Monument To The Sunken Ships

Monument to the Sunken Ships is the calling card of Sevastopol. This attraction collects a huge number of tourists but only a few know its interesting story. In this article we are going to tell you how the monument was created, its story, features, the best way to get to it.

Sevastopol is the most important Russian naval base on the Black Sea coast. The origin of this monument is connected with the tragic wartime events. The seven metre column stands in the water on a man-made cliff a few meters from the shoreline on Seaside boulevard.

In the period of Crimean war in 1854 Anglo-French navy got close to the shore of Sevastopol. The city was under siege, a large number of Russian ships were blocked in the bay. The Admiral in charge Mr. Nakhimov gave an order to flood and sink outdated ships at the entrance of Sevastopol bay to prevent the entry of enemy ships in the bay. Seven ships were sunk first. If Nakhimov had not given an order, enemy ships would have passed to the Sevastopol bay and seized the town. This strategy was appreciated by the enemy too. The guard of the sunken ships continued to operate on the shoreline.

Sevastopol had to sink another nine ships after autumn and winter storms. The block made of the sunken ships was damaged during the storm. In the period of Crimea war the town held up for 349 days. About 90 ships were laid down in the bottom of Sevastopol bay, clean up operations lasted 10 years after the war.

To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Sevastopol defense, it was decided to reconstruct Seaside boulevard and to honor once sunken ships of the Russian fleet with the monument. The architect was the Estonian sculptor Amandus Henric Adamson. He is the creator of famous structures such as the monument “Mermaid” in Tallinn, and the dome and the globe on the “Zinger” building in Saint Petersburg.

Majestic monument 

The monument stays in the sea twenty meters from the coast. The pedestal which holds the columns a tem meter rock of granite. On the top of the monument rises a double-headed bronze eagle with the imperial wreath and St. Andrew’s ribbon, and in the beak he holds marine anchor and wreaths of laurel and oak leaves, which symbolize majesty of state and victory. The wingspan of the eagle is about three meters.

Interesting facts about the monument 

The monument was built to last. It’s withstood earthquake in 1927 and the Great Patriotic War.

A German mine exploded on the first day of war in 1941 near the monument. A piece of artificial rock split off and went underwater.

A picture of the monument was placed on the 200 rubles banknote in 2016.

Do not lose the chance to take a photo of the banknote with the monument on the background. Then you can show your friends that you saw the picture with your own eyes.

In conclusion, I want to recommend you to visit both parts of the monument. The first part was installed in the sea in the Sevastopol bay and the second is on the land on the promenade.

If you go further about 50 meters, you will see a small bridge. It is footbridge, which was timed to one of the periods of the Russian-Turkish War. But almost all newcomers call it a bridge of lovers because of the wrought tree, on which couples hang locks and floral ribbons.

A beautiful view of the sea and monument reveals itself from the observation deck on the Seaside boulevard. It is especially romantic to enjoy sunset in the evening.

No matter what time you visit the hero city of Sevastopol, the monument to the Sunken Ships should be in your visit list.

Photos, authors: Marinokha Ekaterina, Gromova Lubuv

Location : Sevastopol