Back to category Published: 29 july 2022 Author: Zhanna Mukhatzhanova

Fort Shevchenko

Fort Shevchenko is a military-base town located on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea, northwest of the city of Aktau.

History

In the Middle Ages, there was a seaport called Ketik Kala. Archaeological excavations revealed that Ketik Kala had trade relations with cities in Europe and Central Asia in the 10th-15th centuries. You can still see the ruins of the ancient town on the outskirts of Fort Shevchenko.

In 1717, by order of Tsar Peter I of Russia, the Fortress of St. Peter was founded there. In 1834, a new fortification called Novo-Aleksandrovsky was built. In 1846, Novo-Aleksandrovsky was renamed into Novo-Petrovskoye.

In 1857, the name change continued as Novo-Petrovskoye was renamed Fort Aleksandrovsky. In 1850-1857, Taras Shevchenko was in exile there. The city bears his name nowadays. Taras Shevchenko was a prominent Ukrainian poet, artist, and political figure. His literary works have laid the foundation of Ukrainian literature and even the Ukrainian language.

In May 1919, a naval battle took place near Fort Aleksandrovsky between the Bolsheviks and the White Movement. It was the largest battle on the Caspian Sea during the Russian Civil War. In 1924 the town was renamed Fort Uritsky, and since 1939 it's been called Fort Shevchenko.

What to visit?

The town is not a tourist hotspot and tourists usually use it as a base for exploring nearby attractions, such as Zhygylgan Hollow, Kenty Baba Necropolis, Shakpak Ata Cave Mosque, and others. However, Fort Shevchenko still has some destinations that may be interesting.

Taras Shevchenko Memorial Museum

Opened in 1932, it was the very first museum in Mangystau. It is devoted to the life of Taras Shevchenko and the Ukrainian people in general. The poet and artist spent 10 years in exile in Kazakhstan. From 1851 to 1852, he went on an expedition to study minerals in Mangystau. During these two years, he painted about 140 paintings and sketches. Throughout all 10 years of exile, he created more than 350 paintings. Some of them are showcased in the museum.

Музей Шевченко

The Lighthouse

The lighthouse was installed in 1863 on the bank of the Tupkaragan Peninsula. Its light can be seen in the sea for 30-40 km (19-25 mi). The lighthouse area also includes a house, a stable, and a warehouse. It looks more like a small fortress than just a lighthouse.

The Old Cemetery

Fort Shevchenko is also home to the Soldiers’ Cemetery with a mass grave of Austro-Hungarian prisoners of World War I. These prisoners, exiled to Kazakhstan, contributed greatly to the development of the region, having built a school, the first radio station in Kazakhstan, and a road between the villages of Bautino and Atash. Prisoners of war died during the cholera epidemic. Nowadays, in the cemetery, you can see a stele with “Soldiers of 1915” engraved on it.

How to get there?

The road from Aktau to Fort Shevchenko takes about 2 hours; the distance is 136 km (84.5 mi). You can get there either by car or taxi. The town cannot be reached by train or plane.