Дженевез-Кая, Medieval fortress ruins on Black Sea cliffs in Hurzuf, Ukraine.
Djenevez-Kaya is an ancient fortress built on a rocky headland jutting into the Black Sea near Hurzuf on Crimea's southern coast. The remains include defensive walls, passageways, and chambers carved directly into the stone, showing traces from different periods of occupation.
The fortress was founded in the 6th century under Byzantine rule as a defensive outpost, later taken over by Genoese merchants who used it as a trading post. Ottoman forces destroyed it in 1475, after which the site was gradually abandoned.
The name comes from the Genoese traders who controlled this place for centuries and left their mark on its buildings. Walking through the ruins, you can see spaces designed for both commerce and defense, revealing how residents organized their daily lives here.
Access to the site goes through the Artek children's center grounds, so visitors should check in advance about visiting conditions. The best time to visit is from May through September when weather is drier and paths are easier to navigate.
A tunnel carved into the rock leads directly toward the sea and once served for watching the bay below. This underground passage reveals how earlier occupants used clever engineering to monitor their surroundings and prepare defenses.
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