Attractions of Luchyste

Mount Demerdzhi is a mountain massif (yayla) north of Alushta, one of the most beautiful peaks of the Crimean Mountains.

It rises 1240 meters above sea level. Translated from Crimean Tatar, Demerdzhi means "blacksmith". There is an ancient legend about an evil blacksmith who set up a giant blacksmith's furnace on the top of the "smoky" Mount Funa, where enslaved local residents worked. When the blacksmith killed the girl who came to ask him to free the captives, the mountain swallowed him along with the forge.

As a result of weathering, a unique stone chaos was formed on the top - a complex of rocks "Valley of Ghosts", consisting of stone pillars, towers, mushrooms, etc. The "Head of Catherine" rock stands out, resembling the profile of the queen. Walking and horseback excursions are held.

The medieval fortress of Funa is located on a rocky hill at the foot of Mount Demerdzhi in Crimea.

The name Funa means "smoky" in Greek. Previously, Mount Demerdzhi, which is often shrouded in fog, was also called Funa.

The fortress has been known since 1384 as the eastern outpost of the Mangup Principality of Feodoro. She controlled the trade route that led from Horzuvit (Hurzuf) and Aluston (Alushta) to the steppe Crimea.

During the reconstruction carried out in 1459, a 15-meter rectangular donjon tower was built. An important place in the architectural ensemble was occupied by the church of Saint Theodore Stratilatus, the ruins of which were best preserved after the destruction of the fortress by the Turks in 1475.

In the low season, access to the object is free, in the high season a small entrance fee is introduced.