Dulber Palace

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The elegant Dulber Palace, built in the late 19th century for the Prince Pyotr Nikolayevich, an uncle of the last Russian Imperator Nicholas II, is one of the brightest architectural gems at the Southern Coast of Crimea. Its fabulous snow-white asymmetric building with silver cupolas and elegant turrets noticeably stands out against a background of fantastic Crimean Mountains’ sceneries and is reckoned among the most beautiful attractions in Yalta’s outskirts.

The story of this amazing palace with high-sounding name Dulber (Crimean Tatar for beautiful) started in 1893, when the Prince Pyotr Nikolayevich who adored Yalta bought a plot of land for his manor’s construction in the warmest place of the Southern Coast. The construction works began two years later. Majestic palace’s design was based on the sketches, made by the Grand Prince. Having poor health since childhood, he often traveled to the Middle East and the Maghreb on doctors’ advice and always brought back albums with own sketches of architectural monuments that had impressed him. The implementation of the project was assigned to Yalta’s main city architect, who had already had a rich experience in palaces’ construction on the Southern Coast of Crimea with its steep terrain.

Built within two years in Romantic Mauritanian style, the gorgeous palace was notable for original arranging. It was an unconventional building with different levels, which was skillfully fitted into complex Crimean landscape. Dulber’s levels had different height and were crowned with silver cupolas and castellated parapets with balustrades. Palace’s dazzlingly white facades were adorned with carved stone inserts, blue ornament and mosaic compositions. The building, which was surprisingly simple and luxuriously elegant alike, had more than a hundred rooms.

Palace’s owners enjoyed their new home and had no idea, what role the Dulber Palace will play in their destiny. After the revolution of 1917 and establishment of the Soviet authority in Crimea, all Romanovs, who lived on the peninsula, were in danger of physical violence. Then, it was decided to turn the elegant palace into fortified fortress with machinegun nests on the roof and guard of Sevastopol military garrison’s armed sailors. Palace’s thick walls literally saved the lives of royal family members.

In the year 1922, one of the first soviet health resorts was opened on Dulber’s premises. And fifteen years later, another building in Mauritanian style was raised near the palace. Today one of the Ukraine’s most prestigious sanatoriums is situated there.

A luxurious park is laid out on the terraces around the palace. It stretches from the main entrance gates to the sea. Park’s territory is adorned with numerous sculptures and arbours, and a pool with water lilies, around which a palm alley meanders. Its highlight is a miniature botanical garden with many interesting flowers and trees.