Novy Svet trail Golitsyn bay. Golitsyn trail, Novyi Svet reserve, Karaul-Oba. We breathe deeply

Like all the sights of the Crimean peninsula, the ancient city of Kalos Limen, on the site of which the village of Chernomorsky is now located, keeps many historical secrets. Researchers of the Crimean cultural values ​​are still unraveling the mysteries associated with the existence of this ancient Greek settlement.

The importance of Kalos Limena is evidenced by the fact that references to him are kept by the works of such famous ancient authors as Herodotus and Flavius ​​Arrian. By the way, in Crimea there are ruins with a very similar name, but they are located much further south - above on.

Kalos Limen Open Air Museum

The beginning of the existence of the Beautiful Harbor (this is the name of the city in translation from ancient Greek) dates back to the 4th century BC, and the decline of its history came in the 1st century AD. The settlement was created by the Ionian Greeks, and the Sarmatians destroyed it.

The ancient center, surrounded by defensive walls with towers, was located on a large territory - more than 3 hectares. The well-being of the Beautiful Harbor was based mainly on the development of agriculture.

The fertile lands and favorable location of the city attracted the attention of many contenders for its capture. At first they were the Chersonesites, who occupied the harbor at the end of the 4th century BC. e. Numerous raids of new potential invaders - the Scythians and Sarmatians - forced its inhabitants to take care of strengthening the defensive structures. For this purpose, a powerful citadel was erected. This is what her tower looked like:

And this is how she looks now:

It is known that in the cellars of this 16-meter lighthouse food supplies were stored in case of a state of siege, and on the upper floors there was a military checkpoint with stone-throwing tools, from where the entrance to the bay was clearly visible. Very similar towers can be seen in those located on the settlements and.

In the II century BC. e. the city comes under the control of the Scythians and soon becomes a significant seaport.

The beautiful harbor changed hands several times as a result of hostilities. It was occupied either by the Greeks or the Scythians, until the Sarmatians who descended from the northern steppes put an end to the history of the existence of the once bustling trade and craft center.

In order to popularize a valuable archaeological site in the Crimea, on the site of the ancient settlement, in 1997, a reserve was created, and ten years earlier, the Kalos Limen Museum, which is a branch of the local museum of local lore. There, in the lapidary, the main artifact of the ancient city is kept - a slab with Scythian petroglyphs (the people who allegedly did not have a written language). So far no one has been able to read them.

The Golitsyn trail is currently a beautiful tourist site with many attractions both on it and nearby. The trail is located on the territory of the state natural reserve of regional significance of the Republic of Crimea "New World". The nature reserve itself is located near the village of Novy Svet.

The path was cut by Turkish workers on the orders of Lev Sergeevich Golitsyn in honor of the arrival of Tsar Nicholas II in 1912. The length of the trail is about 5 kilometers and is the result of serious and unsafe architectural and construction work. The Golitsyn trail is inextricably linked with the personality of Lev Sergeevich Golitsyn himself, as well as the fame of the village of Novyi Svet.

Currently, Novy Svet is a village located 7 kilometers from Sudak. The village of Novy Svet is widely known thanks to the Novy Svet champagne factory of the same name, founded by Prince Lev Sergeevich Golitsyn in 1878.

The history of the village of Novy Svet

The history of the settlement goes deep into antiquity. One of the first settlers of the New World and nearby territories were the Taurians. In Genoese times, the New World is referred to as the village of Paradis (Paradixi de lo Cheder). After the annexation of Crimea to the Russian Empire, Empress Catherine II presented Paradise to the French nobleman Barthelemy Galler. Barthelemy sold it to Princess Anna Sergeevna Golitsyna in 1820 (interestingly, she was not related to the future owner of the New World Golitsyn L.S.). Soon the major general of the Russian imperial army, the mayor of Kerch, Prince Zakhar Semyonovich Kherkheulidzev became the owner of Paradise. Kherkheulidzev Z.S. the first to appreciate the natural beauties of Paradise and laid a small garden. He wanted to go into winemaking, for which he planted 3.5 acres of grapes. But he did not have the opportunity to pay much attention to his estate due to employment (Kerch mayor) and the lack of necessary finances. It was he who renamed Paradise into Novy Svet (however, there is another version that L.S. Golitsyn renamed Paradise into Novy Svet after Nicholas II visited the estate).

But the story of how Prince Lev Sergeevich Golitsyn became the owner of the New World is interesting and romantic. The twenty-five-year-old prince falls in love with Princess Nadezhda Zakharovna Kherkheulidzeva, who was the eldest daughter of Zakhar Semyonovich Kherkheulidzev. And everything would be fine, but Nadezhda Kherkheluidzeva was already married to Prince D.P. Zasetsky. A secular scandal erupted, the young couple left for Europe for 5 years, and Golitsyn parted with his academic career. At the same time, they several times come to the New World, inherited by Nadezhda Kherkheulidzeva. In 1878, Lev Sergeevich Golitsyn bought out the New World with plans to create a winery (he began to study winemaking in France a little earlier). It was Lev Sergeevich who made the main contribution to the development of the New World, became the founder of winemaking in the Crimea and was the first in the Russian Empire to establish the industrial production of high-quality champagne, sparkling and other grape wines. But the continuation of this branch of history is more appropriate to be associated with a visit to the House-Museum of the History of Viticulture and Winemaking and the Novy Svet Champagne Factory.

This time we visited the Novy Svet for a walk along the Golitsyn Trail, visiting the Golitsyn grotto (Chaliapin grotto), Cape Kapchik, and also the Novy Svet botanical reserve in general. We lived at the same time in Sudak. Firstly, it was nearby, and secondly, housing in Sudak is a little cheaper and more diverse. Novyi Svet is just a physically small settlement, and there cannot be such competition as in Sudak. Therefore, if your goal is not to stay with a beach holiday or a more or less long acquaintance with the natural, cultural and historical sights of the New World, namely a one-day trip, like ours, then it is more profitable to stay in Sudak. Well, if you stay in the New World, then the unique Green Bay with sunrises and sunsets will be at your disposal every day, as well as other attractions.

How to get to the Golitsyn Trail

As we said above, the Golitsyn Trail is located near the village of Novyi Svet, which means that you first need to get to it.

• By private vehicle. There is only one road from Sudak to the New World, so you first need to get to Sudak. In Sudak, along Lenin Street, we head towards the Sudak fortress. Lenin Street turns into Touristskoye Highway, and in Uyutnoye into Primorskaya Street, which leads towards the village of Novy Svet. Although the distance of 7 kilometers is not great, you should not lose vigilance on a narrow serpentine.
• By public transport. Every 30 minutes (in the summer) bus number 5 leaves the bus station in Sudak for Novyi Svet.

There are officially several ways to get to the Golitsyn Trail, which is located on the territory of the Novy Svet State Natural Reserve of Regional Importance of the Republic of Crimea.

Since we were on the Novy Svet embankment, we were going to use the first entrance until we were offered a tempting option with a short boat trip.

We were told that the entrance to the trail costs 100 rubles (at the end of 2016), and why go through it in one direction, and then in the opposite direction, if possible, as an option, take a boat to the Tsarskoye Beach, which is located in the beautiful Golubaya Bay ( there is another name - Delilimanskaya), and from there go to Cape Kapchik and the Golitsyn Trail (by the way, it is not necessary to return along the same path, you can also go through the juniper grove through another exit). And the cost is either the same or slightly more expensive depending on the number of passengers. We decided to take advantage of this offer, as we were going to first leave the Tsarskoye Beach towards Mount Karaul-Oba, and only then return to the Golitsyn Trail. Plus, it's always nice to ride on the sea.

Green Bay (Sudak-Liman)

By the way, the bay where the village of Novy Svet and its embankment is located is called Zelenaya. There are also other names: Sudak-Liman and Fox.

The place is very beautiful, due to the fact that the bay is closed on all sides by mountains, it has its own unique microclimate, spring begins even a little earlier than in neighboring Sudak. In Genoese times, the bay was used as a parking lot for merchant ships.

Blue Bay (Delilimanskaya) and King's Beach

Well, we headed towards the Blue Bay.

The Blue Bay, together with the Royal Beach, appeared in all its splendor. Clear and clean water and a small number of tourists (perhaps due to the fact that these days were relatively cool).

This beach was chosen by Nicholas II in 1912 during his visits to the New World. In 1912, due to the deteriorating financial situation (in 1906, the Feodosia Bank sealed Golitsyn's cellars for debts), Lev Sergeevich donated part of his estate with cellars to Nicholas II, and he himself wanted to organize the Higher School of Winemaking. Nicholas II paid Golitsyn's debts, and in 1912 the royal family came to the New World twice to accept the gift and rest.

Botanical Reserve "New World"

Well, we started climbing along the path of the Novy Svet botanical reserve, which was created in 1974 (on the basis of a natural monument of local significance in 1921) to preserve unique relict groves of tree-like juniper, endemic Stankevich pine (Calabrian pine) and many other plants, some of which are listed in the Red Books.

Mountain range Karaul-Oba

Our next destinations were such sights as the Taurus Staircase, the Valley of Hell and the Valley of Paradise, Cosmos Peak. All of them are located near Mount Karaul-Oba. All this territory is a natural monument of regional importance called "Mountain massif Karaul-Oba". At the intersection of the trails, we leave to the left and keep to the path that goes around the mountain range closer to the sea, as there are other paths that go straight to Mount Karaul-Oba.
There are excellent views of Cape Kapchik, Mount Koba-Kaya, Mount Sokol, Golubaya Bay.

Valley of Hell

We reach a place where the path goes steeply down the rocks and look around. At this time, we are overtaken by a group of elderly tourists with backpacks. Here are the tourists, here is the old school!

Actually, the opened view is the “Valley of Hell”, where we had to go down. The descent is actually not so difficult, but everything must be done slowly and carefully.

Having descended into a small valley, it is difficult to understand why it was called that. In fact, she is wonderful! Perhaps because this small valley is sandwiched between rocks, often spiky, protruding here and there. By the way, these rocks and ledges are an ancient coral reef, hiding many fossils. And for me, this stone chaos mixed with trees and shrubs, framed on both sides by the sea, is the most heavenly place in terms of nature.

You can judge the descent by the way we climbed. Yes, it’s a bit steep in places, but in any sneakers with non-slip soles and with a little help from the hands, everything is easy to pass. Pensioners did!

By the way, the trail is marked with yellow markers. And we are going towards the village of Veseloye. Accordingly, from the side of Vesely, through the Valley of Hell, you can also get to the Golitsyn Trail. Through passage through Karaul-Oba is allowed, but the installation of tents and making fires is prohibited.
The next sights were Cosmos Peak and Taurus Stairs. The path to them is not obvious, and only later, looking at my track from the navigator, I realized that I turned towards them earlier than the path was marked on the map (if you go towards Cape Kapchik from the Valley of Hell). What only says that there are several ways, but all lead up.

Staircase Taurus

Climbing up a little, I ended up in a gorge twenty meters deep. Trees were visible somewhere above, and tapering walls gave direction.

Having wandered around the gorge a little, I found several sections of the Taurus Stairs, and as it turned out later, these were not all sections of the stairs. After the earthquake of 1927, part of the sites collapsed, they turned out to be littered, and access to them became difficult.

So who are the Tauris? These are the people who inhabited the mountainous part of the Crimea since the 1st millennium BC, and the last mention of them dates back to the 4th century AD. The mountainous part of the Crimea was then called Taurida, or Taurica. The Taurians are mentioned in Greek and Roman sources mainly as a barbarian, ferocious people who live by means of piracy. But the Kizil-Koba culture is also referred to the Taurus, the first finds of which were discovered around. The people who lived at such a distance from the sea could hardly live as piracy, and the finds of the cultural layer (which, by the way, is not very large) speak of a more peaceful existence. As always, it is difficult to draw any conclusions, despite the fact that there is a mention in ancient sources. Perhaps they were different tribes. History is a changing business.

Cosmos Peak and Paradise Valley

The height of the Cosmos Peak is 228 meters above sea level. The panoramas from it are simply incredible in all directions. If you look at the sea, then on the left: the Novy Svet reserve, Sudak, Sudak Bay, the Meganom mountain range, and on the right - Kutlak Bay, the village of Veseloe and Cape Ai-Foka.

And on the other side of the sea - Mount Karaul-Oba, and right under the peak of Cosmos - the saddle of Mount Karaul-Oba - the Valley of Paradise.

The names "Valley of Hell" and "Valley of Paradise" are very conditional, and again, in my opinion, the Valley of Hell is generally a Paradise. These names are not on official maps, but they are on popular maps (such as wikimapia and OSM), and they are known to tourists following the routes of the Southern Coast of Crimea.

Mount Karaul-Oba (Watch Mountain, Karaulnaya Peak) is an ancient coral reef 341 m high. On the western spur of the mountain near the Kutlak Bay is the Bosporan fortress Kutlak (I century BC), we did not visit it, as we understood that there is not enough time. By the way, there was a very strong wind at Cosmos Peak, and this is another reason why you should be careful climbing it. Literally blown away in gusts.

During the descent from the peak, an interesting view of the Valley of Hell was discovered.

We went down to the Golubaya Bay and head to Cape Kapchik. The royal beach is already empty.

I must say that there is no specific path straight from the Tsarskoye beach to the Golitsyn path along the coast. We did not know this, and went almost directly along the slope to Cape Kapchik, in search of the missing path. This can also be done, but is it true? In order not to make numerous trails along the reserved juniper grove, you need to climb higher along the ravine. Turn right there and go down the Golitsyn Trail to Cape Kapchik.

Cape Kapchik and the Golitsyn Trail

Previously, in Cape Kapchik there was an open passage along the Through Grotto, to which the trail leads even now. The through grotto was formed as a result of tectonic impact, and not by water erosion. Its length is 77 meters and a colony of bats lives in it. Prince Golitsyn ennobled the entrance to it from the Golubaya Bay, made a path, and on the other side - stained-glass windows and two stairs to the water. But now, for safety reasons, the grotto is closed, as there were cases of rockfall. By the way, it is clear that the path was laid further than the Through Grotto to the Tsarskaya Bay, but the earthquake of 1927 did not spare this section as well as many other places (including the Through Grotto).

The Golitsyn trail was cut by Turkish workers on the orders of Lev Sergeevich Golitsyn in honor of the arrival of Tsar Nicholas II in 1912. The length of the trail is about 5 kilometers and is the result of serious and unsafe architectural and construction work.
We go to Cape Kapchik. Sunset, it will soon get dark, and we have just begun our journey along the Golitsyn Trail. The walk to Cosmos Peak and back from the Royal Beach took 3 hours and 8 kilometers. So, we must hurry.


Descent to the Through Grotto.


Blue bay. Its second name is "Robber". According to legend, smugglers hid goods in the bay and met accomplices here.

We are at Cape Kapchik. The cape, like most of the rocks and mountains around, is of reef origin. There is no escape from the Tethys Ocean in Crimea. Its name was formed from the similarity with a narrow long bag worn on the belt by dervishes.

The Golitsyn trail passes by Rogue Beach, located in the Blue Bay. The beach, of course, is conditional, since the stones are quite large, but still, in hot weather, this is not an obstacle for vacationers.

The trail is quite steep in places.

Golitsyn's grotto, or Chaliapin's grotto

Golitsyn's grotto of natural origin, carved by sea waves in Mount Koba-Kaya (Cave Mountain). Height up to 25 meters and width up to 17 meters. In the Middle Ages, there was a Christian cave monastery here, but the frescoes proving its existence survived only until the 19th century. L.S. Golitsyn organized a wine cellar and a small stage for performances in this grotto.

At the far wall there are racks for storing a huge collection of Golitsyn wines, and a little closer there is a well for collecting fresh water. Through the arch in the middle of the racks, a passage was planned to enter the wine cellars of the sparkling wine factory. The vinoteca was fenced off by a wall with a door, now only the remains of the wall are visible.

Guests were received in the Golitsyn grotto and concerts were given on a small stage-terrace. Concerts have been held here in modern times. There is a legend that this stage was built for the arrival of Fyodor Chaliapin, so that he would give a concert here and drown out the sound of the surf with his voice. But there is no reliable evidence that Chaliapin ever visited the New World. But there is a legend, and it is interesting. Therefore, the Golitsyn grotto is sometimes called the Chaliapin grotto.

We left the Golitsyn Trail already in the dark, this option was assumed, and headlamps were taken. But how many bonuses: the sunset at Cape Kapchik, the empty grotto of Golitsyn and the New World in the night lights.

Naturally, there was no one at the exit from the trail. The described walk took 5 hours and 12.5 kilometers. If you pass only the excursion Golitsyn Trail, it will be much shorter and faster (4 km, if only along the Golitsyn trail to Cape Kapchik and back, and 3 km, if you go to the second exit).
Come to the New World at least for the weekend, these views are worth seeing. But, to be honest, we wanted to stay a little longer and meet the sunrise and sunset in Novy Svet Bay or Cape Kapchik.

The founder is considered to be Prince Lev Golitsyn (1912). In fact, she was already here, he just ennobled her. This is an amazing place with breathtaking scenery. An opportunity to see the most beautiful surroundings of Sudak.

This is not only a natural, but also a historical landmark of the resort, where Emperor Nicholas II himself liked to spend time. Some tourists even call the walk along the trail "imperial". In addition to the ruler, the famous Fyodor Chaliapin, a friend of the prince-winemaker, visited here.

Historical facts, legends

Before Golitsyn in 1912 equipped the trail with comfortable stone steps, observation platforms and fences, it was an ordinary road. It led to a Christian monastery located in one of the grottoes.

In its original form, the Golitsyn trail did not last long, only 15 years. In 1927, during the earthquake (Yalta), some sections were destroyed. For many years, no one dealt with the issue of restoring this tourist route. Only in the 80s of the last century, restoration work began.

Whether the singer F. Chaliapin and Nicholas II were here is a moot point. Many historians claim that he never visited these places. At the same time, Chaliapin's grotto is here.

The legend is the story of how the prince's friends decided to play a joke on him after he told about the method of checking champagne. They gave the bottle a good shake and invited Golitsyn to open it. As a result, he "took a shower of champagne", doused one of the walls of the grotto. In the place where the splashes of sparkling wine fell, ancient frescoes appeared. Today there is no confirmation of this story, but it is still interesting.

What makes the path attractive?

The road starts right in the village, near Zelenaya Bay, at the foot of Mount Orel. The total length of the route is about 5 kilometers. After walking a little on the stairs, you will rise to one of the observation platforms. It looks good from her. Enjoy the surrounding landscape, go further to the famous, the second name is Chaliapin. It was in it that the prince kept wines made at his own factory.

In general, the grotto was formed by mother nature, but the thirty-meter height in some places, the constant temperature made the cavity an ideal storage. Further, the path will lead to the cliffs of the Khoba-Kaya rock, Cape Kapchik. By the way, the exit to the hill passes over the underwater cave "Legend". You can't get in with a guide. But if you have climbing experience, a flashlight and a reliable friend, you can explore it yourself.

Another amazing place on the Golitsyn trail is the famous one, equipped by the prince with steps, stained-glass windows and a wrought-iron door. If you get pretty tired, I recommend going down to the Blue Bay. It was on this beach that Nicholas II liked to spend time. After that, you can return to the village or go back to, famous for its tree-like five-meter junipers aged from 3 to 4 thousand years.

Going on a hike along the most popular tourist trail of Crimea, be sure to wear sports shoes (sneakers). Slippers won't fit. The road on the rocks in such shoes can be dangerous. Especially after the rain. On a hot day, take care of your hats. Also drinking water. There are no springs or shops here. So it is worth foreseeing everything in advance.

How to get (get) to the Golitsyn trail

First you need to get to the village, which is part of . You can do this from the Sudak bus station by bus number five. The trail starts near the bus station. You can get here by sea, even from Yalta or Alushta.

Autotourists are guided by the coordinates on the map in the GPS navigator. By the way, if you don’t have your own car, you can do it without any problems. In my opinion, traveling by car is much more interesting, and sometimes even more profitable. Coordinates and map at the bottom of the page.

For outdoor enthusiasts:

Photo

Exact location on the map, GPS coordinates:

Paid: 44.825021, 34.915951
For free: 44.825749, 34.908658

According to most travelers, the Golitsyn trail is the most amazing, charming, unique place in the whole of Crimea. Amazing landscapes, interesting history, heady fresh air remain in the memory for a long time and beckon back like a magnet. Have a nice, unforgettable vacation!

(New World) is not just a tourist route. This is an unusual and very attractive way to get acquainted with the Crimean nature. It was created over a hundred years ago by the caring hand of Prince Lev Golitsyn.

Novy Svet, Crimea: Golitsyn trail and its history

On the slope of Mount Koba-Kaya in 1912 a unique walking route was laid. The creator of the trail was the famous prince - the founder of the village of Novy Svet and Crimean winemaking. In this regard, the name "Golitsyn trail" was assigned to the tourist route.

The New World was visited by Tsar Nicholas II in 1912. It was he who became the first visitor to the paved path. The tsar really liked the walk, after which he was also treated to champagne from Golitsyn's cellars. “Now I see life in a new light,” said Nicholas II, draining the second bottle of the fabulous drink. Just after this phrase, the estate of Lev Sergeevich received its modern name.

Golitsyn trail (Crimea): photo and route description

The total length of the tourist is 5.5 kilometers. The trail encircles then passes through the Blue Bay, goes around Cape Kapchik and ends in the Blue Bay. The entire route can be completed in 1.5-2 hours. Take a small supply of food and water with you.

Beautiful and a bit mysterious Eastern Crimea. It is here that the Golitsyn trail (New World) is located. How to get to this tourist site?

The route starts near the western edge of the waterfront of the resort village (within the so-called Green Bay). There is a checkpoint here, where foresters are on duty. They charge a small fee to enter the trail and keep order on the route.

The Golitsyn trail is quite narrow at the very beginning. On this site, it is laid between a sheer cliff on one side and a steep cliff on the other. Here the route is equipped with concrete sides and railings for the safety of tourists.

First stop: Golitsyn Grotto

The first attraction on the trail is Golitsyn (or Chaliapin, as he is also called). A narrow path leads directly to this object. In the grotto, Prince Golitsyn arranged wine cellars. To this day, niches (in the form of hollowed-out arches) have been preserved in the walls, in which exclusive bottles of wine lay. There is also a well in the grotto. Now it has dried up, but in the time of Golitsyn there was water in it.

The grotto itself is a small cavity in the coastal rock, formed naturally (by the impact of sea waves). Its height does not exceed thirty meters, and its width is about 18 meters. Archaeologists have established that in the Middle Ages a cave Orthodox monastery was located here. Ancient wall paintings could be seen at the end of the 19th century. Later, Prince Golitsyn arranged his wine cellar here.

The grotto is also often called Shalyapinsky. In the depths of the rocky cavity, one can really see an impromptu stone scene. On it, according to some sources, the famous singer Fyodor Chaliapin once performed. And from his powerful voice, as the legend says, even a glass of wine broke. It is difficult to say that everything was exactly like that, and that the talented performer even visited the New World. Maybe it's just a legend. Nevertheless, musical concerts in the Chaliapin Grotto are sometimes held today. The acoustics of this cave are simply superb!

Second stop: Cape Kapchik

After Chaliapin's grotto, the Golitsyn trail, along the southern slope of Mount Koba-Kaya, leads the traveler to the shores of the Blue Bay. It is also known as the Robber, as in the days of Ancient Greece, pirate ships hid here. From the west, the Blue Bay is bordered by Cape Kapchik, where the route leads further.

From the Turkic language "kapchik" is an elongated small bag worn on the belt. Kapchik is a cape connected to the land by a narrow isthmus. At the same time, it separates the Blue and Blue bays. Cape Kapchik is nothing but an ancient coral reef. With its silhouette, it resembles a giant stone lizard.

The outlines of the cape are very recognizable by many tourists. After all, Kapchik "acted" in a number of Soviet feature films. These are "Pirates of the 20th century", "Amphibian Man", "Treasure Island" and many others. Here was the camp of the main characters of the popular film "Sportloto-82".

Cape Kapchik offers a beautiful view of the Royal Beach and Golubaya Bay - the next stop on the trail.

Third stop: Royal Beach

Passing Cape Kapchik, the Golitsyn trail takes tourists to the beautiful Golubaya Bay. It is bounded by Mount Karaul-Oba on one side and the already mentioned cape on the other.

The main attraction of the bay is the so-called Royal Beach. It is called so not by chance: the monarchs have chosen this section of the Crimean coast for a very long time. Today, the Royal Beach is territorially part of the Novy Svet nature reserve, so access here is limited.

Finally...

Created at the beginning of the 20th century, the Golitsyn trail is today one of the most popular tourist sites in the Eastern Crimea. There are guided tours here daily. This route allows guests of the peninsula to get to know all the diversity of the local nature and landscapes of the Crimean coast.

The total length of the trail is 5500 meters. Along the way, tourists can see a lot of interesting things: Chaliapin's Grotto, Blue and Blue Bays, Cape Kapchik, Tsar's Beach and other excursion sites.

But also in Crimea in general. Picturesque landscapes and fantastic views from the tops of the mountains can win any heart. We, too, could not resist and decided to arrange a small tour. Looking ahead, let's say that visiting the Golitsyn trail is definitely worth the time spent on this.

In general, the walk is not very long, only 3-4 kilometers, but you will have to go through the mountains and rocks, where almost at every corner you want to linger for a few minutes to admire the beauty of the surrounding nature, take a few photos or just relax after a difficult climb. So a walk along the Golitsyn trail took us about half a day. And this despite the fact that we love to walk and are accustomed to various difficult roads.

What to take with you on a trip along the Golitsyn trail?

The most important:

1. Be sure to take comfortable shoes, this is one of the most difficult excursions in the area, you will have to walk a lot along the rocky path. In terms of complexity, it can only be compared with it.
2. Do not forget water and hats. If it’s quite comfortable, it will be quite hot on the tops of the sun-scorched rocks.
3. Worth taking along camera- here they will come across surprisingly.

Optional but nice:

1. , which you can try to drink in - a place where wine was enjoyed Prince Golitsyn and even Emperor Nicholas II.
2. Swimwear- if you plan to swim on, they will definitely come in handy.

How to get to the Golitsyn trail?

In general, we are already very detailed about the beginning of the Golitsyn trail and Chaliapin's grotto. We will not waste time here, but only briefly go over the main points.

Entrance on the Golitsyn trail paid, but it is inexpensive (about 100 rubles). Early in the morning there are no guards and you can go through for free. The Golitsyn trail begins at the western edge of the beach (if you look at the sea, it will be on the right). If it's not clear, look at the map. To make sure you don't get lost, let's add a few photos:

The entrance to the Golitsyn trail is located right on the rock. About next to that tree on the rock.

This is how the entrance to the Golitsyn Trail looks like.

The trail itself is quite different. There are both very convenient areas where steps are cut down and there are railings, and more difficult ones, although they come across quite rarely.

The path to Chaliapin's grotto is carved in stone. The stairs are a bit worn but very comfortable

As you can see, at the beginning of the Golitsyn trail, quite a comfortable staircase with steps and railings has been preserved.

As soon as you go off the trail just a few steps, you will immediately discover almost untouched corners of nature.

By the way, one of the most beautiful views of Mount Sokol opens from the trail.

In the meantime, we are walking along the path and admiring the surrounding landscapes, we will talk very briefly about the history of this place. The history of the trail is very closely connected with history and begins in ancient times, when primitive tribes lived here. Then, in the Middle Ages, there were cave temples. Unfortunately, the icons have not survived to this day, but as early as the 1800s they were clearly visible.

And after 100 years, the history of the grotto begins anew. Prince Golitsyn decides to cut a convenient road to the grotto and orders to place a wine cellar here, combining it with a concert hall. Then the path was cut in the rocks by Turkish workers, special observation platforms were equipped, a grotto was equipped. Many pop celebrities sang in, and Fedor Ivanovich Chaliapin even gave him his name.

Unfortunately, in 1927 the trail was badly damaged by a powerful earthquake. Restoration began only in 1980. But there is not as much left of the former greatness as we would like it to be. Now the Golitsyn trail is considered one of the most popular tourist routes in the New World and Crimea.

Almost at the very beginning of the trail you will see:

By the way, the Golitsyn trail is often called path of fidelity. There is a section here (of course, we will not go along it), where the path goes at a slope of about 75-80 degrees, that is, almost sheer. It is said that in ancient times a great king ruled here. He regularly went on military campaigns and from each brought new harems with him. It was necessary to somehow get rid of the old concubines, and the king came up with a way: bored wives had to go along this path with a full jug of water on their heads. It was impossible to hold on to stones or splash water. It was believed that the girl who passed such a test was faithful to the king in his absence. They say that the bay below is one of the most salty in the Crimea - the result of bitter girlish tears.

My version of the legend of the Path of Loyalty

But for some reason I like completely different story. It is about a girl who has been waiting for her lover for many years. Defending his native land and his beloved, he was captured by cruel invaders. The brave knights promised to go and free the brave guy, and so they disappeared somewhere in distant countries for many months. And every day, morning and evening, she climbed the difficult path and peered into the boundless blue sea to the pain in her eyes: what if a familiar sail appears in the distance? Suddenly today her beloved will return home?

Days turned into months, and those into years. Every day she continued to climb the difficult path. Once the first beauty in the village, she quickly aged from hard work and inescapable longing. Her eyes grew dim, and her skin lost its former tenderness. But all the same resignedly every day she climbed to the top of the cliff and peered into the distance. And one day a miracle happened. With old blinding eyes, she saw a familiar sail appearing from behind the horizon, ran up to the very top of the cliff and looked, looked, looked ...

Her vision was once again as sharp as in her youth. She even managed to see him on deck. He hasn't changed a bit. Just a little haggard and thinner, but that's not scary, is it? Now she will never, ever let him go, feed him, warm him, take care of him ...

If only you could see how she ran to the pier. It seemed that even the swift wind could not overtake her today ...

Fate loves to give amazing gifts to those who deserve it ... she came to the pier as young and beautiful as on the day they parted.

You will not find this legend anywhere else. To be honest, I just wrote it. I don't like sad and scary stories.

Along the way, you will be able to take a lot of beautiful photos:

In the route we propose, you will have the opportunity to completely go around the Blue Bay, and then evaluate the path traveled from Cape Kapchik

The rocks on the Golitsyn trail are very different. Some are almost black, while others seem to have sun-bleached.

To be honest, not a single photo conveys the beauty of these places. Let's try to add a three-dimensional panorama, although they also do not do a very good job. It's worth seeing with your own eyes.

Our goal is to reach Cape Kapchik. This is the cape that protrudes far into the sea and is connected to the mainland only by a narrow isthmus (it can be seen in the panorama above). On the way we are waiting for a lot of beautiful landscapes and panoramas.

From the cape, a simply fantastic view opens up of the entire route traveled and on.

Now, having practically conquered the Crimean mountains, you can proudly admire the passed route

The isthmus of Cape Kapchik is very narrow. On the right in the photo is the Blue Bay, and on the left is the Royal Beach.

If you look to the left, you can see the Royal Beach

The view from here is simply amazing.

At the top of Cape Kapchik, you get simply amazing photos.

The most courageous and indefatigable tourists can go down the narrow path. There is a risk of collapse, but the panorama is very beautiful.

I think that some tourists will want to appreciate how narrow the isthmus leads to the cape. Especially for them, we will add this panorama (by the way, if you are afraid of heights, do not refuse to walk, in fact, it is not very scary here):

On the way back, we return from Cape Kapchik, but we turn not to the right (we came from there), but to the left. This path is not only shorter, but also will take us straight to the city. The further road will be comfortable and pleasant, you will even find several benches for rest. With great pleasure we passed through the juniper grove. The smell there was indescribably delicious.

If you would like to swim, then from here you can easily go down to.

The road ahead will be comfortable and enjoyable. Difficult areas are almost non-existent.

The fact that the road will be convenient does not mean at all that beautiful views will no longer come across the route.

And this is juniper, there is a lot of it on the Golitsyn trail - a whole grove.

We hope you enjoyed our little trip.

Route map along the Golitsyn trail

Route map along the Golitsyn trail:

Unfortunately, Google maps do not display correctly on our site. Or press the menu and select "Route along the Golitsyn trail" or expand the map to full screen.