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Attractions in Sevastopol - Monument to Catherine the Second

Monument to Catherine the Second  

Located in the center of the city in 5 walk from Nakhimov Square, the monument to Catherine the Second  (Catherine the Great) is set in the beginning of Lenin Street, next to the building of city administration, right the opposite to the Black Sea Fleet museum.

The monument is the latest work of a well-known Sevastopol’s sculptor Stanislav Chizh. The empress is portrayed with a scroll in her hand, symbolizing the order about foundation of Sevastopol. The monument was erected on charity funds by 225th anniversary of Sevastopol. 

The Catherine times is known as the golden age of Russian empire. Russia had strengthened its influence in the world politics by taking over the Black Sea region, the Caucuses and the Balkans. The Crimea was annexed to Russia by Catherina’s order in 1783.  The empress called the Crimea “the most precious pearl of the crown”.

In 1873 the empress had issued the order about foundation of this city. In 1784 another order was issued by the empress about the name of the city. Known before as Akh-Yar (a white rock), the city was given a Greek name Sevastopol. The name of the city can be translated from Greek as “the city of empire”, “the city of glory”.

To show Russia’s wealth and power to Europe in the face of Russian permanent forces on the Black Sea, Catherine II took a tour to the Crimea. She visited Sevastopol in 1787 in the company of Austrian emperor Franz-Josef escorted by the eminent dignities, high officials and ambassadors of Great Britain, France and Austria.

Russian Prince Grigory Potyomkin was in charge of the Empress’s visit to the Crimea. Sixteen million rubles had been spent for the tour preparation, guest housing and entertaining.  Imitation villages were constructed by Potyomkin's order. Temporary and portable the villages were intended to make impression of habitable lands.  To mark the way of the empress Mile Markers were erected, some of them have remained to this time.  

Sevastopol was a destination point for the visitors. They paid special attention to Sevastopol and to the Black Sea Fleet.  Young but strong, the fleet impressed Catherine II and her companions. The tour was a great success for Russian Empire.  It was evident that Russia is a mighty rival on the Black Sea.

Since Catherina’s order Sevastopol has been developing as a naval base. Now the city is home to Russian Black Sea Fleet and Ukrainian Navy.  In the memory of Catherine the Great who can be called a mother of the city, the monument was erected in June 2008.