providing the aquarium with new exhibits. In the central basin of 2.5 meters deep and 9.2 meters in diameter, live the inhabitants of the Black Sea: the spurdog shark, sturgeons, sea bears. In the 12 wall-mounted aquariums of 7 cubic meters each, fish, turtles, crustaceans, algae and corals from all the seas and oceans of the world are represented, including rare and unusual ones. Today the aquarium-museum welcomes visitors with the fauna of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, as well as inhabitants of tropical waters, reptiles and amphibians from different parts of the world .
Shopping
There are lots of boutiques on Bolshoy Morskoy Str. If you want trendy clothing. (Russian) debit and credit cards are accepted in most shops in the city, but not accepted in markets.
How to have fun
Shows
- 1 [link not working]Lunacharsky Theater (Театр имени Луначарского), Prospekt Nakhimov, 4. The theater was founded in 1911. During the October Revolution and the Civil War (1917-1920), Sevastopol was a refuge for the intellectuals of the fallen Russian Empire. In 1920, the Revolutionary Commission took the city and handed it over to the People's Education Commissioner Anatoly Lunacharsky. The original theater building was destroyed during the Second World War. A group of architects from Moscow led by V. Pelevin drew up the project for a new building in a classical style. The renovated theater opened in the fall of 1957 on Primorsky Boulevard. The auditorium has 742 seats. The theater has its own studios and workshops with its own schools, sets and costumes. Lunacharsky Theater also performs summer events in the remains of the ancient amphitheater (4th century BC) within the "Cherson Taurica" National Reserve.
- 2 Dolphinarium (Дельфинарий), Kornilova embankment, 2. The Sevastopol Dolphinarium is located in the city center. Performances take place every day (the Dolphinarium only works in summer and in winter it moves to the main pool located in Kazachiya bay) where dolphins play various games. The seal show is different and has a lot of comic numbers. However, the dolphin show is based on various combinations with trainers swimming with the dolphins. After the performance, you will be able to take photos with the most beloved marine animals and swim in a small pool with dolphins for an additional cost. Some scientists claim that the sound signals of dolphins make biological resonance, stimulate the production of endorphins, the hormones that make the psychological and emotional state better and improve plant nervous functions.
Night clubs
- Butterfly night club, Senyavina St, 1, ☎ 7 978 853-10-83.
Where to eat
You should try the original and real "Baklava", different from the Greek or Turkish versions. European soldiers who fought in the Crimean War coined the term "Baklava" while fighting in Sevastopol and Balaklava near the local honey-coated fried bread from the region. Hence, the name, Baklava, was imported to the West. It is a thin fried bread flour, unleavened, coated in honey and sold in small shops and beaches by vendors.
Average prices
- 1 Ravelin coffee. Waterfront café with tables outside, not far from the column of the sunken ships. It serves soft drinks and some types of food.
- Celentano pizza (In the center). The popular Pizza Celentano serves cheap pizzas, fruit salad, pancakes, and drinks. There is a wide range of preparations to choose from for pizzas and pancakes. The staff could speak English.
- RusBurger, Nakhimova Ave, 14. 300-500 rub. 10:00-22:00. RusBurger is a Russian chain (established in 2009) with twelve locations in Moscow, Tver and Stavropol, placed its white on red signage on previous McDonalds on Prospekt Nakhimova in July 2014. RusBurger offers a "pearl of Russia" menu with Tsar beef burger, Russian vegetables and cheeses.
Where stay
Moderate prices
- 1 Reikartz Sevastopol, 22 Geroev Stalingrada Street. Located near Kamishovaya Bay and offers rooms with balcony / terrace, private bathroom, bathtub and telephone. They also have a coffee shop, serving Ukrainian and Russian cuisine; a conference room that can accommodate up to 80 guests; and two banquet rooms that can accommodate 30 and 70 people respectively.
- 2 Smile Hostel, Bolshaya Morskaya St, 39, ☎ 7 978 116-81-77. Great accommodation in a small hostel for backpackers or simple travelers with a quiet courtyard and garden on one of the main streets of the city opposite the post office and close to the Cathedral. English speaking staff with great knowledge on the premises. Free WiFi ~ Linens ~ Coffee and tea. 24 hour hot water.
Average prices
- 3 Olymp Hotel, ☎ 7(978)750-80-94, 7 (8692) 45-57-89. Only about 100 meters from the Ukraine Hotel on a quiet street, it is a nicer and newer hotel, but it lacks an elevator which is useful if you are lugging heavy bags across four floors.
- 4 Art-Hotel "Ukraina", ул.Гоголя 2, ☎ 7 (978) 022-30-39.
- 5 Fort Hotel (Форт отель), Chernomorskaya 2, ☎ 7 (978) 0148261, @[email protected]. Small family hotel with sea views from the terrace near Chersonea. Swimming pool with jacuzzi in the garden, barbecue and barbecue. Advance booking required. English speaking staff. 30 € / 2 person room.
Safety
Sevastopol was a closed city during the Soviet period. Residents, as in other Russian ethnic areas, are not impressed by foreigners who do not appreciate their language and culture. Probably fewer than 20 per cent of the inhabitants have working knowledge of English and only 10 per cent of them care to speak English with foreigners and English is supposed to be widely understood in the former Soviet republics. If, on the other hand, you are concerned with mastering a basic knowledge of Russian and showing some humility, the locals in Sevastopol, like Russians elsewhere, often go to great lengths to communicate with you, most often adapting the talk to them as if they were talking to a five year old, whatever your level.
How to keep in touch
Internet
- The main post office in the center of Bolshaya Morskaya has a large Internet café.
- The "Ostrov Sushi" restaurant in the center of Artillery Bay has wifi
- Greenwich Coffee House at Admiral Oktyabraskaya, 15 (~ 300m west of Bolshaya Morskaya) also has WiFi in a Starbuck-like atmosphere.
- Restaurant "Il Patio" Nakhimova ave, 8, located near the view in Artillery Bay
- Restaurant "1820" Nakhimova, 10, at the bus stop near the Lazareva square
- Hotel Crimea (Gostinica Krim) has an Internet café open 24 hours a day.
Around
One of the most beautiful beaches is located about 30 minutes from the city in the village of Lyubimovka. It is a large sandy beach with hundreds of tourists in the summer. Another beautiful beach is Uchkuyevka. You can get there by taking the ferry (parom in Russian) from the city center to Severnaya and then a short ride in marshrutka. The beaches are relatively crowded but mostly frequented by locals
- 8 Sapun Gora. There is a park with war memories in the vicinity of Sapun Gora, although it focuses on the battles of the siege of Sevastopol in World War II.
- 9 Battlefield of the Light Brigade (Move just outside the city about 4 km). It is a flat field where the famous battle was fought. There is not much to see except a few memorials, because today the so-called "Valley of Death" is a vineyard.
- The city of Balaklava it's about 45 minutes away and popular for its former underground submarine base which is now a tourist site.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Sevastopol
Commons contains images or other files on Sevastopol
