"Old Park" in Kabardinka. The unique "Old Park" on the Black Sea. Kabardinka. Krasnodar Territory Entrance to the Old Park in Kabardinka - Google Maps panorama

In the resort city of Gelendzhik, an amazing park has spread, which contains architectural wonders from all over the world. It is located on a plot of more than a hectare, which has become a home for thematic architectural creations from different cultural eras.

Author

The creator of the Old Park is Alexander Alekseev. Initially, engaged only in journalistic and literary activities, he dramatically changed his life, starting to study architecture and sculpture. Initially, he created a simple bust of Walter, then Homer and Dante, after which he came up with a brilliant idea to create a gallery that includes the architecture of various civilizations and times. The essence of his concept is simple - to recreate in a relatively small area something that would contradict historically and culturally. For example, ancient Egypt and Classical Europe, Western civilization and Eastern civilization.

This person does not have a specialized architectural education, but he does have an artistic vision and philosophical thought that can be combined with sculpture or building. Such a symbiosis of thought and creation has created a unique park that can safely be called one of the best creations in the vastness of Russia.

Architectural compositions of the park

The park contains more than 20 buildings and the same number of territories, determined by the type and theme.

Classicism - on the very first site, the place was given to an ancient temple. This site boasts a sense of calm and harmony. There is also a gazebo-rotunda, which serves as a symbol and a key figure in many public areas.
Gothic - a zone of complex structures, lancet arches, rib vaults, and buttresses protruding outwards. One feels mysticism in all manifestations, which is covered with mystery and darkness. There is a Gothic park, as well as a sculptural group consisting of images of saints: Paul, George, Peter and Mephistopheles.
Egypt - a part is given to the Egyptian theme. Reduced copies of the sphinxes, the pyramids of Cheops, as well as various symbols of ancient Egypt. The central entrance to the park is also made in massive columns and arches-pylons of the Egyptian style.
An aqueduct is an arched structure used by the Romans as a drainage channel.
Gallery of modern art - made in the Art Nouveau style. It hosts a permanent exhibition of 6 Russian artists who paint their paintings in different styles and with different messages.
The House of the Caucasus is a unique architectural structure that tells about many historical moments of the Caucasian people.

Middle Ages - a pond and a gazebo for two in the middle were formed in this zone.
Antiquity - here is the ancient pavilion, which was erected by the Greek civilization for their gods. It houses Greek portraits on stone, statues of the gods, and a bust of Homer.
Japan - in this Japanese corner there is a lily pond, a Shinto shrine and a sculpture of the god Ebisa.
The architect's house is a tall building with two open areas, in which the currents of classicism, modernity and gothic elements can be traced.
The House of the East is a classical mosque with white stone minarets. Similar architecture is common in Islamic countries.
The Orthodox Chapel is a Russian Orthodox chapel demonstrating the Byzantine technique of execution and construction of structures.

Ticket prices to Old Park Kabardinka 2020

Entrance fees:

Adults - 500 rubles,
Children from 6 to 13 years old - 200 rubles,
Children under 6 years old - free of charge.

Tours are free of charge.

Picture gallery: for adults - 50 rubles, for children - 30 rubles.

House of the Caucasus: for adults - 50 rubles, for children - 30 rubles.

Free admission for VO participants.

Opening hours of the Old Park in Kabardinka

The cultural center "Old Park" is open to visitors daily, opening hours - according to the seasonal schedule.

From June to September, the park is available for guided tours from 8:00 to 22:00.

Opening hours in the low season, from October to May: from 9:00 to 18:00.

How to get to the Old Park in Kabardinka from Gelendzhik

The distance from the center of Gelendzhik to the Old Park is about 16 km. The trip by car will take approximately 25-30 minutes, you can drive along Lunacharskogo Street, then along the M4-Don. Address of the Old Park: st. Chernomorskaya, 55 (near the Olimp stadium in Kabardinka).

A trip by public transport is also possible: buses No. 32, 103, 199, fixed-route taxi No. 31 run from the bus station on Lenina to Kabardinka and back. Taking into account all the stops, the journey will take about 50 minutes. From the Kabardinka bus station on foot to the Old Park - about 1 km: along Mira Street, after the Olimp stadium, turn onto Abrikosovaya, then along Chernomorskaya straight to the park.

Taxi - YandexTaxi, Uber, Gett.

Entrance to the Old Park in Kabardinka - Google Maps panorama

Virtual walk through the Old Park of Kabardinka

Video, overview of the park area

There is one of the most interesting sights of the region, which is definitely worth a visit - the "Old Park". Architect Alexander Alekseev, on a small plot of land, created a theme park that amazes with beauty and fabulousness. Every piece of land here has turned into a real work of art. Without exaggeration, the founder of the park and his assistants have worked and continue to work on every centimeter of land.

The village of Kabardinka is located 11 kilometers from the city of Gelendzhik. Less than 10 thousand people live here, and in the summer season the population increases several times due to tourists. Kabardinka, like Novorossiysk, is located on the shores of the Tsemesskaya Bay in a picturesque valley. From the southwest, the village is protected from winds and storms by Cape Doob with a low Tuaphat ridge, and from the northeast by the spurs of the Markotkhsky ridge.

How to get to Kabardinka

Kabardinka is located on the M4 Don highway between Gelendzhik and Novorossiysk. The village can be reached by taxi or public transport:

taxi from 500 rubles from Gelendzhik and from 600 rubles from Novorossiysk,
bus number 103 from 25 rubles from Gelendzhik,
intercity bus from Novorossiysk from 50 rubles,
excursion from Gelendzhik or Novorossiysk from 500 rubles.

Address, ticket price and opening hours of the "Old Park"

"Old Park" is located on Chernomorskaya street, 55.
Working hours - daily
in the summer season June / September from 8-00 to 22-00,
in the winter season October / May from 9-00 to 18-00.
Entrance to the "Old Park" is paid:
adult - 500 rubles,
children - 200 rubles (children under 6 years old stay free of charge).

What is interesting in the "Old Park"

Crossing the threshold of the "Old Park" you find yourself in another reality. The "Old Park" is divided into thematic zones, which every visitor to the park can easily guess. And from the threshold we find ourselves in the “Antiquity” zone, where Zeus meets us on the throne in the temple. To the left of the temple, there is an Egyptian pyramid, here is a rotunda and a beautiful fountain.

Behind the fountain there is a small corner of the Soviet era, from which every adult visitor will have their own memories.
Unlimited attention has been paid to the detailing of the park, and in addition to exotic plants that grow on its territory, there are funny little figurines, forged creatures and stone sculptures both under the bush and on the branch.

There is also a thematic area "Middle Ages" in the park, where a real Gothic castle with a tower and a moat awaits the visitor, though without crocodiles, but with turtles. A spiral staircase leads to the top of the tower, overlooking the surroundings of the park. Separately, we can note the work of a blacksmith, without whose forged sculptures the castle would not have looked so medieval.

There is also an Orthodox chapel in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in the "Old Park".

There is also a "House of the East", similar to the Indian Taj Mahal. The House of the East houses a permanent exhibition of valuable items donated to the museum by private collectors. Its pearl is the most beautiful carpet woven of gold, which, thanks to the light pouring through the hole in the ceiling, shimmers in the sun with all colors.

To the right of the "House of the East" on the central alley of the park there is a large fountain with elephants holding a bowl on their mighty backs.

The "House of the Caucasus" also fits in the park. Inside there is an exposition, for which you will have to pay extra: an adult ticket - 50 rubles, a children's ticket - 30 rubles. Here are collected household items and weapons, jewelry and creations of painters.

At the end of the central alley of the park there is a beautiful aqueduct, the architecture of which mixed Celtic, Slavic, Germanic and other motifs of the peoples who worshiped the God of Light. The aqueduct is equipped with a spectacular waterfall and beautiful underwater lighting.

The "Old Park" in Kabardinka is a very popular place among tourists in Gelendzhik. If you are tired from a beach holiday and want new experiences, but climbing the hills in search of a beautiful view or a waterfall is difficult, then you can go to the "Old Park". Located 11 kilometers from Gelendzhik, the theme park, along with the Kabardinka embankment, will make an enviable duet for a must-see.

Video: Old park in Kabardinka

Video from a visit to a small private park called the Old Park, it is located in Kabardinka, not far from Gelendzhik.

"Old Park" in Kabardinka

Yuta Arbatskaya, Konstantin Vikhlyaev

Every real artist, in contact with the outside world through the study of history, geography, literature, philosophy, tries to realize his own sense of the unity of the world through the art forms available to him. Sometimes this happens, and then we, the descendants, admire the true masterpieces of human creativity. Sometimes it does not work out, but this does not detract from the greatness of the idea that everything around is interconnected and interdependent in time and space. One of the necessary conditions for the emergence of a real work of art is the master's own spiritual development. Figuratively speaking, the brighter the light of the soul of a creative personality, the farther into the Universe its gaze penetrates. The uniqueness of each creator, his individuality is realized through a sensual form, through which he conveys to us, viewers and listeners, his vision of the Universe.

In November 2016, the authors of this article were lucky enough to get acquainted with the work of such a Master. His name is Alexander Ivanovich Alekseev. He lives in the resort village of Kabardinka, which is located on the Black Sea coast between Novorossiysk and Gelendzhik. This man managed to create a park in a small area, where the principle of the unity of historical cultures is embodied. The grandiose ensemble includes architectural symbols of different eras and states - from the ancient Egyptian civilization to the modern art gallery. By and large, this is an architectural and landscape park that harmoniously combines natural and artificial in the context of the development of human civilization. And what is most surprising - this is the only PRIVATE park on the Black Sea coast, that is, built at the expense of the owner and maintained at his expense! Little of. Almost everything that is in the park - fountains, buildings, museums, temples, sculptures, frescoes - is made by the hands of one Master - Alexander Ivanovich Alekseev!

A.I. Alekseev at work

The idea to embody the principle of the unity of the world by means of landscape gardening art is not new. Since the time of Ancient Rome and Ancient China, the organizers of their own gardens and parks have tried to allegorically project the image of the universe on earth with the help of a special selection and grouping of trees and plants, arrangement of water compositions, arrangement of small architectural forms and other landscape techniques. The idea of a park or garden as a universal artistic image of the unity of the world gained general recognition in the twentieth century. The authors of this article have visited many such parks around the world, and even wrote detailed articles about some of them. These include landscape on the Cote d'Azur in France, in Paris, on Jeju Island in South Korea, Chinese in Hong Kong and others. There are two such parks in Crimea: the ancient and modern Paradise Park in Aivazovsky. The latter was created by the efforts of landscape architect Anatoly Annenkov, where he combined in a single space with the help of compositional gardens the cultures of different peoples that left their mark on the history of Crimea (Greeks, Turks, Armenians, Huns, Slavs, etc.).

We ourselves tried many times to realize the idea of creating such a garden, but with the help of historical roses created at different times in different countries of the world. Alas, the constant lack of finances and complete misunderstanding on the part of the authorities (both old and new) do not allow us to realize our plans.

Against the background of these reflections, the enthusiasm and fantastic perseverance of the creator of the "Old Park" in Kabardinka are amazing.

It makes no sense to describe the park in detail - anyone can visit it personally, in extreme cases, get acquainted with its device on the Internet. The park administration is actively promoting this tourist site on social networks, and caring bloggers draw in detail the landscape paintings and architectural objects that struck them. Therefore, we will focus on only a few fragments.

First, about the history of the park. We were so fascinated by what we saw that, naturally, the questions arose: who is Alekseev, what is his inner world, who helps him, where does he get money for all this? We were not able to personally get acquainted with Alexander Ivanovich, so we use information from the Internet, citing some quotes from his interviews with correspondents of various newspapers.

Since childhood, Alexander saw himself as a writer, he wrote from the age of 10. I read a lot, mostly adventure literature. He graduated from vocational school with a degree in turner-universal, worked as a driver. The craving for painting, and especially for sculpture, manifested itself in the army: “When this everyday life began to choke, I pestered the political officer to get me a piece of granite, and I would carve some figure of a defending soldier out of it.”

After demobilization, Alekseev looked for an opportunity to continue his education, but there was no literary institute nearby. The nearest university was Rostov University, where Alekseev entered the faculty of journalism. During his studies, he became interested in scientific and philosophical literature, but most of all, foreign classical literature, from antiquity and the Middle Ages to modern times, gave the formation of a worldview. Even then, he realized that history can and should be studied not from scientific treatises, but from the classics of foreign prose, such as Balzac, Dickens, Maupassant, Zola. From their individual novels, like bricks, a vision of the whole was formed.

After graduating from the university with a diploma in journalism, having worked for some time (5-7 years) in his chosen profession, he quickly became disillusioned with it. At first, the profession of a journalist seemed to him romantic, it was respected, and there was no yellow press then. But one day, having received an assignment from a Donbass newspaper to go to the factory and write a report on the primary party cells (which, in principle, were not there, they existed only in reports on paper) and about their impact on labor productivity, he realized that he could not distort soul.

Then there was a period of various parties in Donetsk, work in various newspapers. He made country fireplaces, built houses, re-roofed. At the same time, I read a lot of literature on history and philosophy. He never left writing work - he wrote novels, stories. Then, when I realized that people no longer read books, and literature began to occupy a very small niche in the cultural life of people, then I began to look for other activities, one of which was architecture. Here is what the artist himself says: “Architecture, in my opinion, is a kind of art that has always influenced a person. Architecture creates the environment in which a person grows up. And the environment shapes consciousness. And architecture will form consciousness when it is high, and when it carries a certain content. Such an idea to create a certain architectural world, merge it with wildlife and fill architectural structures with some kind of content, was born already somewhere in the year 2000.”

But first there was perestroika and general devastation. In the village of Kabardinka, Alexander Ivanovich had parents who found themselves in a difficult economic situation, and Alekseev, like his older brother, was forced to move in with them. The family began to farm. The farm had fifty dairy cows, many other cattle, for which the brothers mowed the mountain slopes from Gelendzhik to Novorossiysk. Alexander Ivanovich, together with other family members, performed the entire production cycle - from fodder procurement to the manufacture of dairy products. This helped not only to survive, but also instilled in him, as he himself said, "the habit of constantly working."

Gradually, Alekseev was more and more inclined towards the idea of creating a series of architectural structures on the territory of the family courtyard, but first there was sculpture. Back in 1994, Alexander Ivanovich, using the simplest tools, carved a bust of Voltaire from a piece of marble, then Dante, Homer, Shakespeare ... Then he took up a reduced copy of the pyramid of Cheops.

“I originally had a rather modest plan. Sculpt several architectural structures, line them up and call it the "Avenue of Civilizations", gradually filling them with content. I began, of course, with Ancient Egypt - the most ancient culture. In those years, I had to immerse myself thoroughly in the study of Egyptology. It was not an easy question. Quite a lot of literature on Egypt began to appear at the beginning of the 2000s, but basically it was superficial literature, illustrative, or even hoax, and we had to filter, select the necessary, really valuable. I had to thoroughly immerse myself in the study of Egyptology.

Gradually, the "Museum of the Caucasus", "House of the East", an Orthodox church, the "Temple of Zeus", a medieval castle, a Japanese Shinto temple, a Roman aqueduct appeared. Alexander started with three enthusiasts. Now fifty people are working for the common cause. In 2012, father and sons joined the cause. The eldest, also Alexander, graduated from the St. Petersburg University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. His wife Tatyana is engaged in the plant filling of the park. The territory of the park is expanding due to the purchase of neighboring plots. An architectural and floristic workshop operates at the Stary Park, as well as a souvenir and bookstore. Tour guides are happy to conduct tours of the park, as well as museums. The official opening of the park took place in 2006, although construction began in 1996. The park is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

Not only the park is unique, but also the material from which the sculptures are made. Alexander Alekseev invented colored concrete. This artificial composition is similar to a chameleon and can replace natural travertine, marble and sandstone. Walking around Kabardinka, we noticed that the sculptures and architectural designs of Alekseev can be seen at every step - on the embankment, in sanatoriums and boarding houses, on the streets and squares. Recently in Novorossiysk, Vostochny Park was opened after a long reconstruction, in the design of which A.I. Alekseev also actively participated. In the photo, he stands with a letter of thanks from the founders.

A.I. Alekseev at the opening of the park in Novorossiysk

Thus, the "Old Park" from the original series of busts turned into a real cultural center not only of Kabardinka, but also of Gelendzhik. The artist comments on his idea as follows: “The idea of showing the culture of the whole world is not new. And universal. Because there is no one isolated culture. When you start to study the culture of different nations, you understand that we all came from the same cradle. And to talk about one culture, purely Russian, Slavic, Armenian or Greek, means to emasculate this very national culture. Because we have been intertwined over these millennia to such an extent, culturally assimilated, that one cannot be separated from the other, this is a whole.

Now, having examined the sources and motivation of the author of the "Old Park", let's proceed to a brief retelling of the content of this amazing place. The whole space is replete with symbols.

Park guards are at the entrance. The very first guard sits on a stone - this is an owl, a symbol of wisdom. Only the wise reveal the hidden secrets of places and symbols. On the back of the stone is a quote by A.P. Chekhov: “If every person on his piece of land did everything he can, then how beautiful our land would be.” We considered it deeply symbolic that the inhabitants of Yalta - the last refuge of the great writer - begin their inspection of the park from Chekhov.

The main entrance is guarded by two more wise guardians - ancient Egyptian sphinxes. Among the Egyptians, sphinxes, the lords of secrets, stood at the entrance to the sanctuaries, guarding their secrets and warning those who entered that they should not reveal higher knowledge to the uninitiated. They symbolized the rulers and rulers, who, like the gods, were hidden from the eyes of the people. The sides of a bull signify bodily matter, the wings of an eagle signify life force, the head of a person signifies the immaterial spirit, the paws and limbs of a lion signify all-devouring fire, active force and unifying energy. Ancient wisdom borrowed four basic rules of human behavior from the sphinx: to know - thanks to the mind; desire - with the strength of a lion; dare - that is, bravely soar on powerful eagle wings: be silent - with the unshakable strength and composure of a bull.

In addition to the sphinxes, there are other guardians outside the park. These are sculptural images of St. Paul, St. George, St. Peter and Mephistopheles, installed in a Gothic fountain. The architect named each figure with the corresponding epithet: Pacifying (St. Paul), Smashing (St. George), Preserving (St. Peter) and Omnipresent (Mephistopheles).

Lower part of a gothic fountain

Based on the ideas of the Middle Ages, the fountain symbolizes the Source of life. Water itself represents life. The place of the ascension of the righteous to heaven was seen in the form of a hill, at the foot of which was the so-called Source of Life. The painting by the 15th-century Dutch artist Dirk Bouts depicts just such a source. It is an architectural structure in the classical Gothic style. The Gothic fountain of the "Old Park" to some extent echoes this particular painting.

Dirk Bouts. Paradise. Ascension of the Chosen. 1470 Fragment

At the entrance to the park, we were met by a reduced copy of the pyramid of Cheops with a sphinx. Inside the pyramid, which can be accessed through a specially made entrance, the frescoes depict the areas of activity of the Egyptians. In the center is the scales on which, after death, the gods weigh the soul of a person: if it is lighter than a feather, then it goes to heaven.

The pavilion of antiquity is a stylized temple of Zeus, built according to ancient canons and recreating the appearance of classical Greece. Sculptures of Aphrodite and Galatea adorn the parapets of the granite steps.

The central place in the upper part of the park is occupied by a classic fountain, the choice of which is quite justified. Classicism as an architectural style was formed during the era of the European Enlightenment. Together with him, the first European parks took shape, which gained popularity among the nobility. In parallel with the appearance of parks, their main attributes were formed - fountains, gazebos, benches, flowerpots, park sculpture and spectacular exotic landscaping. The expanse of lawns and the geometry of shrubs, cutting trees and flower beds - everything took on aesthetic forms.

The classicism of the Enlightenment is most clearly expressed by such an element as the colonnade, built here for the sake of two philosophical phrases:
“The moment the word was carved on the stone, History began” - this saying can be considered a prologue to the beginning of the avenue of civilizations.
The second inscription consists of two independent winged phrases:
"Even the gods can't change the past" and "History repeats itself."

A little further - two rotundas.

The era of the Middle Ages is represented by a majestic composition, the center of which is a sentinel stone tower with a stone bridge. The watchtower can be reached by a stone spiral staircase.

The tower is surrounded by a pond, which should resemble a moat around a medieval castle.

The fencing of a pond in a corner of the Middle Ages is a real work of blacksmithing art with its own idea and the author's embodiment of the theme of the Last Judgment by the master of artistic forging Igor Klyuchnikov.

Immediately behind the medieval gazebo is the "House for Two" - a medieval city house, referring to the legend of Abelard and Eloise. The city teacher, who fell in love with his student, the daughter of a respectable burgher, at the age of 35 at that time was probably already an old man. Otherwise, their wedding and love would not have become a secret that outraged Eloise's relatives. Neither the marriage itself, nor the child born did not keep them from revenge. Abelard was severely beaten, but miraculously survived and, having settled in the abbey, kept in touch with his beloved through letters. Eloise herself also went to the monastery and until the end of her life answered all the letters of her beloved.

Pierre Abelard lived for 63 years and left a great legacy in the history of philosophy. He was one of the first in theological disputes to speak about the problems of man. And in his letters to Eloise, the fact is traced that love, even with the cessation of physical life, does not die, but passes into a higher connection, into Spiritual Unity.

The Orthodox chapel, located at the very beginning of the Alley of Civilizations, is the current church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Consecrated on February 20, 2011 by Metropolitan Isidor of Kuban and Yekaterinodar.

Opposite the chapel is the "House of the Caucasus". Three types of architecture are presented in one building - a spiritual Caucasian Orthodox chapel, a military tower and a civil house, which houses a small museum of the history of the Caucasian peoples.

For us personally, it was the strangest architectural object - both in form and content. Perhaps because we have never seen with our own eyes the Caucasian temples in their original form, but only a stylization.

On the right side of the building is a military tower. Through its upper windows, a view of the dome of the Caucasian Orthodox chapel, located in the other wing of the same building, opens up.

In the central part of the building there is an exposition representing various objects and works of art related to the history of the Caucasus and reflecting the culture of the peoples of the Caucasus. What is not here! And weapons, and clothing, and household items, archaeological and paleontological finds, minerals, gems, paintings, dishes, ancient women's jewelry, sculptural miniatures. There are so many items that the eyes run wide. Their placement in one, albeit a large room, creates the effect of disorder, eclecticism, congestion. The museum obviously does not contain all the exhibits - either a new room is required, or it is necessary to decide on the theme of the changing exhibitions. In addition, as we found out, the employees “stew in their own juice”, without leaving the museum and without exchanging experience with other museums. The scientific department has not published a single catalog, and there is no periodical newsletter informing fans of the history of the Caucasus with new arrivals.

Museum work is very painstaking, often thankless and invisible to prying eyes. But it is she who makes the museum a museum, and not a warehouse of antiquities.

Between the Orthodox chapel and the House of the Caucasus there is a curious exhibit - the Stone of Eternity or the Stone of Oaths.

According to the legends of the highlanders, the strongest oath is an oath on a stone, it is inviolable. If you want to confirm the strength of your word, put your hand on the stone and mentally or aloud say your promise. For many peoples of the world, a stone is a symbol of constancy and firmness of spirit, therefore the most serious oaths of love, fidelity, blood feud are pronounced at this Stone. The stone of oaths is located on a pedestal, a through hole is made in the stone itself and handprints are made to the right and left of it. The inscription on the stone reads: "The stone of eternity hears you and keeps what you have said."

Shintoism is the traditional religion of Japan, based on the deification of natural forces and phenomena and the worship of them. It is believed that everything that exists on earth is animated to one degree or another. Each thing has its own spirit, a deity - kami. Most shrines are dedicated to a specific kami and are located in picturesque locations. The chapel in the park is dedicated to one of the "seven gods of happiness" - Ebisu. Inside the chapel is kept the "shintai" body of the kami - an object that is believed to be infused with the spirit of the kami. It is always hidden and not shown.

Ebisu is the god of happiness, hard work, trade and crafts, the protector of the hearth and small children. He is the only one of the seven who is of Japanese descent. According to ancient legend, he was the patron of fishermen, guiding the fish in their nets. In his hands is a Tai fish. Over time, Ebisu became the patron of all trade. It brings good luck to those who are honest in trade, and Tai fish is a symbol of reward for inner purity and skill. Ebisu helps to find a gold mine in business and bestows business sense. The firstborn of the main gods Izanagi and Izanami was born without bones. Before his third birthday, he was taken to the sea on a reed boat, which, after a long wandering, washed up on the shores of Hokkaido. There he was picked up by a fisherman. Overcoming many difficulties, he grew his arms and legs. At the age of three, he turned into the god Ebisu. Due to the fact that all healings happened to him at a young age, one of his incarnations is the patron of children. All marine life has made Ebisu the god of fishing and hard work. He helps only those who are trying to achieve everything with their own labor. Ebisu is considered half-deaf since birth, so he always smiles. In the plant world, the symbol of Ebisu is bamboo. Ebisu can be approached by using the Ema tablet or verbally by stroking his head and drinking the pure spring water that flows from the mouth of the Tai fish.

To the left of Ebisu is the Black Samurai, a stone found in the Caucasus Mountains. After the rain, it really turns black. To search for it, an entire expedition was carried out, as a result of which the Black Samurai took its place of honor. According to the Japanese, stone and water create harmony, and specially selected plants add comfort and mood to the worldview.

"Black Samurai"

The main principle of Shinto is to live in harmony with nature and people. The deification of nature underlies the centuries-old passion of the Japanese for stones, special reverence for mountains, rocks, and bizarre fragments. There is a legend about a famous artist who refused to bow to officials, but instead made deep bows to handsome stones. Yes, and today's masters talk about the stone as a living person. Famous stones have their own biography, they are believed to be charged with a special life energy. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the central place in the Japanese corner is occupied by a huge stone "Black Samurai".

The avenue of civilizations continues with the Indian architectural ensemble. The main building is the "House of the East". Outwardly, it vaguely resembles the Taj Mahal.

"House of the East" - a synthesis of Islamic and Eastern diversity. The facade marks the majesty of the palace, the minarets symbolize the Islamic mosque, the golden dome bears the character of Persian and Indian tombs - mausoleums. Inside the “House of the East” is no less beautiful than outside: fine carvings, openwork vaults, in the center of the hall there is a bowl with a spring. Today, the interior space is filled with oriental antiquities and is gradually turning into a museum, like the "House of the Caucasus".

The ensemble is complemented by the Indian Ratha, which is traditionally dedicated to the deities and heroes of Indian legends. This building serves the technical needs of the park. Inside, the extraction and purification of water required for the needs of the park takes place.

Indian Radha

Finally, another element of the oriental ensemble is the Indian fountain. Four elephants with their trunks raised high look at the four cardinal directions and hold a bowl with flowing water and a traditional Indian turret.

There is an aqueduct at the far end of the park. It is an architectural structure in the form of arches and serves as the central part of the entire water system of the park, since it contains a supply of water for the needs of the park, as well as to create humidity in the lower part of the park so that tropical plants feel great. In the center you can see a small and beautiful waterfall. And in the evenings, the backlight turns on, which creates the illusion of an underwater kingdom.

In summer, the aqueduct looks like this:

Undoubtedly, without the plant content, the "Old Park" would not have that charm, thanks to which up to 3 thousand tourists visit here every day. Of the trees, we noticed here gingko, sakura, magnolias, albizia, camellias, trachycarpus, chamerops. It is clear that there are many conifers, and there are even birch from deciduous trees. Ornamental shrubs are represented by Syrian hibiscus, rhododendrons, oleanders. But roses are not held in high esteem here. But in vain. The aroma of blooming roses in the realm of architecture would not be superfluous at all.

We have not yet told about many things - about dolmens, stones, compositions, the "USSR Museum", an art gallery, an architect's house, floristry.

In fact, the park is developing, a new exposition is being built. The ancient theater promises to be especially interesting, where, according to the Master's plan, classical music concerts will be held. The acoustics of the theater, according to experts, is ideal for such performers. We also learned that a greenhouse was being built. Here is what A.I. Alekseev himself says in an interview:

“The park is not completed, only the capital construction of the first stage has been completed. Our guides are trained to talk about the culture of certain eras and peoples in order to talk with visitors. And this conversation is very important. In dictionaries, encyclopedias there are definitions of culture - these are huge articles, I compressed them to one phrase: "culture is knowledge and reverence." Here in the park there are a few more phrases carved in stone that have remained from my writing activity. They carry deep meaning and make you think."

“Our cultural center, which is Stariy Park, contains several objects that are not profitable on their own. But, being in the cultural center, all these non-profitable objects suddenly become profitable. And they allow you to develop further, help the same artists, even the artist's widow, to calculate a pension. This is what we have been proving for the last ten years. And now we want to spread our experience in the construction, maintenance, development of such cultural centers to other territories. They are needed there like air. There should be a cultural center not only in every city, but in every village. Everywhere there are squares, parks that are practically abandoned, or there is no funding, or it is not profitable to deal with them. But there are people around who do not know where to gather. At best, mothers with strollers walk there. And there are people who know the history of their small homeland, want to tell about it, but they have nowhere to do it. In this regard, it is not difficult for me to assemble a team that would work in this cultural center, it is only necessary to arrange all this. And, of course, the support of the administration, its understanding plays a big role in this matter.
I will say more, now this is the industrial development of mankind, its information content, the power and speed of technology development, and against this background, the deep lag of culture is leading to a serious crisis. We pay less and less attention to culture. And this can lead to a redistribution, to war. Surely, with a low cultural level, everything will end in a big fight. And studying history now, I am more and more convinced of this. When it all just started in Ukraine a year ago, I turned off the TV and stopped being interested in what was happening in the world. I suddenly realized that the TV just takes away part of my life. I was worried when I looked at something that I could not influence in any way. And if I spend my energy, time on something that I am not able to change, then this is a waste of myself.
It is important to understand that everything has a deep, universal meaning, which is addressed to each person individually, to his particular problem, and the problem is in himself: "Everything is expiring from you." Only a cultured person can understand this. A person with a low culture will always demand. For some reason, we believe that the state owes us, that the head of the city owes us something, sprinkle sand on the path, mow the grass near the house, fix the roof, paint the fence. I face this every day, and therefore I show by my example that your territory, enclosed by a fence, does not end with this fence. She goes out into the street, continues along the street, goes further into the village, into the city. And this is all your territory, you are responsible for it. For example, I spend money equally on the improvement of the park inside and outside. We lay paving slabs there, put lampposts, keep it in working condition, clean, so that a person approaching the Old Park from afar sees how the atmosphere changes, and in himself, under the influence of what he sees, something changes, he opens up, and then he is ready to get in touch with art.”

Fragment of the frieze of the theater under construction

This lengthy quote from Alekseev's interview could have ended the story, but we also want to draw some conclusions.

What this person does is worthy of the widest publicity and distribution. Alas, we think that all Alekseev's calls to enthusiasts will remain a voice crying in the desert, because, as practice shows, any good deed rests on the personality of the author of this deed. With the departure of a person, the business also leaves. Perhaps not immediately, but over time. A great deed is held together by the fire of the Master's soul. God forbid that we make a mistake, and the park outlived our great-grandchildren.

The arrangement of the Summer Garden in St. Petersburg by Peter the Great comes to mind, who set the primary goal of enlightening society. This is especially clearly seen now, when the Summer Garden has been reconstructed and the garden has acquired its original appearance, as it was during the time of Peter I. Alekseev is also engaged in exactly the same educational activities through architecture. He tries to reach out to hearts, reminding us that man does not live by bread alone.

Of course, we try on the actions of the Master on ourselves, on our life experience: what can we do? While in Stary Park, we met with the administrator of the park, trying to explain that our approaches are similar in many respects. Our plans for the construction of the Imperial rose garden, that is, the creation of a rose garden as a picture of the unity of the world, carried exactly the same message - familiarizing the population with the culture of civilizations. We have written about this more than once in our books and articles. But we were not as lucky with the leadership of Yalta as Alekseev was with the administration of Kabardinka. It is a rare success when the mayor's office supports enthusiasts who want the prosperity of their small homeland. Perhaps we can still work together. Why don't our ideas come to fruition in the "Old Park"?

The cultural center "Old Park" is the first thematic architectural park in Kabardinka on the Black Sea coast of Russia, created by a local resident at his own expense. "Old Park" in Kabardinka is an open-air museum. "Old Park" is registered at the address: Kabardinka, Chernomorskaya street, 55. "Old Park" is stylized as images of different cultures of Civilization on a horizontal plane of half a hectare.

The cultural center "Old Park" was created more than 15 years ago by an extraordinary architect and sculptor Alexander Ivanovich Alekseev, on a plot of land belonging to his family according to his own project. With his talent, Alexander Alekseev in Kabardinka abolished borders and time!

The Stone of Eternity, the unhewn watchtowers of the Middle Ages, the lacy cobweb of the Eastern palaces, the grandeur of the Egyptian pyramids, the rhythms of the Caucasus - everything coexists in one park area among the summer greenery. In the Orthodox churches of the "Old Park" one wants to raise thoughts to heaven, and the Caucasian chapel will give the way to purification. In the "Old Park" gray waterfalls flow onto the rocky wet bottom near the grottoes.

"Old Park" in is not just architectural copies, each of them carries the author's thought. "Old Park" embodies two main ideas: educational and cultural.

The central summer gates of the park represent a common ensemble with the administrative building and are impeccably executed in the Art Nouveau style. The winter entrance is designed in the Egyptian style with a pylon arch on majestic columns, in which two sphinxes are frozen - the vigilant guardians of this magical world. The central entrance of the Old Park in Kabardinka is decorated with the Architect's House with modern and gothic elements, but the bulk of the facade is occupied by the classicism style with two open viewing areas. A spectacular Gothic fountain forms a single composition with it, into the rectangular bowl of which water flows from the mouths of gargoyles. The Gothic fountain is spiers soaring upwards, graceful sculptural compositions of the Saints, lancet arches on protruding columns. The Gothic fountain embodies the "Source of Life" in the park.

The territory of the "Old Park" is divided into several thematic zones. At the Central entrance on the left is the Antiquity zone. In the "Temple of Zeus" tourists are greeted by the supreme god of ancient Greek mythology, Zeus, seated on a throne, as on the top of Mount Olympus.

To the left of the "Temple of Zeus" part of the "Old Park" of Kabardinka belongs to the Egyptian civilization with a copy of the Pyramid of Cheops, the Obelisk, the Sphinx, the Arbor-Rotonda, the Colonnade and the Classical Fountain.

The house of the covered Art Gallery stands apart and complements this part of the "Old Park".

The middle part of the "Old Park" is the images of the Old Town of Medieval European architecture. A moat-pond with a stone-paved bridge and a Watchtower for the protection of fortress-cities are the dominants of this style. The middle of the pond is decorated with the Palace gazebo of mortal sins. Tourists get to the top of the Watchtower through the masonry of the spiral staircase and can view the entire panorama of the "Old Park" from its height.

From the Central entrance to the right, the Alley of Civilizations leads tourists to the theme of the East. Here the idea of the "Old Park" in some way intersects with the idea of the Temple of All Religions in Kazan. The lower part of the "Old Park" surprises with the Japanese Corner, the House of the East, the House of the Caucasus, the Orthodox Chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Indian fountain and the Aqueduct.

Let's look into the "House of the East" with its Arabic script, Moorish, Turkish, Indian, Islamic, Persian motifs and images. Let's admire its interior, ornaments and decorative items! The House of the East is the main building in which the Palace, the Mosque and the Mausoleum were combined architecturally.

The facade of the building is made in the form of a Palace with columns at the entrance, openwork elements of front arches and rows of intertwined scallops along the perimeter of the roof. The skeleton of the House of the East is a stylization of the high towers of the minarets of an Islamic mosque. The tower with a golden central dome represents the architectural idea of a mausoleum.

Chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - the architecture of the cathedrals of the Russian Orthodox Church. Its five domes-domes symbolize Jesus Christ and 4 apostles-evangelists: Matthew, Luke, Mark, John.

The main fountain of the "Old Park" is a composition of elephants that hold the flat Earth on their mighty backs. The Indian fountain in the summer heat gives travelers moisture next to the House of the East.

The House of the Caucasus is a museum that tells in exhibits about the history of the peoples of the Caucasus, life, weapons and Caucasian culture.

The aqueduct completes the Park's Eastern theme with a spectacular waterfall, stairs and underwater lighting in the pool. "Old Park" is a Kabardian miracle. There is even a corner with exhibits from the era of the USSR, which makes the hearts of our contemporaries beat faster.

The writer and journalist Alekseev, with his yet another talent as an architect, at the turn of the century created a unique landmark in Kabardinka - the "Old Park". In the "Old Park" there are many philosophical sayings left on the stones. The most important inscription: "Love people!" The park is decorated with plants and information signs to them. The creator has invested labor, an idea and boundless love for art into every centimeter of the park area. Alekseev invented and patented a special brand of concrete mix, which is used in park architectural masterpieces. Today, a whole team of like-minded people is already working in his architectural workshop. The thematic "Old Park" in Kabardinka develops the main philosophical idea: "Humanity has one nature, and culture appears in all its diversity as a single Human community." "Old Park" in Kabardinka is a park, an exhibition of architectural objects and a good playground. Tourists make a complete photo-report about their "Round the World Journey".

Old Park is a unique theme park on the Black Sea. Having been in Kabardinka, it is impossible not to visit the "Old Park". The park with an area of half a hectare, representing one large green space, includes objects from different eras: Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The cultures of the peoples of the Caucasus, Orthodox and Eastern cultures were also embodied here. A kind of gallery of civilizations contains the concept of placing what has always contradicted each other in history: East and West, Ancient Egypt and Classical Antiquity.

Stone inscription:

If every person
on your piece of land
did everything he could
how beautiful
was our land...

A. Chekhov

The central entrance is made in the Egyptian style. Ancient Egypt in the Old Park is also personified by a reduced copy of the Pyramid of Cheops and two Sphinxes. A stylized temple of Zeus, a sculpture of Aphrodite and Galatea, relief panels with an illustration of Homer's Iliad take you to the world of antiquity and the heyday of Greek civilization.

A pond decorated with wild stone with a bridge and a colorful watchtower in the wooded part of the park represent medieval civilization. The path around this pond, which is 70 meters along the perimeter, half consists of juniper and cypress. This alley is a luxurious attribute of the green part of the park. In the style of the Middle Ages, the Palace Arbor is also made, in which there are sculptures of mortal sins, which were talked about so much during the gloomy Middle Ages.

In the Old Park there is also an art gallery of modern painting, built in the style of classical modern of the late 19th - early 20th century. Here you can enjoy viewing the paintings of contemporary Russian artists of different trends. The Gothic style of the 12th century has also taken its place in this park. An eye-catching fountain in this style has found its place in front of the main entrance. Here is a whole sculptural group of images of St. Paul, St. George, St. Peter and Mephistopheles.

Of particular interest is the House of the Architect, which is made in various styles: classicism, modernity, and there are also elements of the Gothic. In the lower park, you can get into the atmosphere of various civilizations, such as Asia, Europe, India and Japan. The Japanese Corner has a Shinto shrine and a statue of the god Ebisu. A source of pure water flows from the Tai fish held by Ebis. The fountain with four elephants represents Indian civilization.

A special place in the Old Park is occupied by the House of the Caucasus, which combines spiritual, civil and military architecture. There are two millstones on the way to the building. In the millstones of Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Persian, British and Russian history, the character of the Caucasian peoples was forged. Therefore, a fragment of a millstone is imprinted as a symbol in the pediment of the House of the Caucasus.

The poetic lines of Valery Bryusov are appropriate here: "Centuries have passed. And how from the greedy mouth we pulled the past out of the earth." They best describe
the asceticism of the rare enthusiast Alexander Alekseev, who, sparing no effort, creates a man-made miracle that captures human history.
The author of the project is architect Alexandra Alekseev, a resident of the village of Kabardinka.