Some tourists love going to art galleries, such as the Dresden or Tretyakov galleries. Others do not imagine their rest without visiting cabarets or a light marathon in shopping centers, bazaars or outlets of their resorts. Still others like tasting rooms, breweries or cheese factories. But, the invariable success among all categories of tourists are objects associated with history, battles and legendary personalities. Therefore, such sights as the Austerlitz battlefield, Balaklava submarine base or the bank of the Rubicon River, at any time of the year a stable influx of guests is provided.
One of the most interesting museums of this plan on the territory of Ukraine is Sevastopol Military-historical complex «Mikhailovskaya Battery». It appeared in June 2010 thanks to the efforts and considerable financial injections of Mr. Sheremetyev, a well-known Crimean nouveau riche and philanthropist. The museum was opened just in time for the Day of the Ukrainian Navy, which is celebrated in Sevastopol with a scale exceeding the New Year and the next date of Independence of the state.
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Naturally, the museum was opened not in a pure field, but on the basis of a specific historical object. This was the fort of the middle of the XIX century, located on the northern shore of Sevastopol Bay. It is also known as Mikhailovsky Ravelin or Mikhailovsky coastal casemate battery.
Initially, a primitive earthen rampart was erected here to serve as a defense for the coastal artillery battery. But in 1834 Tsar Nicholas I realized the strategic importance of Sevastopol as a port and a base for Russian ships, so he approved a plan to strengthen coastal defense. For this purpose, Colonel Karl Byurno was seconded to Sevastopol. In 1841, he submitted his fortification project to the Engineering Department of the relevant Ministry. The project was improved by Gustav Felkerzam, who was appointed «foreman» for the construction of the new defense structure. In 1846 the ravelin was erected. It was named Mikhailovsky in honor of the newborn, fourth son of the tsar — Mikhail Nikolaevich.
The Mikhailovsky Battery is a two-story fortified building constructed of limestone quarried from the Kilen beam quarry. Its shape corresponds to the letter «P». At the same time, the length of the bar is 108 meters, and the total length of the building reaches 205 meters. The walls of Mikhailovsky Ravelin are 1.8 meters wide, which compensates for the low hardness of the used rock.
A low wall with two towers and a moat were erected on the reverse side to guard the fort. St. Michael’s Battery consisted of 58 cells-cazemates, which theoretically could accommodate 115 cannons. All cells were connected by a system of corridors. For the maintenance and successful functioning of the battery required 750 people. Barracks, infirmary and chapel were built for them.
The direct work of the battery — artillery shelling, together with the Konstantinovskaya battery, located on the opposite shore, completely covered the raid zone of the water area Sevastopolskaya bay, which greatly hindered the advancement of water transports of the enemy.
Today «Mikhailovskaya Battery» has taken a worthy place among other battle attractions of Sevastopol. The exposition is equipped on the second floor of the fort. More than 10 thousand exhibits — original weapons, wax figures, authentic documents of Denikin and Wrangel, samples of military uniforms of different years and diorama «Battle of Balaklava», are placed on the territory of 2500 m². To appreciate the power of the Mikhailovsky Ravelin, visitors to Sevastopol should take a boat from the Artillery Bay wharf to Radiogorka. In this museum you can take free photos and even make your own video in the historical interiors, which is not allowed in other military-historical complexes AP Crimea.