Fort-Shevchenko

Fort-Shevchenko is a port town on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea in western Kazakhstan, with a layout of wide streets and a prominent lighthouse. The settlement sits low and spread along the coastline, marked by modest buildings that blend different architectural periods from its long existence.

The fortification was established in 1846 as a Russian military outpost called Novopetrovskoe and renamed in 1939 to honor the Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko. Multiple name changes through its past mark the shifts in regional control and influence over two centuries.

The Mangystau Ethnographic Museum exhibits 356 paintings created by Taras Shevchenko during his ten-year exile, depicting the natural landscapes and local inhabitants.

The town is reachable by car from Aktau in about two hours along a remote coastal road through arid terrain. Visitors should expect basic accommodations and services typical of a small port town in a sparsely populated region.

A cottage preserved on site holds personal items and works from the exiled poet's time, including a well he dug himself to address the region's water scarcity. This spot connects local history with the personal story of a significant European cultural figure.