Swallow's Nest

The Swallow's Nest (Ukrainian Ластівчине гніздо / Lastiwtschyne hnisdo, Russian Ласточкино гнездо / Lastotschkino gnesdo, Crimean Tatar Qarılğaç Yuvası ) is a castle on the south coast of the Crimea peninsula near Yalta. It is about 40 meters above the sea on a cliff, the Ai- Todor cape. The castle combines elements of historicist neo-Gothic style with oriental architecture.

Even in ancient times, the Cape of Greeks inhabited. As archaeological excavations proved the Romans settled in the 1st century AD here. They built a fortification that was protected by two lines of defense with towers. About 700 years later, a small monastery was built by Byzantine monks on the middle rock, but of which nothing remains today.

After the Crimea was annexed by Russia, was a Russian general to build a small summer house. As developed in the 19th century Yalta became a popular spa town gained a Moscow lady the estate. You had the house of General demolish and built a small castle on the rocks. In 1911/12 it was for the Baltic German Baron von Steingel - a then resident of Baku oil millionaire - to the present castle rebuilt.

In the violent earthquake of 1927, the building was badly damaged. The pillars of the terrace and part of the cliff fell into the sea. In 1968 started the restoration, including the castle had to be completely removed. The rock was stabilized and protected against earthquakes. In 1971, the castle, complemented by pointed towers, be reopened. From 1993 to 2011, was in an Italian restaurant ( Nido di Rondine ). The decision of the Regional Parliament of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in March 2011, the Swallow's Nest was declared the common property of the Crimea. The contract was declared with the restaurant on the initiative of the Council of Ministers of Crimea for terminated by court order. The building will include a permanent exhibition in the future. In addition, it is used as a cultural venue.

The Swallow's Nest has become a landmark for the Greater Yalta.

Literatura

• Thomas Gerlach: Crimea: With trips to Odessa and Bessarabia. Trescher, Berlin 2014, ISBN 978-3-89794-219-6.
• Helga Ewert: The Crimea: fascinating places and landscapes on the southern Crimean; a guide through the past and present, 8th edition, Gaasterland, Dusseldorf 2010, ISBN 978-3-935873-31-4.