The Kerch Peninsula is the most important part of Crimea, its almost official "gateway" to the east. Spread between two seas, it has long attracted people as a convenient transport hub. As a result, his land keeps the memory of many large-scale events, and modernity counts on Kerch as a strong "engine" of Crimean progress.
History and origins
The peninsula is a natural protruding Crimean territory. Surely this is the result of the work of tectonic forces (like everything else), although some experts explain the appearance of some of its parts by the work of corals. The landscape is mostly steppe, there are two mountain ranges, but their height does not exceed 200 m.
From the point of view of a geographer, Kerch is a peninsula of the second level. The term means that it is a component of another peninsula, in this case Crimea. The map allows us to notice that there are also peninsulas of the third level - Kazantip, usually called a cape, and Arabatskaya arrow, bordering on Ukraine. 
The area of the peninsula is a little less than 3000 sq. km, the length of the coastline is 300 km. It is 90 km long (east-west line), and up to 50 km wide (north-south). It accounts for 10% of the Crimea. The highest points are the Pikhbopai mountains, and, but all of them do not even reach 200 m in height.
It is washed by the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea as well. There are about 30 salt lakes, many of which have balneological potential. But there are no real ones, there are only drying up streams. The largest of them is Samarli. The climate of the Kerch Peninsula is harsher than in the rest of Crimea. Strong storms are a characteristic feature, especially.
The area is mainly represented by steppe landscapes. The vegetation includes, among other things, rare and ornamental species (bloom in spring). The fauna is poorer, mainly birds, such as rare pink starlings, insects () and rodents, represent it. There are also dangerous species - and (tarantulas and karakurt). For the sake of preserving the inviolability of the steppe landscapes, several have been created, for example, on Cape Opuk and on. Anchovy, flounder, gobies spawn nearby.
Resorts and beaches of the peninsula
Today the region is not seen as. But rest on the Kerch Peninsula has great advantages. There are fewer people there, and you can take advantage of the proximity of two seas. In Cherny, the water warms up more slowly and is usually colder than in. The beaches there are smaller in size due to the peculiarities of the terrain (more rocky outcrops), but more picturesque. The most popular are the southern regions and Opuk. The Black Sea coast is more suitable for good swimmers in general, as it is deeper there.
There are also famous ones on the peninsula. On the Azov coast, the coast of Kazantip belongs to their list. They attract holidaymakers with clean white sand, large size (stretching for kilometers) and convenient entry into the water. The disadvantage is the "wildness" of the territory - there are equipped edges only in the villages (Zolotoe, Novootradnoe).
In Kerch itself, the Heroevsky beach is valued (there is one) - the village has long been a Kerch suburb. It is sandy, comfortable, with entertainment. The only drawback is that a large perimeter is "occupied" by boarding houses and, nevertheless, there is a place for free vacationers.
Of the famous Generalskie, stretching near the village of Kurortnoye - this is a series of small coves with a sandy shore and the purest water surface. The name is connected with the fact that allegedly local military complexes pacified the tall inspectors there, arranging for them a chamber bathing and barbecue. Now tourists with tents often stop at, despite the fact that they have to carry firewood and drink with them.
Cultural program: attractions and entertainment
She is the traditional "nail" of rest in Kerch. First of all, holidaymakers tend to visit the historical ones. These are the archaeological and memorials associated with the events of the Great Patriotic War. You can see the excavations, Panticapaeum, get acquainted with the materials obtained by archaeologists in and, where for 170 days the remnants of the garrison and the townspeople held the defense. The photo of a terrible children's cemetery under the ground (the rooms where the dead little Kerch residents were buried and where young travelers brought thousands of toys as a gift to their deceased peers) is the most famous on the “wall of memory” of all Taurida.
There are natural wonders on the peninsula. In the spring, tourists come to see the tulip fields (do not pick flowers, let alone dig them out!). By the sea are easily recognizable, often serving as an advertisement for the Crimea. And there are also whole fields of mud volcanoes. They act on the same principle as ordinary ones, but less dangerous, erupting not fiery lava, but clay with impurities. There is even the village of Vulkanovka, and near Bondarenkovo there is a Valley with volcanoes, where there are several dozen mud craters.
How to get there (get there)?
They get here both from Feodosia, Simferopol and (regular bus service is provided), and from Krasnodar Territory, by ferry or across the constructed bridge.
By car from to Kerch, the eastern capital of Tavrida, it is not difficult to get there in this way:
The possibilities of the Kerch Peninsula have not yet been fully disclosed, but even now it is not threatened with inattention on the part of people. Historical center, transport hub, nature reserve - it is all this! In conclusion, an educational video, enjoy your viewing!
The extreme eastern part of Crimea is the Kerch Peninsula, it is washed by two seas, the main part of its territory has the status of an archaeological reserve. The southern part is washed by the Black Sea, the northern part of the Azov Sea, this geographical location provides a special climatic zone.
Location of the peninsula
From the heights of the Akmonai Isthmus, you can see the basins of the two seas. The relief of the area in the southwest is flat, the northeast is hilly. The hills are considered the hallmark of the Kerch Peninsula. The highlight of this area are mud volcanoes, their phenomenal properties are widely used in spa treatment.
A distinctive feature of the Kerch Peninsula is the hot summer, which brings drought and winter with little snow. The water area of the Kerch Strait separates the peninsula from the Taman Peninsula. Today the Kerch and Taman peninsulas are connected by a ferry crossing. The Taman Peninsula is separated from the Kerch Peninsula by a strait, with a width in some places from five to fifteen meters.
Kerch city
On the Kerch Peninsula is the "capital" of this region - Kerch. The modern city is located along the Kerch Strait for 52 kilometers. The city of four water areas with different temperatures and salinity. These properties are provided by the pools:
- The Black Sea;
- The Azov Sea;
- Kerch Strait;
- Sivash lakes.
The foundation of this settlement dates back to the 5th century BC, the historical center in the open air has:
- Mount Mithridates;
- The site of the Panticapaeum;
- Church of John the Baptist;
- Adzhimushkay quarries;
- The Yeni-Kale fortress.
Locals advise to climb Mount Mithridates to visit the ancient settlement of Panticapaeum, and admire the landscapes of the surrounding area from its top. The city is famous for hosting all kinds of festivals, competitions, regattas. The sunny city, which has about 300 days of sunshine, opens the swimming season in May.
Not far from Kerch there are the sandy beaches of the Arshintsevskaya Spit and the world famous Chokrak lake for its curative mud. The healing properties of mud are used to treat joint and gynecological diseases.
A natural phenomenon belongs to the Kerch Peninsula - mud volcanoes, they are located near the village of Bondarenkovo, their height reaches one and a half meters. The composition of the erupted masses is saturated:
- Oil;
- Methane;
- Hydrogen sulfide.
The mystery of the beginning of volcanic eruptions with mud content has not yet been solved by scientists. It is known that the mixture is pushed to the surface by combustible gases. The location of the volcanoes is recorded on the surface of the earth, also in the bottom of the Azov Sea.
It is difficult to find the location of volcanoes on your own, so it is advised to use the service of a guide.
Development perspective of the region
More than five million tourists and vacationers annually rest and improve their health in Crimea. Some of them visit the Kerch Peninsula, which is of particular interest today. A bridge is being built across the Kerch Strait, this event opens up broad prospects for the development of the region. The presence of investment flows contributes to the implementation of the program for the development of small businesses, to develop services in the resort and tourism sectors.
The Kerch Peninsula is the eastern part of Crimea. Its length is approximately 90 km. Width - 50 km. Here, the tourist infrastructure is not as developed as, for example, on the southern coast of the Crimean peninsula. Nevertheless, thousands of people from all over Russia visit Kerch every year. And they are attracted to these lands not only by excellent opportunities for camping. There is something to see in this part of Crimea. This article is about the sights of the Kerch Peninsula.
Geographic features
The Kerch Peninsula in Crimea is washed by two seas: the Black and the Azov. This is its uniqueness. The total area of this part of the Crimean peninsula is 3000 sq. m. Chroni is the highest mountain peak (175 meters). Someone Kerch landscapes may seem monotonous, faded. Yes, hilly terrain really prevails here. Especially in the northeast. In Kerch, as well as on the southern coast of the Crimean peninsula, there are vineyards, but corn, wheat, oats are more common. The beaches here are sandy, both near the Azov Sea and the Black Sea.
Wild rest on the Kerch Peninsula
The Crimean steppe region is perfect for those who prefer to spend their leisure time away from noisy cities. Recreation by savages is loved by both students and family people. Of course, those who have no tent tourism experience should use the services of hotels and resorts. There are many of them on the Kerch Peninsula. But we'll talk about guest houses later.
There are not only hotels in Kerch, but also campgrounds with dry closets and showers. True, according to reviews, their number has significantly decreased in recent years. The fact is that until 2014, the campsites were owned mainly by citizens of Ukraine. The Russians probably do not see a profitable type of business in creating a special territory for camping. In addition, campsites used to be popular among vacationers from Ukraine. This type of vacation is considered budgetary. But its advantage is not limited to the ability to save money.
A trip to the sea with tents will suit those who do not like to bask on the shore, but prefer an active form of recreation. Having paid for a hotel room, you can relax in the first minutes of your stay at the resort. Here everything is different. You will have to make some efforts in order to provide yourself and your loved ones with comfortable conditions. In addition, you will have to take a lot of things on the road.
One of the best places for wild recreation on the Kerch Peninsula is General's beaches. These are quite picturesque and secluded places. How to get to the most famous beaches of the Kerch Peninsula? It is necessary to go from the city towards Pulkovo to the village of Kurortnoye. Then you need to overcome another ten kilometers on a dirt road. This path does not give motorists much pleasure. The road is bumpy, there are many steep descents.
Before settling in, you should find out if there are sources of fresh water nearby. In August and September, many of them dry up. And also it should be borne in mind that it is not easy to find firewood in the steppe area. Experienced tourists recommend visiting the Kerch Peninsula with tents in late May or early June. During this period, the greens are still fresh and fragrant. The Sea of Azov warms up well even in June.
Another place popular with campers is Kazantip Bay. You can get to it along the M-17 highway. You will have to go through the village of Shchelkino, whose history is quite interesting. The construction of a nuclear power plant began here in Soviet times. It was never completed. The settlement was intended for the station staff. The station building is abandoned, but still attracts tourists who have seen enough of the luxurious palaces and historical monuments of the southern coast. However, this gloomy Soviet building can be attributed to historical sights.
You can stop with a tent in an absolutely deserted place. But this option, of course, is only suitable for experienced tourists. For those who are just starting to master camping, it is better to find a camping - this is a special area with an equipped dry closet and, possibly, a shower. In most cases, a small amount will be charged for parking.
Guest houses
Prices in Kerch are certainly lower than on the southern coast of Crimea. Lovers of architectural and historical monuments are, of course, more suitable for rest in a hotel or a guest house. In a small boarding house in June you can rent a room for 1000 rubles per day. However, this option will not suit the pampered persons accustomed to comfort. Renting a hotel room with breakfast in Kerch will cost an average of 2500 rubles per person. The best mini-hotels in this part of Crimea include:
- "Count's pier".
- "Monica".
- "Edelweiss".
- "Meridian".
- "Arabica".
- "Victoria".
- "Coral".
sights
Kerch has a rich history dating back centuries. There are many museums here. Local history is of the greatest interest. In addition, there are also unique natural monuments. While resting on the Kerch Peninsula, it is worth visiting the following places:
- Mount Mithridates.
- Church of John the Baptist.
- Turkish fortress Yeni-Kale
- Museum of the Eltigen Landing Force
- Ancient settlement Mirmeki.
Mount Mithridates
This mountain went down in Soviet history as the site of heroic battles against the German invaders. In 1943, paratroopers under the command of Colonel Gladkov broke through to the territory occupied by the invaders. In April 1944, Soviet soldiers hoisted the Red Banner on Mount Mithridates.
It is worth saying that this place is rather mysterious. The imagination of tourists is haunted by the legend of the treasures that King Mithridates allegedly hid here a long time ago. This ruler really robbed and accumulated wealth. But in the course of numerous studies, no treasures were found here. A high staircase leads to the top of the mountain. It is quite difficult to climb it, but it is worth doing it at least once.
Church of John the Baptist
This is one of the oldest churches in Crimea. It is located on Tavricheskaya Square in Kerch. Mount Mithridates is located very close to the Church of John the Baptist. The temple was built in the ninth century. After the Turks won the war with Byzantium, the Orthodox church turned into a mosque. This continued until the Crimea became part of the Russian Empire. In the entire Northern Black Sea region, this is the only surviving ancient Orthodox church.
Museum of the Eltigen Landing Force
This attraction is directly related to the events of the Second World War. In 1943, the landing operation continued for ten days, as a result of which Mithridates was recaptured. Sixty paratroopers who took part in it received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The memorial includes a field hospital and a mass grave. The museum is located 16 km from Kerch.
Turkish fortress Yeni-Kale
The Ottomans built the citadel in the last years of their reign. Once Peter I visited on a ship called "Fortress". The Turks considered the act of the Russian tsar too impudent. A few years later, they erected a fortification that was supposed to protect the strait.
During the construction of the fortress, the Turks consulted with experienced French engineers. Here once was the residence of the pasha and a fairly powerful garrison. Nevertheless, one day the Turkish soldiers in the fortress surrendered to the Russian army without a fight.
Kerch (Crimea) is one of the most ancient maritime cities with a rich history: the Adzhimushkay quarries, the Kerch Museum of Antiquities and the Kerch Lapidarium are objects of world importance. Huge beaches, including on the Arshintsevskaya spit, on Heroevsky - they will be appreciated by the most sophisticated tourist. An ideal place for a beach and cultural holiday amidst virgin nature, salt lakes and mud volcanoes.
You can go on vacation to Kerch in the private sector, hotels and hotels without intermediaries - the catalog contains objects with prices from the owners. They are happy to receive tourists, find out the availability and make a reservation. The residential area stretches along the coastline and is within walking distance. We also advise you to pay attention to the nearest villages - Geroevskoe, Yurkino, Yakovenkovo. Rest there is always of high quality, calm and affordable even for the most modest budget.
How to get there
The city is located on the Kerch Peninsula and is the most eastern point of Crimea (Cape Fonar). The blocks stretch along the coastline for 42 km, and are washed by the waters of the Kerch Strait - a natural channel connecting the Black and Azov seas. On the territory of the city there is Mount Mithridan, which is the central point of Kerch.
From the point of view of transport accessibility, the city is located quite conveniently. You can get here in the following ways:
- by train. There are many long-distance trains going to the city, including those from Russia;
- by plane. Kerch has its own airport. There are few flights and only during the season, but planes fly from Moscow. But it is better - through Simferopol or Anapa;
- on a ferryboat. Many motorists, and even "walking" tourists, prefer to move to Kerch from the Chushka spit on the Taman Peninsula of the Krasnodar Territory;
- by bus. Even regular buses go from the Russian Federation to Kerch, which, like private or commercial vehicles, are delivered by ferry.
Now it is planned to build a bridge across the strait, which will further simplify transportation.
general information
Kerch. Tiplyashina Evgeniya / Photobank Lori
Kerch is a city of republican significance. It is home to up to 150,000 people permanently. Reception and service of vacationers is not the main purpose. First of all, Kerch is the center of shipbuilding and metallurgy. In addition, there is one of the largest sea terminals specializing in the transshipment and storage of grain. The third component of economic activity is fishing, including the industrial processing of seafood. So, coming to rest in Kerch, you can count on the opportunity to taste first-class fish and other seafood. Spa treatment is also widely developed using curative mud of volcanic origin and from Lake Chokrak. And, of course, a traditional beach holiday.
Kerch is not the first name of the city. It comes from the Old Russian word "kark", which means "throat". This refers to the location in the strait zone. The first settlements here appeared 100,000 years ago in the form of Neanderthal sites. Over the years, the city passed from one people to another.
What to do on vacation
Many, coming to rest in Kerch, find out only on the spot that they have ended up in one of the largest open-air museums on Earth. Over the centuries-old history of the settlement on the territory of the city, a huge number of attractions of various historical periods arose. No vacation is enough to see them. Nevertheless, it is worth paying attention to at least the following objects:
- The ancient settlement of Panticapaeum is a settlement of the 5th-3rd centuries BC. It is located on Mount Mithridates, on which the Acropolis and the Temple of Apollo were previously located;
- The royal mound is the burial vault of the Spartokid dynasty - the rulers of the Bosporus state that existed in the Northern Black Sea region in the 6th-2nd centuries BC;
- Chokrak is a salt lake known for its mud volcanoes with medicinal silts. There is also a hydrological reserve. From Kerch it is 16 km towards the village of Kurortnoye;
- Adzhimushkay quarries, which brought the city the title of hero for resistance during the Great Patriotic War.
Climate and weather
The climate of Kerch is moderately continental and close to the subtropics. Summer is often quite sultry. Although the city stands on a hilly area (the highest point is Mithridates - 91m), there are no mountains that affect the movement of air masses. Over the city, air masses collide from both seas, as well as those coming from the Caucasus and the Crimean peninsula. The humidity level is quite high and rain is not uncommon. The average temperature in summer can exceed 30 degrees. The swimming season lasts from late May to mid September. The water temperature in the hot holiday season (in Kerch it is August) is about 24 degrees. In winter, the strait freezes over.
Average monthly air temperature by months
Average monthly water temperature by months
The beaches
The choice of Kerch beaches depends on which of the seas you would like to spend your vacation on. The Black Sea part of the beaches directly borders on urban developments. The beaches of Azov will have to go further, or immediately settle in the suburban villages of Yurkino or Osoviny. The covering of the beaches is sand or a mixture of sand and small pebbles. The bottom relief depends on the location of the beach. The municipal (city) beach is removed from the port and center closer to the southern outskirts. This is the most equipped and popular beach in the region, also known as SanDali or the beach on Kamysh-Burunskaya spit. The most popular wild beach is a beach on a narrow spit separating the Tobechikskoe salt lake from the Kerch Strait.
Latest reviews about holidays in Kerch
For the first time in "Lyubava" we had a rest 20 years ago, when our daughter was 6 years old! It was a small boarding house from the Bakery. Tiny rooms, iron beds, shower and toilet outside, cooked themselves in the shared kitchen. But we were young and unpretentious and it was very cool and fun because we were always with a group of friends. This year, 2018, my husband and I decided to remember their youth and came to Lyubava. How everything has changed!
Two-room suites with toilet and shower, bedroom with TV and air conditioning. There are two Suites on the second floor with a large terrace and a magnificent sea view, where it is so wonderful to drink tea and watch the sunrise and sunset!
We took a standard room on the first floor with my husband, rested from 02 to 09 July, the house is good New, the room is beautiful, we did not even expect a new one, although the air conditioner started to flow, but in the morning we did it, the sea is close we are not young people for us everything is super Vodichka is like a steam room milk, there are mosquitoes in the evening, but it is tolerable, the only city is 20 minutes away, but it's about 12 minutes by car to the supermarket, breakfast is good porridge plus eggs or pancakes or pancakes, vegetables, a sandwich with cheese was always very convenient and the price was 250 rubles, and we had dinner or in the city or warmed in the microwave as it is more expensive, the beach is wild, but very comfortable, it is very quiet around, that's what we need. . Territory made with soul in the evening rode on a swing near the fountain, photos on the site of this particular house.
Thanks to Victoria and Nadezhda for hospitality, we will try to come next year with our granddaughter.
My son and I went to this mini boarding house for three summers in a row ... We were very pleased! the sea is literally 50 meters, the shore is sandy, the water is clean ... and the mud lake is very close ... the rooms are clean and comfortable. Each has an air conditioner. if you want with conveniences, or not ... but also the amenities on the street are very good ... (everything is at home). The owners are just wonderful people !!! Larissa cooks very well and everyone was always full and happy))))) And the prices are reasonable ... This year we will definitely go again))))) and you come !!!
Rest on the Kerch Peninsula is an opportunity to swim in the waters of two seas, to visit places associated with the dramas of ancient and recent history, to see amazing nature ... And to relax in silence and a calm atmosphere - after all, this part of Crimea is not too explored by tourists!
- It is most convenient to travel around the Kerch Peninsula by car - then you have the opportunity to spend a few days in Kerch, having traveled around the neighborhood of the city, and then move to one of the resort villages on Sea of Azov.
- Most interesting places can be visited by buses and minibuses from the Kerch bus station, but it is not always convenient: for example, a bus to Geroevskoe walks quite rarely and you need to carefully monitor the schedule. Transport runs quite often only on highway Kerch - Feodosia... Those who travel around the peninsula by car should also be guided by this route, turning off it to visit attractions, rather than planning a trip along the coast along the bays Sea of Azov(the roads there are very bad and there are not everywhere, refueling is also difficult).
- If you are not afraid of the prospect of wild camping with a tent, you can go to General's beaches- a stretch of coastline between villages Kurortnoye and Gold with picturesque relief and many secluded small bays. But keep in mind that there is no shade and few fresh sources, so you will probably need a supply of water and a sun awning, as well as a burner - finding fuel for a fire is also problematic.
Day 1. Historical Monuments of Kerch
The first night should be spent in Kerch, in order to get acquainted with its center in the morning. Reaching Lenin Square, you will find yourself in the most interesting part of the city: at the beginning of the pedestrian Lenin streets and close to museums and Mount Mithridates. You can start the inspection from the square and adjacent to it squares of Glory and Of the world decorated with fountains and sculptures. Especially interesting here the temple of John the Baptist- the oldest church in Russia. Attracts attention and pre-revolutionary building of women's gymnasium №2.
Then you can walk along Sverdlov street to visit the Kerch Historical and Archaeological Museum and Temple of Alexander Nevsky(the church and the museum share one building). You can also take a walk in the park area between Sverdlova Street and the embankment, take a picture against the backdrop of the local rotunda and a funny monument to a schoolboy with a broom.
On Teatralnaya , 42 restaurant is located FishKa, whose menu is usually rich in local fish and seafood. And if you walk along Sverdlov Street to Aivazovsky Street, in house 7 you can go to a cafe "Taste of life" with assorted Russian and Italian dishes. However, on the embankment and Lenin Street there are many other cafes and canteens for different wallets, so you will not remain hungry.
After lunch, you can drive along Voykov streets and General Kulakov towards the ferry crossing to visit the Turkish fortress Yeni-Kale... You can freely walk around the fortress at any time, there are few tourists here and it is nice to meet the sunset here. There is a small pebble beach near the fortress where you can swim.
Day 2. Geroevskoe village: memorials and beaches
Village Geroevskoe(aka Geroyevka) is located 17 kilometers from Kerch. To get here by car, you need to leave the city center along Sverdlov Street, move along the streets of Heroes of Stalingrad, Ordzhonikidzhe and Krasnaya Gorka to the highway of Heroes of Eltingen.
Geroevskoe is located next to the district Arshintsevo so the local spacious sandy the beach practically turns into the beaches of the Arshintsevskaya Spit. And if you walk along the coast in the other direction, past wild beaches, you can reach the salty Lake Tobechik with therapeutic mud and take mud baths on a narrow spit between the sea and the estuary, and then plunge into the sea.
The village is interesting not only for the beach: there is a memorial complex dedicated to the landing of Soviet paratroopers on the Kerch Peninsula during the Great Patriotic War. You can go to Museum of the history of the Eltigen landing and see the memorial at Rubizhna street... Particularly impressive is the 20-meter Sail monument on a hill above the sea.
The ruins of an ancient ancient city are located next to the war memorial. Nymphea, they are also available for visiting.
You can spend the whole day in Geroevsky, and at dusk return to Kerch to dine on waterfront... If you still have strength, do not be too lazy to go up again (or drive a car from Pirogov Street along Kursantov Street) to Mount Mithridates in the dark: illuminated by lanterns, it makes a special impression, and the view of the city at night is not at all the same as during the day. Just take warm clothes with you, because it is windy and cool on the mountain even on summer evenings.
Day 3. Adzhimushkay quarries
The third day is worth spending a visit to the village Adzhimushkay 5 kilometers from the center of Kerch (leave the city on the Adzhimushkayskoye highway). There are two very famous tourist sites in the village: Tsar's mound, an ancient tomb from the times of the Bosporus kingdom, and Adzhimushkay quarries- the place where in 1942 the soldiers of the Soviet army and local residents who remained on the peninsula held the defense from the Germans for six months. Of the 13 thousand people who descended into the quarry, less than a thousand survived, and now the museum is dedicated to the memory of this tragic defense. This place makes a very strong impression, so children (as well as people suffering from claustrophobia) should not attend a tour of the dungeon. But the rest should take their minds off an entertaining beach holiday and visit the quarries - this is a significant place and you need to remember about the events associated with it.
The temperature in the quarries is +12 degrees, so you need to bring warm clothes. Plan your trip, because the ticket offices of both museums close quite early: tickets to the Adzhimushkay quarries are on sale until 15.25, and to the Tsarsky Kurgan - until 15.15. The museums themselves are open until 17.00. By the way, the entrance to the quarries is available only for excursion groups, so if you do not want to wait for other excursionists, you will have to purchase five tickets at once - excursions are conducted for groups of 5 people or more.
After Adzhimushkaya you can drive to the village Beacon in the north-east of the peninsula (the road goes past the Kerch ferry). Here is located ostrich farm "Exotic" with a small zoo and a cafe serving exotic dishes from ostrich meat and eggs, as well as traditional Russian cuisine. There is also a beach on the territory, so you can spend a lot of time here swimming and relaxing.
If you do not want to devote the rest of the day to ostriches and return to Kerch - before the railway crossing, do not be too lazy to turn off the Adzhimushkayskoye highway towards the village of Bondarenkovo to call Bulganak mud hills... This is a rather interesting natural attraction: many small mud lakes and craters, from which fountains of liquid mud sometimes pour out. The local mud is useful and used for medical procedures, but there are no conditions for mud baths on the field itself. But the landscape is very colorful and tourists love to photograph it.
Day 4. Kerch Fortress and Arshintsevskaya Spit
The 19th century Russian fortress on the shore of the Kerch Strait is an impressive fortification monument, so take a half day to visit it with a guide. Located Kerch fortress 7 kilometers from the city center, and the last 4 kilometers you have to drive along a broken tiled road at low speed. You need to move along Sverdlov Street to Tamanskaya Street. At the end of the street there is a fortress.
Do not expect impressive views of powerful walls and towers - all fortifications are hidden in the ground and connected by tunnels, and from the outside the fortress looks like only a chain of hills of different heights.
The territory is not completely cleared of mines, only part of the fort and underground tunnels are open for tourists. You can visit the fortress with excursions that take place several times a day along different routes - Fort Totleben, Minsk and Vilensky lunettes. Group excursions take place at 10.00 and 14.30, after this time you will no longer get into the fortress.
The afternoon can be spent on the best Kerch beach Sun Dali on Arshintsevskaya Spit... Leave the fortress along Kolkhoznaya Street and turn onto Ulyanov Street to return to Ordzhonikidze and move towards the Arshintsevo area. The beach is well maintained, but it is quite crowded.
Day 5. Towards the Sea of Azov
Having examined the vicinity of Kerch, you can move to the side Sea of Azov... For a start, it's worth visiting the village Kurortnoye... Leaving Kerch on Kokorin street, you can drive into the village Voikovo and visit grief of saint george... This place attracts pilgrims, because there is a legend about the appearance here of the shepherd of St. George. Before the revolution, the mountain existed Katerlez monastery, now it is being restored and it contains the remains of a shrine that was blown up during the years of Soviet power - a stone with the imprint of the saint's foot and the hoof of his horse.
From the village of Voikovo you will take an asphalt road to the village of Kurortnoye, founded by the Old Believers in the 18th century. Now, only the functioning Old Believer church in the center of the village reminds of the founders, and it is notable for its beautiful beaches, good fishing and proximity to the mud Lake Chokrak on the banks of which you can take a therapeutic mud bath. There are very beautiful landscapes here, especially in the evening light, when the surface of Chokrak turns pink.
Also from the village you can drive or go to General's beaches- 15 km strip of beaches and rocky coves, stretching between the sea and the steppes Karalar Natural Park... The landscapes here are very beautiful, but in the height of summer it is very hot, besides, in the steppe you can meet snakes and centipedes, so be careful if you plan a halt or camp with a tent here. In the resort itself, you can stay overnight in a boarding house or in the private sector.
Day 6. Kazantip Bay
Continuing your acquaintance with the coast of the Azov Sea, go to Kazantip Bay... To do this, you need to return to the Kerch - Feodosia highway and drive until the turn to the village of Lenino. After passing through the village, move to the Shchelkino village ... On the way, you will pass the dilapidated building of the first power unit Crimean nuclear power plant, which served as a backdrop for the filming of the film "Inhabited Island" and a venue for informal parties.
Shchelkino- the youngest village in Crimea, founded for the personnel of the very same Crimean nuclear power plant, which you pass along the way. The construction of the power plant was frozen, recognizing the area as seismically dangerous. But the village, remote from industrial enterprises, is distinguished by clean air and excellent opportunities for swimming, surfing and other types of outdoor activities.
Staying in one of the local hotels or in the private sector, you can swim on the city beach or on the other side of the cape, on Tatar Bay beach... As a rule, if the weather is windy on one side, it is quiet on the other side, and tourists always have a choice.
2 kilometers to the north, at the foot of Cape Kazantip and at the border Kazantip reserve the village is located Mysovoe... The village has hotel "Kazantip Club"(former recreation center "Kazantip"), on the territory of which you can stay in a camping with your own tent.
Or you can just come here to walk along the ecological trail "Kazantip antique" through the territory of the reserve, admiring the bizarre outlines of rocky bays. A permit to visit the territory of the reserve must be obtained in Shelkino, the car will have to be left in Mysovoye.
Day 7. Arabat arrow
If you leave Shchelkino on the Kerch - Feodosia highway and move to the village Batalny and then swerve to the right, you will be taken to Arabat arrow. This coquina spit stretches more than 100 meters between the bay Sivash and the Azov Sea and connects the Kerch Peninsula with the territory of Ukraine. The border runs along the spit, so you can't go through it, but it's interesting to turn around here. Firstly, not far from the beginning of the spit, you will see the ruins of a Turkish fortress Arabat built in the 17th century. The ruins are located not far from the road, two kilometers from the village Kamensky... Tourists rarely get here, so it is interesting to walk around the ruins in silence.
Further, as you move, you will come across abandoned salt pans, where salt was once mined from the Sivash Bay. The landscapes here are quite picturesque: a wild beach with fine sand stretches from the side of the Sea of \ u200b \ u200bAzov, and from the side of the Sivash - the shores of the bay, shimmering pink. This shade is given to the water by the algae living in it. By the way, because of these algae, an unpleasant smell of hydrogen sulfide is felt on the shores of the bay.
In general, the air on the arrow is very useful air, moreover, these places delight with silence and desertedness. But if you decide to stay here with a tent, keep in mind: there are no sources of fresh water and trees on the arrow, that is, there is nowhere to hide from the sun and find fuel for a fire. From the village Salt the border zone begins - it can be visited by Russian citizens with an internal passport, but one should not approach closer than 5 kilometers to the border with Ukraine.
