Catherine II's journey to Crimea - And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not embrace it. Catherine II's journey to Crimea Who gave Crimea to Catherine 2

Catherine II's journey to the noon region of Russia in 1787

Collection of maps for the journey of Her Imperial Majesty to the midday region of Russia in 1787 / Op. A. Wilbrecht. - [SPb.: 1787]. - 8 sheets: Handwritten, coloured; 56x40 (67x46) cm. Sweet. in a case 22x17 cm. (K 1-RossE 6/3)
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Map of Her Imperial Majesty's Journey to the Midday Land of Russia in 1787. [Op. A. Wilbrecht]. – St. Petersburg: [Geographical Department of the Cabinet, 1786]. – M. . – 1l. 38.0x62.0 (42.0x65.0). Copper engraving. Knock on paper. (K 1-RossE 2/76)
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From the publication: The journey of Her Imperial Majesty to the midday region of Russia, undertaken in 1787. Printed at the Mining School in 1786. St. Petersburg, 1786 (publication preceded the trip of Catherine II).

Description of the route in the publication: Khrapovitsky A.V. Journal of the highest travel of Her Majesty Empress Catherine II. All-Russian Autocrats, in the Midday Countries of Russia in 1787. M., 1787.

Maps cover the territory of the European part of Russia, including Crimea, part of the Kingdom of Poland and Moldova.

After the conclusion of the Kuchuk-Kainardzhi Peace Treaty in 1774 and the signing by Catherine II in 1783 of the Manifesto on the annexation of Crimea and the Taman Peninsula to the Russian Empire, Russia firmly established itself in the Northern Black Sea region and Crimea. Under the direction of G.A. Potemkin, the fleet and army were strengthened here, cities and fortresses were built, roads were improved.

In 1787, Catherine went to personally inspect the newly acquired possessions. The trip also pursued political goals - to demonstrate to Turkey and Europe the power of the Russian state and Russia’s intention to forever secure the peninsula; redeploy troops in view of the impending new war with the Ottoman Empire; conduct negotiations with European monarchs - Austrian Emperor Joseph II, Polish King Stanislaw August Poniatowski and Swedish King Gustav III.

Catherine left St. Petersburg on January 2 (13), 1787. The Empress was accompanied by about three thousand people - servants, Russian ministers and dignitaries, ladies-in-waiting, courtiers, as well as representatives of foreign diplomatic missions. From St. Petersburg to Kyiv, 76 stations were set up, at each of them 550 horses were prepared and premises were built for storing supplies. The path to the south lay through Smolensk, Novgorod-Seversky, Chernigov, Kyiv, and from there to Ekaterinoslav along the Dnieper. In Kanev, Catherine met with Stanislav August Poniatowski. Near Kremenchug, the Empress was joined by Emperor Joseph II, who arrived incognito under the name of Count Falkenstein. Then the august traveler went to Kherson, and from there to the destination of the trip - Crimea. At the border of each governorship, the empress was met by the governor or governor-general. In each of the main cities, where fireworks, performances and balls were held to mark her arrival, she spent a day or two meeting with representatives of the nobility, clergy and merchants. In Crimea, receiving numerous deputations from the Tatars, Kabardians and other southern peoples, Catherine became convinced of the trustworthiness and loyalty of her new subjects. In Feodosia, the final point of the trip, at the former Khan's mint, two gold medals “The Path to Benefit” were made in memory of the trip. Prince Potemkin presented them to Catherine and Emperor Joseph.

The trip left the empress with the most favorable impression. The Ottoman Empire regarded Catherine’s trip to Crimea as a challenge and issued an ultimatum to Russia demanding the restoration of the vassalage of the Crimean Khanate and Georgia, as well as permission to inspect ships passing through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits. On August 13 (24), 1787, having received a refusal, the Ottoman Empire declared war, which ended in the victory of Russia and the conclusion of the Peace of Jassy

SIMFEROPOL, April 2 - RIA Novosti (Crimea). lasted six months. During this time, she visited Kyiv, Chernigov, Kherson, Simferopol, Bakhchisarai, Mariupol, Sevastopol: old and newly rebuilt cities through which her motorcade passed.

"Catherine's Way" - the path to benefit

This was a trip for the first time in the world planned according to all the rules for organizing a VIP tour. Here you can trace all its components: transport, accommodation, food, cultural program and even souvenirs.

Myths and legends

One of the established myths about Catherine’s trip is the so-called “Potemkin villages,” which later even entered the vernacular, denoting certain unrealistic and ostentatious projects.

Potemkin, of course, loved, in the fashion of those times, what is called “showing off,” which was in the traditions of the courtiers of that time. For example, along the entire route, which passed through Kyiv, Chernigov, Ekaterinoslav, Kherson, the local nobility organized magnificent meetings and farewells for the imperial cortege, which consisted of almost two dozen carriages, hundreds of sleighs and wagons.

The author of the legend about the “Potemkin villages” (they say that there were no buildings in Novorossiya: the houses were painted on wooden boards, and the peasants were transported from one place to another) was the Saxon diplomat Georg Gelbig. But Gelbig himself was in St. Petersburg at that time and did not accompany the empress on her trip. And, according to historians, he published his inventions to denigrate both Potemkin and Russia as a whole.

Clean wasn't a nice date

Another legend that exists in Crimea regarding the names of a number of settlements. In particular, this applies to the villages of Chistenkoye and Pleasant Date. Popular rumor says that the name Chistenkoye came from Catherine’s bath in the bathhouse, from which she came out and said: “I am clean.” According to another version, at the entrance to Simferopol the empress stopped at one of the estates, which she really liked for its cleanliness and decoration.

As for the village of Pleasant Date, the history of its name is even simpler: they say that Potemkin met Ekaterina here. But that's not true. Grigory Alexandrovich met Ekaterina Alekseevna at the border of Novorossiya.

“These are late folk memories,” says Andrey Malgin, director of the Central Museum of Taurida.

According to him, the name of the village - Pleasant Date - dates back to the time of the Crimean War and the first siege of Sevastopol. There was an officer, Nikolai Berg, who describes that on the way to Sevastopol there was a tavern, on the sign of which on the Sevastopol side it was written “Hello!”, and on the Simferopol side “See you!”

In addition, there is still debate among historians and local historians about whether Catherine prayed or not in Simferopol in the Church of Constantine and Helena, which is located on the border of the old Ak-Mosque and new Simferopol.

Some say that, struck by the poverty of the church, the empress expressed the desire to see a “decent cathedral church” in the city. And Vladimir Gurkovich, a Crimean local historian and one of the researchers of Catherine’s visit, says that the empress could not pray in this temple, since it was built almost a century later.

In the Khan's palace in Bakhchisarai there is the former Khan's bedchamber, where Catherine stayed. An exhibition is open here, which displays the Empress’s bed, her ceremonial dress, commemorative medals, and portraits.

"My darling, Grishanya"

Allegations that personal relations between Catherine and Potemkin were shaken, allegedly due to the presence of new favorites, are, to put it mildly, untrue.

It is enough to cite as an example just a few letters from the personal correspondence of Catherine and Potemkin. The correspondence was quite active. We will cite only a part of it, which also contains personal assessments, in which Catherine calls Potemkin “darling”, “dear darling”, “darling” and “Grishanya”. In addition, the empress discussed foreign policy topics with him.

For example: May 5th, 1783

“My dear prince, I just received your letter from Krichev and from it and other dispatches I saw that Khan had renounced the Khanate. And there is nothing to regret about that, just order him to be treated kindly and with respect befitting a ruler, and to give him what he deserves.” appointed, for I do not change my other dispositions about him.”

"... Now our border is along the Bug and Kuban. Kherson has been built. Crimea is a region of the Empire and a noble fleet in Sevastopol. Corps of troops in Taurida, noble armies are already on the border itself, and they are stronger than the defensive and offensive armies of 1768. Give God, so that money doesn't come to pass, in which I will now try my best and hope to be successful. I hope in your ardent care that you will preserve the Sevastopol harbor and fleet unharmed, through the winter the fleet in the harbor is always in danger. It is true that Sevastopol is not Chesma. I confess "There is only one thing that scares me, that is, an ulcer. For God himself, I ask you - take all possible measures in your three provinces, in the army and in the navy, in advance, so that this evil does not creep into us through weakness. It seems that the French now have a good reason refuse all help to the Turks, since war has been declared against their solicitations to preserve peace.”

"Tavrichesky"

After Catherine's visit to Crimea - Tauride. In addition, the empress awarded the first persons of the province and military commanders with new ranks and orders. Monetary dachas were granted: to the clergy stationed at the fleet in Sevastopol, to the Greek clergy in Feodosia and Bakhchisarai, to the mosque in Karasubazar, to the mosque and dervishes in Bakhchisarai.

“For schools in the Tauride region, the lower ranks of all troops in Tauris located one ruble for each person, also for the poor and disabled, which amounted to a significant amount,” said the imperial rescript.

Results of the trip

The economic, political, and diplomatic significance of this journey cannot be overestimated. named Crimea by Catherine. “The West should have learned what sources of wealth and power Russia has,” noted Count Segur, who accompanied Catherine on that voyage. There's probably no better way to say it. However, we must add to this the enormous significance that the trip—practically an audit of a number of Russian provinces—had on the development of their economy. It is no coincidence that Catherine more than once emphasized to her companions that “she travels not in order to see cities and regions, which were quite familiar to her from plans and descriptions, but in order to see people and give them the opportunity to see the empress, get closer to her, submit complaints to her, and thereby to correct many inconveniences, abuses, omissions and injustices."

The material was prepared on the basis of information from open sources, as well as RIA Novosti’s own information (Crimea).

(from January 2, 1787 to July 11, 1787) - a journey unprecedented in scale, number of participants, cost and travel time, which ultimately lasted more than six months. Suggested route: Luga - Velikiye Luki - Smolensk - Novgorod-Seversky - Chernigov - Kiev - Ekaterinoslav - Kherson - Perekop - Bakhchisarai - Sevastopol - Ak-Mosque - Karasubazar - Sudak - Old Crimea - Feodosia - Genichi - Mariupol - Taganrog - Nakhichevan - Cherkassk - Azov - Bakhmut - Belgorod - Oboyan - Kursk - Orel - Mtsensk - Tula - Serpukhov - Moscow - Klin - Torzhok - Vyshny Volochek - Novgorod - St. Petersburg. A total of 5657 versts, including 446 by water.

Preparation

Travel to the new southern lands was first discussed back in 1780.

Preparations for the journey began in 1784 with the strengthening of the Black Sea Fleet and the army located in the south of Russia. The construction of cities and fortifications began, the emergence of which influenced the growth of the economy of the newly acquired region. In the fall of 1786, Potemkin gave the order to the regiments of the Russian army to be stationed at the locations of the proposed travel route. With this order, Potemkin pursued 2 goals: the proximity of troops in case of unforeseen actions of Russia’s enemies and for the troops to carry out part of the preparatory work. For example, an army was concentrated near Kyiv under the command of P. A. Rumyantsev (100 thousand people).

Compound

The imperial retinue consisted of about 3,000 thousand people (32 highest dignitaries of the Empire, ambassadors of England, Austria and France, court officials, governors, governors and administrators of the lands along which the motorcade, lackeys and other servants moved). The imperial train consisted of 14 carriages, 124 sleighs with wagons and 40 spare sleighs. Catherine II rode in a carriage for 12 people, drawn by 40 horses, where she was accompanied by courtiers, representatives of foreign diplomatic missions who were invited on the trip, and servants.

For the first time in the world!

The trip of the Highest Person (as they would say now - VIP) to the noon region had no precedents - neither in scale, number of participants, travel time, cost... However, neither the long journey nor age-related ailments (the Empress turned 58 years old) forced Catherine give up the desire to personally explore the newly acquired “midday region”. This was a trip for the first time in the world planned according to all the rules of organizing a tour. Here you can trace all the components of a classic tour: transport, accommodation, food, cultural program and even souvenirs. So we can say with complete confidence: the journey of Catherine the Great marked the beginning of Crimean tourism as a whole. In addition, this event laid the foundation for the traditions of political VIP tourism, which were successfully developed and continued by almost all the rulers of the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union and independent Ukraine. The money allocated by the treasury - 15 million rubles - corresponded to the grandeur of the plan. To imagine this amount, it is enough to say that a good cash cow at that time cost 8 rubles. So, in the fall of 1784, His Serene Highness Prince Grigory Potemkin signed an order “On the preparation of a certain number of horses at various stations, on the places where there will be dining tables during the trip, on the palaces that should be built according to the sent drawing, on apartments in the cities for the retinue.” The army received orders to change quarters and move closer to the places where the travel route was supposed to be: the soldiers, as usual, were entrusted with all the numerous work on the ground. And there was no end to the work: entire cities were built for the trip: Ekaterinoslavl, Kherson, Nikolaev, Simferopol, Sevastopol...

Roads

Roads continued to be Russia's second main problem. Therefore, it was a matter of honor for Potemkin to pave a worthy path for the Empress. The prince demanded that the road to Crimea be “made with a rich hand, so that it is not inferior to the Roman ones. I’ll call it Catherine’s Way.” In development of this theme, His Serene Highness ordered that Catherine’s victorious procession from sea to sea be marked with special “road signs”: each verst was marked with a special triangular obelisk “made of wild stone”, and every ten versts a stone “mile” was erected - “a round proportionally hewn column with decoration like an octagonal capital." Catherine's Miles - an absolutely unique architectural monument - today are the only structure specially built in honor of the Empress's trip to Crimea. For more than two hundred years, not a single “verst” remained, and only five “miles” remained in Crimea.

Transport

Transport remained the most important problem. Over 200 carriages were made for the journey, some of which could be on both skids and wheels. Two carriages, intended personally for the Empress, turned out to be luxurious. Interestingly, one of the carriages that took part in the journey is now on display at the Dnepropetrovsk Museum of Local Lore. As you know, the travel route ran through Ekaterinoslavl (present-day Dnepropetrovsk), founded by Potemkin. The carriage broke down here, and it was decided to leave it, fortunately there was no shortage of spare ones. But the loyal citizens of Ekaterinoslav carefully preserved the royal “souvenir”, which later became a museum exhibit.

Guide

An original guide-diary “The Journey of Her Imperial Majesty to the Midday Land of Russia, undertaken in 1787” was published especially for the participants of the trip (one of the copies of this unique book is kept in the Tavrika library). The preface notes the purpose of the book: “All the cities, famous rivers, towns, and noteworthy tracts that this journey will follow, a geographical and historical brief description is intended here.” Interestingly, each spread had a special blank page where the empress’s companion could write down his observations.

Start of the journey

On January 6 (17), all participants in the trip gathered in Tsarskoye Selo (now the city of Pushkin): 32 highest dignitaries of the Empire, ambassadors of England, Austria and France. And with them footmen and other servants, numbering up to 200 people. They settled in their places and the cortege, consisting of 14 carriages, 124 sleighs with wagons and 40 spare sleighs, set off, stretching for a mile. The Empress's daily routine was close to that of the palace. Ekaterina got up at 6 o’clock in the morning and did business for two hours. At 9 am we set off. From 12 to 15 they dined - in government buildings or in landowners' estates, and in the newly acquired region - in specially built travel palaces. Then we drove on until 19:00. In the evenings, Catherine, as usual, played cards and lotto with her companions, went to her room at 21:00, wrote letters or read, and went to bed at 23:00.

At the border of each province, the cortege was met and escorted to the border of the next province by the governor and officials. At each station, 500 to 600 fresh horses were waiting for the royal train. On January 29 (February 8) we arrived in Kyiv. Here the travelers were joined by the Austrian Emperor Joseph II. We stayed in Kyiv for almost three months: we waited for the Dnieper to open. On April 22, the flotilla, consisting of 50 magnificent galleys, moved on with unprecedented pomp. We visited the newly rebuilt cities of Ekaterinoslavl and Kherson. The route across Crimea “for the procession of Her Imperial Majesty” was also planned in detail: “Perekop - Five Wells - overnight, Bakhchisarai - overnight, Sevastopol - overnight and lunch, Simferopol - lunch, Karasubazar - overnight, Sudak - lunch, Old Crimea - overnight, Feodosia - lunch and overnight.”

Perekop

On May 19, the royal train entered Perekop - “a stone quadrangular fortification and settlement consisting of several houses.” The gates of the fortress were decorated with an aphorism belonging to Potemkin: “She sent fear and brought peace.” The path to Crimea was open.

“When we were leaving, we saw a fairly significant detachment of Tatar horsemen, richly dressed and armed: they rode out to meet the empress to accompany her on the way. The monarch, with always lofty and courageous thoughts, wished that during her stay in Crimea she would be protected by the Tatars, who despised the female sex, enemies of Christians and only recently conquered by her authorities. This unexpected experience of trustfulness was a success, like any brave feat,” notes Ambassador of France Segur.

Near the town of Five Wells, the Empress got acquainted with the salt mines. She was shown 13 samples of self-planted salt - a precious, strategic commodity of the empire: the trip was partially financed by the salt expedition.

Bakhchisaray

Carlo Bossoli. Khan's Palace. 1840-1842

On May 20, Catherine solemnly entered Bakhchisarai. This city, without a doubt, was one of the most important, if not the most important, point of the journey. The former capital of a hostile state already, it would seem, lay at her feet... And then, on the approaches to Bakhchisarai, an incident occurred that almost turned into a tragedy: on a steep descent, the horses could not hold the heavy carriage in which Catherine was riding... But the local Tatars did not they were confused and, literally throwing themselves under the hooves and wheels, saved the life of the empress.

However, witnesses claim that this adventure did not darken the empress’s mood. Still would! Count Segur noted in his notes: “The Empress enjoyed the pleasure of sitting on the Muslim throne, won by her with arms.” Bakhchisaray thoroughly prepared for the arrival of the highest person. The ruler of the Tauride region, Kokhovsky, received an order from Potemkin: “Try in every possible way to tidy up Bakhchisarai in the best possible way, fix the roofs on the houses there, and whiten the pipes,” make as many bowls as possible to illuminate the city at night, build up a large street with good houses and shops. “The collapsed houses and shops that stood at the bridge at the entrance to the palace were broken, and the stones for lining the banks of the river flowing near the road were piled up,” the regional ruler reported. The ancient stone gate in the form of a triumphal arch, standing at the entrance to the city (they were destroyed in 1944), was decorated with the inscription: “May 1787.”

We settled down in the former Khan's palace. By the time of Catherine’s arrival, the Khan-shed had undergone a thorough reconstruction. This is understandable: she was here for three whole days! As night fell, the guests observed a stunning sight: the slopes of the gorge in which the city was hidden, the surrounding rocks, and all the houses in the area suddenly lit up with thousands of lights. It seemed as if tiny stars flashed above Bakhchisarai to welcome the distinguished guest.

It seemed to everyone that they were in some magical city from the fairy tales of Scheherazade. The city, empty after the “conquest of Crimea,” suddenly filled with life. Driving towards the Assumption Monastery and then to Chufut-Kale, travelers saw numerous coffee houses filled with smartly dressed visitors, and shops with an abundance of exotic goods... According to Segur, “despite the sharp decrease in population after the conquest, another nine thousand inhabitants lived in Bakhchisaray who are overwhelmingly Muslim. Catherine’s policy did not restrict either their trade or their religion; it allowed them to follow their ancient traditions in everything.” It should be noted that throughout the Soviet period, the “Catherine’s Room”, the former Khan’s bedchamber, was lovingly preserved in the exhibition of the Khan’s Palace, the main exhibits of which were a portrait of the Empress by the famous Rokotov (interestingly, the exact same portrait is on display in the exhibition of Tsarskoye Selo!) and a camp bed. According to the observation of the artist and writer Elena Nagaevskaya, “the highest camp bed (the trivial word “bed” would be inappropriate) was probably left here not without intention. They say that Her Majesty is at home and can return at any time to personally rule in Bakhchisarai and Taurida.”

In 1996, with the change in the political situation, the “Catherine’s Room” was dismantled. Times were not easy then. There were fierce discussions about the role of Catherine in the fate of the Crimean Tatars. Pro-Russian politicians tried to install a bust of the zealous empress in Simferopol. Their pro-Tatar opponents did not agree with this. The museum workers, out of harm's way, put into storage the famous bed and two oak wardrobes, which were brought for the Empress all the way from St. Petersburg. The Empress's portrait, uniform and camp dressing table moved to the Art Museum of the Bakhchisarai Nature Reserve. Now passions have subsided, and commercial, not political interests, are ordering the restoration of the former exhibition.

Nowadays, the memory of the Empress’s stay in Bakhchisarai is preserved by the recently restored “Catherine’s Mile”. Unlike others, it is decorated with a commemorative inscription in Russian and Arabic: “In noble memory, Empress Catherine II deigned to be in Bakhchisarai on May 14, 1787.” The top of the column was once crowned by a double-headed eagle, moved here from the “iron” doors of the Khan’s palace, where it was installed instead of a crescent for Catherine’s arrival.

Sevastopol

On the morning of May 22, the travelers set off for Sevastopol. A brand new road was built there. We changed horses at the Mekenziev farm, and by mid-day we were in Inkerman. Lunch was organized in a specially built pavilion on the territory of the former Kalamita fortress, towering on a cliff. And then His Serene Highness, a great lover of special effects, prepared a grand surprise for the guests. At his command, the curtain hiding the large balcony facing Akhtiarskaya Bay was suddenly pulled back. Kings, princes and envoys could not contain their amazement: a city stretched on the shores of the bay. And in the roadstead there was a fleet: battleships, frigates, transports... Welcoming the distinguished guests, the ships and coastal batteries opened fire. The thunder of the guns announced to the European Community that Russia had come here in earnest and for the long haul.

After lunch, the Empress and her retinue took a boat ride along the Sevastopol bays. Now everyone can take a ride from the Grafskaya pier and look at the ships. And then, 220 years ago, it was all a novelty - both beautiful boats and great rowers: on one side there were blondes, on the other there were brunettes. As in all times, the sailors were cheerful, broken guys. Eyewitnesses testify: the empress, sitting in the boat, greeted the rowers: “Hello, my friends!” “Hello, mother, our Queen!” - was the friendly answer. “How far did I travel just to see you,” said Catherine and heard the inimitable answer of the rowing Zharov: “What can’t happen from the wicked Mother Queen!” Catherine appreciated the salty joke, smiled and said in French to the commander of the fleet, Count M.I. Voinovich: “What speakers are your sailors!”

The boats went around several ships and stopped near a specially equipped main pier - the exit to the city. It was named Catherine in honor of the Empress, but the official name did not stick. So the Grafskaya pier remained - in memory of the fleet commander Voinovich. “The pier had a magnificent staircase of cut stone, a luxurious terrace leading from it to the Empress’s house,” reports the Prince of Nassau-Singen.

The Empress's Sevastopol house, like others, was one-story. Its walls were lined with walnut wood from the inside, upholstered with crimson and other colors of damask above the windows, silk curtains were hung on the windows, the floors were covered with dark green cloth, the rooms were furnished with the best furniture, mirrors and chandeliers... “Catherine’s Palace” suffered during the defense of the city in 1854-55, however, it was restored and served Sevastopol for a long time. It was demolished in the early 1920s. The next day, the inspection of Sevastopol continued. The Empress visited the Church of St. Nicholas (now the House of Officers is located in its place), the flagship battleship "The Glory of Catherine", toured the city and bays, and met the officers. In the evening, a “battle” was staged - in the spirit of current military parades: the bombing ship “Strashny” fired and set fire to a “fake town” specially arranged on the northern side of the bay.

“It seemed incomprehensible to us how, 2000 miles from the capital, in a newly acquired region, Potemkin found it possible to erect such buildings, build a city, create a fleet and settle so many inhabitants. It truly was a feat of extraordinary activity!” Segur wrote about his visit to Sevastopol. Baydar Valley, Balaklava

On the morning of May 24, Potemkin showed the adored empress his estate in the Baydar Valley. The travelers moved from Sevastopol through Kamary (now Obornoye). Not far from Balaklava, near the village of Kady-koy, they were met by a company of “Amazons”, made up of the wives and daughters of officers of the Greek battalion stationed here, a total of one hundred riders in a specially tailored uniform: crimson velvet skirts, green velvet jackets, white turbans... The wife commanded the exotic army one of the officers, Elena Ivanovna Sarandova. Catherine was delighted: she awarded Sarandova the unique title of “Captain of the Amazons,” and later sent her a diamond ring as a gift. The cortege proceeded along an alley of orange, lemon and laurel trees to Balaklava. The guests really liked the cozy bay and the spectacular ruins of the fortress.

In the village of Skeli (now the village of Rodnikovskoye), the guests were amazed by the huge “placed stones” - menhirs. Luckily, they can still be seen today. Huge, up to three meters high, roughly hewn pillars, placed here many millennia ago, evoke sincere respect from both the empress and modern tourists for their antiquity and mystery. The journey through the Baydar Valley lasted until late at night. Through the Mekenziev farm and Duvankoy (now the village of Verkhnesadovoe), the travelers returned to Bakhchisarai, and rested the entire next day. And then we moved to Simferopol. Here I would like to make a small lyrical digression. It is clear that such a significant event could not help but acquire legends, speculation, and myths. It was not possible to find anything in the published collections, but it would be appropriate to reproduce one incidentally heard story about the origin of the names of several settlements located between Bakhchisarai and Simferopol.

So, may learned folklorists forgive me, why is the village called Chistenkoye? Yes, because Catherine washed herself in the bathhouse here! A pleasant date does not need any comments at all: after all, the long-awaited meeting of Catherine and Gregory took place here! As for the name of the station Lilac, it received the name in memory of the luxurious bouquet (of course, white lilac!), which the prince presented to his beloved. To a certain extent, the cliff on Mount Demerdzhi has become legendary. No matter how hard the Soviet creators of the legends of Crimea tried to introduce into the consciousness of the people the image of the proud girl Maria supposedly captured there, the people stubbornly saw a bust of Catherine there (and it’s true - it seems!), and even called the mountain in the Russian way, Catherine Mountain.

Simferopol

On May 26, the Empress visited the newly created provincial center. He was just beginning to settle down, and the prudent Potemkin foresaw a visit to the only Orthodox church in the city in the name of Saints Equal-to-the-Apostles Constantine and Helen, built in a former residential building (now Oktyabrskaya St., 8). Struck by the poverty of the church, the empress expressed her wish to see a “decent cathedral church” in the city. After the opening of the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the Church of Constantine and Helena became part of the estate, which belonged to General Vasily Popov, the ruler of Potemkin’s office. The well-built building has been surprisingly well preserved and has continued to serve its purpose since the mid-90s. After the prayer service, the Empress went to the traveling palace (now the building of the Railway College on R. Luxemburg Street). Strictly speaking, it did not look much like a palace: one-story, made of rubble stone on clay, under “Tatar” tiles. However, it turned out to be extensive - 20 rooms plus several outbuildings. After dinner, Catherine, in memory of her stay in the city, planted three mulberries in the garden at the palace, and the cortege moved on to Karasubazar. However, the story about Catherine’s stay in Simferopol will be incomplete without recalling the wonderful monument that was unveiled in the city garden in October 1890.

The bronze empress crowned a high pedestal of polished granite. At the foot of the statue there were sculptures of four figures who carried out the annexation of Crimea: in front, in full growth, are the figures of Potemkin and Dolgorukov, to the left and right are chest-length images of Suvorov and Bulgakov, the Russian envoy to Turkey. The monument has become one of the main attractions of Simferopol.

The fate that befell the monument after the revolution is interesting. He survived the civil war, but in 1921 the bronze statues left their pedestal forever to give way to new heroes hastily constructed from plaster and rebar: the Proletarian, Mark, Engels and Lenin. This structure was dismantled in 1940, replacing it with a more durable monument to Lenin. The statue of Catherine was hidden in the utility yard of the Art Museum. During the war she disappeared without a trace. The fate of her companions is unknown. Only Suvorov was lucky. His bust, once located on the monument to Catherine, was subsequently erected on top of the column and until 1983 adorned the remains of the redoubt on the bank of Salgir, next to the Ukraine Hotel. In the year of the 200th anniversary of Simferopol, the redoubt was put in order and a new monument to the commander was erected. The monument to Lenin in the city garden was removed around the same time. In its place they installed a fountain, which had been inactive for a long time...

In 2004, the Congress of Russian Communities of Crimea unveiled a memorial plaque on the building of the Simferopol College of Railway Transport. The inscription on the board reads: “In this place in 1787, the traveling palace of Catherine II was located, built by the founder of the city of Simferopol, the Governor-General of Novorossiya, Prince G. A. Potemkin.”

Karasubazar

The visit to Karasubazar also had important political significance. During the heyday of the Crimean Khanate, it was one of the most important administrative and trade centers on the peninsula. The memory of Suvorov’s deeds was still fresh here: in 1777, a 10,000-strong detachment under the command of the famous commander entered into a military clash with 40,000 Ottoman horsemen and put them to flight. Potemkin probably drew Catherine’s attention to the White Rock, where in 1783, immediately after the official annexation of Crimea to Russia, he ordered the Crimean nobility to appear to take an oath of allegiance to the Russian state. The palace, however, was not built in Karasubazar itself, but outside the city, on a hill, near the confluence of two rivers - Biyuk Karasu and Tanas. The palace was a success: pink marble for the cladding, beech for the interior decoration, a park with fountains... Here the empress was awaited by an evening fireworks display of 300 rockets, and the top officials of the Tauride region received a high reward for hospitality, the Order of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir. Time has not been kind to either the garden or the palace. Now in its place are the buildings of the Belogorsk hospital. Old Crimea

Old Crimea

Dilapidated Catherine Fountain in Old Crimea.

On May 27, 1787, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, Catherine II left Karasubazar (modern Belogorsk) and at seven o'clock arrived in Old Crimea, where she stopped for the night in a palace specially built for this purpose. Upon the arrival of the Empress, the light-horse Tauride Regiment saluted with respect to the standards. They beat timpani and played trumpets, and when darkness fell, the garden and the entire area adjacent to the palace were illuminated.

The history of the palace built in Old Crimea for Catherine II is interesting. Initially, in its place there was an Armenian church, which was rebuilt into a palace in anticipation of the future journey. Subsequently, the palace became an Orthodox church in the name of the Dormition of the Mother of God. The archpastors of Feodosia and Mariupol stayed there, namely: Dorotheos, who died in 1787 in Taganrog, Moses, who died at the hands of villains, Job, Gervasius and Christopher. After the latter’s transfer to Kharkov, there were no more bishops in Old Crimea, and only the place of the parish priest remained. The service continued until January 27, 1825, when, probably due to the negligence of the clergy, the church burned down. In the garden at the temple, which remained for a long time in the Old Crimea in the form of ruins, there was a monument to the two-year-old son of General Panchulidzev, buried here, and behind the fence there was a monument at the burial site of Colonel Chikalev of the Don Cossack Army.

In Old Crimea, especially for the arrival of the Empress, the so-called Catherine Fountain was built in the form of a tiled pavilion in the oriental style. Above, above the fountain, there was a gazebo where the queen deigned to drink tea. Over time, the fountain was almost completely destroyed.

Feodosia

Medal "Path to Benefit" Made in Feodosia at the Khan's mint.

I. K. Aivazovsky
Arrival of Catherine II in Feodosia

On May 28, distinguished guests visited Feodosia. The city was remembered for a visit to the former Khan’s mint, where two gold medals “The Path to Benefit” were made in their presence as a souvenir of the journey. Prince Potemkin presented these souvenirs to the hero of the occasion and to the Austrian Emperor Joseph. Interestingly, 220 years later, one of these medals was exhibited at a special numismatic auction in Moscow and went for 130 thousand dollars. Such a souvenir, needless to say, is for the elite. Ordinary mortals can limit themselves to contemplating Aivazovsky’s painting “Catherine’s Visit to Feodosia,” exhibited in the main exhibition of the Feodosia Art Gallery. On May 29 we moved back. We spent the night again in Karasu Bazaar. The next day, the Empress awarded the top officials of the province and military commanders with new titles and orders. Her Majesty’s generosity knew no bounds: “monetary dachas were granted to: the clergy stationed with the fleet in Sevastopol, the Greek clergy in Feodosia and Bakchisarai; to the mosque in Karasu Bazaar, to the mosque and dervishes in Bakchisarai. For schools in the Tauride region, the lower ranks of all troops in Taurida located one ruble for each person, also for the poor and disabled; which amounted to a significant amount.” Ekaterina thanked the main organizer, Potemkin, for her efforts in a special way. The Governing Senate issued a “Certificate of Commendation, recognizing the exploits of Field Marshal Prince Potemkin: in the annexation of Taurida to the Russian Empire, in the successful establishment of the economic part and population of the Ekaterinoslav province, in the construction of cities and in the multiplication of naval forces on the Black Sea, with the addition of the name Tauride "

On May 31, the royal train left Crimea. The 12-day tour of Crimea was successfully completed. The economic, political, and diplomatic significance of this journey cannot be overestimated. Catherine called Crimea “the most precious pearl in her crown.” “The West had to find out what sources of wealth and power Russia has,” Count Segur noted in his book. Today's day

Evidence of travel

Catherine the Great's travel plan drawn up by Potemkin in early March 1787. In the article we present only the Crimean part of it. The actual trip differs significantly from the planned one.

Peak Kalanchak - Stone Bridge (covered 16 versts) (overnight)

1st day in Crimea

• Stone Bridge - Perekop (32)
• Perekop - Five Wells (17) (lunch)
• Five wells - Village of Dyurmen (26) (in total 75 versts covered in a day) (overnight)

2nd day in Crimea

• Village of Durmen - Aybar (26)
• Aybar - Three Ablans (22) (lunch)
• Three Ablans - Takil (28)
• Takil - Alma Kermen (23)
• Alma Kermen - Bakchisaray (11) (in total 87 versts covered in a day) (overnight)

3rd day in Crimea

• Bakchisaray - Kabarta River (12)
• River Kabarta - Inkerman (22) (lunch) (If the road through Balaklava and Baydary is ripe, then the return journey will be to this place)
• Inkerman - Sevastopol (5) (in total 39 versts covered in a day) (overnight, day and lunch)

4th day in Crimea

• Sevastopol - Duvankoy Village (18)
• Village Duvankoy - Bakchisaray (15) (in total 33 miles covered in a day) (overnight)

5th day in Crimea

• Bakchisaray - River Alma (12)
• Alma River - Simferopol (19) (in total 31 miles covered in a day) (lunch, overnight and dinner)

6th day in Crimea

• Simferopol - Bieli Village (27)
• Village of Bieli - Karasubazar (24) (in total 51 miles covered in a day) (overnight)

7th day in Crimea

• Karasubazar - Melek Village (17)
• Village Melek - Elbuzdu (22)
• Elbuzdu - Sudak (22)
• Sudak - Elbuzdu (22)
• Elbuzdu - Old Crimea (12) (in total 95 versts covered in a day) (overnight)

8th day in Crimea

• Old Crimea - Feodosia (24) (in total 24 miles covered in a day) (lunch and overnight)

9th day in Crimea

• Feodosia - Karagoz (18)
• Karagoz - Indal River (19)
• Indal River - Melek (13)
• Melek - Karasubazar (17) (in total 67 versts covered in a day) (lunch and overnight)

10th day in Crimea

• Karasubazar - Bochali Village (25)
• Bochaly Village - Salgir River (20) (lunch)
• Salgir River - Kutlayak Village (20)

11th day in Crimea

• Village Kutlayak - Babasan (25) (in total 90 versts covered in a day) (overnight)
• Babasan - Wushun (25)
• Wushun - Perekop (25)
• Perekop - Stone Bridge (32) (in total 82 miles covered in a day) (lunch and overnight)

Catherine's miles

Catherine's Mile. 30s XIX century

Catherine's Mile on the North Side (Sevastopol)

Catherine's Mile in Bakhchisarai

Catherine's Mile in Old Crimea

Catherine's Mile near the village of Novopavlovka

Mile at the Starokrymsky training ground

Mile pedestal near the village of Tsvetochnoe

Literature

Bilbasov V. A. History of Catherine II. In 2 vols. - Berlin, 1900;

Brickner A.G. Potemkin. - St. Petersburg, 1891;

Brickner A. Journey of Catherine II to the midday region of Russia in 1787 // Journal of the Ministry of Public Education, special. imprint;

Brickner A. History of Catherine the Second. Saint Petersburg. Type. Suvorin. 1885

Samoilov A. N. Life and work of Field Marshal Prince Grigory Aleksandrovich Potemkin // Russian Archive. - 1867;

Heinze N. E. Prince of Taurida. - St. Petersburg, 1891;

Semevski M. Prince G. A. Potemkin // Russian antiquity, 1839. - T. 12-14;

Umanets A. A. Stories about Crimea. - Sevastopol, 1887;

Notes from Count Segur about his stay in Russia during the reign of Catherine II. - St. Petersburg, 1865;

Prince of Nassau. Empress Catherine II in Crimea, 1787 //Russian antiquity. - 1893. - November;

Senyavin D.N. Journey of Empress Catherine II to Taurida // Marine collection. - 1855. - T. 15;

Letters from and about Potemkin // "Russian Antiquity" and "Russian Archive";

Correspondence of Catherine II // "Russian Antiquity" and "Russian Archive";

Esipov G.V. The journey of Empress Catherine II to southern Russia in 1787 // "Kiev Antiquity". - 1890-1891;

Markevich A.I. Materials from the archive of the office of the Tauride Governor relating to the journey of Empress Catherine II to Crimea in 1787 //ITUAC. - 1891. - No. 11.

Journal of Her Imperial Majesty's travel... from January 2 to July 12 /ZOOID. - Odessa, 1853. - T. 3;

The journey of Her Imperial Majesty to the midday region of Russia, undertaken in 1787. - St. Petersburg, 1786

TsGAARK, f. 535, op. 1, dd. 1026, 1533, 1542, 1528, 1639-1641, 1926-1936, 2020, 2104-2108.

Alexander Khrapovitsky

On January 2, 1787, in the morning at 11 o’clock, the great empress left the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg “with cannon fire from both fortresses” “to travel to the midday countries of her vast Empire.” Neither the long and difficult journey, nor age (and the Empress was 58 years old) forced Catherine to give up her desire to personally inspect her possessions.

It was a trip to Crimea unprecedented in scale and number of participants, which ultimately lasted more than six months. The Empress ordered Secretary of State Alexander Khrapovitsky to keep a journal of her trip, whom after the trip she brought closer to her and made him an adviser and collaborator in her literary and historical works. Catherine's retinue was about three thousand people, and the imperial train consisted of 14 carriages, 124 sleighs with wagons and 40 spare sleighs. Catherine II rode in a carriage for 12 people, accompanied by courtiers, invited representatives of foreign states and servants.

We drove slowly. At each station the cortege was met by 500 to 600 fresh horses. Grigory Potemkin, who prepared this trip, turned the empress’s journey into an event full of impressive paintings and theatrical performances. The cortege was greeted on the road with bread and salt by neatly dressed peasants. In the evening, folk songs sounded, delighting the ears of travelers.

Particularly solemn at the beginning of the journey was the meeting in Potemkin’s homeland - in Smolensk, where the imperial train arrived on January 23. “100 postmen on horseback with lighted torches, the governor-general, provincial leader of the nobility Stepan Yuryevich Khrapovitsky, 12 district leaders, 12 deputies from the nobility and 50 other prominent nobles, 24 officers, merchants, craftsmen with guild badges, and clergy rode out to meet us.” " The cortege proceeded into the city amid drumming and cannon fire from the fortress.

In general, 78 stops with lunch and overnight accommodation were scheduled before Kyiv. We passed through the cities of Cherikov, Rogalin, Propoisk, and then arrived for the night in Novgorod-Seversky. The entire evening journey was illuminated by huge bonfires, which were made every 30 meters from pre-harvested spruce, pine and birch logs, and at each overnight stop, travelers were greeted by illumination.

On January 29 we arrived in Kyiv - the ancient capital of the first Russian princes. Catherine stayed in the palace, the construction of which, according to Rastrelli’s design, began under Empress Elizabeth, and the interior decoration was completed by 1787. A large garden was laid out with him, the beauty of which was enhanced by its location on the steep bank of the Dnieper. Only the closest empresses were housed here, the rest were in apartments.

We stayed in Kyiv for almost three months - we waited for the Dnieper to break free of ice. Catherine visited the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, went to Starokievskaya Mountain, to the Church of the Tithes, and to Podol. Balls and masquerades followed in a continuous sequence. But Catherine “not limiting herself to the usual greetings, everywhere she asked officials, clergy, landowners and merchants in detail about their situation, means, demands, needs. This is how she won the love of her subjects and sought the truth in order to discover the enormous abuses that many tried to hide from her.”

As soon as the river opened up, on April 22 the pleasure flotilla of 80 ships moved on with unprecedented pomp. In Kremenchug, where they arrived on the morning of April 30, the imperial cortege was greeted even more magnificently - this was already Potemkin’s patrimony. The Empress really liked the local travel palace and its garden. The celebrations continued for four days in the “capital of Potemkin.”

Then we stopped 8 versts from Kaydak, where Ekaterinoslav was being built. On May 12, we sailed to Kherson, which surprised even foreigners - they jokingly called it the second Amsterdam. They saw an almost completed fortress, large barracks, an arsenal with many cannons, ships and a frigate in the shipyards, government buildings, several churches, private houses and many shops.

On the morning of May 19, the royal train entered Pere-kop - “a stone quadrangular fortification and settlement consisting of several houses.” The gates of the fortress were decorated with words belonging to Potemkin: “She sent fear and brought peace.” Here we had lunch at the Five Wells, where the empress got acquainted with the salt mines. And then there was Crimea.

In the luxurious Alma Valley, five versts from Bakhchisarai, at the fountain, the motorcade was met by V. Kakhovsky, K. Gablitz and the kidnapper of Princess Tarakanova, Joseph de Ribas. The ancient stone gate in the form of a triumphal arch, standing at the entrance to the city (destroyed in 1944), was decorated with the inscription “May 1787”. At the approaches to Bakhchisarai, on a steep descent, the horses could not hold the heavy carriage in which Catherine was riding, and rushed...

But the local Tatars were not at a loss and, literally throwing themselves under the horses, saved the life of the empress. Catherine visited the Assumption Monastery and Chufut-Kale, examined their monuments, the synagogue, and visited the house of the Karaite elder. Everyone liked Bakhchisarai for its unusual appearance. And the invited Austrian Emperor Joseph II found it similar to Genoa.

In Inkerman, having climbed to the top, where the western Inkerman lighthouse is now located, the guests were invited to a small wooden palace, specially erected for this occasion. Hiding from the May heat in the halls under the curtain, guests enjoyed delicious dishes and drinks to the music. Suddenly, during lunch, at a sign from Potemkin, the curtains on the windows parted, and all those present froze in surprise - on the shores of the unknown Akhtiyar Bay, a city stretched out in front of them.

After lunch, Catherine II, along with Emperor Joseph and the rest of his retinue, set off on boats to Sevastopol and landed at a specially equipped pier - the exit to the city. In honor of the Empress, it was named Catherine’s, but the official name did not stick. So the Grafskaya pier remained - in memory of the fleet commander, Count M. Voinovich, who lived here on the site of the future admiralty. The travelers went to the place where they slept for the night. It was a one-story house on a hillock, founded at the same time as the pier. By that time, the house belonged to the naval department and was converted into a travel palace for Catherine the Great. After spending the night, the house began to be called “Catherine’s,” as did the road going past it to Balaklava. The “Catherine Palace” was damaged during the defense of the city in 1854-55, but was restored and served Sevastopol for a long time. But in the early 1920s it was demolished.

In Old Crimea, the so-called Catherine Fountain was built especially for the arrival of the Empress - a structure in the form of a tiled pavilion in the oriental style. A gazebo was built above the fountain, where the famous guest deigned to drink tea. Over time, the fountain almost completely collapsed.

Then there were more trips to Sudak and Feodosia. In Feodosia, we visited the former Khan's mint, where two gold medals were minted in honor of Catherine II and the Austrian Emperor Joseph II, who accompanied her, marking the day of the visit. Then the entire imperial cortege set off on its way back. When the time came to part with Potemkin in Kharkov, Catherine granted him the title of Tauride.

The empress returned through Kursk, where at the Kursk Triumphal Gate, with cannon fire, she was met by the governor with the merchants and guilds. Catherine wished here to visit the Kursk Znamensky Monastery and from there, through the Oryol and Tula provinces, she arrived in the capital city of Moscow. At the Serpukhov Gate, the Empress was greeted with bread and salt, and after 101 greeting cannon shots, bells began ringing in all churches. But internal problems required the presence of the empress in the capital. Having spent several days in Moscow, satisfied with her journey, Catherine moved with her entire retinue to St. Petersburg.

Undoubtedly, this trip also had a political connotation; it was supposed to demonstrate the greatness of the empire to its neighbors. “In the soul of Great Catherine, the idea was born to bring her people to a state in which they could feel their own dignity, extract it from ignorance, dependence and blind imitation of other peoples, give it a permanent, distinctive character and form his perfect." But if anyone touches the honor of her crown and disturbs the peace in her domain, then she is “like a lioness whose children are kidnapped.” This is what an anonymous author wrote about the empress, the translation of which is attached at the end of this book.

235 years of the Black Sea Fleet and Sevastopol. From a series of publications dedicated to the creation of the Black Sea Fleet, the founding of Sevastopol and the initial period of their history (late 18th – early 19th centuries)

Your Majesty, the founding of Sevastopol

You have completed in the south what Peter began in the north.

F. de Segur

In 1787, Catherine II undertook her famous trip to Crimea, which was supposed to be a demonstration of Russia’s achievements in the territories that became part of the state in 1783.

Empress Catherine II. From a lithograph from the 1860s.

The idea of ​​traveling arose soon after the annexation of Crimea to Russia. In 1784, preparations for the arrival of the Empress began in Crimea: construction and repair of buildings, roads, bridges and wells. In Sevastopol, preparatory work was carried out from the beginning of 1785. The commander of the Sevastopol squadron, Rear Admiral T. Mekenzie, wrote to St. Petersburg in January 1785: “I am making piers here for the arrival of Her Imperial Majesty and clearing roads. The house built for me, M.V. Kakhovsky [commander of the troops in Crimea] ordered that instead of a palace be used for the arrival of Her Majesty, which is being prepared for this.”

Due to epidemics in a number of provinces, the trip was postponed from 1785 to 1787. Catherine II set off on the road from St. Petersburg in January 1787. The trip was carried out with extraordinary pomp. A large retinue accompanied the empress. Traveling with her were the highest dignitaries of the state, diplomats of European states: the French ambassador to Russia, Count Segur, and the British and English ambassadors. The Austrian Emperor Joseph II took part in the trip.

G.A. Potemkin, who was organizing the trip, showed enormous energy, will and management. He tried to present the new land from the best side to the empress and foreign guests. According to his plan, what he saw was supposed to shock Catherine II and her companions and convince them of the prosperity of the new territories. Along the route of Catherine II, bridges and roads were repaired, temporary travel palaces were built for rest and overnight stays, and trees were planted. Potemkin managed to show not only new cities and villages, but also well-trained military units.

On May 17 (28), the empress's motorcade headed from Kherson to Perekop. In Crimea, 39 points were set up to stop the empress and her retinue. Every verst on the main roads of Crimea was marked by a stone triangular obelisk, and every 10 versts by a road sign called the “Catherine’s Mile”. The miles were a column with a hexagonal belt at the top, mounted on a square pedestal in plan.

The culmination of the trip was the demonstration of the Black Sea Fleet in the roadstead of Sevastopol Bay. Catherine II and her retinue reached Sevastopol on May 22 (June 2), 1787. Here everything was prepared to amaze the guests. In Inkerman, a temporary travel palace was built on a hill. During lunch, to the sounds of solemn music, the curtains opened, revealing a view of the Sevastopol roadstead, where the ships of the Black Sea Fleet stood, greeting the Empress with a salute. The foreign guests were amazed. Count Segur wrote: “A fleet built in just two years is some kind of miracle.”

From Inkerman, the cortege headed to Sevastopol on rowing boats. The Empress was accommodated in the former Mekenzi house, which was renovated for her arrival. “The walls were lined with carpentry made from the best walnut wood, and above the windows they were covered with crimson and other colors of damask with rich silk curtains on the windows, the floors were covered with dark green cloth, the rooms were all furnished with the best furniture, mirrors and chandeliers.” After Catherine II's stay in Sevastopol, the building began to be called the Catherine Palace.

On May 23 (June 3), Catherine II and Joseph II attended a service in the Church of St. Nicholas. The Empress visited the ship "Glory to Catherine", examined the bays and the city, and watched with the guests the naval maneuvers when the "Terrible" bombard destroyed a wooden town specially built on the North Side with bombs.

The fleet and Sevastopol made a great impression on the guests. Emperor Joseph II wrote: “Sevastopol is the most beautiful port I have ever seen. It can accommodate 150 ships in complete safety from any accidents from the sea and from the enemy, ... many houses, shops, and barracks have already been set up.” Count Segur noted with surprise: “It seemed incomprehensible to us how, 2000 miles from the capital, in a newly acquired region, Potemkin found the opportunity to erect such buildings, build a city, create a fleet, establish a port and settle so many inhabitants...”.

Catherine II wrote to the encyclopedist Baron F.-M. Grimm from Sevastopol: “Here, where there was nothing for three years, I found a rather beautiful city and a flotilla quite lively and lively in appearance; the harbor, anchorage and pier are good by nature, and we must give justice to Prince Potemkin that in all this he showed the greatest activity and insight.”

On the morning of May 24 (June 4), the Empress left Sevastopol for the Baydar Valley. Before entering Balaklava, near the village of Kadykoy, travelers were met by a company of “Amazons”, made up of the wives and daughters of employees of the Balaklava Greek infantry battalion. They were dressed in green velvet jackets trimmed with gold braid, crimson velvet skirts, white turbans with gold spangles and ostrich feathers.

Catherine II toured the Baydar Valley, then visited Simferopol, Karasubazar, Old Crimea, and Feodosia. On May 31 (June 11), 1787, travelers left Crimea.

Catherine II appreciated the importance of acquiring Crimea and the works of G.A. Potemkin, the title of Prince of Tauride was recognition of his merits. Western Europe, represented by the foreign diplomats participating in the trip, became convinced of how much Russia's naval power had increased with the construction of the fleet and the fortress of Sevastopol.

In memory of her trip to Crimea, Catherine II established a medal depicting the peninsula and her portrait. The words “Path for good” were embossed on the medal.