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| Crimea - The Swallow Nest |
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; "The Swallow Nest") The Swallow Nest
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The Swallow Nest Miskhor is a resort situated between Yalta and Alupka. The first known inhabitants in these parts were Tauri, then Romans built a fortress on Cape Ai-Todor. The Swallow Nest is the main sight of Miskhor. It is a castle on Cape Ai-Todor. Among the architectural monuments of the Crimea there is one which is really unusual. The Swallow Nest is called an emblem of Crimean Peninsular. Like a swallow's nest this castle sticks, overlooking the sea, to the 38-metre-high cliff. In the second half of the 18th century the property on Cape Ai-Todor changed its owners very often. Then it was bought by one of the oil industrialist's baron Steingel. He having a dream to built a romantic castle, signed a design contract with an engineer A. Sherwood. The "Castle of Love" or "Swallow Nest" was erected in 1912. It's turrets, spires, crenellations and loopholes give an impression of unapproachable grandeur. The castle with its picturesque masses laid out of stone and lined with lime-stone, blends harmoniously with the cliff. Though it looks very fragile it survived a heavy earthquake of 1927. The main room of the castle has a fireplace and decorated walls with eleven symbolic medieval shields. Skillfully made wood carvings, multicolored incrustation, wall sconces in the form of candles match oak ceilings decorated with dragons. The castle is an example of the Gothic style, because its owner was a German. An excellent restaurant is situated in the castle now. At this restaurant you can taste the delicious dishes in the medieval interior and admire magnificent sea views from the top of the cliff. |
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