![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Cave_City.jpg/640px-Cave_City.jpg&w=640&q=50)
Chufut-Kale
Historic settlement in Crimea Crimea / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chufut-Kale (Crimean Tatar: Çufut Qale Tatar pronunciation: [tʃuˈfut qaˈle]; Russian and Ukrainian: Чуфут-Кале - Chufut-Kale; Karaim: Кала - קלעה - Kala[1]) is a medieval city-fortress in the Crimean Mountains that now lies in ruins. It is a national monument of Crimean Karaites culture just 3 km (1.9 mi) east of Bakhchysarai.
Çufut Qale
Чуфут-Кале | |
---|---|
Historic settlement | |
![]() Chufut-Kale cave city | |
Coordinates: 44°44′28″N 33°55′28″E | |
Region | ![]() |
Raion | Bakhchysarai Raion |
Established | 6th - 10th century |
Time zone | UTC+4 (MSK) |
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Its name is Crimean Tatar and Turkish for "Jewish Fortress" (çufut/çıfıt - Jew, qale/kale - fortress), while Crimean Karaites refer to it simply as "Fortress", considering the place as historical center for the Crimean Karaite community.[2] In the Middle Ages the fortress was known as Qırq Yer (Place of Forty) and as Karaites to which sect the greater part of its inhabitants belong, Sela' ha-Yehudim [3][4] (Hebrew for 'Rock of the Jews').[dubious – discuss]