One of the most notable events involving the city is the Siege of Sevastopol (1854-1855) carried out by the British, French, Sardinian, and Turkish troops during the Crimean War, which lasted for 11 months. Despite its efforts, the Russian army had to leave its stronghold and evacuate over a pontoon bridge to the north shore of the inlet. The Russians had to sink their entire fleet to prevent it from falling into the hands of the enemy and at the same time to block the entrance of the Western ships into the inlet. When the enemy troops entered Sevastopol, they were faced with the ruins of a formerly glorious city. A panorama of the siege created by Franz Roubaud and which was restored after its destruction in 1942 is housed in a specially constructed circular building in the city. It portrays the situation in the height of the siege, on 18 June 1855.

It was made with two methods – the closer to the observer layers are made with the real objects – cannon balls, cannons, grass, fortification logs, guns – everything is real etc and further from the observer starts the epic drawing on the round walls of the panorama, creating the illusion that the observer is standing on the top of the hill in the center of the battle for the defense of Sevastopol.

via russos