Sights of Gurzuf: Artek, Ayu-Dag and Adalary rocks

Gurzuf is a resort on the southern coast of Crimea, famous for its natural beauty and historical places. The sights of Gurzuf have gained fame not only in Crimea, but throughout Russia. It was here that the dream of all the pioneers of the Soviet Union was located - the Artek children's camp at the foot of the Ayu-Dag mountain.

Young Pushkin came here to rest, here was the dacha of the artist Konstantin Korovin, who often visited Chaliapin, Kuprin, Gorky, Repin, Surikov. In Gurzuf, Chekhov bought a small house for creative retreat on the seashore, escaping his popularity.

What to see in Gurzuf and where to go? Read about the most interesting and beautiful places.

Sights of Gurzuf

Gurzuf is an urban resort village with a population of about 9 thousand people, part of the Yalta urban district. The main attractions of Gurzuf are the beauty of the surrounding nature: picturesque rocks, mountains, the Black Sea. The main symbols of Gurzuf are the Adalary rocks and Mount Ayu-Dag (Bear Mountain). Gurzuf was loved by many artists for its beautiful views; a huge number of films were shot here.

Near Gurzuf, 2 kilometers away is Massandra with the romantic palace of Emperor Alexander III and the famous winery; 22 kilometers away is Alushta, where you can see the Byzantine fortress of Aluston.

The best beaches of Gurzuf

City Beach

The city beach with developed infrastructure is free and is located in the center of Gurzuf. You can also buy a ticket to Yalta on the spot.

The city beach has many water attractions for children and adults, as well as ice cream and drink stalls. Sun loungers and showers are available.

Address: Gurzuf; GPS: 44.54241, 34.28114

Opening hours: daily

Free admission

Beach in Chekhov Bay

Chekhov rocky beach is officially the property of the house-museum named after. Chekhov. The place is surrounded by inaccessible cliffs; the flora of the beach remains untouched by unscrupulous tourists.

Crystal clear blue water allows for snorkeling. The silence and wild nature of the beach is attractive for lovers of a relaxing holiday.

Address: Gurzuf; GPS: 44.54172, 34.28169

Opening hours: daily

Free admission

Beach of the sanatorium "Pearl of Crimea"

The pebble beach is located in a picturesque region of Crimea. It is surrounded by Crimean vegetation and rocks on almost all sides. Not far from the vacation spot there is a famous attraction - Swallow's Nest.

The beach offers tourists a comfortable descent to the sea, sun loungers and sun loungers, and drinking fountains. Near the beach you can find kiosks with food, drinks and special equipment for sea fun.

Address: emb. Pushkin, Gurzuf; GPS: 44.5376, 34.27421

Opening hours: daily

Free admission

Adalara Rocks

White stone monoliths protruding from the Black Sea are a symbol of Gurzuf. They were once part of the coast, but over time they were cut off from the land due to tectonic movements. They got their name from the Turkish “adalary”, which means “islands”.

There are many legends associated with the rocks. One of the legends says that two rich brothers, George and Peter, used to live in these places. They wanted to win the love of two sisters, took them on a horse ride to get to the Sun, and almost got burned. The next day they decided to disturb the peace of the sea deity. And he cruelly repaid them for this, turning the riders and their horses into sharp rocks.

Divers of these places also have their own legend about countless treasures left over from shipwrecks and resting on the bottom of the sea near Adalar. In ancient times, the islands were a pier when they were still connected to the land by a bridge, so there are still wrecks and fragments of ships in the depths of the sea. In recent decades, amateur divers have actually managed to find amphorae from the 12th-16th centuries and other valuable things here.

Question answer

How to get to Gurzuf 2022?

Gurzuf is part of Greater Yalta. Communication with the “outside world” is carried out through the resort capital of Crimea. Suburban buses depart from the bus station up to 20 times a day. From the airport it is also easier to get to Yalta first, and at the bus station change to a bus to Gurzuf. There are also direct flights, but they are few - 1-2 per day. A taxi from Simferopol to Gurzuf will cost from 1,900 rubles. (see Kiwitaxi.ru).

What sea excursions and walks are there in Gurzuf?

The most popular ones are along the Gurzuf coast. The program is standard: Chekhov Bay, the Genoese rocks, Chaliapin, Adalary, the coast of Artek and Bear Mountains. There are also boat trips from Gurzuf to Yalta, Miskhor, Partenit.

Mount Ayu-Dag (Bear Mountain)

Mount Ayu-Dag, 577 meters high, separates Big Alushta and Big Yalta. In appearance, it resembles a bear coming to a watering hole. This is where the name of the mountain came from. Local residents even have several legends explaining its origin. According to one of them, the evil predator ended up in these parts completely by accident, and he was so struck by the beauty of these places that he decided to stay here forever. He lay down at the pond to drink water, and since then he has never risen: the god of the sea turned him into a block of stone.

Bear Mountain is of interest not only to lovers of folklore legends; Ayu-Dag is studied by a variety of scientists. The fact is that there are archaeological monuments here: the ruins of fortress walls and temple buildings. Geologists, examining the mountain, came to the conclusion that it does not consist of ordinary limestone, but of durable igneous gabbrodiabase, i.e. Bear Mountain is an unformed or already extinct volcano. Botanists and zoologists are also studying this area, because more than 600 plant species have already been discovered on Ayu-Dag, and of all the animal species living on the mountain, 16 are listed in the Red Book.

The best attractions in the vicinity of Gurzuf:

Mount Ayu-Dag

Translated from the Crimean Tatar language, Ayu-Dag means Bear Mountain, which stretches along the entire border of Big Alushta and Big Yalta. There are many legends and stories about this mountain. Its height is 572 m above sea level, and its total area is about 4 square kilometers.

Climbing Ayu-Dag, you can see archaeological sites, the remains of ancient temple buildings and a fortress wall. Bear Mountain is home to 25% of the fauna of Crimea, more than 600 species of plants and animals listed in the Red Book.

Address: st. Gaidara, Gurzuf; GPS: 44.5605, 34.32802

Opening hours: daily

Free admission

Gazebo of the winds

The gazebo was built in 1956 and consists of a stone colonnade under a 5.5 m high dome. Situated on a steep rock of Mount Shakan-Kai. The weather remains cool even with the scorching sun, and winds reach 40 km/h.

The gazebo offers an indescribable view of the mountains and the Black Sea. And near the place grows a rare endemic species - Yailinsky gum.

Address: GPS: 44.578, 34.22527

Opening hours: the reserve checkpoint is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Entrance: entrance to the territory of the reserve – 150 rubles.

Red Rock

Another mysterious rock of Gurzuf, which consists of beautiful iridescent yellow-pink limestone. “Kyzyl-Tash” (that’s the name of the rock) has a height of 430m. Vineyards are planted around Red Stone.

Climbing the rock, you can watch sunrises, sunsets and views of Krasnokamenka. The cliff is a great place for rock climbing training.

Address: pos. Krasnokamenka; GPS: 44.56373, 34.289

Opening hours: daily

Free admission

Adalara Rocks

The rocks attract the eye with an unusual view and panoramic view of the surrounding coastline. Their height is 48 m. Climbing the rocks is not difficult - there is a special ladder. Many tourists sunbathe on the spot and jump from ledges into the sea.

Near the rocks there are many fish and other living creatures (crabs, stingrays, mullet). Transparent and clean water allows tourists to test themselves in diving and see the mysterious underwater world of the bay.

Address: Adalary Rocks; GPS: 44.54166, 34.29722

Opening hours: daily

Free admission

Shalyapin's Rock

The 40 m high rock is located opposite the famous Adalar. It is named after the Russian singer Fyodor Chaliapin, who bought this territory in 1916. Previously, the rocky cape was called Pushkinsky, but after the deed of sale it was called Shalyapinsky.

The place is attractive to tourists with two magnificent bays and snorkeling opportunities. The beautiful views and blue water still amaze visitors to this day.

Address: st. Leningradskaya, Gurzuf; GPS: 44.54568, 34.29561

Opening hours: daily

Free admission

Pushkin's Rock

The rock settled on the territory of the Artek children's center in Yalta. An observation deck was built at its top. It resembles a dilapidated medieval fortress. It is interesting that before the arrival of the poet, the rock was called Java.

On the way to the cliff, tourists are greeted by a monument to the poet and statues of heroes from Pushkin’s fairy tales. The two wild beaches on both sides of the cliff are often empty, since the path to them lies through mountain ledges.

Address: emb. named after Pushkin, Gurzuf; GPS: 44.53976, 34.27449

Opening hours: daily

Free admission

Nikitsky Botanical Garden

Nikitsky Botanical Garden
The garden includes an upper and lower park with various types of flowers, trees and shrubs. Ornamental plants and flowering plantations can be seen at any time of the year. On the territory of the garden there are shops with seedlings, seeds and souvenirs.

The scientific museum of the botanical garden and its herbarium with 170 thousand specimens deserve attention! Also, you should definitely visit the cactus greenhouse. And in the lower park, lotuses are elegantly located in a large round pool, which will certainly catch the visitor’s eye.

Address: Nikitsky descent, 52, Nikita village

Opening hours: cash desk: weekdays – from 9:00 to 19:00, weekends – from 8:00 to 19:00; parks: weekdays – from 9:00 to 20:00, weekends – from 8:00 to 20:00

Entrance: for children - from 100 to 300 rubles, for adults - from 300 to 500 rubles.

Official website: https://nikitasad.ru

Mount Bolgatura

Mount Bolgatura is one of the highest points of Gurzuf, has a height of 150m. From its top there are magnificent views of the entire Gurzuf Valley. Climbing the mountain is not that difficult, but it will take about 30-50 minutes.

In Bolgatura there are unusual plant species, such as juniper, pistachio obtufolia, strawberry and other medicinal herbs.

Address: Gurzuf; GPS: 44.54733, 34.28173

Opening hours: daily

Free admission

Nikitskaya Cleft

In the village of Nikita there begins a path along which you can get to the rock formations. Their height reaches more than 200 m, and their walls exceed 50 m.

An unusual fact: on each side the cleft has a different color (from black to dark orange). One side of the crevice is completely covered with vines, while the other remains fossilized. Even in the western part of the crevice, fragments of dishes left over from the inhabitants of past centuries were found.

The Nikitskaya Crevice is an excellent place to train climbers of different difficulty levels. You can also take wonderful photos there with a view of the crevice.

Address: pos. Nikita; GPS: 44.52102, 34.22099

Opening hours: daily

Free admission

Artek

The history of Artek dates back to June 16, 1925, when a summer tent camp hosted 80 children from different cities. The camp was founded on the initiative of Zinovy Solovyov (1876-1924), chairman of the Central Committee of the Russian Red Cross Society for children with tuberculosis. Gradually the camp turned into an international pioneer camp, the largest and most prestigious in the USSR.

The best pioneers were awarded trips to Artek for excellent studies, behavior, and participation in pioneer activities. Many famous artists, singers, journalists, and scientists visited it. Movies were filmed here, city streets were named after Artek. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, Artek fell into disrepair.

Now it is an international children's center, where children can get free admission for achievements in education, creativity, sports and social activities. The cost of a paid trip is 80 thousand rubles.

Other assets

Other assets that are not included in any of the above lists, but at the same time deserve no less attention, include:

MDC Artek;
Suuk-Su Palace;
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
Korovin's dacha;
fountain Goddess of the Night
gazebo of the winds.

MDC Artek

Children's camp
All children of Soviet times heard about the Artek pioneer camp, and some of them even managed to visit it. Every child dreamed of having a red tie on their chest.

Despite the fact that the pioneer organization has not existed for a long time, the camp continues to operate today. The only thing that has changed is his status. Now it is an international children's center.

The complex occupies an incredibly vast territory, which is divided between several camps. Thousands of children come here from Russian cities and even from other countries. Adults can only observe their lives from the outside and remember their childhood.

Suuk-Su Palace

Suuk-Su
The history of this place dates back to the end of the 19th century. In those days, there lived the famous engineer Vladimir Berezin, who was engaged in the construction of bridges. He decided to buy himself land in Gurzuf and build a luxury resort on it that could compete with foreign treatment centers. The resort opened at the beginning of the last century. When he died, his wife had the opportunity to continue the work, and she did it well.

On an area of 42 hectares, a bathhouse and a hydropathic clinic were built, around which there was a beautiful park and a beach.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the luxurious palace, which is a hotel. The building has 3 floors and a snow-white finish. Mosaics, wooden carvings, and fountains were used as decorations.
The new resort was given the name Suuk-Su, which in Russian sounds like “cold water.”

After the revolution, it came under state control. For a long time, party workers rested there, after which a children’s camp was opened. When the Germans captured the peninsula during World War II, a restaurant was opened in the palace. But a year later it burned down during regular festivities. Only 15 years later a decision was made to restore the palace. Today it almost completely reflects the appearance and atmosphere that was inherent in it during its first opening in 1903.

Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Architecture of the temple
At the end of the century before last, by order and sponsorship of a local merchant, this cathedral was erected. It is a reflection of the Byzantine style, and expensive Italian marble was used as decoration. Thanks to such a luxurious and rich appearance, it became the hallmark of Gurzuf.

In the 1930s, like most other churches, the temple was destroyed. Restoration work was carried out only in the early 2000s. Today its doors are open to parishioners.

FAQ

What is there to do in Gurzuf?

The resort offers good beach and educational recreation and entertainment.

Korovin's dacha

Entrance to the territory of the dacha.
It is a beautiful villa occupying 2 floors. It was erected by the famous artist Korovin. He loved to spend time in cheerful companies, so there were almost always a lot of people at his dacha. His guests included other creative personalities, for example, Chaliapin, Surikov, Repin.

In the 1910s, Korovin quite often lived at his seaside dacha. This period of his life was considered very successful, because he painted many beautiful paintings.

During the Soviet period, the house became part of the Artists' Fund. It housed the House of Creativity, where talented Russian painters worked and had a good time.
In the second half of the last century, luxurious Korovin sculptures made of bronze were installed at the entrance to the house.
At the beginning of our century, the dacha turned into a simple boarding house, where anyone with a lot of money could stay.

Today, only a small room has survived, serving as a museum, where you can come as part of an excursion group.

Fountain Goddess of the Night

Goddess of the Night
This unique sculpture adorns the local park. Russian craftsmen were able to repeat as accurately as possible the work of the talented German architect.

The sculpture project was purchased at the General Exhibition held in Vienna. It is designed in Baroque style. The plot is based on Greek mythology. Many tourists stop near it to admire its beauty and take memorable photos.

Question to the expert

What time can you come to rest in Gurzuf?

The period from June to the end of September is suitable for a beach holiday.

Pushkin museum

Website: gurzufmuseum.com Address: st. Embankment, building 1. Opening hours: from 10.00 to 18.00, Wednesday until 20.00, days off - Monday, Tuesday. Ticket price: 100 rub.

The building in which the museum is now located is the oldest building made by Europeans on the southern coast of the Crimean peninsula. The building dates back to 1808-1811. The estate owes its appearance to Duke Armand Du Plessis de Richelieu.

In 1820, A.S. Pushkin rested here, who was inspired by the nature of these places and thanks to this he created many famous works, including individual chapters of “Eugene Onegin.”

Now the museum has 6 halls with exhibitions telling about the Crimean period of Pushkin’s life. There is also a memorial office of the Pushkin scholar Tomashevsky, on whose initiative a museum was opened in the estate.

Embankment named after Pushkin

After visiting the Gurzuf park, you will again find yourself on the main embankment of Gurzuf - the Pushkin embankment. Continue along the white and pink marble promenade towards Bear Mountain until you reach the Meraba cafe, where you will need to turn right to the pier, from where we will soon set off to our next destination - the Adalara rocks.

To your right there will be maps of sanatorium beaches, but do not rush to swim here if you are walking around Gurzuf during the season (we have more interesting offers), here you can only feel the atmosphere of the resort, admire the views of Ayu-Dag, buy souvenirs or paintings by local artists.

Time to visit : ~15-20 minutes • cost : free.

Original gifts and souvenirs that can be brought from the Southern Coast of Crimea

Bay and Chekhov's dacha

Website: yalta-museum.ru Address : st. Chekhova, 22. Opening hours: from 10.00 to 18.00, days off: Monday, Tuesday. Ticket price with excursion service: 200 rubles, for pensioners, students, schoolchildren over 16 years old - 100 rubles.

The bay is located near the Gurzuf pier, between the Spyglass and Frog rocks. In 1900, Chekhov bought a plot of land here with a saklya for 3 thousand rubles, seduced by the beauty and solitude of these places. It was here that “The Lady with the Dog” and “The Cherry Orchard” were born from his pen. He also brought fertile soil here and planted plants, some of which are still preserved, for example, two bamboo bushes.

After the death of Anton Pavlovich, the dacha was inherited by his wife, O. L. Knipper-Chekhova. And after her death, the building, along with the adjacent territory, went to the Korovin House of Creativity. Since 1987, a small museum has been opened here, belonging to a branch of the Yalta White Dacha.

Embankments and parks

There are a couple of beautiful places in Gurzuf where you can take leisurely walks:

embankment;
beaches;
Nikitinsky Botanical Garden;
Gurzuf park.

Embankment

Place for walking
It is the most popular place in Gurzuf, where tourists love to walk during the day and in the evening.

The length of the embankment is 2 kilometers. It starts from the Pearl of the Sea sanatorium and ends near the port.
It is the pride of local residents due to its beauty, grooming and picturesqueness. The paths are made of marble tiles, which shimmer beautifully in the sun.
It is always full of people walking along the alleys, relaxing on benches or in coastal establishments from morning until late at night.
Along it there are cafes, restaurants, shops, and souvenir shops.
Those interested can go fishing from the shore or take a short sea voyage. To do this, you just have to approach any excursion ship.

There is always a good atmosphere here and there is music everywhere.

Beaches

City beach
According to vacationers, Gurzuf is primarily attractive for its beaches. The city and its surroundings are full of places where you can enjoy a comfortable beach holiday. All of them have a small or large pebble coating. Such diversity allows all tourists to choose a more suitable place for themselves.

Many people prefer to spend time on equipped beaches with all the necessary infrastructure (sunbeds, umbrellas, changing rooms, showers). These can be found near the embankment. Among them there are public and private, but the latter can also be visited for free. These include Priboi, Sharm, and Comet beaches.

The beaches, which are located in the center of the embankment, are clean and comfortable, but almost all of them belong to sanatoriums and boarding houses. If tourists are not their guests, they are unlikely to be able to get to the beaches. Some of them are allowed for an additional fee.

There are also tourists who prefer to spend time on uncrowded beaches located at a distance from the center. Such places can be found near Mount Ayu-Daga and Cape Martyan. There is no tourist infrastructure on the wild beaches, but they have very beautiful nature. The harder the road to the beach, the larger the pebbles on it. If this doesn’t scare you, then there is every chance to enjoy your vacation in complete solitude.

Nikitinsky Botanical Garden

Garden area
One of the most beautiful places in the resort is the botanical garden. Those who are not indifferent to flowers and everything beautiful will be able to buy a ticket and take a walk through the picturesque garden. The history of this place begins a couple of centuries ago.

Once here, you can see how well seemingly completely incompatible things are combined. Flowers and plants grow in one territory, which in their natural habitat can exist in completely different countries. Visitors will be able to stroll through the bamboo grove. A couple of hundred varieties of tulips are grown here. But to see all their beauty, you should come to Gurzuf at the end of spring.

Gurzuf Park

Monument to Pushkin
It was founded at the beginning of the 19th century by order of Duke Richelieu. More than 10 hectares of land are allocated for it near the sea and the city embankment. The territory of the park is divided into two parts by a river flowing here.

One area is perfect for walking in a calm environment.
On the second floor, a cinema was built, a large stage was installed, there are playgrounds and sports grounds, which allows vacationers to spend their time interestingly and usefully.

There are many beautiful plants planted in the park: pines, cypresses, laurels. An olive grove grows near the sea and produces a good harvest. Separately, it is worth mentioning the local fountains, of which there are a lot in the park. Each of them is unique and beautiful in its own way. There are also many beautiful statues and sculptures installed throughout the area. The most attractive fountain for tourists is the “Goddess of the Night” fountain.

Korovin's house

Address: st. Chekhova, house 1.

Korovin's house is a three-story building erected on the shores of the Gurzuf Bay in 1910-1912 in the constructivist style. The mansion served as a summer residence for the Russian artist and academician of painting K. A. Korovin. The famous paintings “Portrait of Chaliapin” and “Flower Market in Gurzuf” were created here, as well as his other paintings of sea and city landscapes.

In 1923, when Korovin emigrated to France, the estate came into the possession of the Art Foundation and became known as the House of Creativity. Korovina. Later, 2 buildings were completed. The 14 rooms still retain the spirit of the intelligentsia inherent in the early 20th century. This landmark of Gurzuf still displays reproductions of the artist, as well as his theatrical sketches and drawings.

Korovin's dacha

Upon returning from the boat trip, return to the embankment and move along it to the right until you reach the gate with monuments to Korovin and Chaliapin. This is the entrance to the territory of the former dacha of the artist Konstantin Korovin (later the Korovin House of Creativity, and now a boarding house). Here you can get acquainted with the history of this place, as well as have lunch - on the territory there is a panoramic cafe “Easel” with an excellent view of the Gurzuf Bay and the “Chaika” dining room in the spirit of the Soviet period.

Time to visit : ~15-45 minutes • cost : only food is paid.

Suuk-Su Palace

One of the first Gurzuf resorts, owned by the spouses V.I. Berezin and O.M. Solovyova. It was designed and built by architect N.P. Krasnov in the Renaissance style. the Gurzuf landmark was decorated with stucco, columns and figures. The interior was decorated in the spirit of the Moorish style: marble staircase, arches, wooden carvings and multi-colored mosaics on the walls, and the furniture was covered in satin.

After 1917, the palace was transferred to the party. In 1942, the building burned down; in the 50s of the 20th century, it began to be restored. In 1961, the House of Pioneers opened in the renovated palace. Now the premises are located on the territory of the Artek camp and are used to house museum exhibitions.

Gurzuf

Video: Gurzuf

Basic moments

The coast of Gurzuf from a bird's eye view.
The most modern hotels are located in the new part of the village, and in Old Gurzuf there are many colorful guest houses that are different from each other. A walk through the old buildings allows you to be transported to Crimea a hundred years ago. In addition, this part of the village is located closer to the beaches than New Gurzuf.

Gurzuf is located on the shore of a spacious bay into which several rivers flow. The largest of them is Avunda, flowing from the border of Nikitskaya and Gurzufskaya yayla. From the east, the bay is closed by the large Bear Mountain - Ayu-Dag, which juts far into the sea and protects Gurzuf Bay from strong winds. And from the west the bay is limited by Cape Martyan.

The entire resort village lies on the slopes of the mountains, at an altitude of about 60 m above sea level, so from the coast to the hotels you need to walk up 10-15 minutes. The popularity of Gurzuf as a holiday destination is very high. Tourists are not deterred by either the mountainous terrain or high prices. Holidays in a resort village cannot be called cheap. In terms of cost, a summer vacation in Gurzuf is second only to Yalta and Foros, but it costs much more than a vacation in Koktebel or Feodosia.

What is the reason for the attractiveness of this place? Gurzuf is considered one of the most environmentally friendly places on the Crimean Peninsula. There are no industrial productions here, so tourists enjoy clean air, silence, exotic greenery and excellent beaches.

Vacationers in Gurzuf can visit the Artek children's camp, explore the museums of the history of the camp and astronautics, as well as look into the Gurzuf Park, the Pushkin Museum and A.P. Chekhov's dacha. In the vicinity of the village there are beautiful double rocks - Adalary, the majestic Red Stone and Genoese Rock. Boat trips, climbing Mount Ayu-Dag and bus tours to the sights of the southern coast of Crimea are popular from Gurzuf.

Old Gurzuf

Adalara Rocks

Near the Gurzuf embankment

Dacha of A.P. ChekhovBuildings of the children's camp Artek

Climatic features

Thanks to the humid subtropical climate of the Mediterranean type, Gurzuf has the status of a climatic resort. People come here all year round, but the most comfortable period for relaxation and sanatorium treatment lasts from the first ten days of May to the last ten days of October. In July and August, resort life in the village is simply in full swing. During the day it can be quite hot +27...+28 °C, but constant coastal breezes and winds blowing from the mountains allow vacationers to feel comfortable.

It is very sunny in Gurzuf, the duration of sunshine per year is 2200-2400 hours. In the warm season there are no more than 8-12 cloudy days. The sea warms up early and is already quite suitable for swimming at the end of May. At the height of summer, the sea water temperature reaches +26...+27 °C, and no one wants to leave it. The last swimmers leave the beaches only at the end of October, when the pleasant velvet season ends.

Dawn over the Black Sea

History of the village of Gurzuf

The fact that the coast in the Gurzuf area was inhabited a very long time ago is evidenced by the finds of archaeologists who discovered Neolithic and Bronze Age sites near the sea, an ancient burial ground and traces of Tauri dwellings. From the 3rd century BC. e. to the 3rd century AD e. on the site of Gurzuf there was a developed ancient settlement, from which a slab with an inscription in ancient Greek has been preserved.

Sanatorium building of the Ministry of Defense

In 1475, the peninsula fell under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, and Gurzuf gradually fell into decay. It turned into a small village where the descendants of the Byzantine Greeks lived, and the Turks kept their military garrison in it. In 1778, the Tatars became the main population of Gurzuf, and at the end of the 18th century, when these lands were ceded to Russia, the village was inhabited by only 179 people.

Since the 1880s, Gurzuf developed as a resort where wealthy citizens vacationed. When Soviet power came, luxurious estates were nationalized and several state farms were created on their basis. In 1921, two sanatoriums opened here to provide treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis.

A new page in the history of the village opened in 1925 with the creation of the Artek children's pioneer camp-sanatorium near Ayu-Dag. After the war, buildings of the Ministry of Defense sanatorium were built in Gurzuf. Many new residential buildings appeared in the village, and the old territory was landscaped.

Beaches

The coastline in the area of Gurzuf and its immediate surroundings is divided into many small beaches. Some of them are free and open to everyone, while others can only be used by guests of sanatoriums and boarding houses. Some of the closed beaches can be accessed for a fee, while others can only be accessed with special passes. In any case, all vacationers find places for a beach holiday according to their taste and financial capabilities.

In terms of cleanliness and grooming, the beaches of the village are considered one of the best on the southern coast of Crimea. All beaches of Gurzuf are quite wide and have a gentle entrance into the water. Everywhere the coastline is covered with small pebbles. Most beach areas have everything necessary for a beach holiday - sun loungers, sun umbrellas, showers and changing rooms.

Central Beach

View of the coastal strip of Gurzuf from the slopes of Mount Ayu-Dag

The beautiful Gurzuf embankment stretches for a kilometer. It is lined with white marble and looks very lively during the summer tourist season. There are many cafes, restaurants and snack bars, as well as souvenir shops and shops selling resort goods. On the embankment there are equipment rental points and attractions for children and adults.

In many places, for the convenience of vacationers, wooden paths are laid to the water, and large shady canopies rise on the shore. Due to the excellent clean beaches, vacationers are in great demand for housing on the southern outskirts of Gurzuf, in the cozy village of Ai-Danil. Even further south lies the wild beach of Cape Martyan and a popular nudist beach. At the foot of Mount Ayu-Dag there is also a whole series of wild beaches where lovers of secluded recreation like to spend time.

In the center of the resort village there is a boat station that supplies all the beaches of Gurzuf with boats and water activities - water skiing and boarding, parachute rides behind the boat, as well as rental of hydro scooters. Near the boat station, on the pier you can meet divers and yachtsmen. Here it is easy to arrange a sea excursion and a sea fishing trip.

Beach of the Ai-Danil sanatorium

Sailing Evening boat trips

Gurzuf for active recreation

There are several dive centers on the embankment near the central pier of the resort village. Their instructors are ready to train beginners in a few hours and dive with them to the bottom of the Black Sea to a depth of 10 m. Those who want to receive an international certificate must undergo longer training at dive centers. There are several interesting dive sites near Gurzuf where you can go on a diving safari and do underwater video filming. Children's diving groups also operate in Gurzuf.

Fans of sea fishing can go to sea on speedboats and motorboats. All necessary equipment is provided by the organizers of such trips. In the Black Sea near Gurzuf horse mackerel and haddock are caught. And near the village of Krasnokamenka, located north of Gurzuf, they offer fishing in a local pond inhabited by grass carp, carp, carp and crucian carp.

Those who enjoy horseback riding will not be bored either. A small local horse farm keeps quiet horses and teaches horse riding to inexperienced riders. Horse riding routes run both through Gurzuf itself and its surroundings.

Fans of water tourism can try their hand at sea kayaking. Such trips are organized from Gurzuf to the Adalar rocks, to Ak-Tash Bay at the foot of Ayu-Dag, to the Pushkin Grotto, to the Azure Bay, as well as to the Genoese and Chaliapin rocks.

Traveling by sea by kayak

Horseback riding in the vicinity of the Gurzuf resort

Diving(Diving)

Excursions

People can go on boat trips along the Crimean coast from Gurzuf on motor boats, cutters and yachts. In addition, every day the Samantha Smith motor ship takes tourists from the pier to the open sea. During the journey, a professional guide tells passengers about everything they see on the shore.

The most beautiful natural attraction of Gurzuf is an ancient park, which is located on the territory of a military sanatorium. It was founded at the beginning of the 19th century by order of Duke Armand-Emmanuel de Richelieu, who at that time served as Governor-General of New Russia and Bessarabia. Today, the unique park covers an area of 12 hectares and is home to 110 species of trees and shrubs. Olives and palm trees, laurels and bananas feel at ease under the warm Crimean sun.

Gurzuf Park is famous not only for its exotic plants. You can see many old sculptures and unusual fountains here. Near the southern entrance there is an alley of busts of celebrities who have ever visited Gurzuf. Busts of the singer Fyodor Chaliapin, poets Alexander Pushkin, Adam Mickiewicz and Vladimir Mayakovsky, as well as writers Anton Chekhov and Maxim Gorky are exhibited here. During the day, only vacationers of the sanatorium are allowed into the park. But twice a day, at 11.00 and 16.00, excursions are held around the natural attraction for everyone.

Shady alleys of Gurzuf ParkFountain in the park on the territory of the sanatorium of the Ministry of Defense

From the resort village, walking tours through the picturesque surroundings are popular. From Gurzuf you can go to the Red Stone rock. For about half a century, the picturesque hill has the status of a natural and geological monument. It is made of marble-like limestone of pink-yellow color. At the foot of the cliff there is a beautiful lake and grapes are grown.

While vacationing in Gurzuf, you can go on bus tours to the Nikitsky Botanical Garden, to the royal palace in Livadia, to the former capital of the Crimean Khanate - the city of Bakhchisarai, the Valley of Ghosts under Mount Demerdzhi, the Grand Canyon of Crimea, Mount Ai-Petri and the winery in Massandra.

Walking tour along Ayu-Dag

Many people climb the green mountain, which looks like a bear lying near the sea. This journey from Gurzuf is not very difficult and takes half a day. It can be done independently or accompanied by a guide.

Bear Mountain is composed of igneous rocks - ghabro-diabases, which is not at all typical for the Crimean mountains. And its top is overgrown with green sessile oaks. It is noteworthy that the age of individual trees ranges from 500 to 800 years.

In addition to natural attractions, the mountain has preserved many archaeological sites. On its slopes, flint tools of primitive people and the remains of a Tauri settlement were found. In the 8th century, a Christian monastery was built on Ayu-Dag, which existed here until the 15th century.

Cape Ayu-Daga from the sea

Rocks at the foot of Mount Ayu-Dag

Museums

Any city can envy Gurzuf’s museum collections. At the end of the summer of 1820, Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin lived in the village with the family of General Raevsky. The poet's museum is located in the “castle in the air” - the first European building on the southern coast of Crimea (Naberezhnaya St., 1). The exhibition is distributed across six halls and tells about the Crimean period in Pushkin’s life. Here you can see authentic lifetime publications, as well as items from the early 19th century. The Pushkin Museum is open from 10.00 to 18.00 and welcomes guests seven days a week from May to October. At other times of the year it is closed on Mondays.

Monument to A. S. Pushkin in Gurzuf

A visit to Anton Pavlovich Chekhov’s dacha, which has been turned into an interesting memorial museum, leaves a very pleasant impression. The writer purchased a small house in Gurzuf in 1900. He really liked the location of the dacha and the rocky bay on the seashore. Here Chekhov rested, admired the coast and fished. The writer's relatives came to the dacha. After the death of A.P. Chekhov in 1904, his widow O.L. Knipper became the owner of the house. The writer's house-museum in Gurzuf is open from April to November from 9.00 to 18.00, except Monday and Tuesday.

On the territory of the nursery, in the architectural monument of the beginning of the last century - the Suuk-Su Palace - there are two museums: the history of the camp and the history of astronautics.

Where to stay

The resort history of Gurzuf lasts almost a century and a half, so good traditions of receiving guests have long been formed here. Even at the height of the summer season, there are no problems with rental housing or hotels in the village. Most of the Gurzuf hotels offer standard rooms with amenities at a price of about 2,000 rubles per day.

The first line near the beaches is occupied by large sanatoriums, boarding houses and children's camps, where accommodation is not cheap. The remaining hotels and guest houses are located on a hill, away from the sea, and you have to walk from them to the beaches. However, housing on a hill also has its advantages. From here you have an excellent view of the coast, there is always fresh air at the top, and the distance from entertainment centers guarantees calm, quiet evenings.

Those who have been vacationing in Gurzuf for many years prefer to settle in the old part of the village. Old Gurzuf has a charming atmosphere. There are many beautiful cobbled streets and the buildings have unique architecture.

Hotel in Gurzuf

Swimming pool in a guest house in Gurzuf

Private guest houses are scattered throughout the village. They are very different. Some of the owners have built a modern villa with balconies, while others continue to rent out rooms in their grandmother’s old house. Housing prices also depend on the newness, location and range of services. You can rent a room in a guest house for 1500-1600 rubles per day. Cheaper options are offered in the private sector of Gurzuf with minimal amenities. These are small rooms with furniture in houses without air conditioning with toilets on the floor.

How to get there

The nearest airport to Gurzuf is in the capital of Crimea - Simferopol (83 km). Airplanes from many Russian cities fly to this city. From the airport to the resort village you can get by taxi, trolleybus No. 55 and all buses heading towards Yalta or Sevastopol. In this case, to get to the streets of Gurzuf you will need to go down from the main highway - the so-called “turn to Gurzuf”.

The second option: come from Simferopol airport by bus, minibus or trolleybus to the city center, to bus station-2 “Kurortnaya” near the railway station. From there there are direct buses to Gurzuf every half hour, which reach the resort village in 1.5-2 hours.

Coastal hotels in Gurzuf

People also come to Gurzuf using the “Single Ticket” of Russian Railways from the territory of Russia. First, tourists travel by train to Krasnodar or Anapa, then transfer to a bus and take it through the Kerch ferry to the territory of Crimea. “Single tickets” to Gurzuf itself are not sold, but you can buy a ticket to Yalta and from the Yalta bus station get to the resort village on suburban buses No. 106 or No. 31B. Bus number 106 arrives in the upper part of Gurzuf, and bus number 31B stops closer to the beaches.

There is an intercity trolleybus line near Gurzuf, so it is easy to get to the resort village by trolleybus from Simferopol or Yalta.

Holy Assumption Cathedral

Address: Proletarskaya street, building 1.

The five-domed temple in Gurzuf is located near the entrance of the children's health camp "Cypress". Its history began in 1887, when the foundation stone of an Orthodox cathedral was laid on the embankment. So, in 1890, a new temple appeared in Gurzuf, designed in the Greek-Byzantine style by the Moscow architect M. N. Chichagov. In 1935, the cathedral was completely destroyed, and in its place one of the buildings of a military sanatorium appeared.

Only after many years did local residents manage to obtain a new plot of land from the authorities in order to restore the destroyed shrine there. In 2004, construction of the temple began, and already in 2007, the new Holy Assumption Cathedral was consecrated and open to the public.

Assumption Church and Mount Balgatura

From “Chekhov’s dacha” go back the same way, just turn right into the alley and up the steps, past the “Sommelier” cafe (not bad by the way, you can stop by if you want) and go up to Leningradskaya Street.

This is a very atmospheric and photogenic, cobblestone pedestrian street of Gurzuf with many shops and practicing street artists:

We suggest following it to the right, to our next attraction in Gurzuf - the active Assumption Church, if you are interested in religions and architecture.

And a 15-20 minute walk from the church is the highest point of the village - Mount Balgatura. You'll have to walk up the hill, but we highly recommend climbing it anyway - from the observation deck at its top you can see magnificent views of the sea, mountains and roofs of Gurzuf.

We recommend : unusual excursions around Yalta

Well, on the way back you can capture a little of the atmosphere of the village: its streets in the center. From Balgatura go down Orekhovaya Street, then Podvoisky Street. At the junction of Podvoisky, Svoboda and Vagul streets there are a lot of close, photogenic places. Well, going down, you will inevitably come out onto the pedestrian part of Leningradskaya Street that we have already mentioned.

Moving along it to the right, you will come to the Gurzuf “patch” near the fountain - the busiest part of Gurzuf, where a lot of cafes and restaurants, shops and pharmacies, burger joints and coffee shops are concentrated, where young people hang out and street musicians and artists create:

Time to visit : ~1.5-2 hours • cost : if desired, pay only for souvenirs, cuisine, wine or coffee.

Useful information: what to do in Yalta during rain

Gurzuf Park

A unique park, a monument of landscape art, which appeared in 1803 by order of the Duke of Richelieu on a seaside cliff.

At the moment, its area is 12 hectares, and there are more than 110 species of a wide variety of ornamental plants: from trees to shrubs. Along the perimeter of the park there are sculptural busts of Gorky, Pushkin, Chaliapin, Chekhov and other artists. There are also famous fountains made in the 19th century - “Night” and “Rachel”.

Fountain Goddess of the Night - the flowing splendor of the city

Address: Leningradskaya street.

This sculpture was purchased especially for the Gurzuf Park in 1889 at the Vienna exhibition by the famous entrepreneur P.I. Gubonin. The naked goddess Nikta with a torch in her hands is located in the center of the composition, with the gods of love and sleep Eros and Hypnos on the sides. Under the feet of the deity a starry firmament with images of the signs of the zodiac is revealed. The entire structure is held by Atlanteans with fish in their hands, from whose mouths jets of water flow. At night, the fountain is illuminated.

Rock Red Stone

Located near the village of Krasnokamenka. The rock got its name due to its unusual appearance - it has a pinkish-yellow hue due to the high content of marble-like limestone. For this reason, the Crimeans nicknamed her “Kyzyl-Tash”, which translated into Russian means “Red Stone”.

Since the Stone Age, this place has served as a stronghold for people. In the Middle Ages, the first patrol fortifications appeared here. The ruins of the Genoese fort that remained on the territory of Kyzyl-Tash have survived to this day.

In 1969, this landmark of Gurzuf was given the status of a natural monument, and a fortified area of 120 by 50 meters was built for tourists.

Ayu-Dag - antiquity come to life in the photo

Coordinates: 44.558079, 34.334185.

Ayu-Dag is the most famous extinct volcano on the Crimean peninsula. The sights of Gurzuf are more than 150 million years old. It is often called Bear Mountain because of its peculiar shape, reminiscent of a huge animal drinking sea water. The entire hill is covered with dense forests; centuries-old trees and rare plants from the Red Book are found here.

Chaliapin's Rock (Sultanka)

In 1916, Fyodor Ivanovich Chaliapin, a Russian opera and chamber singer, often visited his friend, artist K. Korovin, in Gurzuf. He was captivated by the beauty of the village and its surroundings, so he decided to build his castle of arts here. For these purposes, he liked the rock, which at that time was called Pushkin Rock or Sultanka Rock. The owner of this land, Olga Mikhailovna Solovyova, sold it to Chaliapin for just 1 ruble, captivated by Fyodor Ivanovich’s singing.

Architect I. A. Fomin completed the plan for the singer's future castle on the rock, but they were unable to build it due to the 1917 revolution. Now this place is called Chaliapin’s Rock by local residents, and its territory belongs to the Lazurny children’s camp.

Museums

There are not many museums in the city, but those that exist certainly deserve attention:

Pushkin museum;
Chekhov's house-museum.

Pushkin museum

Exhibits in the museum
At the beginning of the 19th century, the famous Duke Richelieu, being not the last person in political and government affairs, decided to buy a plot of land in Gurzuf, where a building with unusual architecture was later erected. Despite the fact that this building belonged to him, he himself had only been here a couple of times. The rest of the time, visiting guests rested there.

In 1820, Pushkin stayed here. Here he lived for about a month. Today everyone can come to this building, where the legendary poet once temporarily lived.

Now there is a museum dedicated to Pushkin. In total, the museum has 6 rooms, each of which contains certain exhibits that introduce the poet’s life in Crimea, as well as the works he wrote, which were inspired by the environment around him.

Chekhov House-Museum

Location of Chekhov's house
The happy days of another equally famous writer, Chekhov, also passed in this city. At the end of the 19th century, he moved to Yalta, but the life of this city, with its haste and fussiness, did not quite suit his taste. In his last years, he wanted to spend time in a calm and quiet environment, so he decided to move to Gurzuf.

The city was able to meet Chekhov's expectations and gave him the desired silence. It is located on the coast of a picturesque secluded bay, where the writer most loved to spend time.

At the end of the last century, restoration work was carried out in this house, after which it regained its former appearance. A branch of the Chekhov Museum in Yalta was located here. Today, every tourist who is not indifferent to the writer’s work can get acquainted with copies of his sketches, manuscripts, photographs, and see rare works of past times.

Dzhenevez-Kaya rock and Gorzuvita fortress

In the 6th century, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I ordered the construction of fortifications in these places, which were later named Aluston and Gorzuvita. They were supposed to protect the Byzantines from barbarian attacks. Gorzuvita served as a defense for the sea and land routes near Gurzuf Bay on the Dzhenevez-Kaya rock.

The fortress fit into the natural terrain: the tops of the rock were used as towers, and the cliffs as foundations for fortifications.

Until the 15th century, Gorzuvita changed owners several times. The strategic object was captured at different times by the Theodorians, Khazars, Turks and Genoese. Only the remains of the structure have survived to this day. These include the foundations of internal buildings and part of the defensive perimeter with gates. The former fortress is now located on the territory of the Artek children's camp.

What's next

This concludes our one-day independent review of Gurzuf . But only one day! And if you plan to spend your entire vacation in the village or you want to stay here for a couple more days, we can offer a lot more options for what to do here;) For example,

Climb to the “Gazebo of the Winds” , located at an altitude of 1423 meters, on the very edge of the “Falcon Rock” of Shagan-Kai. A very spectacular, romantic place with gorgeous views. You can find out details, prices and arrange a trip from travel agents who are in the center of Gurzuf at every turn;
Take a look at the largest museum of magnets in Russia;
Go on an excursion to the Artek camp , which has changed beyond recognition with the return of Crimea to Russia. In addition to the infrastructure of the most desirable children's camp, on its vast territory there are a lot of natural and architectural attractions that cannot be reached without an excursion (for example, Pushkin Rock, Suuk-Su Palace, Dzhenevez-Kaya rock, etc.);
Climb to the top of the bear-mountain Ayu-Dag on your own along a simple route, which we described in detail;
Visit the White Gallery of contemporary art , where you can not only admire the magnificent works of current authors, but also, if you wish, purchase them;
Scuba dive under the supervision of experienced staff of the diving center located near the Gurzuf pier;
Take a ride on a pleasure boat to the beautiful Yalta , which is located just a few kilometers from the village;
Tour the magnificent palaces of the southern coast of Crimea and take a photo at the Swallow's Nest castle, plunge into the atmosphere and history of cool wine cellars, climb Mount Ai-Petri and much, much more, which we carefully describe on our website.

You can choose the best accommodation options in Gurzuf yourself, either on our website (for hotels and hostels, put the filter “show only Gurzuf”), or on Booking or Daily.

We are sure that this material will help you spend your time in Gurzuf rich and interesting. See you in Crimea!

thank you Updated • Correct or add

Gazebo of the winds

5 km from the village, on the top of Mount Shagan-Kaya, there is a gazebo of winds. Its height above sea level is 1545 meters. Wind gusts here reach 40-45 m/s, but durable structures allow them to withstand extreme climatic conditions. According to legend, the gazebo was built just a few days before N.S. Khrushchev’s arrival in Yalta in 1956.

The building is a marble colonnade of 8 columns 5.5 meters high, which are topped with a dome, and a spire is installed on the cornice. The floor is decorated with multi-colored marble and depicts the Compass Rose diagram.

Best hotels of Gurzuf

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Rest in Gurzuf

Hotels in Gurzuf are remembered by many celebrities. In particular, these are famous writers, public figures, doctors and musicians. Gorky, Mayakovsky, Chaliapin, Lesya Ukrainka, Botkin, Pushkin are just a small number of famous personalities who visited the beautiful village. Relaxing here, you feel joy and tranquility. Gurzuf in the photo is, first of all, the famous “Bear Mountain” or “Ayu-Dag”. The once raging volcano, at the dawn of the formation of the peninsula, produced a huge release of magmatic sulfur, which not only created a natural masterpiece of architecture, but also significantly mineralized the soil. Some of the best grape varieties in Crimea grow in the Gurzuf Valley, in particular the famous “White Muscat” from which “Red Stone White Muscat” is made, the pride of Crimean winemaking.

Gurzuf is everything: enchanting mountains, favorable climate, delicious wine, clean water area, pebble beaches and of course nature. The famous Gurzuf Park, one of the oldest in Crimea, is famous for its vegetation and perennial trees, which have seen many eras and people who can tell you the secrets of the Crimean Peninsula.

Gurzufskaya embankment

The renovated embankment in Gurzuf is the real pride of the Crimean resort. Lined with snow-white marble, sparkling and shimmering in the sun, it becomes a point of attraction for all tourists and even aborigines without exception. It’s a pleasure to slowly walk along it, clicking your heels loudly and sorting through traditional trinkets in the souvenir tents.

Restaurants, discos, children's playgrounds and attractions, living statues, music, sun - Gurzufskaya embankment generously shares all this.