The Palace of the Crimean Khans in Bakhchisarai is the embodiment of the spirit of the east. The architectural complex accurately reflects the national color of the Crimean Tatar people. Having endured many pseudo-restorations and rebuilding, this palace miraculously preserved the unique atmosphere of medieval life.
The palace was built by Khan Haji-Giray in the beginning of the 16th century. Construction was completed in the middle of the XVI century under Khan Sahib Girei. In its architectural style, one can consider the traditions of Ottoman architecture; in the style of the same fountains, flower beds and gazebos embodied the Muslim vision of heaven on earth.
Above the main gate are two snakes interlacing in a fight. There is a legend about the origin of the coat of arms of Girey, which tells how one day the son of Mengli-Girey went hunting. Alone on the banks of the Churuk-su river, he suddenly saw the scene of a struggle between two snakes. One of them, severely injuring the other, crawled off into the grass, where she met a new rival. The first, it seemed, had no chance of survival. From the last forces of the snake crawled to the river. Twisting, she plunged into the water. When she crawled out onto the shore, there was not even a trace of wounds left on it. In what he saw Mengli Giray recognized the lucky sign. Later, in the place where two snakes fought, the khan ordered to build a palace, and he ordered two stranded snakes to be carved on the palace coat of arms. So Bakhchisarai appeared.
Today, tourists can see only a little of the palace that they managed to save after a fire in the middle of the 17th century after the capture of Bakhchisarai by the troops of Russian Field Marshal Minich.
