The Crimean Peninsula is not only a politically important place, but also a historically significant one. In this interesting space, we can also find Polish traces. They reflect the turbulent nature of our history, encompassing the already few material monuments, literature, the presence of a living community, but also... the achievements of modern science.

Material evidence

Wartime destruction and political changes over the centuries have led to a state in which the presence of material traces of Polish culture is modest and often difficult to identify. The testimonies of our presence in Crimea are mainly memorials, necropolises and buildings related to the Polish diaspora. Cemeteries in towns such as Sevastopol, Simferopol or Yalta contain Polish tombstones, testifying to the presence of Poles on the peninsula.

Polonia

Polish traces in Crimea are primarily intangible heritage - literature, science, historical memory and the contribution of Poles to the development of the region, which, despite the passage of time, is still alive in the historical consciousness. The contemporary Polish community, associated among others in the Union of Poles in Ukraine, tries to keep the memory of the national heritage alive by organising cultural events and taking care of Polish memorial sites.

In the footsteps of Mickiewicz

One of the most famous, albeit intangible, Polish traces in Crimea is a literary memento in the form of eighteen poems by Adam Mickiewicz entitled "The Crimean Sonnets". "Crimean Sonnets" (1826). They were written as a result of the bard's forced exile deep into Russia, during a trip to the peninsula in 1825. Mickiewicz was greatly impressed not only by the majestic and atmospheric nature, but also by the artefacts of Muslim culture. All these vectors were perfectly in keeping with the spirit of the era. These works are a true masterpiece of descriptive lyricism, full of oriental colour and romantic landscape.

Polish archaeological discoveries

Polish archaeologists have played a key role in the study of the ancient civilisations of the peninsula. Our Archaeological Mission "Tyritake" from the National Museum in Warsaw has been conducting excavations on the Kerch Peninsula since the 1990s. Among the discoveries made there were fragments of Byzantine structures, the defensive walls of an ancient city, a huge water cistern and more than a dozen coins dating back 2,000 years. These discoveries confirmed the existence and importance of the ancient city, which previously lacked clear evidence in historical sources.

Polish researchers also discovered the remains of the first typical Roman fort north of the Black Sea in Balaklava. The ruins of the temple of Jupiter of Dolicheń, probably founded by stationed Roman legionaries, were also found there. The research was discontinued in 2014, before resuming in 2018.