SEVASTOPOL, UKRAINE

The first stop on this fascinating historical tour is at the Panorama Building, housing the panoramic painting ‘The Defence of Sevastopol 1854-1855’ which animates events of the Malakhov Kurgan Battle of 6th June 1855, when military forces of Great Britain, France, Turkey and Italy waged war against Russia.

The first stop on this fascinating historical tour is at the Panorama Building, housing the panoramic painting ‘The Defence of Sevastopol 1854-1855’ which animates events of the Malakhov Kurgan Battle of 6th June 1855, when military forces of Great Britain, France, Turkey and Italy waged war against Russia. The intricate details of this monumental work of art, 465 square metres (5,000 square feet) in size will conjure up in our mind tangible images of one of the most bitter clashes of the Crimean War. Travelling to Sapoun Mountain, the beautiful panorama of the Balaklava Valley will soon unfold before us. We pause for views over this historical place – site of the Charge of the Light Brigade in the 1854-56 Crimean War. Our tour continues to Balaklava Bay, enjoying a picturesque situation surrounded by transparent blue waters, capes Ayah and Fiolent, and the remains of ancient Cathedrals and the majestic Genoese Fortress Chebalo. We shall visit places, which illustrate Balaklava as a historically important battlefield. During the Crimean War, the British troops stationed here constructed the Wharf, shops, pubs and hotels, built the highway and pioneered the first railway of the region. Of course, it is the Charge of the Light Brigade with which Balaklava is most commonly associated. During our return journey, we shall pause briefly at the quay of Grafskaya Pristan, private landing stage of Admiral Voinovich – Commander-in-Chief of the Black Sea fleet and see the large square with the impressive monument to admiral Nakhimov, a Russian naval hero of the Crimean War. Finally we shall proceed along Primorskiy Boulevard with the monument to Scuttled Ships, erected in 1940 as a memorial to the ships sunk during the first period of the Sevastopol defence, to block the enemy, before returning to our awaiting ship.

Please note that there is a considerable amount of walking involved in this tour mostly over uneven cobbled ground. At the Panorama building there are approximately 54 steps to negotiate and approximately 24 steps at Sapoun Mountain. Comfortable, flat walking shoes are recommended. This tour is not suitable for passengers with limited mobility or for wheelchair passengers.