Sapun Mountain is a place that became both glorious and infamous: some people died here and others won their freedom. Today Sapun Mountain is one of the well-known sights of Crimea and Ukraine as a whole, one of the famous places in the country, where the most important historical events took place.
Sapun Mountain is located to the southeast of Sevastopol, to which it descends with gentle slopes from its crest, stretching for more than 7 km. Such a location in relation to the city was the reason why bloody battles were fought here more than once in its history. In 1854-1855 on the mountain and in its vicinity were Balaklava, Inkerman and Chernorechenskoye battles between Russian and Anglo-French troops. During the Great Patriotic War there were fierce battles with the Germans during the defense of Sevastopol in 1941-1942 and in 1944.
The battles that took place here in May 1944 occupy a special place in the history of the Great Patriotic War: on May 7, 1944 the Soviet troops stormed the mountain, as a result of which the heavily fortified defensive line of the Germans was broken through, and as a result the defeat of the German fascist troops was completed and Sevastopol was liberated.
Today, in memory of the human exploits and sacrifices made to save the fatherland, on the mountain created a large Memorial Complex «Sapun Mountain», which has become one of the interesting tourist sites of the Crimea. Its construction began in November 1944, when a 28-meter obelisk of Glory was erected here in memory of the soldiers who participated in the storming of Sapun Mountain and the liberation of the city. Its author was Lieutenant Kiselev. In 1964-65 and in 1974 the obelisk was reconstructed: the monument itself was faced with granite, and at its base were installed steles of red granite with memorial plaques, which indicate the names of military units that participated in the battles, and the names of 240 people who were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. On May 9, 1970 the Eternal Flame was lit at the obelisk, which was delivered from Malakhov Kurgan. The memorial ensemble was named «To the Heroes of the Battle for Sevastopol».
In 1944, next to the obelisk was built a building of the military field museum, which housed an exposition dedicated to the events of the battles of May 7-12, 1944. This museum was closed in 1958, when the construction of the Diorama building was started in its place. Today in the Diorama you can see the expositions «Defense of Sevastopol 1941-1942», in the lower hall — «Liberation of Crimea and Sevastopol in April-May 1944», in the upper hall — canvas «Assault of Sapun Mountain on May 7, 1944.», as well as an exhibition dedicated to the creation of the Diorama.
Besides the Diorama and the memorial ensemble with the Obelisk of Glory and eternal flame, the Memorial Complex «Sapun Mountain» includes the Park of Glory laid in 1958 around the monument (its creation continued until the mid-70s), an exhibition of samples of German and Soviet military equipment of the Second World War and the Chapel of St. George the Victorious.
The chapel is one of the most impressive structures of Sapun Hill. Its construction, dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the victory over fascism, lasted for 77 days, and on May 6, 1995 it was consecrated by Metropolitan Vladimir of Kiev and All Ukraine. The author of the chapel project was architect G.S. Grigoryants. The building of the chapel is built in the shape of a bullet, above the light-colored walls rises a golden dome, which is crowned by a turret with a cross. The cross is held in the hands of an angel, made according to the sketches of Archpriest Nicholas Donenko by sculptor R.R. Kukhar. Above the entrance you can see a mosaic icon of St. George the Victorious, by the artist V.K. Pavlov, and inside the chapel — an icon of Honored Artist of Ukraine G.Y. Brusentsov.
Visiting Sapun Mountain is a tribute to the memory of those who died during the tragic military events, but this place is also interesting as a museum complex. Everywhere on the mountain you can see samples of military equipment — German and Soviet: tanks, Guards mortars, artillery installations, self-propelled guns, torpedo boat, mortars, etc. The exhibition of military equipment was opened here in 1960 and still arouses great interest among the residents and guests of the city.
From the mountain opens the most beautiful panoramas of Sevastopol and the surrounding area, admiring which, you can appreciate even more the feat accomplished by the people who laid their lives for the fatherland. Here, in this place, where tragic and, at the same time, glorious events took place, one can feel a special mood. Probably, that is why the Sapun Mountain Memorial Complex as a famous attraction of Crimea is known far beyond its borders and people try to visit it to touch the history and remember how grateful we should be to our heroic ancestors.