Foothills of the Caucasus Mountains
#Active recreation #Sights #Excursions
Goryachy Klyuch is a balneological resort in the Krasnodar region, one of the oldest in the Caucasus. Hot Spring is a great place where there is clean air, nature, mountains, hiking trails and many attractions. Holidays in Goryachy Klyuch are suitable for everyone, and you can relax here at any time of the year.
Goryachy Klyuch is a city in the Krasnodar region of Russia. The city is located on the slopes of the Main Caucasian Range on the Psekups River. The distance to Krasnodar is 45 km, to Dzhubga - 65 km. The M4 Don highway runs through the city.
The city of Goryachy Klyuch is very small in size and population (about 35 thousand people as of 2016). What is typical is that the city’s population increases every year. When I studied the statistics of requests to the Yandex search engine, I often came across requests related to the permanent move to Goryachy Klyuch of our compatriots from different cities of Russia. They were looking for reviews from those who had already moved here, as well as other information about housing, work and the city’s infrastructure. You know, when we walked around the city and breathed this mountain air, we also wanted to stay and live in Goryachy Klyuch.
How to get to Goryachiy Klyuch
We were driving along the M4-Don highway, which leads to the Black Sea, a landmark on the roadside signs “Dzhubga”. Route: Rostov-on-Don – Pavlovskaya – Krasnodar – Goryachy Klyuch. The whole journey took approximately 3.5 hours. You can also get to Goryachiy Klyuch by train, train, or bus.
Goryachy Klyuch attractions
Salvation Rock or Cockerel Rock is a very popular attraction in Goryachiy Klyuch, a natural monument of the Krasnodar Territory. The mountain is located on the banks of the Psekups River and rises 28 m, an equipped embankment adjoins it, and the pedestrian “Happy Bridge” is located nearby. The Rock of Salvation is perhaps the most accessible natural attraction in the city of Goryachiy Klyuch.
Dante's Gorge is a popular attraction in Goryachiy Klyuch, a natural monument, and a cultural heritage site of regional significance. The hiking route to the Mirror Rock and the Devil's Mouth waterfall starts from Dantovo Gorge. Dante's Gorge is located at the foot of Abadzekh Mountain, in the Goryachiy Klyuch Resort Area, in the Healing Park. The gorge itself is located between two heavy rock formations. The road to the gorge is paved with tiles, then turns into stone steps carved from sandy rock, and rises higher to a small bridge over the Key Stream.
The Drinking Gallery of the sanatorium “Goryachiy Klyuch” or Psekupsky mineral waters is the main attraction of the resort town of Goryachy Klyuch. Drinking galleries are located on the territory of the Goryachiy Klyuch sanatorium, in the resort area. Here anyone can taste the mineral water from 3 wells. Each well has its own number, which corresponds to a certain chemical composition and degree of mineralization.
- Chapel in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God
- Monument to mineral water
- Arch in honor of the 50th anniversary of the resort or Arch with lions
- Man-made bath
- Source of St. Panteleimon
- Arch of the 140th anniversary of the resort
- Triumphal Arch of the resort's 145th anniversary
- Adyghe pillar
- Ancient water storage
- Psyfabe Fortress
- Happy Bridge over the Psekups River
Walking tours around Goryachiy Klyuch
Our city, despite its modest size, can be proud of its natural attractions and scenic routes. Enjoy walking around Goryachiy Klyuch and its immediate surroundings, and bright colorful photographs will be a wonderful reminder for you and your loved ones of the time spent in our city.
Rock "Mirror"
The highest rock outcrop in the Maltsev Stream valley, 4 km from the center of the city of Goryachiy Klyuch. Height 32 m. The rock is made of yellow quartz-glauconitic sandstone. In the upper part it is a steep smooth wall, in the lower part it has a negative (100-110°) steepness.
The rock is of interest to mountain tourists, speleologists, climbers, and rock climbers. It is an excursion object on the nature trail “In the Berendey Kingdom”.
Healing Park
Created in 1870, six years after the founding of the resort, which is now called Goryachy Klyuch. Over the years of its existence, it has been significantly improved and expanded.
In the wide shady alleys there are more than 100 species of plants from all over the world. The park does not have clearly defined boundaries and is closely adjacent to the forest, merging with it.
The park's paths stretch deep into forests, climb mountain slopes, turning into hiking trails.
In the center of the park there is a Mineral Glade, next to it there are wells of the main local sources of mineral water, which from here flows into the Drinking Gallery and the Hydropathic Hospital.
A large number of local attractions are famous: Abadzekh Mountain, Iverskaya Chapel, Cockerel Rock, Dante's Gorge. On the territory of the park there is also an archaeological monument - the ancient Adyghe Memorial Pillar. The two-kilometer Avenue of a Thousand Pines leads to this place from the city.
Then you can continue along the Quiet Alley (it leads to the Iveron Chapel and Dante’s Gorge) or along the Embankment Alley to the Psekups River and the Cockerel Rock.
In the healing park on a summer evening you can see a fantastic spectacle: the aerial “dances” of dozens of fireflies.
Iveron Chapel
The correct full name is the chapel in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God.
By decision of the Ecumenical Council in 672, the lands of the Circassians were attached to the Mtskheta diocese (Georgia). Under Emperor Justinian, the Circassians joined Orthodoxy. Hence the veneration of the Iveron Icon, which, according to the Orthodox, helps in healing from illnesses.
The chapel is located at the foot of the Abadzekh (Klyuchevaya) Mountain, not far from the right bank of the Psekups River. It was attached to a stone grotto in the second half of the 19th century next to the healing Iversky spring. It operated until the twenties of the last century, giving holy water to local residents and pilgrims. But then, as a result of the shifting of mountain layers, the water left. Only a bowl in the shape of a sea shell remained as a reminder of the blessed spring. And a chapel.
Every week on Fridays at 11 o'clock, an akathist (special solemn service) is performed in it before the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. It is located in the central niche of the chapel. On both sides of him are icons with the faces of the Savior and saints. Everyone can come here with a request to the Most Holy Theotokos for intercession, with gratitude for recovery, or to pray for the health and well-being of their loved ones.
It is important to note that the chapel was forgotten for quite a long period. Its restoration to its original form is the merit of the current generation of resort managers.
The Iveron Chapel is not the only one in the Caucasus with this name. Another one was built at the end of the 19th century. on the ruins of the ancient Anakopia fortress by monks from the New Athos monastery in Abkhazia.
Dante's Gorge
An unusual natural monument at the foot of the Abadzekh (Klyuchevaya) Mountain. An amazingly beautiful and accessible place in the Healing Park on the outskirts of the city of Goryachiy Klyuch. The gorge was created by nature and people.
Nature divided the mountain slopes with this narrow hundred-meter rocky gap (depth up to 15 meters). In the 70s of the nineteenth century, people cut down a stone Dante's staircase along the bottom of the gorge and improved the clearing in front of the entrance (the springs in these places were swampy, the view of these places was far from resort-like, plus mosquitoes). Gradually, due to the destruction of rocks under the influence of the local Key Creek, snow and frost, the gorge became a little deeper and wider.
Dante's Gorge is named after the great Italian poet, thinker and scientist of the Renaissance, Dante Alighieri (1265-1321). His poem “Comedy,” called “Divine” by descendants, depicts the poet’s journey through the afterlife. The plot of the poem is briefly as follows: guided by the great Virgil, symbolizing the earthly mind, Dante, embodying sinful humanity, descends into the underground funnel of Hell (the world of condemnation), then ascends the Mount of Purgatory (the world of redemption), finally, accompanied by Beatrice, symbolizing the Divine Mind, ascends to Paradise (the world of bliss and knowledge of absolute truth).
The dark, damp and cool local gorge really resembles the road to hell described by Dante. And the picturesque nature of these places outside the walls of the gorge is paradise. To what extent the ascent to the local Abadzekh (Key) Mountain is similar to purgatory - everyone can decide for themselves. But many, having been in Dante’s Gorge and at the top of this mountain, go to the Iveron Chapel, located at its foot. And in front of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, they probably become spiritually purer...
Dante's staircase
A stone path of 49 steps leading up Dante's Gorge. It was carved in the 19th century into a sandstone rock in a gorge, which in those years was called Prokhladny. Over the years, as often happens, the name of one natural feature has been used to refer to the rocks surrounding it. So Cool Gorge became Dante's.
Next to the stairs, the Key Stream rushes down. Passing the entrance to the gorge, it falls into a concrete tray and, together with the waters of the Ferrous Spring, through the Mineral Glade, goes into the Psekups River, which is only 400 m away. Early in the morning, when there is no one in the Dante Gorge, here, at the Key Stream, according to popular belief I believe that the beautiful, forever young and slightly sad mistress of Dante’s Gorge appears “out of nowhere.” They say that she once went for a walk in the forest alone, and her beloved did not wait for her and left the resort with someone else. The owner of the gorge bathes in the cold water of the stream for a few minutes, then wrung out her long hair from the water and braided it. And again he disappears into a mysterious parallel world, where, like “with us,” great, pure and faithful love is in short supply.
Sandstone rocks, overgrown with moss and man-made scars - numerous traumatic “autographs” of visitors to the rocks (it is not difficult to scratch out letters and words in sandstone compressed by time) give a special flavor to Dante’s staircase.
A hundred meters away, on the other slope of the Abadzekh (Key) Mountain, in the thick shade of trees there is another “structure of stone steps” - the so-called Ladder of Life. It was also cut down in the 19th century near the Rock of Salvation (Petushok), between the local caves of Zvonka and Salvation.
Goryachiy Klyuch walking routes
Mirror Rock is another of the attractions of Goryachiy Klyuch, located near the city center. The mirror rock is a section of rock, smooth and even, stretched 32 m upward. The unusual soft rocks and mountains in the vicinity of Goryachiy Klyuch, mostly sandy, make it possible to leave your mark on the rock.
On the northern slopes of the Kotkh Goryachy Klyuch ridge, the Erik Maltseva stream originates, and the Devil’s Mouth Waterfall is located there. The waterfall consists of 4 cascades, the height of which is 23 meters . Residents of Goryachiy Klyuch, as well as tourists, have trampled a forest path that runs along Maltsev Stream and leads travelers to the waterfall. The duration of the walking route is 1.5-2 hours one way .
- Valley of Enchantment
- Avenue of a Thousand Pines
Hot Key - walks and healthy recreation [Caucasus]: description
Day 1
Arrival in the city of Krasnodar by train or plane, meeting the group at the railway station. Departure by ordered vehicle to the city of Goryachiy Klyuch (65 km).
Accommodation in a cozy mini-hotel, then an introductory tour. We visit the main attraction of the city - the Healing Park . We'll explore Dante's Gulch, the Staircase of Life, memorial arches, a mineral spring, the Avenue of a Thousand Pines and much more. The alley is especially beautiful in the evening in the light of the lanterns; the suspension bridge that changes color is original.
Dinner at the hotel, an evening of pleasant communication.
Day 2
We leave by bus to the village of Pshada .
Along the banks of the river of the same name, here and there numerous dolmens - megalithic buildings of the ancient people. Along the bank of a river with clean, clear waters we make a short trek, about 4 km one way, along a simple path without any special climbs to the “dolmen village” . We will see both intact and destroyed buildings. We will be amazed at the integrity of monuments that are 3-4 thousand years old. We'll have lunch on the river bank, and you can dip your feet in the clean, cool water.
Day 3
Car excursion to the Black Sea in the village. Arkhipo-Osipovka . We swim, sunbathe. On the way back we visit the Hebius Falls . An equipped trail through the forest will lead to a three-stage picturesque waterfall. A staircase leads to the first step, and to the second too. With a little effort you can reach the water with your hand. You can get close to the waterfalls. The length of the walking part of the route is 1.5 km.
Day 4
Maltsev stream . The length of the walking path is 15 km, the elevation gain is 300 meters. A route with good physical activity.
Psechiako Valley is the ancient name of today’s Maltsev Stream , and it means “short river” in translation from Adyghe. The valley has a number of interesting natural sites: powerful outcrops of sandstone rocks, waterfall steps, grottoes, and mineral springs. Here is the kingdom of deciduous forest: oak, alder, hornbeam, beech, maple, dense thickets of hawthorn. In the floodplain of the stream there is green stubble of ferns, and a ferruginous mineral spring gushes from the slope of the valley.
Day 5
Kaverzinsky waterfalls . The walking part is 16 km. Elevation gain 220 m.
By transport we will travel 20 km from the city. Further along the forest path along the river we go to the Tambov Gap , where there are several beautiful waterfalls. Making our way along the river, crossing from one bank to the other, we will reach the Bolshoi Kaverzinsky waterfall - the largest of the Tambov Gap waterfalls. The height of the steps (10 meters) is not inferior to the well-known Pshad waterfall, and the steepness of its rocky banks and overall spectacularity significantly surpasses it. Today we will have to strain a little somewhere, but everything is passable.
Day 6
Walking distance 6 km. Elevation gain 100 m.
By transport we go to the beginning of the walking part. We start by fording the river, the water is below the knee. We walk along the road past a picturesque clearing with a monument and a chapel. At the mouth of the Monastyrsky stream we pass two mounds, on one of which we see the remains of a trough dolmen. Approximately two kilometers above this mouth along the valley of the Chepsi River there is an entrance to the gorge of the next right tributary of Chepsi - the Kesukh stream. Hidden in the depths of the gorge is a 14-meter waterfall of particular beauty.
Day 7
A short excursion around the outskirts of Goryachiy Klyuch. Let's go for a walk to Bolnichnaya Shchel . The length of the walking path is 5-7 km.
Hospital Shchel is the most accessible mountain extension of the Healing Park for excursions and hiking. On the way we will see thirty-meter cliffs, two caves, and a pine forest. The local spring from which the Bolnichnaya Shchel stream begins is interesting. The color of the local nature is enhanced by the dense greenery of trees, ferns and mosses, which is unusual even for these places. A visit to such a place certainly evokes a lot of positive emotions.
Homecoming.
