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Attractions in Sevastopol - Panorama Museum Defense of Sevastopol 1854-1855

Panorama Museum - Defense of Sevastopol 1854-1855

 

Centrally located in a green park known as the Historical Boulevard of Sevastopol, the Panorama Museum is only 10 minuets walk uphill from the Ushakov Square. 

The world-known Panorama was built as a show house for the panoramic painting “The Defense of Sevastopol 1854-1855”. Consisted of a picturesque canvas and an objective layout, a 360-degree panoramic painting reconstructs a three dimension picture of the battle of Malakhov, which took place in Sevastopol on June 18 (June 6), 1855.

The battle of Malakhov was part of the Crimean war when British, French, Turkish and Sardinian allies sieged Sevastopol. The panorama painting depicts only one day of the 349-day heroic defense of Sevastopol in 1854-1855.

According to the idea of its creator, a battle-scene painter Franz Rubo, visitors standing on a special all-round observation desk can imagine themselves on the top of Malkhov Hill in the moment of the battle. 

The painting is 115 meters (377 feet) long and 14 meters (46 feet) high.  Total number of participants depicted in the canvas is about 4 000. You can observe various episodes of the battle. There are artillery men firing the guns, doctors and nurses treating the wounded, Russian suppers, and all the defenders of Malakhov Bastion from simple warriors to the commanders.

The original round building of the Panorama with a doom, topped with a rotunda was erected under the project of military engineer Enberg and architect Feldman. The Panorama was opened in 1905 in the year of 50th anniversary of the Crimean War.

A classical two-column portal of the Panorama is decorated by the elements of military décor. Above the entrance you can see a badge of Sevastopol, the iron cross is twined around by a military ribbon with a number 349 in the centre, designating the number of the days of the defense. 

The panorama is definitely unforgettable experience and something that you must see in Sevastopol, but be warned of the queues which are very likely in the summer time.