Description of the resort city
The city is located on the banks of the Psekups River (a tributary of the Kuban), in a valley between the northern slopes of the Kotkh and Pshaf mountain ranges. It is literally buried in deciduous and mixed forests, greenery, flowers; and a large alley of tall coniferous trees (Alley of a Thousand Pines) leads to the health resorts at the ancient mineral springs. In the foothills there are dozens of large and small, old Soviet and more recently built sanatoriums and hotels, where tourists combine relaxation with health promotion. From these health resorts, excellent hiking routes are laid through the forested mountains - with bridges, ladders and fences in dangerous places.
Hiking along these hiking trails is very beneficial for anyone who suffers from asthma and other respiratory diseases. And any other person will also benefit from the local fresh air, enriched with beneficial phytoncides. The local climate can be described as exceptionally mild. It is transitional from humid subtropical to temperate continental.
At the Goryachiy Klyuch balneological resort, several types of mineral water are used. Thermal (up to +60 C°) sulfide chloride-bicarbonate sodium springs are used for medicinal baths. This treatment is prescribed to patients with diseases of the musculoskeletal system, peripheral nervous system, and female genital area. Mineral waters from sources No. 21, 58, 104 are taken orally. They belong to the hydrocarbonate-chloride-sodium type and are similar to the Essentuki waters, differing from them in the gas fraction. In Essentuki there is carbon dioxide, and in Goryachy Klyuch there is hydrogen sulfide. All these mineral waters are presented in the ancient Drinking Gallery, located on the territory of the sanatorium park. You can drink as much as you like for free, but you have to pay to take water out of the gallery (with the exception of a small 0.5 liter bottle).
Drinking gallery in Healing Park.
On the southwestern outskirts of the city, close to the mountains, sanatoriums, boarding houses and hotels are concentrated. The complex of buildings of the main sanatorium “Goryachiy Klyuch” is a real architectural monument. Most health resorts are adjacent to the Mountain (Healing) Park or are located directly inside it.
This magnificent park has no clear boundaries and in many places simply merges with the wild forest. On the territory of the Healing Park there are Mineralnaya with the Alexander Spring, from which history began, and the beginning of Dante’s Gorge, and the beautiful Iverskaya Chapel, right in the mountain, and the ruins of the ancient fortress Psyfabe, and the Cockerel rock. From the park you can go to the embankment of the Psekups River and walk along the suspension bridge over this river. The outskirts of the city are famous for the presence of numerous caves, waterfalls on mountain rivers, and mysterious ancient dolmens.
Where to go for tourists in Goryachy Klyuch, interesting places
Goryachy Klyuch has special attractions unique to it. The resort city will help not only improve your health, but also quench your aesthetic thirst. The traveler will see beautiful streets, parks, museums and other popular places.
Healing Park
The creation of the Healing Park dates back to 1870. The name speaks for itself: the area is full of mineral water springs. The park has preserved old relict trees, sculptures, a fountain and gazebos, large alleys where it is cool to walk in the heat. There are places to visit and places to go with children: Happy Bridge, a well-groomed forest, an aquarium, a “Water Mill”, a children’s playground.
Travelers can quench their thirst in the Drinking Gallery with life-giving, strength-giving water.
Location: Psekupskaya street.
Opening hours: 24 hours a day.
How to get there: take bus No. 1 to the stop “Sanatorium Goryachiy Klyuch”.
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Square "Stone Flower"
The charming square, named after the famous flower-shaped fountain, is a popular place for the whole family to stroll. The fountain is of particular interest. It is created like a flower, from the bosom of which numerous jets of water shoot out. The top of the fountain is decorated with a stone that seems to be floating in the air. The park is full of green spaces and flowers. An old pond with water lilies is bordered by ship pines. An extensive recreation area is an additional venue for city events.
Location: corner of Lenin and Voroshilov streets.
Visiting hours: 24/7.
How to get there: take bus No. 5, stop “Voroshilov Street”.
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Ostrich Ranch
A large ostrich farm has recently been opened to tourists. The ranch managed to attract the interest of thousands of travelers. The tour includes a demonstration of incubators, ostrich chicks, adults, and the emergence of ostrich chicks from eggs. Therefore, it is better to come here in spring or summer. In addition to ostriches, the farm contains pheasants, peacocks, motley ducks, and black chickens.
Location: Goryachiy Klyuch, Molkino.
Visiting hours: daily, 09:00-17:00.
How to get there: you can take the Goryachiy Klyuch - Molkino bus.
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Amusement park
The main city park is unique with its clean lake and its own beach. Thrill-seekers have somewhere to go: a Ferris wheel, centrifuges, and all kinds of carousels await them.
The park is divided into a quiet forested part for walking and relaxing, and a left part, filled with souvenir shops and attractions.
Location: st. Psekupskaya, 151.
Opening hours: around the clock, attractions - from 10 to 22 hours.
How to get there: take bus No. 5, stop “Neftelnikov Town”.
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Shopping center "Gallery"
The shopping center includes vast areas with all kinds of shops selling clothes, shoes, jewelry, appliances, cosmetics, and children's goods. Those wishing to take a break from shopping are invited to visit the food courts with adult and children's menus. Children can visit the playgrounds.
Address: Urusova street, 65.
Opening hours: daily, 09.00-17.00.
How to get there: take bus No. 4, 5 to the stop “Ulitsa Voroshilova”.
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Children's entertainment town "Tigrulya"
The entertainment town is a real playland for children. Visitors are offered slot machines, board games, mazes, rope houses, and outdoor entertainment. Tired parents will be helped by a specially trained nanny who will take care of the child’s leisure time while the adults are busy shopping, relaxing or exploring the sights of the city.
Address: Lenina street, 185B, Rio Plaza shopping center, 2nd floor.
Opening hours: daily, 9.00-18.00.
How to get there: 5 minutes walk from the center towards the street. Lenin.
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City Historical Museum
The museum is entirely dedicated to the formation of the city from ancient times to the present day. The exhibitions include more than 6 thousand exhibits. The halls are divided by topic: “Archaeological”, “Kuban life”, “Military history”. They mostly talk about the appearance of mineral waters and their influence on the periods of development of the resort.
Address: st. Lenina, 34.
Opening hours: all days, 09.00-18.00.
How to get there: travel by bus No. 1, stop “Voroshilov Street”.
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Shungit store
Any tourist who comes to admire souvenirs made of natural stone will not be able to leave empty-handed.
In addition to funny stone figurines, spacious boxes, and miniature paintings, the store offers exclusive handmade jewelry: rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.
Address: st. Psekupskaya, 2/9.
Schedule: every day, 10.00-18.00.
How to get there: take bus No. 1, 3, 5 to the stop “Ul. Voroshilov."
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About the history and coat of arms of the city
Before the Caucasian War of the mid-19th century, the Circassian (Adyghe) village of Psyfab (“hot water” in translation) was located on the territory of the city. In the 1860s, in connection with the end of hostilities in the Caucasus, that part of the indigenous population that refused to recognize the power of the Russian Tsar was deported to Turkey. Including residents of the village of Psyfab. In 1864, a balneological resort was founded at local mineral springs by the military department. It included a military hospital, baths and drinking water pump room, and a park.
The village of Goryachiy Klyuch was founded in 1868, but in the 19th century, few people in the Russian Empire knew about this resort. From 1906 to 1920 the settlement was called Alekseevsky Goryachy Klyuch; in 1926 the place was transformed into a village; since 1930 it received the status of a resort village. During the Great Patriotic War, Goryachy Klyuch was occupied by fascist troops for several months. The growing resort village was recognized as a city on November 11, 1965.
Coat of arms of the city of Goryachy Klyuch.
The city's coat of arms symbolizes the favorable natural and climatic conditions of the resort and its mineral springs. On a blue background there is an arch and a tilted amphora pouring out water - all of this is silver. The arch symbolizes the open gate, a symbol of the hospitality of the residents of the resort city. The amphora and the water pouring out of it are a symbol of the source of life and health. In Soviet times, the coat of arms of Goryachiy Klyuch depicted gushing springs, a medical emblem (a bowl and a snake), and a ring with an ear of grain and a gear.
What to see in Goryachy Klyuch in 1 day
A one-day tour of Goryachiy Klyuch is like a short trip to places that you definitely need to visit and see. First of all, what is worth visiting in Goryachy Klyuch? Let's look at the most popular and interesting ones.
Drinking gallery
The central part of the Healing Park was occupied by the beautiful building of the Drinking Gallery. Today it is located on three mineral springs with healing water, which is what Goryachy Klyuch is famous for. Those who want to improve their health with miracle water can take free seats at the taps with cold or hot mineral water coming directly from underground wells.
Address: Psekupskaya street, 2.
Opening hours: Monday-Sunday, 07.00-19.00, break 14.00-15.00.
How to get there: take bus No. 3 to the “Healing Park” stop.
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Monument to Arshaluys Khanzhiyan
A small life-size statue is dedicated to a simple village woman, Arshaluys, of an unusual fate. She helped treat the wounded during the Great Patriotic War. Khanzhinyan saved thousands of soldiers and buried the same number, vowing to look after the graves of war heroes for the rest of her life. This is what she did, living for 50 years in the forest, protecting the peace of the graves of Soviet soldiers.
Location: intersection of Shkolnaya and Lenin streets.
How to get there: take bus No. 1, stop “Shkolnaya”.
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Podnavisla fortress
The stone structure dates back to the 1st millennium AD. The mighty walls are perfectly preserved. They served as shelter for Red Army soldiers in World War II. Local guides recommend visiting Podnavisla Castle. Famous places will surprise you with their powerful energy and picturesque nature.
Location: 30 km from Goryachiy Klyuch.
Opening hours: 24 hours a day.
How to get there: convenient by car in the direction of Dzhubga, 25 minutes.
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Psekup dolmens
Psekup dolmens are stone structures erected by ancient people many thousands of years ago. The banks of the river hide dozens of mysterious buildings.
Huge stone slabs weigh 3-40 tons, length reaches 2-3 meters, thickness - 30-60 cm. The entrances of dolmens are circles with a diameter of 50-60 cm, closed with stones weighing about a hundredweight. People come here in the hope of healing, purification, and knowledge of ancient teachings.
Location: Goryachiy Klyuch, village. Fanagoriyskoye, right bank of the Psekups River.
How to get there: you can take the regular bus “Goryachiy Klyuch – Fanagoriyskoye”, then follow the signs on foot.
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Psyfabe Fortress
The valley of the Psekups River reveals the old Christian fortress of Psyfabe, dating back to the 5th century. The ancient structure was located on the top of a cliff and had shelters, towers, and fences.
The citadel served local residents as reliable protection from attacks by wild tribes.
The ruins remaining from the fortress-settlement are of interest to archaeologists, historians and curious tourists.
Location: Goryachiy Klyuch, Healing Park.
Opening hours: you can tour the fortress every day, 07.00-23.00.
How to get there: take bus No. 3 to the “Healing Park” stop.
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Cenotaph of Hapache Lakshuke
The brave warrior Khapach Lakshuk is the hero of Adyghe epics and songs. The prince died while returning from Mecca after making a pilgrimage. In memory of the valor of Khapach Lakshuk, a cenotaph was erected, which is a stele covered with Arabic inscriptions.
The Cenotaph is considered a mystical stone that can fulfill secret desires coming from the heart. They advise you to walk around the monument three times so that Khapach will help you realize your pure dream.
Address: Sanatornaya street.
How to get there: take bus No. 3, stop “Healing Park”.
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Iveron Chapel and the source of St. Panteleimon
At the foot of the Abadzekh Mountain in 1864, good people erected the Iveron Chapel. The spiritual place of power attracts pilgrims from all over the country. Next to the chapel, there is a holy spring, a healing spring that helps those suffering to quench physical and mental pain.
Address: st. Psekupskaya, 2A.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday, 9.00-17.00.
How to get there: minibuses No. 1, 2, 10, stop “Sanatorium Goryachiy Klyuch”.
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House with sculptures
All the locals know the unusual house on the outskirts of the town. The façade of the building, fences, and gates are decorated with intricate sculptural images made by hand by the owner. Works include sculptures of Adam and Eve, a galloping Cossack, and the majestic Atlanteans.
Address: st. Kurortnaya, 7.
Opening hours: you can inspect the house from Wednesday to Sunday, 12.00-17.00.
How to get there: by bus No. 4, stop “Shkolnaya”.
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Holy Trinity Church
Trinity Church was erected in 1867 and has been restored more than once. Construction of the church is still underway. Under the auspices of the temple, a society of sisters of mercy was created to help the city hospital. The parish holds services and provides assistance to people who find themselves in difficult life situations.
Address: st. Sovetskaya, 100.
Opening hours: Monday-Friday, 07.00-19.00.
How to get there: by bus No. 5, stop “MC Perekrestok”.
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Kosinov's House
Ivan Filippovich Kosinov is a public figure, doctor, teacher, thanks to whom the first settlement school and hospital appeared. He did a lot for the development of Hot Spring.
His house is the only perfectly preserved pre-revolutionary building built in 1878. The architecture of the house is made in the Moorish style, the territory is landscaped with a botanical garden with medicinal plants.
Address: st. Lenina, 35.
Opening hours: Monday-Saturday, 10.00-18.00.
How to get there: take bus No. 5, stop “Voroshilov Street”.
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Monument to mineral water
The only monument dedicated to mineral water was erected in Goryachy Klyuch in 1914. It is located in the Mineral Glade, located along the foot of the Abadzekh Mountain. The monument is a tetrahedral column, the top of which is decorated with a figurine of an imperial bronze double-headed eagle. The location was not chosen by chance: it is here that many sources of “living” water are concentrated.
Address: Psekupskaya street, 2.
How to get there: take bus No. 3 to the “Healing Park” stop.
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Triumphal Arch
The festive arch is a tribute from local residents to the 145th anniversary of the resort city. Situated on snow-white stone columns-towers, it became a significant object of the Hot Spring.
Now the Arc de Triomphe is a favorite place for photographing newlyweds and tourists.
Address: Psekupskaya street, 2/8.
How to get there: conveniently by buses No. 1, 3 to the stop “Sanatorium Goryachiy Klyuch”.
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Alexandrovsky spring
Right within the city limits, on the banks of the Psekups, rises the Key Mountain - a small rocky formation, cut by caves and gorges, shrouded in fragrant pine forests. At the foot of this mountain, healing springs gush out from under the centuries-old sandstone. The oldest of these sources is Aleksandrovsky. This is the actual progenitor of the resort, the root cause of the founding of the city.
The oldest source of the resort city.
On June 15, 1864, the grand opening of the hydropathic clinic took place. All sources were consecrated, and the largest of them were named Aleksandrovsky and Mikhailovsky. The oldest source of healing water is located not far from the Goryachiy Klyuch sanatorium. Getting to this place is easy: it is the final stop of any city transport.
City Historical Museum
In the city of Goryachy Klyuch, the historical museum was founded in 1864. This is the first exhibition opened in the Caucasus. The idea to open a museum complex belongs to Colonel Ivan Popko. He served in the Cossack troops of Kuban. The soldier made a lot of efforts to collect the best historical exhibits in the museum. There is a collection consisting of ancient household items of the Kuban people. The museum also displays exhibits related to the military history of the area. In total, the museum collection contains at least 7 thousand paleontological and archaeological exhibits.
Mountain (Healing) Park
If you reach the end of the fragrant Alley of a Thousand Pines, you can see a sculptural composition with a small fountain, similar to a 3D copy of the city coat of arms - an amphora with healing water and an arch, with an inscription on the pediment informing that the Mountain Park begins next, and the resort already 140 years old. This is not the only arch in the park. One of the calling cards of the city is a more modest in size, but no less beautiful arch with two lions at the foot. It was erected in honor of the 50th anniversary of the resort.
The old entrance to the Mountain (Healing) Park is an arch from 1914, erected for the 50th anniversary of the resort.
The huge park has many picturesque alleys; sculptures and art objects; places where you can have a tasty snack; retail outlets that sell medicinal herbs and herbal infusions, honey, etc. health products. The mountain park was specially laid out in such a way that it organically merges with natural forests. Directly from the alleys of the park you can get to various hiking trails that take travelers to local attractions and, preventing them from getting lost in the forest, return them back to the sanatorium-resort complex. The park also houses a drinking pump room - a gallery of mineral waters.
Chapel of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God
The small Iverskaya Chapel is located next to the Abadzekh Mountain, on the territory of the Mineral Glade. It was erected around the middle of the 19th century. During this period, the resort flourished, and its healing springs were sanctified. On the site where the chapel dedicated to the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God was built, there used to be the Iveron Spring. But at the beginning of the twentieth century, the layers of the earth's surface shifted, and the spring dried up. The old chapel is still visited by pilgrims.
Drinking gallery of three springs
Mineral water is supplied inside the gallery from taps from three different sources. They differ from each other in the taste of mineral water, chemical composition and temperature. The water of one of the healing springs has a pronounced hydrogen sulfide taste and smell. Or, to put it simply, it stinks of rotten eggs.
In the Drinking Gallery.
Drinking gallery workers look after the “drinking culture.” You can come here with your own glasses or a small bottle, no more than 0.5 liters, and drink as much mineral water as you like for free. Otherwise, you need to purchase a disposable cup or a new plastic bottle.
Travel tips for staying in the city
Goryachy Klyuch is a resort town; the bulk of tourists try to come here in the summer or early autumn. The hottest months are July and August, temperatures can reach 45 degrees, so those who don’t like heat should come in September or early summer. During this period, you can not only calmly treat your health, but also visit the sights without meeting a large number of vacationers. Some travelers even choose winter for their trip, because there are much fewer tourists, and the weather is not the coldest - in February the temperature is already above zero. You can visit the sights even in the cold season; they all take on a new look when covered with snow.
Snow is rare in the city; even in winter you can find flowering plants and green grass here
Since they often come to the city to improve their health, they stay here for at least ten days. There are more than fifteen sanatoriums and boarding houses open in Goryachy Klyuch, which welcome vacationers of any age, selecting the optimal course of treatment for them. The wellness program can be easily combined with visits to memorable places in the city and surrounding area. It is worth booking a place to stay in advance, since there are many holidaymakers who come here for the purpose of recovery at any time of the year.
If the purpose of the trip is only to explore the sights of Goryachiy Klyuch, then you need to set aside three to four days for the trip. Since the majority of natural monuments are located outside the city, and getting to them is not so easy, it will not be possible to travel around them in one or two days. For tourists who do not need health improvement, there are dozens of guest houses and hotels in the city, which should also be booked in advance.
Accommodation in a sanatorium will cost a traveler from 1,500 rubles per day
It is best to come to Goryachy Klyuch by personal vehicle, since moving between attractions will be much easier and faster. For travelers without a car, the city has a public transport network represented by buses. Any route starts from the sanatoriums. You can get to natural monuments located outside the city only by taxi or intercity buses.
The most important gift that a traveler from Goryachy Klyuch can bring for himself is improved health. For loved ones, the best souvenir will be a bottle of mineral water, collected with your own hands in the Drinking Gallery. Also in the city you can buy various types of honey - buckwheat, flower, linden, acacia, enriched with various useful additives. In addition, they sell herbal teas made from Caucasian and Krasnodar herbs. There are quite a few types of tea, all of them differ in their unique composition and medicinal properties. Not only teas are made from herbs, but also pillows that can improve the quality of sleep and relieve some diseases.
Dante's Gorge
Dante's Gorge, to which the Healing Park leads, is a unique “natural monument created by man.” The fact is that initially it was a gap cut into the rock by soldiers and Cossacks for ventilation and air purification on the main site of the new resort in Goryachy Klyuch, to remove excess dampness from there. By nature, this passage was widened, “hewn and rounded,” turning into an original and mysterious rocky object. One of the officers gave it an unusual name, since the entrance to the gorge resembled the gates of hell in Dante's Divine Comedy.
Dante's Gorge.
Dante's Gorge is approximately 100 meters long, rises 10-15 meters in height, and 4-8 meters in width. A small stream flows along the stairs, built in the gorge, and after heavy rainfall it turns into a full-fledged river. The gorge looks especially picturesque in the pre-dawn hours. Entering the Dantovo Gorge from the Mineral Glade, you can climb along the equipped path up to the Cockerel rock, and then go down to the embankment of the Psekups River and the suspension bridge.
Mount Lysaya
Mount Lysaya occupies the space opposite the picturesque Abadzekh mountain peak. During the Great Patriotic War, the mountain range occupied an important strategic position. The fact is that it is practically impossible to climb to its peaks from 3 sides due to the location. Therefore, fierce battles between opponents took place over the Lysaya mountain range. And sometimes military operations ended in hand-to-hand combat. In order to perpetuate the memory of the soldiers who took part in these merciless battles, a monument was erected on the mountain peak.
Iveron Chapel
Before the entrance to Dante's Gorge, at the foot of Klyuchevaya Mountain, there is an Orthodox chapel in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God. Its structure seems to be built into the rock. The entrance to the chapel is decorated with a high arch, and its vault ends with a dome in Christian traditions. Every Friday, a solemn morning service is performed in front of the image of the Iveron Mother of God. Opposite the chapel, in the center of Mineral Glade, a memorial sign was erected in honor of the opening of the resort, which was attended by many important people, including the ataman of the Kuban Cossack Army.
Iverskaya Chapel.
Churches and Temples
Chapel in honor of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God
Coordinates: 44.62074, 39.093816 How to get there: to the restaurant “Old Castle” by car or by public transport to the stop “Sanatorium Goryachiy Klyuch”, then on foot; travel time - 30 minutes.
The Iverskaya Chapel was built in honor of the consecration of the source, which after some time disappeared due to the shift of ground rocks. Residents of the city say that on the site of the chapel there used to be an entrance to an underground labyrinth that led to the sea.
The Kuban Cossacks wanted to take out carts of gold through this tunnel, but disappeared into it. The same fate awaited everyone who later went in search of their treasures.
According to another version, the entrance is indicated by a stone in the shape of a lamb, which is located to the right of the chapel.
Spring of Panteleimon the Healer
Coordinates: 44.620588, 39.094105 How to get there: to the “Old Castle” restaurant by car or by public transport to the “Goryachiy Klyuch” Sanatorium stop, then on foot; travel time - 30 minutes.
A spring with rejuvenating healing water is located on the Mineral Glade of Goryachy Klyuch. In 2011, it was reconstructed and decorated with an icon of a healer, cast in bronze using donations.
It is customary here to ask for health for yourself and your loved ones.
Holy Trinity Church
Address: st. Sovetskaya, 100 Phone: 8(6159) 4-20-69 Website: pravkuban-15.cerkov.ru Opening hours: Mon-Fri 07:00-19:00
The history of Trinity Church begins with the construction of a church with a bell tower in 1867. But it did not survive Soviet times: it was looted and abandoned.
Divine services were restored in 1992, but they were held not in the church, but in the building of the former parish school. After 2 years, a new building dedicated to the Holy Trinity was laid. Work on it was completed only in 2009.
Today the following are stored here:
- icon of Saints Peter and Fevronia of Murom with particles of relics;
- Icon of the Mother of God “Quick to Hear”.
Rock Cockerel (aka Salvation Rock)
Another visiting card of the resort city is the Cockerel Rock (another name is the Salvation Rock). It rises above the surrounding area, descending with one steep side directly into the waters of Psekups. The rock got its name because of its peak, which looks like a cockscomb. There are several ancient (or stylized as ancient) legends about the rock. One of them says that in the Circassian village of Psyfab there was such a custom. Criminals sentenced to death were forced to climb this rock. The fact is that no one wanted to carry out the sentence. After all, the law of blood feud reigned, and the criminals also had relatives who, according to this law, were obliged to take revenge. Therefore, the execution of the sentence was given to nature. The criminal fell off the cliff and drowned in the river. If he managed to climb the mountain alive, then he was not executed, but simply expelled from the village. This is why the rock was called the Rock of Salvation.
Rock Cockerel (Rock of Salvation).
Beautiful places in Goryachy Klyuch that are worth visiting
The surroundings of the resort city combine the beauty and mystery of natural attractions. The surprising thing is that they are all located near Goryachiy Klyuch, which attracts more and more tourists to the city who are ready to spend hours admiring the gifts of Mother Nature.
Dante's Gorge
The gorge is located near the Psekups River, not far from the Healing Park. Scientists argue about the origin of the fault, including putting forward versions of human intervention. The gorge itself looks like a terrifying entrance to a hellish abyss. There are 49 stone steps leading inside, carved by local residents 200 years ago.
Address: Healing Park, st. Sanatorium.
Opening hours: daily, 07.00-23.00.
How to get there: take bus No. 3 to the “Healing Park” stop.
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Valley of Enchantment
Near the city there is a romantic picturesque place – the Valley of Enchantment. A vast meadow, framed by ancient oak trees, lies at the foot of high mountains. The length of the amazing clearing is 9 km, width – 2 km. The crystal air does not heat up in the heat; in winter it is warm and dry, comfortable for walking and relaxing.
Location: Goryachiy Klyuch, village. Phanagorian.
How to get there: conveniently by minibus No. 119, stop “Valley of Charm”.
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Sounding Cave
The cave was named Zvonka due to its unusual acoustic properties. Within its walls you can clearly hear what is happening on the other side of the river. Escaped convicts took advantage of this, hiding in the Cave of Salvation, located just above Zvonka.
The cave has a carved stone bench, made for the convenience of listening to the area.
Location: st. Sanatorium.
Opening hours: daily, 07.00-23.00.
How to get there: travel by bus No. 3, stop “Healing Park”.
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Ayuk waterfalls
The Ayuco Valley has long been famous for its waterfalls. They have cascades 5m high, falling into a 10m deep bowl created naturally. It was carved out of the rocks by powerful streams of water. The water of the natural pool is crystal clear. There is a great desire to plunge into a huge clean body of water.
Location: Goryachiy Klyuch, Fanagoriyskoe.
How to get there: conveniently by taxi (25 minutes), by bus “Goryachiy Klyuch - Fanagoriyskoye”.
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Bogatyrsky caves
A popular tourist attraction is the Bogatyrsky Caves: mysterious, easily accessible, shallow. This is a former shelter of Adyghe heroes. The two caves were formed in sandstone naturally, although legends claim that this is the work of man.
The caves have corridors and small rooms. Low ceilings give rise to doubts about the heroic past of the dungeons. They say the cave tunnels were “modified” by escaped convicts to escape the death penalty 300 years ago.
Location: Goryachiy Klyuch, village. Phanagorian.
Opening hours: visiting around the clock.
How to get there: you can take minibus No. 119, stop “Cote d'Azur”.
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Rock Cockerel
The symbol of the city is the Cockerel rock, so named for its peak that looks like a cockscomb. The mountain is also called the Rock of Salvation. Old Adyghe laws stated that a criminal who climbed a steep mountainside was given life.
The top of the rock hides the ruins of the Psyfabe fortress. The cliff is decorated with a gazebo and an observation deck, revealing a colorful landscape of the banks of the Psekups River.
Location: Healing Park.
Opening hours of the observation deck: daily, 07.00-23.00.
How to get there: by bus No. 1, stop “Sanatorium Goryachiy Klyuch”.
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Avenue of a Thousand Pines
Pine Alley is the original border of the resort and a place for city residents to walk in the hot summer. Pitsunda pines of rare beauty were planted by young Komsomol members 65 years ago. The youth chose the city center as their landing site. The length of the attraction leading to the mineral springs is 2 km.
Address: Lenin street.
How to get there: travel by bus No. 3, stop “Healing Park”.
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Phanagoria stalactite cave
The famous cave connects long underground halls, narrow high corridors with dark, mysterious, echoing tunnels. The walls were covered with stalactites, stalagmites reaching 5 m. The largest stalagmite is Perelaz.
The healing air of the cave is useful for those suffering from bronchopulmonary diseases.
Location: Goryachiy Klyuch, Fanagoriyskoe.
Visit: daylight hours.
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How to get there: by regular bus “Goryachiy Klyuch – Fanagoriyskoye”.
Big Kaverzinsky waterfall
The mighty waterfall flows down from a height of 11 m in several powerful jets, forming a huge limestone pool. The waterfall is surrounded by rocks. The splashes of the falling streams fly several meters, so it is better to come and admire the beauty of the local nature in a raincoat.
Location: Goryachiy Klyuch, Khrebtovoye.
How to get there: by bus “Goryachiy Klyuch – Khrebtovoye” to the final station.
A visit to Goryachy Klyuch is a great opportunity to combine the healing of the body with the saturation of the soul with the beauty of the local nature and the hospitality of the local residents. Living mineral water, clean air, picturesque mountainous terrain will help you gain strength and become happy.
Psyfabe Fortress
On the northern slope of the Kokht ridge, which encloses the western outskirts of Goryachiy Klyuch, is located one of the oldest in the entire region - the Psyfabe fortress. More precisely, the ruins of this citadel are fragments of walls and foundations, overgrown with trees and bushes, and the remains of ditches. The fortress wall was more than 40 meters long and was about 3.5 meters thick. The entrance to the fortress was crowned by a huge rectangular tower, and in the northern part of the citadel there was a second polygonal tower with an observation deck. It is not known for certain who built the fortress, it is so ancient. There is a version that this was a settlement of ancient Christians, similar to those that existed in Abkhazia.
Ruins of the Psyfabe fortress.
How to get there
There is an airport in Krasnodar. Regular flights connect it with other major cities of Russia. The M-4 Don federal highway runs along the outskirts of Goryachiy Klyuch, which ensures transport accessibility. From Krasnodar you can get to Goryachiy Klyuch by car, taxi, minibus and bus.
The resort town has its own railway station, where all trains heading towards Sochi stop. Electric trains run between Krasnodar, Goryachiy Klyuch and Tuapse. From Krasnodar they take electric trains to the sea, making a transfer in Goryachiy Klyuch.
Cenotaph of Hapach Lakshuka, 1717
An unusual monument - a pillar that simply emanates incredible antiquity; it is a cenotaph, that is, an obelisk over an empty grave. There are inscriptions on it in Arabic and Adyghe languages. And this pillar is made of pure marble. More precisely, it is a fragment of a column of an ancient temple, which was erected in the Byzantine Empire.
Cenotaph of Hapach Lakshuka.
This fragment was brought here by the Bzhedukh prince Aity-Khadzhi Khadzhimukov. In 1717, he, together with another noble highlander, Khapach Lakshuk, made a pilgrimage to Mecca. On the way back, Khapach died near Syrian Damascus, where he was buried. Dying during the Hajj to Mecca is considered a blessing from Allah. In memory of his friend, the Circassian prince erected this homemade obelisk. In any weather, the pillar is cold to the touch.
Sights in the vicinity of Goryachiy Klyuch
I have already told you what to see in Goryachy Klyuch. However, there are a lot of interesting things in the surrounding area.
The Pillar of Peace is an observation deck on Mount Abadzekh, on the Kotkh ridge, on the way to the Mirror rock. Previously, there was a Peace Pillar installed here in 1988 by tourists. Where did the pillar go, who knows? Coordinates of the Pillar of the World observation deck: 44°35'50.24″N, 39° 6'29.27″E.
Peace Pillar Observation Deck
Mirror Rock – it’s better to plan a separate hike here in the morning. 4 kilometers from the Rock of Salvation up Abadzekh Mountain. It seems that distance is not nonsense at all. However, the trek takes a lot of time.
Rock Mirror
Bogatyrsky caves near the village of Fanagoriyskoye, 10 kilometers from the city.
Bogatyrsky caves
There will be separate stories about these attractions of Goryachiy Klyuch.
There are many interesting hikes to be done in the surrounding area. They are still ahead of us. We already know what else to see in Goryachy Klyuch, and we will be happy to return.
If you want to find out more about the sights of Goryachiy Klyuch, dial the mobile guide’s phone number: 8-800-200-45-60 (free call). True, the mobile guide will tell you about only 12 attractions of Goryachiy Klyuch, but you can listen directly while walking around the resort.
Information stand of the Goryachiy Klyuch mobile guide
Keep in mind that after talking about any three tourist sites, the mobile guide turns off. Feel free to call again.
It is not necessary to make a list in advance of your trip of what to see in Goryachy Klyuch and how to find tourist sites. Everything is easy to find here.
We really liked the city; walking around it is pleasant, interesting, and useful.
Did you like the sights of Goryachiy Klyuch?
Which ones did you like the most?
If you know anything else interesting or have questions, write in the comments.
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Great Phanagorian (Stalactite) Cave
The Great Phanagorian Cave, in the vicinity of Goryachiy Klyuch, was first described by the Turkish traveler Evliei Celebi in the 17th century. He said that in the central hall of the cave there was a huge bronze statue. Whether it was or not is no longer possible to establish. It is indisputable that the Phanagorian Cave is one of the most mysterious in the Caucasus.
According to legend, this natural tunnel used to stretch for 25 kilometers, right to the Black Sea coast, but then it turned out to be blocked. It is also known that the indigenous population had a special relationship with this cave - it was a sacred place, similar to the legendary Tibetan Shambhala.
During a tour of the Phanagorian Cave.
It is located in the valley of the Ayuk River, 12 km from the village of the same name. The entrance to the cave is round, about one and a half meters in diameter. A ten-meter-long narrow tunnel leads into the central hall. There are four halls in the cave. The total length of the cave passages is about one and a half kilometers. It ends with a double branch. One of the passages leading further is blocked, and the other becomes too narrow for further exploration. A small stream constantly runs along the floor of the cave.
Attractions and activities in the surrounding area
Big Kaverzinsky waterfall
Coordinates: 44.498060, 38.954690 How to get there: by taxi or your own car to the farm (1 hour), then walk about 6 km; The nearest settlement is the village. Khrebtovoye, 20 km from Goryachiy Klyuch.
The height of the largest of the five Kaverzin waterfalls is about 11 m.
A walk here will require effort: the route at times requires crossing a mountain river over rocks.
For tourists, there is an observation deck and a picnic area nearby.
Beer Baths
Address: Goryachy Klyuch, village. Bezymyanoye, “Old Castle” Phone: 8(6159) 3−73−37 Website: st-zamok.ru Opening hours: Mon-Sun around the clock Cost: from 1500 rub./hour How to get there: by car along M-4 Don, 1390th km + 570 m, from Goryachiy Klyuch by bus or minibus.
Beer baths are an effective means of prolonging youth, increasing immunity and restoring tone. Moreover, the drink is produced in its own brewery using special technologies from the Middle Ages.
For bathing it is used warm, unfiltered and unpasteurized. In addition, the baths are equipped with air massage, which allows you to get the maximum effect from the procedure.
Beer baths in Goryachy Klyuch are branches of the European Center for Natural Beer Baths, located in the Czech Republic.
Ostrich Ranch
Address: Molkino village Telephone: 8-800-350-29-39, Opening hours: Mon-Sun 09:00-17:00 Cost: children - 70 rubles, adults - 150 rubles. How to get there: by private car along M-4, by train or bus (30 min.)
Recently, tourists can visit one of the largest ostrich farms in Russia. Visitors here will be given a tour of the ranch, shown incubators, small ostriches, and told about the life of birds.
The farm currently houses eight ostrich families, each consisting of a male and three to four females.
It is best to come in spring or summer: there is a chance to see the chicks being born.
In addition to ostriches, the ranch has pheasants, peacocks, ornamental chickens and ducks.
Bogatyrsky caves
Coordinates: 44.592778, 39.085556 How to get there: by car you need to go along the M-4 Don to the village of Fanagoriyskaya, after the Charming Polyanka tourist center there will be a path into the forest, along it 15 minutes. walk up. You can get to the camp site from Goryachiy Klyuch by train and bus (1-1.5 hours).
The caves were created by human hands in the 18th century.
Some claim that they were dug by fugitives from the Circassian tribes, others are sure that an ordinary person would not have been able to do this and the caves were the work of heroes.
During the Great Patriotic War, they housed strongholds for Soviet army soldiers, so a monument was later erected above the caves in memory of the events of that time.
Abadzekh Key Mountain
Coordinates: 44.622114, 39.091680 How to get there: to the restaurant “Old Castle” by car or by public transport to the stop “Sanatorium Goryachiy Klyuch”, then on foot; travel time - 30 minutes.
Since ancient times, healing mineral springs have attracted people, so we can say that Goryachy Klyuch owes its existence to the mountain on which they are located.
Then there were many fortresses and shelters, and there was a trade route to the Black Sea coast.
Inside the Abadzekh Mountain, at a depth of 100 meters, there is an underground lake from which the Blue Spring originates. Its waters bring rejuvenation.
Ayuk waterfall
Coordinates: 44.474916, 39.020969 How to get there: by car from Goryachiy Klyuch to the place (25 min.); by bus to the river Chepsi, then walk 6 km (1.5-2 hours)
The waterfall is located in the Ayuko valley, which means “evil” in the Adyghe dialect. The reason for this name is unknown.
It has two cascades - 5 m and 4 m, falling into a 10-meter bath, the water in which is milky white due to foam.
Hell's Falls
Coordinates: 44.41834, 39.01551 How to get there: by personal transport, or by bus from Goryachiy Klyuch; the nearest settlement is the village of Fanagoriyskoye; travel time 1 hour 15 minutes.
According to legend, not far from this place there was a palace in which a beautiful princess lived. Suitors from all over the area approached her, but she refused everyone - she was waiting for true love. One day a prince came to ask for her hand, but he did not accept her decision and cursed the girl.
Then she lost her beauty: her body was covered with ulcers. No treatment helped, the princess cried for a long time, and the spirits took pity. They imprisoned the prince in a dungeon and forced him to heat the springs over a sulfur fire, which made the water healing. The princess washed herself with it and became beautiful again. Since then, the water here has been considered rejuvenating.
There is also a legend that the waterfall hides the gate to the afterlife. Ancient tribes avoided this place and did not collect water for cooking here.
Phanagorian Cave
Coordinates: 44.469187, 38.977697 How to get there: from Goryachiy Klyuch you can take a bus or private transport to the village of Fanagoriyskoye, after 14 km on foot or by SUV, 2.5-3.5 hours.
Phanagorian Cave is the largest in the vicinity of Krasnodar. The entrance to it is located 300 m above sea level.
Now its depth is 1.5 km, but before the collapse it reached 25 km. The main of the four halls is located 10 m from the entrance.
A stream flows along the bottom of the cave, and its walls are covered with clay of different colors. Various insects and bats live here.
The air inside is healing: it treats respiratory diseases.
Hell's Falls
Admiring the streams of water falling from a height of 12 meters into a stone bowl, it is difficult to say why the waterfall received such a name. The nature around is exceptionally picturesque, alive and blooming. Hell Falls is located in the Chepsi River basin, being part of a tributary of Hell Creek. It is far from the only one in the Psekups River basin. It’s just that most large waterfalls are located in places that are difficult to access, especially for unprepared tourists. And getting to Hell Creek is easy: you need to take minibus 193 from the center of Goryachiy Klyuch to the village of Fanagoriysky, and then go on a short hike over rough terrain.
Hell's Falls.
Sounding Cave
A small grotto located in the Cockerel rock is called the Zvonka Cave. It was given this name because of its extraordinary acoustics. While in the cave you can hear all the sounds and noise happening on the other side of the Psekups River. The sonorous cave is recognized as one of the most interesting attractions of Goryachy Klyuch. Many people come here to check the acoustics of the Sounding Cave for themselves.
Kaverzinsky waterfall
Another picturesque waterfall in the vicinity of Goryachiy Klyuch is Kaverzinsky. To see it, you need to take a walk through the beautiful gorge. This gorge is located in the village of Khrebtovoye, 15 km from Goryachiy Klyuch. In general, there is a whole cascade of waterfalls here, five of them, one more beautiful than the other. The highest is, as expected, the farthest waterfall.
Kaverzinsky waterfall, the largest of the five waterfalls of this cascade.
We drink, swim, heal
Recently, the age of the resort exceeded 150 years. The basis for its appearance was underground thermal waters, the temperature of which reaches +60 degrees. The springs differ in the composition of their water. Thus, sulfide chloride-bicarbonate sodium waters are used for external use. They are used for bathing in the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, nervous system and gynecological problems.
In the drinking gallery you can drink healing water
Carbonated sodium bicarbonate-chloride water is suitable for oral administration. Its composition is similar to that used in Essentuki. However, instead of carbon dioxide it contains hydrogen sulfide, which determines the presence of a specific smell and taste. This water treats diseases of the digestive system.
Its peculiarity and advantage is that hydrogen sulfide is in a bound state and therefore does not cause irritation. You can try the water for a small fee in the pump room of the Goryachiy Klyuch sanatorium. The mineral water comes from underground not only in hot, but also in cold form.
Old coat of arms of the city
The resort essence of the city is reflected in its coat of arms. On a blue background there is an elegant gate with an arch, which in heraldry is considered a symbol of new life. The wide open gate symbolizes the openness and hospitality of the residents. In the center there is a tilted amphora from which water flows - an allegory of the Iveron Spring from Dante’s Gorge. The azure background indicates the Psekups River, on the banks of which the resort was founded.
The resort has six sanatoriums
On the territory of the city there are sanatoriums “Caucasus Foothills”, “Mountain”, “Goryachiy Klyuch”, “Izumrudny”, “Zvezdny”, “Rus”. There are a large number of hotels. Tourists are welcomed by the recreation centers “Kura-Tsetse”, “Forest Provence”, “Mezhgorye”, “Family Fishing”, “Cold Stream” and “Rodnichok”.
Rock Mirror
This natural object, located in the vicinity of Maltsev Stream, got its name for a reason: a significant part of the rock forms a steep angle with the ground, literally 90 degrees, and its surface is absolutely flat and smooth. Climbers often train on the rock, honing their skills.
Rock Mirror.
Territory of caves, rocks and waterfalls
No less interesting are the immediate surroundings of Goryachiy Klyuch, where there are 160 natural, historical and archaeological monuments. These, for example, include the Great Phanagorian Cave. It is located on the right bank of the Ayuk River, 12 kilometers southwest of the village of Fanagoriyskoye. Its length reaches one and a half kilometers. In fact, it is a long pipe of natural origin.
A karst void in the mountain was discovered back in 1666! The entrance is located at an altitude of 300 meters. At the beginning of the journey, the cross-section is small - only one and a half meters in diameter. Then the cave expands. There are even spacious halls. The main hit is considered to be a huge stalagmite, which was called “The Climb”. The name was given for a reason - in order to continue the path, the stalagmite will have to be climbed over.
There are several caves in the vicinity of Goryachiy Klyuch
The first official explorer of the cave was the Turkish traveler Evliya Celebi. He visited here in the middle of the 17th century! According to local legend, the karst tunnel once stretched for 25 kilometers and reached the Black Sea. However, then the roof collapsed and the main passage was filled in. Now the cave ends with a fork. One passage becomes too narrow to climb through, another ends in a dead end. Until recently, there were many stalactites and stalagmites in the cave, but they were all barbarically destroyed.
There is also a Cat Cave near Gorny Klyuch. The name is due to the fact that people found the skeleton of a huge wild cat in it. Archaeologists made an even more surprising discovery - they discovered a human skull on a stone shelf. He was pierced through by a stalactite, which, as you know, grows very slowly. It turns out that people lived in these places hundreds, or even thousands of years ago. In the depths of the cave there is a small lake that appears and disappears. Perhaps, through karst voids it connects with other underground lakes.
The mountain with the strange name Navisla is located between the Ayuk and Chepsi rivers. It got its name from the steep exposed slope that literally hangs over the water. Its height is 704 meters. The surface of the mountain is covered with dense vegetation, however, tourists storm the peak with pleasure. It takes about four hours to get to the top. The steepest are the southern and eastern slopes. For beginners, it is better to choose the northern slope.
A waterfall with the terrifying name “Devil’s Mouth” is a water stream that cascades down in the upper reaches of Maltsev Stream. The fall height is 20 meters. The intensity of the stream makes you respect the power of the waterfall, and the narrow gorge in which it seethes evokes thoughts of dark forces. A well-trodden path leads along the left bank of Maltsev Stream to the “Devil’s Mouth”.
The “Mirror” rock is popular among tourists. It is located on the banks of Maltsev Stream, four kilometers from the resort center. Why this name? The smooth surface of the quartz-glauconitic sandstone reflects the surrounding space. Climbers and rock climbers come here to train. There is a path leading to the rock, which starts on Shchorsa Street. Along the way you can see Maltsev Waterfall. It falls in cascades from a height of 23 meters.
Cascade of waterfalls
Among the natural hits, it is also worth noting the Ayuksky and Kaverzinsky waterfalls, as well as the Karaulka waterfall. In addition to Fanagoriyskaya there are Bogatyrskaya and Zvonkaya caves. The Catacomb rock is picturesque. Near the above-mentioned “Mirror” rock, a red ferruginous spring gushes out of the ground. It is worth visiting the Podnavisla settlement on the Chepsi River at the source of the Monastyrsky stream. In addition to the trough dolmen, there is the Kesukh waterfall.
In Goryachy Klyuch it is worth trying mineral water from the neighboring region
The nature of the region itself is also an attraction. Goryachy Klyuch is located in the place where the Kuban steppes turn into forests. Oak trees make up almost half of the forest area. It is followed by beech, fir, and spruce. Lots of juniper. More than 130 species of animals live in the region. Of course, you won’t see deer near settlements, but it’s quite possible to see a golden eagle, an eagle or a gyrfalcon. The city itself amazes with the abundance of greenery and bright flowers. In this regard, the Mountain Healing Park is especially indicative.
Psekup dolmens
Throughout the Caucasus, these mysterious monumental structures of ancient people have long been found. More than twenty of them can be found in the valley of the Psekups River. One can only guess about the purpose of the dolmens. Scientists are inclined to conclude that these were either places of worship of ancient prehistoric religions, or funerary mausoleums.
Psekupsky dolmens.
Mount Lantern
Lantern Mountain is located on the banks of the Psekups River. The unusual name of the mountain comes from the name of the Phanagorian village. The word "lantern" is accepted as a simplified version of "phanagoria". There is also another version about the name of mountain peaks. During the Caucasian War, a guard post was created here and a signal light was installed. Therefore, the mountain range was given this name. The mountain has a height of more than 278 m. From its top there is a stunning panorama of the valley.
Infrastructure
The infrastructure directly in Goryachy Klyuch is not very well developed: there are no cinemas or theaters, nightclubs and other entertainment for young people. However, there is everything you need: clothing stores, shoes, equipment, furniture, repair goods. There are many supermarkets, as well as bank branches and MFCs. There are two permanent markets, as well as a farmer's market on Saturdays. This is a must-visit for lovers of homemade products. At the fair you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, a variety of dairy products, halva, honey, various preparations...
There are cafes and restaurants in Goryachiy Klyuch. The authors of the article especially recommend the local chain of pizzerias “Liichi-Pizza”. This is not an advertisement, but personal preferences: they prepare very tasty pizza of various types with a lot of toppings on thin dough.
We believe that Goryachiy Klyuch is an ideal place for children and retirees. For children, the city has four schools in different areas, many sports, dance sections and clubs, and an art school, which became the winning school of the all-Russian competition “50 Best Children's Art Schools.” There is also an ice palace where children are taught hockey and figure skating. Hot Key is truly safe even in the dark. The Cossacks, who keep order on the streets, suppress even minor offenses such as smoking and drinking alcohol in public places.
Unfortunately, higher education cannot be obtained in the city, but there are several colleges, including medical colleges. As a rule, after school, graduates go to study in Krasnodar. At the same time, they have the opportunity to frequently visit family, spending 40 minutes on the road (depending on their location in Krasnodar). Many generally prefer to live in Goryachaya Klyuch and travel to the university every day by regular bus. By the way, Kuban State University entered the top seven best universities in Russia in 2022. It can be reached in an hour; the round trip stop is located almost at the university gates.
For middle-aged and older people and simply those who strive for a measured and calm life, Goryachiy Klyuch is also perfect. Most of the city is private sector. These are not village “huts”, but full-fledged “urban” private houses with all amenities and a plot of land. Visitors often communicate with each other, make friends and create various communities. Local grandmothers organized a choir, and sometimes their performances can be seen in the sanatorium park. Many people join them.
