Medieval fortress of Funa. The Funa fortress is one of the recent finds of archaeologists in Crimea. Cemetery and fortress churches

Funa (Greek Φουνα) is a medieval fortress located on a rocky hill at the foot of Mount Demirdzhi. The name means “smoky” in Greek. Previously, Mount Demirdzhi was also called Funa.

The archeological and architectural monument “Fortification of Funa” is located 2 kilometers north of the village of Luchistoye at the western foot of the South Demerdzhi Mountain. The greatest length of the fortress from north to south is 106 m; from west to east – 56 m. Fortification area – 0.52 hectares.

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The first mention of the Funa fortress dates back to 1384, at which time the fortress was an outpost of the principality and had important military significance. In the Middle Ages, near the fortress there was a trade route that led from Gorzuvit (Gurzuf) and Aluston (Alushta) to the steppe Crimea.

After Genoa captured the Crimean coast from Kafa (Feodosia) to Cembalo (Balaklava), the princes of the Principality of Theodoro built a series of fortresses located higher in the mountains, opposite the main fortresses of the Genoese. These fortresses, on the one hand, controlled and restrained the enemy’s advance deep into the Crimean Peninsula, on the other hand, they were springboards for the capture of coastal cities. Such actions of the Theodorites were caused by the struggle between the principality and the Genoese for possession of the coast. The Funa fortress in this system served as an eastern border outpost, which not only resisted the Genoese fortress located on the territory of Alushta, but also controlled one of the most important caravan routes from the steppe Crimea to the coast.

According to the candidate of historical sciences V.P. Kirilko, who conducted a comprehensive architectural and archaeological study of the fortification structure of the monument, the fortification was erected no earlier than 1422 and no later than the end of 1423, most likely in the spring-summer of 1423. In October-November 1423 It was destroyed everywhere as a result of a powerful earthquake. Presumably, in 1425 the fortification was restored. Soon the outpost buildings were burned. The exact cause of the fire and its date are unknown. Either the Genoese, who in 1434 undertook a punitive expedition against the Theodorites led by Carlo Lomellini, or the Ottomans, in the 50s, could have put the fortification on fire. repeatedly plundered the coast. In 1459, the fortress ensemble underwent a thorough reconstruction and was turned into a castle. In 1475 (as a result of the capture of Crimea by the Ottoman Turks) it ceased to exist.

The results of excavations showed that in 1459 the fortress measuring 105 m in length and 52 m in width, damaged as a result of military operations and earthquakes, was completely rebuilt and significantly strengthened. In particular, a 15-meter three-tiered donjon was erected, the internal dimensions of which were approximately 6 x 10 m with a wall thickness of 2.3 m. The donjon, located in the gate area, provided cover for the sally gates and a cross-section of the adjacent area of ​​the citadel. The castle garrison consisted of approximately 30-40 soldiers.

The fortress occupies an important place in the architectural ensemble of the Funa fortress, the ruins of which can still be seen today. After the destruction of the fortress in 1475 by the Ottoman Turks, it was the church that was best preserved. It was repeatedly repaired and rebuilt, as a result it was preserved until the beginning of the twentieth century.

Not far from the ruins of the fortress there is blocky chaos - a pile of huge boulders and stones. This is the result of the great collapse of 1894 and subsequent collapses. As a result of the collapse, local residents left the area.

The Funa fortress belonged to the Theodorites, who at one time were one of the three serious forces in Crimea. The capital of the principality of Theodora was on Mangup (a cave city), and up to 24 (other sources say a smaller number) fortified fortresses were spread throughout coastal Crimea. The population of the principality was Orthodox and was constantly at enmity with the Muslims (for some period of history they united with Hadji Giray in the fight against the Genoese) and the Genoese (Catholics). The location for the fortress was not chosen by chance. The conveniently located valley was quite far from the sea (the Aluston fortress was located on the very shore), but on the Little Silk Road, which was quite busy at that time, running to Kafa. This location made it possible to charge a fee for passage through the territory and security. Around the fortress there was a village where farmers lived, who provided food for the fortress garrison and had the opportunity, in case of danger, to find shelter behind its thick walls. The walls of the fortress are truly impressive - some were up to 15 m high! Unfortunately, the fortress was badly damaged during the Crimean earthquake of 1927. Scientists believe that the gate temple was completely destroyed by this earthquake. Only fragments of the walls, part of the fortress - don-jon and part of the temple have survived to this day. Excavations were carried out in the fortress, which made it possible to determine the exact age of the fortress and also many interesting details. For example, during excavations a marble slab was found (a copy lies in front of the entrance), from which it was possible to read the time of construction of the fortress and accurately identify the prince-owner of the fortress. Another interesting fact: during excavations, amulets crosses were discovered in the masonry of the walls. The builders built crosses into the walls with the relics of saints so that they would protect the fortress in case of danger. Funa as a fortification structure is indeed very interesting, primarily for its thoughtfulness. The outer gate, a narrow stone bag, allowed the defenders, if the main gate was broken, to shower the attackers with arrows from the walls, while the besiegers could not maneuver in the narrow passage. And finally, a rounded passage under the casemate tower, which made it difficult to drag and deploy the ram in order to break the third gate. The angle of the walls in this part did not allow the attackers to run up to ram the gate. Enemies had to break them manually. And all this under a hail of stones and arrows. Despite, however, a superbly thought-out defense system, the fortress was taken. Along with the fall of the Grand Duchy of Theodoro, all its fortifications also fell.

The Funa Fortress, one of the most beautiful and little-known attractions of Alushta, is within walking distance. A visit to the fortress is almost always combined with a visit to the Valley of Ghosts.

Geographic coordinates of the Funa fortress on the map of Crimea GPS N 44.751605, E 34.388937

Today, Funa Fortress, operates like an open-air museum from 9:00 to 18:00. The price of tickets to visit the Funa fortress is 75 rubles, if with an excursion - then 100 rubles, a children's ticket is a 50% discount. Phone for inquiries: +7-978-76-02-325; +7-978-782-29-16.
The visit to the fortress begins with the defensive wall, near which there is a copy of the first foundation stone with the coats of arms of the houses of the fortress founders. It is noteworthy that the rightmost coat of arms almost completely corresponds to the coat of arms of Russia, the reason is quite simple, this coat of arms belongs to the Byzantines and was later adopted by Tsarist Russia, which is often called the third Rome or the heir of Byzantium in history.
After the foundation stone we pass into the second compartment of the defensive structure - a stone bag. Having broken through the first gate, the attackers find themselves in an L-shaped corridor, which completely eliminates the use of a ram, and numerous loopholes make this place extremely fatal for attackers.

Above the stone sack is the foundation of an ancient church. All that was left of it was the foundation. The church was named after one of the most revered saints of Christianity, Theodore Stratilates. It was destroyed relatively recently at the beginning of the 20th century, after the 1927 earthquake. Over the course of 4-6 years, the stones were dismantled for the construction of the village by local residents.
After viewing the foundation of the fortress, the guides show and talk about the history of the fortress and show copies of artifacts that were found during excavations. On average, a tour of the Funa fortress lasts 20-30 minutes, in an interactive format, question and answer, with small 4-5 minute inserts from the guide. An excursion in this format turns out to be quite eventful and interesting. After the tour, you can walk around the fortress and take photos or videos.

History of Funa Fortress

It was erected in 1423 for the defense of the Theodorian kingdom. The fortress was located at a strategically important height and, what is also very important, on the old Silk Road, that is, on the route of goods from the southern coast of Crimea to its eastern part. From the top there is a large overview of the South Coast and the Genoese fortress of Aluston. Six months after its construction, the Funa fortress was destroyed due to a powerful earthquake.

In 1425, the fortress was restored again, erecting additional fortifications and strengthening the fortress wall. In 1434, Carlo Lomellini allegedly led a campaign against Theodorites and destroyed the Funa fortress, almost to the ground.
In 1459, the fortress was rebuilt again and strengthened until 1475, before the Ottoman Empire invaded Crimea. After the Ottoman invasion, the fortress lost its strategic importance, but the temple existed until 1927. In 1927, a powerful earthquake occurred in Crimea, which destroyed many attractions - Swallow's Nest, Vorontsov Palace and others, including the Funa fortress. The fortress is gradually being restored. Over the course of 100 years, archaeologists have excavated only 30% of the territory. The fortress is still full of secrets, riddles and discoveries.

How to get to Funa Fortress

Between the village of Perevalnoye and the city of Alushta, along the Yalta highway, there is the village of Luchistoye. It is the village of Luchistoye that is the starting point to the fortress. At the entrance to the village, towards Mount Demerdzhi, there will be two turns, the first with a dirt road, very bad in spring and autumn. Therefore, you need to use the second road, which is paved and leads, as a landmark, to the Podkova equestrian club. From the equestrian club, the road goes to the Funa fortress itself.
There is free parking near the fortress. After visiting the fortress, you can visit either Mount Demerdzhi, with the main attraction being the Valley of Ghosts, or book a horseback ride.

To Mount Demerdzhi you can go up on foot or rent a Jeep with a driver from 3,500 to 4,000 rubles. per car (4-5 people), horseback riding will cost from 1000 to 1500 rubles. The price varies depending on the season (spring, summer, autumn).
If you decide to visit Crimea, then Mount Demerdzhi and will be one of the first attractions worth visiting. Funa Fortress is often included in the list. Also in Crimea, one of the most beautiful legends is quite famous, which is associated with the mountain. Read more about.

Address: Russia, Republic of Crimea, near the village of Luchistoye, near the South Demerdzhi mountain
Start of construction: 1422
Completion of construction: 1459
Coordinates: 44°45"06.1"N 34°23"19.6"E

The medieval fortress of Funa is located on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula. It is located in the southeast of the Demerdzhi mountain range, near the village of Luchistoye. From Greek “funa” is translated as “smoky”.

Model of the Funa fortress

The history of the medieval fort

The first written evidence of the fortress is found in the chronicles of 1384. In those days, Funa was the southern outpost of the Principality of Theodoro, one of the powerful medieval states. When the principality gained power over the Crimean lands, its ruler issued a decree on the construction of several impressive fortresses. They should have been located on rocky cliffs and hills, turning them into strong fortifications. The combination of these fortresses provided the principality with good protection from enemies. In addition, from these forts, the inhabitants of the principality could, if desired, attack neighboring cities.

The Funa fortress was a classic version of a medieval residential complex, which included a settlement, a fort and a burial ground, i.e. a cemetery. They occupied an area of ​​just over 0.5 hectares. In the Middle Ages, a trade route passed near Funa, along which goods from Aluston and Gorzuvit (the modern resorts of Alushta and Gurzuf) were delivered to the north - to the Crimean steppes.

Ruins of the Church of Fyodor Stratilates in the Funa fortress

Why did Prince Theodoro choose a place for a fortress at the foot of the majestic Demerdzhi mountain range? Historians believe that his choice was due to the passage of a busy road in this place. And the results of studying the territory of the village itself led archaeologists to believe that it appeared at the end of the 10th – beginning of the 11th centuries. This period is considered a turning point for the Crimean peninsula, because it was then that these lands were liberated from the rule of the Khazars.

However, no matter how hard the scientists tried, the mysterious fortress of Funa never revealed all its secrets to them, and descendants received only scant written sources telling about the life of the settlement. Due to the fact that the Funa fortress was often the site of clashes between opposing sides, it was destroyed, but each time the fortifications were not only restored, but also strengthened.

View of the eastern side of the fortress

A turning point in the fate of the fortress occurred in 1475. Funa, unable to withstand the offensive of the stubborn Ottoman Turks, was destroyed almost to the ground.

They did not rebuild it again, although people lived near the ruins of the fortress for quite a long time. They left here only at the end of the 19th century, when giant boulders of stone fell from the slopes of Demerdzhi into the valley. They can still be seen today.

Fearing that the terrible collapse might happen again, people moved lower into the valley. Another natural disaster occurred in Crimea in 1927. A strong earthquake led to significant changes in the structure of the fortress - the formation of new cracks and destruction.

Entry tower

Settlement layout

Of greatest interest to connoisseurs of architectural monuments on the territory of the ancient fortification are the ancient church and the remains of fortifications.

In the first half of the 19th century, traces of two large buildings and the entrance to the fortress territory were visible here. According to the famous researcher Pyotr Ivanovich Keppen, author of the Crimean Collection, at one time there was a tower on the eastern side of this entrance. The scientist also suggested that the purpose of erecting such a powerful fortification was the desire of the Theodorites to control the road passing through the Angara Gorge. In addition, the observant Koppen noticed the orderly arrangement of all defensive fortifications.

Fortress Gate

The appearance of the settlement was recreated by archaeologists along the perimeter of the estates, the location of which was guessed in ancient ruins. From the main street there were small alleys, and in them there were houses with one or two rooms. The walls of the dwellings were thin, as they were built from wild stone combined with a clay mortar. The buildings were covered with tiles. In the courtyards there were outbuildings close to each other. Surprisingly, scientists were unable to find traces of the defensive fence protecting the settlement.

Cemetery and fortress churches

The fortress church is also represented by a single-nave basilica. It was used both as a religious building and as a bastion, that is, it was part of the fortress’s defense system. The single-apse fortress church had a barrel vault, and its keeled and pointed arches resembled the inverted bottom of a ship. The window structures of the temple were decorated with carved ornaments.

The size of the fortress church was almost 3 times larger than the cemetery church. It was 15 m long and just over 10 m wide. All church services took place on the top floor. In this room there were small columns along the walls, the crown of which were capitals decorated with carved floral patterns.

Ruins of the fortress

The church of the ancient fort could be reached through two passages. One of them led to a casemate on the ground floor of the building, and the other, with steps, led to the temple room. Scientists believe that this church was built at the end of the 12th – beginning of the 13th century. Until the 15th century, the architectural design of the shrine did not undergo changes, but subsequently the church was rebuilt, and it was slightly reduced.

Funa Fortress burial ground

On a small hill on the northern side of the fortress there is a cemetery, in the slab graves of which the inhabitants of the settlement are buried. All burials were lined with slate slabs, which were mounted on the bottom - the ground, covered with a piece of fabric or felt. They are also covered with slabs of lime or slate.

Weapons of the fortress defenders

Single burials were rare here. Most slab graves contain the remains of 2-5 bodies. All graves are oriented from east to west, and the deceased lie in them with their feet facing east, as Christian custom dictates. Since the residents of the village of Funa professed Christianity, after death their relatives did not place any objects in their graves. However, in some burials, researchers still found amulets, mugs and jugs. And this fact confirmed that some families in the settlement adhered to pre-Christian customs.

Archaeological finds

Carrying out archaeological excavations, researchers found many interesting artifacts in Funa, especially fragments of dishes and kitchen utensils.

To store liquids and bulk products and grain, the population of the fortress settlement used pithos - tall, capacious vessels shaped like a spindle. The pithoi had a pointed bottom. They were decorated with wave patterns or “belts” made in the form of rollers and having indentations made by the fingers of the potters who sculpted the vessels. Pithos were either placed in specially equipped niches, or the lower part was buried in the ground.

A copy of a slab found during excavations at the Funa fortress

In addition to these huge vessels, archaeologists have found pottery with a single handle, as well as glazed ware covered with a layer of glass. A low-melting glass layer was attached to the clay when the ceramics underwent a secondary firing. The smooth glass decor of the dishes had brown, green and yellow shades.

Crimea can be considered one of the most tourist-rich territories in the world. This applies to both the natural and cultural features of the peninsula, located at the junction of the eastern and western worlds, disappeared civilizations and successive states. Some of them managed to be here in one time period. An example of a witness to such events is the Funa fortress in Alushta.

What is remarkable about it?

The name "Funa" is translated from Greek as "smoky". It received its name in honor of the Funa Fortress, which was built at the foot of this most beautiful peak on the southern coast of Crimea. By the way, the legendary “Prisoner of the Caucasus” and other Soviet films were filmed in these places.

In ancient times, the Little Silk Road passed through this place, going from Gorzuvit (Gurzuf now) and Aluston (Alushta in modern times) to Kafa (now Feodosia). It is no coincidence that a fortress appeared on such a popular trade route to guard trade caravans, and at the same time to collect money from them for the opportunity to pass.

The Funa fortress was part of the Orthodox Church, which was in constant conflict with the Genoese and Muslims. The area of ​​the fortification was small - 56 meters wide and 106 meters long. On the western side it entered the rock, and on the rest it was covered by defensive walls 15 meters high. The Funa fortress was first mentioned in 1384. But in most sources, the completion of the construction of the complex is dated 1422.

A powerful earthquake that occurred immediately after this date led to the fact that the fortress began to be rebuilt again in 1425. But the trials were not over. And the blows of the elements were replaced by repeated fires, each time literally incinerating the Funa fortress. In 1459, the building underwent a significant reconstruction, which transformed the structure into a castle. After this, a donjon was built at the entrance gate in three tiers with a height of 15 meters and a wall thickness of 2.3 meters. It contained the apartments of the heir to the Theodorian throne.

In 1475, the fortress was damaged again, this time by the Ottoman Turks. The most preserved remains the temple dedicated to the holy and great warrior of the time of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine I, nicknamed the Great. Then, in 1475, Crimea was captured by the Turks, who finally destroyed the Funa fortress. And all the local residents left this place after a huge collapse occurred in 1894, which buried the former glory of this complex.

Now an important role in the historical heritage of the architectural ensemble of the Funa fortress is played by the ruins of the Church of St. Theodore Stratelates, which was best preserved during the attack of the Ottoman Turks. The church was rebuilt and repaired several times, so it existed until the beginning of the 20th century.

Not far from the ruins there is the so-called blocky chaos in the form of a pile of pieces of rock and stones of various sizes. This is material evidence of both the powerful collapse of 1894 and subsequent smaller cataclysms. Thus, very noticeable damage to the remains of the structure was caused by the Yalta earthquake of 1927.

Archaeological finds

During excavations of the complex, archaeologists discovered amulets in the masonry of the walls. The builders of the fortress walled up crosses with the relics of saints into the masonry, most likely for protection from dark forces. A marble stone was also discovered with the date of construction of the structure and the princely symbolism of Theodoro. A copy of this find is installed in front of the entrance.

After the capture of Crimea by the Nazi occupiers, major excavations were organized in the wake of local legends about the Queen of the Goths and the treasures of the Gothic crown hidden in these places. They did not lead to any significant results, but the legends about the buried crown are still alive.

Current state

Nowadays, the Funa fortress is a ruin, which is a pile of stones on the site of a two-story church, a front courtyard and the entire Funa with merchants' shops, taverns and residential buildings. Only a single fragment of the church apse, hanging over a large garden near the road, reminds of the former greatness of the fortification. Examining the ruins, one can easily imagine the scale of construction and the power of the fortification, the width of the walls in some places reaching two meters.

A semicircular ledge is visible above the ruins - the apse, which once served as the altar of the fortress church. The altar was practically intact until the thirties of the last century. Nearby there were residential buildings, in the place of which there is now only a pile of stones. About three hundred meters north of the ruins are the burials of the inhabitants of the village and the Funa fortress.

Museum work

Today, on the site of the former fortress there is an open-air museum. On its territory, tourists are greeted by a model showing the appearance of the active fortress. Tours are organized here from almost all cities of Crimea. The cost of a tour of the open-air museum is minimal. A walk along the nearby cliffs is free. The museum is open from 8:00 to 17:00.

Funa Fortress: how to get there?

An important advantage of Funa is its accessibility for tourists. Tourists pass by it when traveling from Simferopol to Alushta. Stopping along the way, in just an hour and a half you can explore the ruins that the real medieval fortress of Funa left behind. A souvenir photo against the backdrop of a famous Crimean landmark should definitely remain in your album.

This interesting and medieval architecture is located north of the village of Luchistoye, about two kilometers from it. You can get there from Alushta by regular bus from the city bus station. From the side of Radiant, a little lower than the Kutuzovsky Fountain, it passes. You can also drive there by car. By the way, in Luchistoye itself there is the opportunity to ride horses. A number of companies organize these excursions.

If you are planning to stay on the southern coast of Crimea, be sure to visit the Valley of Ghosts on Mount Demerdzhi, 7 km away. from Alushta.

At the foot of this mountain are the ruins of the ancient fortress of Funa. Usually all these 3 attractions (Mount Demerdzhi, Valley of Ghosts, Funa Fortress) are visited together.

Funa in miniature

How to get to Funa Fortress

By car:

From Kerch and Feodosia you drive towards Alushta, through Sudak. Before reaching Alushta approximately 7 km there will be a sign for Radiant, there you turn right and go to the center of the village (landmark Church and bus stop). From the stop, drive another 100 meters and turn right onto Gornaya Street, go to the sign “Funa Fortress” (this is the very end of the street), then left and then straight ahead to the fortress about 2 km.

From Sevastopol, Yalta, Alushta, Alupka, go towards Sudak until the sign Radial, then left.

By public transport:

107 bus from the Alushta bus station to the village of Luchistoye. Get off at the terminus, then walk about three kilometers along Gornaya Street to the end, then turn left and straight for about another 2 km. You can get there by UAZ from the terminal (usually there are cars waiting for tourists there). Cost about 500 rubles.

If you are going to travel by public transport, be sure to check when the last bus leaves, otherwise you risk not leaving!

As part of a tourist group, in a UAZ, taxi:

I don’t think there’s much to explain here. There are plenty of excursion sellers in any city. You definitely won't pass by. The cost of the excursion (2016) is from 1100 rubles. per person.

Cost of excursion to Funa Fortress

History of the fortress

Historians date the first mention of the Funa fortress to 1384. Having become an outpost of the Principality of Theodoro, the fortress covered the busy trade route from Alushta (Aluston) and Gurzuf (Gurzuvit) to the lands of the steppe Crimea.

Records about Fun were found in patriarchal letters, which describe various opinions and judgments about the parishes of the Metropolitans of Gotha, Sugei and Kherson. The deans could not divide the territories, so they argued about the villages, one of which was located next to Alusta Funa, nicknamed Fonna by the Genoese.

A slightly later mention of the fortress is in church records from 1836, where there are surveys of resettled Greeks from the Mariupol district. Crimeans say that the village of Funa was the center of faith and in it was the church of St. Theodore Stratelates, one of the famous warriors of the time of the Byzantine emperor Constantine I the Great.

The fortress, located on a rocky hill of the South Demerdzha mountain, was built from the western foot. The busy road is not the only reason for the construction, because the inhabitants of the Principality of Theodoro, being Orthodox Christians, waged a continuous war with the Genoese. And when the latter conquered the entire Crimean coast from Kafa to Chembolo (in modern times Feodosiya and Balaklava), the ruling princes were forced to build fortifications on the slopes, placing them opposite the main Genoese fortifications. Funa, a southern outpost, whose name is translated from Genoese as “Smoky”, became one of these fortresses.

The historical path of the Funa fortress was quite destructive. It was crushed by guns and earthquakes, it burned both from natural fires and during periods of military action. In 1459, Funa underwent a general reconstruction and turned into a castle. In addition to the reconstruction, the fortress was strengthened with a capital donjon, the three-tiered tower of which rose to a height of 15 meters! The thickness of the walls was more than 2 meters, and the internal dimensions of the tower are amazing: 6x10 meters, and this is not today, but in the 16th century, when there were practically no buildings of similar dimensions.

The donjon was equipped with space to accommodate 30-40 soldiers, and this was enough to cover the sally gates, and its location at the main gate provided ideal coverage of the areas adjacent to the citadel. The enemy did not even have a chance to penetrate the territory of the Funa fortress unnoticed.

The Church of St. Theodore Stratilates was also part of the fortress ensemble. The building has practically turned into ruins, however, time is to blame. The church was not destroyed by any enemy, and even during the attack in 1475, the Ottomans, having completely destroyed all the fortifications, did not touch the Christian shrine. Although preserved much better than the Funa fortress, the temple also needed restoration. The church was rebuilt and renovated, only because of this it was able to exist until the beginning of the 20th century, and today tourists can see the remains of the religious building, clearly visible inside the fortress wall.

Funa was truly one of the most prominent fortresses. The internal line of fortifications had a length of more than 700 meters. The walls and towers were replete with loopholes, stairs and platforms for the convenience of soldiers.

The defensive citadel consisted not only of a wall, but also of a three-story building, as well as a gate covered with a protective vault. But time is merciless, like the boulders of Demerdzhi rolling down the slopes. The fortress walls were partially destroyed by stones, and some fragments fell into the abyss due to the convergence of the soil. But even today, connoisseurs of antiquity can enjoy the remains of ancient masonry, appreciate the size of the interior, admire the views and estimate the power of the famous Funa fortress.