Yeni-Kale: An Ottoman Fortress in Kerch, Russia
Visitor Information
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Country: Russia
Civilization: Unclassified
Remains: Military
History
Yeni-Kale is a fortress located in the municipality of Kerch, Russia, positioned on the shore of the Kerch Strait. It was constructed by the Ottoman Empire between 1699 and 1706 with the supervision of Goloppo, an Italian who had converted to Islam. The design and building process also involved several engineers from France.
The site where Yeni-Kale stands had been of strategic importance since ancient times. In antiquity, it hosted a Greek settlement known as Parthenion. Across the strait to the east lay a smaller town named Achilleon, which was notable for containing a temple dedicated to the hero Achilles.
During the medieval period, from the 13th century onwards, the area became a Genoese colony. Control later passed to the Ottomans at the close of the 15th century. The fortress was established primarily to command the narrowest part of the Kerch Strait, equipped with notably powerful artillery to prevent Russian ships from passing between the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.
Yeni-Kale served as the residence for the local Turkish pasha and housed a garrison combining approximately 800 Ottoman soldiers and 300 Crimean Tatars. A significant aspect of its function during Ottoman rule was hosting a large slave market within the walls, which diminished after the fortress was taken over by Russian forces.
In 1771, amid the Russo-Turkish War from 1768 to 1774, Russian troops advanced and captured Yeni-Kale without facing a fight. The Turkish defenders, including the fortress’s commander Abaza Pasha, retreated. The subsequent Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca in 1774 formalized the cession of Yeni-Kale and Kerch to Russia. By 1821, the area was part of the Kerch-Yenikale district within the Taurida Governorate under Russian administration.
Records from 1818 describe the fortress as well-armed, with 52 cannons, 10 mortars, and 7 howitzers, alongside barracks sufficient for 770 soldiers. However, by the early 19th century, Yeni-Kale’s military role had lessened. In 1835, military hospital facilities were established on the premises and remained operational until 1880. Afterward, the fortress was abandoned.
In the twentieth century, archaeological excavations and restoration efforts took place, preserving some parts of Yeni-Kale. Nonetheless, it remains largely in ruins today, reflecting its long and complex history of use, conquest, and eventual decline.
Remains
Yeni-Kale occupies roughly 2.5 hectares and features an irregular pentagonal shape adapted to the steep local terrain, built over several levels. Five half-bastions are situated at the corners of the fortress. These are projections from the main walls extending outward to enhance the defenders’ capability to fire upon attacking forces and to defend adjoining sections of the fortress with flanking gunfire. Their robust construction was intended to resist extended sieges and heavy artillery bombardment.
The fortress is surrounded on three sides by a defensive moat, leaving the seaward side open. Inside the walls, various essential structures were established, including two gunpowder magazines, which stored ammunition; an arsenal for weapons and equipment; residential buildings; and a water reservoir. Religious life was represented by a mosque within the compound, serving the spiritual needs of the garrison and inhabitants. A bathhouse also existed inside, reflecting Ottoman customs regarding hygiene and social practices.
A significant challenge for the fortress was its limited supply of fresh water. The single well inside was insufficient to meet the needs of the garrison and residents. To address this, an underground ceramic aqueduct was constructed to channel water from a source several kilometers away near the area of modern-day Glazovka. This engineering solution helped sustain the fortress during its operational years.
Currently, some of the best-preserved elements at Yeni-Kale include its main gates, several sections of the outer walls, and particularly the half-bastion located on the side facing the coast. A modern single-track railway runs directly across the fortress grounds, linking the city of Kerch to the nearby ferry terminal. The vibrations caused by passing trains are known to endanger the fragile ruins. Plans to redirect rail traffic through the Crimean Bridge, thus closing the line passing through Yeni-Kale, aim to reduce this risk and protect the historic site.