This ancient Crimean attraction is considered one of the most visited. The interest of people to the cave city, founded more than one and a half thousand years ago and preserved to our days a lot of interesting corners.
The cave city of Eski-Kermen (ancient fortress) appeared in the VI century and was part of the whole system of fortifications of Byzantium on the approaches to its outpost — the city of Chersonesos. High mountain plateau more than a kilometer long and width of about 200 meters was almost impregnable, on all sides it is surrounded by steep cliffs up to 30 meters high. In the Crimea you can find many such places, created by nature itself as if intentionally — to protect people in the cruel times of bloody wars for territories.
Over time, the cave city became larger and larger, and by the X century reached an area of more than 8.5 hectares, and the largest number of residents in Eski-Kermen was recorded during its heyday XII-XIII centuries and amounted to about 3 thousand people.
The inhabitants of the town grew grapes, were engaged in horticulture and gardening, Eski-Kermen was a large 
trade and crafts, an important administrative and political center. The remnants of vines from that time, which have become feral, today serve as breeding materials for new grape varieties, and the huge tarpan (winery) preserved behind the eastern defensive complex is still used today for its intended purpose in celebration of the harvest and young wine.
The history of Eski-Kermen as a prosperous center was interrupted at the end of the XIV century, when the Mongol army completely destroyed and devastated the cave city. Today, only the remains of fortifications, churches and numerous caves, of which there are more than 350, testify to its scale and former greatness.
Traveling to Eski-Kermen is an unforgettable experience for everyone. The city infrastructure is well preserved, here you can not only wander through numerous passages created by human hands, but even see the remains of ancient streets and roads, trampled by hooves and carved in the ground by wheels.
Eski-Kermen has preserved a surprisingly large number of interesting ancient city corners and sights. In the cave temple of «Three Horsemen», carved in a huge stone, you can see fresco paintings of XII-XIII centuries, also preserved fresco paintings and in other cave temples, which there are more than a dozen.
On the former main square of the city stand the ruins of a majestic temple — basilica, erected in the VI century, the three apses of which are still clearly distinguishable and allow to create a general idea of the appearance and size of the ancient monastery. Well preserved to our days and fortifications VI-XII centuries, and the remains of farmsteads. Of great interest is a deep siege well with 89 steps cut into the rock.
It is impossible to tell about all the interesting places of Eski-Kermen — this beautifully preserved but long-empty town itself tells its story to everyone who comes here, through its atmosphere and numerous antiquities. Visiting this attraction of Balaklava is impossible to forget, it is difficult not to remember even after many years, so this place is unique and interesting.
Such attractions of Crimea as cave towns keep a piece of its soul, touching which you can better understand the history of this wonderful corner of our land.