Ukraine
During the Soviet era Balaklava was completely closed to anyone who didn't live there. The reason is the former Soviet nuclear submarine base burrowed into the cliff under the Tavros mountain. It is now a museum which includes a tour of the James Bond movie-like submarine tunnel and dry dock. Good value and a good opportunity escape the high summer Crimea heat.
Tavricheskaya Quay 22, Balaklava
This is a purpose built structure to house the famous Sevastopol panorama, which depicts the siege of Sevastopol in the Crimean War. On the inside of the circular wall, a 360 degree canvas is mounted showing the battlefield from the top of a hill. Spectators walk around this interior as though they are standing on the hill observing the action.
It’s all well presented and gives a very good impression of what mid 19th-century warfare must have looked like. On the lower floor is a museum and the surrounding park includes some artillery installations that point out over the adjacent valley.
Istorichesky
This is something that every visitor should see. The original was created by Franz Alekseevich Roubaud ("Rubo") (1856-1928) in three years in Munich, then moved into its special classical building in 1905. The building and the panorama were badly damaged during World War II, but the canvas has been completely recreated and the building restored and reopened in 1954. The Panorama vividly depicts one of the 349 days of Sevastopol’s defence, and its canvas is 14m x 115 m, the area of the life-size plan is about 1000 sq.m.
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