| Photo Information |
Copyright: Don Bessinger (dbessinger)
![Silver Star Critiquer/Silver Note Writer [C: 15 W: 1 N: 14]](http://i1.trekearth.com/misc/s-n-s.gif) (33) |
| Genre: Places |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2006-07-17 |
| Categories: Castles, Architecture, Artwork |
| Exposure: f/4.5, 1/60 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2006-07-26 8:46 |
| Viewed: 350 |
| Points: 0 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
The Crimean Khanate lasted from 1441 to 1783, seeing its end when Katherine the Great annexed all of Crimea. Its 342 year existence was the longest of all the Turkic khanates, the successors to those established by the legendary Golden Horde.
In 1503, Khan Abdul Sahel Girei established his palace in Bakhchisarai. It stands today and is a fine place to catch a glimpse into the opulent lives of the Khans. The palace is not only a tourist destination, but it remains an active cultural center for the Crimean Tatars. These folk use it as a community center, and the palace's main mosque is an active place of worship (and therefore off limits for visitors).
I took this photo of a wall within the palace just outside of the fountain room (my name, not sure what it's really called). The entire place is covered with beautiful details like this. Every door is a work of art, every wall a canvas, and every ceiling a sculpture - for now.
In my travels to Crimea, I was a little alarmed to see that "restoration" often means destroying old beauty in favor of a clean, new look. This painstakingly decorated wall, for example, will soon be covered with a nice, fresh coat of monochromatic, bland, white paint. The painting was in progress during my visit, and this section is part of the little bit of original art left. I feel very lucky to have "taken" a little piece of the old palace home with me. |
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