Cities

The village is situated from Feodosia at the distance of approximately 10 km. It is hidden at the coast of majestic bay covered with gentle palms of mountains. Uzun-Syrt Chain from the North and Karadag from the West convered Koktebel valley from bad weather. Unique combination of near steppe, mountains and sea create special, unforgettable climate.

Koktebel is a resort (or, may be Bohemia) village in Bolshaya Feodosia content. “Kok-tepe-el” in Tatar is “the area of blue peaks”. But each moment and with each move of clouds their color changed in a unique way. That is why poets and painter can hardly take their eyes off this magic game.

Hill Tepsen is low and round plateau rises at the Western boundary of Koktebel separates the village from Karadag. “Tepse” in Crimea Tatar means “dish”. The small medieval settlement was there at Tepsen, but we do not know the name of the settlement. The building of the settlement were there till the end of last century. The first archeological expedition worked at Tepsen in 1929-1931. N.S. Barsamov Director of Feodosia Art Gallery was the head of expedition. In 1949-1953 Tepsen was invented by the expedition under the leading of V.P. Babenchikov. Big economy and handicraft utensils were discovered at Tepsen: pithos, amphora, kitchen pots, crockery, millstones, rests of scythes, knives, smith punches, etc. and food and water preserved in pithos and wine in amphora. There were also signs of metal melting, may be from iron ores of Kerch, blacksmith, glass, potter’s, jewellery and other productions, viticulture and wine-making, growing of cereals and fishing.

Tepsen settlement existed till 9-10 century and after that it was ruined by tribe of Pecheng. There is still no final answer for the question about inhabitants of this settlement. The question will be given only by further archeological discoveries. But it is known for sure that in 8 century the inhabitants of the settlement was (became) Christians. The rest of three naves temple of significant dimensions 40 by 21 m witnessed about it. There are few such temple in Crimea.

Nowadays Koktebel is a big village resort. There is “Primoriye” Tourist Center with 3 hotel buildings with all year round possibility to work and more than 100 cottage houses with verandas covered with ivy and hops at the territory of the village. The second Koktebel resort is “Goluboi Zaliv” Pension. Both resorts have the developed infrastructure for the leisure: fine beaches, parks, cinemas and dancing, medial treatment.