Chufut-Kale is a medieval cave city and fortress perched on a rocky plateau in the Crimean Mountains near Bakhchysarai. It is thought to have originated as a Byzantine-era fortress held by local peoples such as the Alans, and it later became a stronghold of the Crimean Khanate in its early period. From the 14th century it was home to Karaite Jews, and the name in Crimean Tatar means Jewish fortress. The Karaites gradually moved away in the 19th century. The site preserves cave dwellings and houses cut into the rock, defensive walls and gates, and two Karaite prayer houses called kenesas, and it is a popular destination for visitors to Crimea.
Before and after
- from 481 CE to 843 CEFranciaf
- c. 482 CEOrigins of Kyiv
- 11 May 482 CEBirth of Justinian I
- 495 CEConstruction of Shaolin Monastery
- 5th centuryOrigins of Chufut-Kale
- 5th centurySalic law
- c. 500sRise of medieval music
- from 5th century to 7th centuryJahiliyyah
- from 502 CE to 506 CEAnastasian War
More in Civilizations & archaeology
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- 990 CEConstruction of Château de Montsoreau
- from 11th century to 18th centuryHouse of Habsburg
- from 1206 to 1368Mongol Empire
- 1239Construction of Alhambra
- 1420Construction of Kremlin
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes.