The Bakhchisaray Khan Palace was founded in 1532 by Sahib I Giray. This year is also the date when the town of Bakhchisaray (original Crimean Tatar spelling Bağçasaray) was founded. However the valley of the Çuruk Su river, in which the new khan capital was established, had then already been the regional administrative and cultural centre for about one and half millennia. 

Planning scheme of Bakhchisaray. Modern blocks of buildings placed in areas of ancient settlements are correspondingly marked with colour filling. Gray filling shows modern housing areas placed outside historical building areas.

Some ancient settlements - satellites and predecessors of Bakhchisaray - had been existing in the valley long before the khans’ capital was built there. In the epoch of the Crimean Khanate these settlements were known under the next names:

- Qırq Yer (nowadays this ancient mountain fortress is called Çufut Qale)

- Salaçıq (the part of the Çuruk Su valley which adjoins to the rocks of Çufut Qale)

- Eski Yurt (area where the Çuruk Su river leaves the narrow gorge and flows through a wide intermountain lowland).

All of these settlements in different historical periods consequently were capitals (or at least significant centres) for those state formations, which arose in South West Crimea.

Nowadays Qırq Yer, Salaçıq and Eski Yurt have merged into a single town with Bakhchisaray. 

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