Balaklava facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Balaklava Балаклава Balıqlava
part of Sevastopol
View of Balaklava from the Genoese fortress
Flag Coat of arms
Balaklava Location in Sevastopol
Country	Disputed  Russia,  Ukraine
Region	Sevastopol
Elevation	10 m (30 ft)
Population
• Total	18,649
Time zone	UTC+4 (MSK)
Postal code	299xxx
Area code(s)	+380-692
Former name	Cembalo (until 1475), Yamboli, Symbolon
Website	http://sovetbalaclava.ru/

Balaklava is a small town on the Crimean Peninsula. It is part of the big city of Sevastopol. Balaklava is also the main town of the Balaklavsky District. It used to be part of the Crimean region before it joined Sevastopol. About 18,649 people live there.

Balaklava has had many names over time. The Ancient Greeks called it Symbolon. The Byzantine Empire knew it as Yamboli. Later, the Genoese called it Cembalo. The name Balaklava comes from Balyk-Yuva, which means "Fish's Nest" in Turkish.

A Look at Balaklava's Past

Balaklava harbor in 1830

Balaklava harbor in 1855, photographed by Roger Fenton

Balaklava has been ruled by many different groups throughout history. Each group left its mark on the town.

Ancient Times and Early Empires

The first settlement here was started by the Ancient Greeks. They called it Symbolon. It was an important place for buying and selling goods.

Later, during the Middle Ages, the town was controlled by the Byzantine Empire. Then, in 1365, the Genoese took over. The Genoese were great traders. They built a large trading empire across the Mediterranean and Black Sea. They became very rich from their trade routes.

The Genoese Fortress

You can still see the ruins of a Genoese fortress today. It sits high on a cliff above the entrance to Balaklava Bay. This old fortress is a popular place for tourists. Sometimes, people even hold Medieval festivals there. The famous poet Mickiewicz wrote about this fortress in one of his poems.

Turkish Rule and Russian Empire

In 1475, the Turks conquered Cembalo City. They renamed it Balyk-Yuva, which later became Balaklava.

During the Russo-Turkish War, 1768-1774, Russian soldiers entered Crimea in 1771. Thirteen years later, the Russian Empire officially took control of Crimea. After this, many of the local people were replaced by Greek Orthodox people.

The Crimean War and a Famous Charge

View of harbor in Balaklava in 1889

Balaklava became very famous during the Crimean War. This was because of the Battle of Balaclava. A very well-known event from this battle was the Charge of the Light Brigade. This was when British cavalry soldiers rode into a valley. It was a mistake, and many soldiers were killed or hurt. Over 400 horses were also lost. The poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote a famous poem about this brave but tragic event.

The Balaclava Hat

The warm, knitted hat called a balaclava gets its name from this town. Soldiers first wore these hats here during the Crimean War. They helped keep them warm in the cold weather. Many towns in English-speaking countries were also named "Balaklava" later on.

Modern Times

In 1954, Balaklava, along with all of Crimea, became part of Ukraine. In 1957, the Soviet government made Balaklava part of Sevastopol. It stopped being its own city then. When the Soviet Union broke up, Balaklava became part of the country of Ukraine.

Today, you can find many monuments in Balaklava. They remember the brave soldiers from past wars. These include the Great Patriotic War, the Crimean War, and the Russian Civil War.

Since 2014, Balaklava, like the rest of Crimea, is managed by Russia. However, many countries around the world do not agree with this. In 2019, Russian authorities gave Balaklava its city status back.

Balaklava Bay

Secret Underground Submarine Base

One of the most interesting places in Balaklava is an old underground submarine base. This base was a secret until 1993. It was built to be very strong. People said it could even survive a direct atomic bomb hit.

During the time it was active, Balaklava was a very secret place in the Soviet Union. Almost everyone in Balaklava worked at the base. Even family members needed special permission to visit the town. The base kept working after the Soviet Union ended in 1991. But in 1993, they started to close it down. The last Russian submarine left the base in 1996.

Now, this amazing base is open to the public. It is a museum called the Naval museum complex Balaklava. You can visit it and learn about its secret past.

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  Army camp at Balaklava during the Crimean War

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  Modern Balaklava - view from the Genoese fortress

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  Entrance to the former Soviet navy submarine base

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  Inside the tunnel of the submarine base