Maykop differs from other Russian cities with its unique street layout. The map of the capital of Adygea resembles a squared notebook. This city is one of the greenest in the country - there are many parks and green spaces.
Maikop has a favorable, mild climate - not cold in winter, not hot in summer. The surrounding area offers interesting natural sites such as the Ammonite Valley and the Rufabgo Creek waterfalls. Mountains, caves and rivers attract lovers of mountaineering, rafting and paragliding.
- Maykop is the capital of Adygea, which is famous for its amazing nature. Where you can go from Maykop and what to see - in our guide to the republic.
- From Maykop it is convenient to get to numerous Caucasian resorts. From here you can go to Krasnodar (sightseeing) 120 kilometers away, you can get to the coast in Tuapse (140 km).
For ease of route planning, we have marked all the mentioned attractions on the city map:
National Museum of Adygea
This is one of the oldest historical and ethnographic museums in the Caucasus and throughout the Adyghe Republic. It was founded in 1926 in Krasnodar, and moved to Maykop 10 years later. The museum contains unique exhibits telling about the history, flora and fauna of Adygea and Maykop. Rich ethnographic material is represented by stuffed birds, shells, corals, stars, clothing, shoes, utensils, tools, including those of primitive people of the Bronze Age.
You can learn about the traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Circassians while visiting specialized exhibitions. The museum's collections are constantly being replenished with new items, for example, musical instruments, coins, porcelain items, coins, and archaeological exhibits.
Location: Sovetskaya street - 229.
City Park of Culture and Recreation
It was located on one of the banks of the Belaya River back in 1866, when army soldiers decided to slightly improve the urban space of Maykop. Later, plants and trees were planted here, and areas for recreation and walking were created. On the central alley of the park there are busts and monuments dedicated to famous people from Maykop.
There is also a beautiful fountain that sings. Around it there are stands with battle scenes and battles. For vacationers there are numerous cafes, attractions, and a swimming pool.
Location: Pushkin street - 278.
Maikopskaya GRES
Not far from the city of Maykop, on the Belaya River, there is the Maykop hydroelectric power station. It was launched in 1950.
It is interesting that this non-tourist site attracts the attention of tourists. In fact, this is an artificial waterfall of incredible power and beauty. You can only understand the enormous power of water here enclosed by man in stone by seeing it with your own eyes.
It was recently reconstructed in order to improve the ecology of the water area.
Friendship Square
This is a memorial complex opened at the end of December 1968, as a memory of the 400th anniversary of the union of Adygea and Russia. Before the revolution, the square was called Drovyanaya, and was one of the centers of the White Guard uprising in 1918. After the Red Army troops defeated the rebels, Soviet power was established in the city, and the name of the square lasted for several more decades.
Location: Sovetskaya street.
The best monuments of Maykop
Monument "Unity and Harmony"
Rating: 5.0
Photo: ALDOR46, CC BY-SA 4.0
The first position in the ranking of memorable sights of Maykop is occupied by a monument called “Unity and Harmony”. The opening of a unique republican heritage site took place in 2013, making it one of the youngest in the entire region. This twenty-meter building is stylized as a traditional hearth for the inhabitants of Adygea.
The facade of the structure exceeds an area of 100 square meters and is additionally decorated with high reliefs in local national traditions. Classical and ethnic images of mythological scenes and portraits of cultural figures and a number of historical figures are painted on the walls. Against the background of this pedestal, you can take many photographs that will be remembered by all tourists for a long time.
Monument “Forever with Russia”
Rating: 4.9
Another important work of sculptors in Maykop is the monumental composition “Forever with Russia”. This attraction was opened in honor of 4 centuries since Adygea became part of the Empire. The memorial composition was founded in 1968, and its main part is a large white wall almost 25 meters high. It consists of several segments.
The top of the monumental landmark is occupied by an inscription containing the numbers 1557-1957. And at the base there are statues of several warriors, Russian and Adyghe, who look in one direction. The composition is a symbol of friendship between nations, regardless of circumstances.
Cathedral Mosque
The domes and minarets of the mosque are visible from different parts of the city. The image of the mosque can be found on postcards and postage stamps, which indicates the significant role of the Cathedral Mosque in Maykop. It was built in 2000 with funds allocated by an Arab sheikh. Construction lasted almost a year and a half, and in such a short period of time a real masterpiece was created. The mosque is decorated with blue domes and four minarets.
Tourists are allowed to enter the shrine, but to do this they need to take off their shoes and leave them near the threshold.
Train Station
The starting point for exploring the city is the Railway Station building, which has become a decoration of the station square since 1910. The main entrance is distinguished by a portico with 4 columns, culminating in pointed arches. The facade facing the square on both sides of the main entrance is built in the form of arched lancet-shaped galleries mounted on rounded columns with capitals. The building was created in the Moorish architectural style and decor.
Kurgan Oshad
The territory of modern Maykop was inhabited in the early Bronze Age. Evidence of this is the large Oshad mound. There are numerous legends about its origin, telling different stories about how the mound appeared in the valley. Excavations in the area first began in the late 19th century, revealing artifacts dating back to 2500 BC. Below were found a cromlech, a burial pit.
The mound is conventionally divided into three parts, which are separated by partitions. In the burial chambers, historians found tools, beads, tools, utensils, and inventory. All items were sent to the Hermitage, and a stone slab was placed on the site of the excavated mound, the height of which reached 11 meters. It is carved with various symbols dating back to the Bronze Age. The installation of the stele took place in the early 1970s.
Art Gallery
Unique works of contemporary art, graphics, painting, and sculpture are collected here. The total number of exhibits is 1.3 thousand , and the funds are constantly replenished with new items.
The art gallery contains a complete collection of graphic artists who work in Adygea and outside the republic.
Location: Krasnooktyabrskaya street - 27.
Memorial to the soldiers of the 131st motorized rifle brigade
The servicemen of this military unit were shot in the city of Grozny in 1995. To perpetuate their memory and military merits, the Maykop authorities decided to build a memorial complex at the southern exit of the city. It includes a monument, the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, and the Alley of those killed in Afghanistan.
Location: southern outskirts of the city.
Rating of the best attractions of Maykop
| Nomination | place | Name | Rating |
| The best architectural sights of Maykop | 1 | Meot Fortress | 5.0 |
| 2 | Brewery | 4.9 | |
| 3 | Zinkovetsky's mansion | 4.8 | |
| The best natural attractions of Maykop | 1 | Central Park | 5.0 |
| 2 | Khadzhokh Gorge | 4.9 | |
| 3 | City pool | 4.8 | |
| The best religious attractions of Maykop | 1 | Mikhailo-Athos Heath | 5.0 |
| 2 | Cathedral Mosque of Maykop | 4.9 | |
| 3 | Holy Trinity Cathedral | 4.8 | |
| 4 | Resurrection Church | 4.7 | |
| The best cultural attractions of Maykop | 1 | National Museum of Adygea | 5.0 |
| 2 | Maykop Gallery | 4.9 | |
| 3 | National Republican Theater | 4.8 | |
| 4 | Drama Theater named after Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin | 4.7 | |
| 5 | Philharmonic Society of Adygea | 4.6 | |
| The best monuments of Maykop | 1 | Monument "Unity and Harmony" | 5.0 |
| 2 | Monument “Forever with Russia” | 4.9 | |
| 3 | Memorial to War Heroes | 4.8 | |
| 4 | Kurgan Oshad | 4.7 | |
| 5 | Monument to Nicholas the Wonderworker | 4.6 |
Memorial in memory of the heroes of the Civil War and World War II
The first part of the memorial complex was erected in Maykop in 1927 to honor the memory of the victims who fell at the hands of the White Guards. Forty years later, an eternal flame appeared in the memorial in memory of those killed during the Great Patriotic War. Next to the monument and the fire is military equipment from the Second World War.
Location: Promyshlennaya street.
Adygs or Adygeis?
There is a fundamental difference between these two concepts. All Adyghe are Adyghe, but not all Adyghe are Adyghe.
Adyghe are a group of peoples speaking Adyghe languages, which includes Adyghe, Kabardians, Circassians and Shapsugs. The number of Circassians is about 3.5 million people. About 720 thousand live in Russia, most of them - almost 500 thousand - live in Kabardino-Balkaria. 1.5 million Circassians live in Turkey, and Circassians also live in Jordan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and other countries.
Adygeis are residents of the Republic of Adygea who have Adyghe nationality.
Monument to Kabardian public figure and poet Shora Nogmov in Maykop
Local markets
The bazaars of Maykop are distinguished by their bright oriental flavor, so visiting them will bring a lot of pleasure to guests of the city. There are four large markets in Maykop - Western, Eastern, Central, in the CDC, as well as several smaller and local ones. Here you can buy fruits and vegetables, in particular melons, as well as oriental sweets, beautiful jewelry, traditional homespun carpets, and hand-painted pottery.
Villages and villages
Maykop is located in a picturesque valley surrounded by mountains, greenery and rivers. Therefore, tourists, having arrived here, are obliged to travel around the surrounding area. Towns, villages, villages are surrounded by greenery, looking organically against the backdrop of the nature of the Caucasus.
Among the villages that need to be visited, it is worth noting Guzerville, Yarovaya Polyana, Pobeda, as well as the village of Dakhovskaya. A visit to them will allow you to get closer to the traditional crafts, culture and customs of the residents of Maykop.
Neighborhood
Valley of the Ammonites
Address: between the village. Komennomostsky and the village of Abadzekhskaya
You can get there:
- by car (on the A159 highway);
- by bus from Maykop to the village of Kamennomostsky (the distance from Maykop to the valley is 30 km). From the village - 3 - 7 km on foot.
The Ammonite Valley is an area with shells of cephalopods that went extinct millions of years ago.
The name of the valley comes from the ancient Egyptian god Amun, who had large, curling horns that looked like clam shells.
Some fossils show the relief of spiral shells. The diameter of the shells is from 10 to 20 mm. The largest number of ammonites can be found along the Belaya River (between the village of Tulsky and the Khadzhokh Gorge). It is recommended to start exploring the valley from the bridge over the Belaya River.
The most valuable finds of the ammonite valley are in the “Rock Garden” (Valley Museum). All roads from Maykop to Kamennomostsky pass through this museum. It is not difficult to notice - the building is painted pink.
It is recommended to set aside a whole day to visit the Valley of Ammonites.
Rufabgo stream waterfalls
Address: 3 km from the village of Kamennomostsky Cost : 400 rubles (adult), 200 rubles (children) To get to the waterfalls , you need to drive from Kamennomostsky towards the Lago-Naki plateau until the sign “Rufabgo Waterfalls”. You can leave your car in the free parking lot near the ticket office.
According to one version, the stream is named after an evil giant who lived in these places in ancient times and brought a lot of trouble to the residents of nearby villages. Rufabgo annually took the most beautiful girl in the area and tribute in the form of food and livestock. One day, the brave young man Khadzhokh (the village was named after him) did not want to give up his beloved and decided to defeat the villain. He learned that the giant's chest must be cut with a sword, his heart must be torn out and thrown so far away that no one will find it. The young man did just that. The fallen heart turned into stone, and in this place a waterfall formed, called the “Heart of a Giant.”
In total, there are more than 10 waterfalls on the Rufabgo stream, but only 6 of them can be seen. You can get to the waterfalls for free by moving along the river. However, by purchasing a ticket, you can see the “3 Brothers” waterfall, and also appreciate the beauty of the others from a different angle. Behind the “3 Brothers” waterfall there is a clearing with gazebos, attractions, cafes, and souvenir shops.
Moving along the excursion route, you can visit the Skvoznaya cave, in which, according to legend, the giant Rufabgo lived.
Lagonaki Plateau
When going to the mountains, you should definitely visit this mountainous area, located between the Stone Sea ridge and Mount Abadzesh. The plateau is covered with magnificent alpine meadows and plants, most of which are medicinal. From the Lagonaki plateau you can see the snow-capped mountain peaks.
Nearby there are the most beautiful natural sites - the Great Azish Cave, the valley and the Zhelob cave, Mount Abadzesh, many underground grottoes and stone labyrinths.
St. Michael's Monastery
At the very foot of Mount Fiziabgo there is a beautiful monastery of St. Michael, which is a decoration of the local mountains. Local residents believe that this is a blessed place. The uniqueness of the monastery is that it has an underground chapel, many cells where monks and pilgrims pray. On the territory of the monastery there is a spring, the water from which is considered healing. There is a belief that if you drink water, your entire body will be filled with new energy.
Location: Pobeda village, Rodnikovaya street - 5.
The best religious attractions of Maykop
Mikhailo-Athos Heath
Rating: 5.0
Photo: MakAV86, CC BY-SA 3.0
The main religious attraction of Maykop is the Mikhailo-Athos Heath, the highest located monastery in the Russian Federation. Its history is extremely interesting and long, and at the moment it is almost 1000 years old. Back in the 9th century AD, hermit monks from Byzantium began to settle in this territory, who created a whole labyrinth.
The monastery was founded by Hieromonk Martyriy, who was born in Kherson and heard that the Cossacks wanted a place for pilgrimage not far from their borders. And the monastery itself appeared only after a long construction in 1878, when 5 churches and a hospital were erected. The dominant feature is the Transfiguration Cathedral. However, the monastery was blown up during the Soviet era, and restoration began only in 2003.
Mount Fisht
Since ancient times, other names of the mountain have been preserved, which locals call White or Gray-haired. Most likely, this is due to the fact that the top of Fisht is constantly covered with snow. The height of the mountain is 2,587 meters. This is a center for rock climbing, mountaineering, and lovers of extreme recreation. The mountain has underground grottoes and caves, where speleologists and scientists like to go down to study the underground world.
Description
Maykop is one of the most vibrant cities in the Northwestern Caucasus. It can be compared to a sparkling emerald. This is probably one of the greenest cities in the country. People come here to stroll in parks and squares, and to explore local architectural attractions, of which the local population is rightfully proud. There are a lot of them here.
Just look at the gymnasium building built in 1903, the malting shop of a 19th-century brewery, the Kaplanov apartment building, and the Altshuler pharmacy building. This is interesting: translated “Maikop” means “valley of apple trees.”
But for a long time the city of Maykop was famous for its balneological health resorts. The Adyghe Republican Balneological Hospital is still considered one of the best in the world. More than 20 types of baths, a lot of different procedures, excellent specialists - this is what awaits a tourist who comes here on vacation.
Fans of ancient cities will be interested in an article about the sights of Tver.
Biosphere Reserve
This is a territory of unique ecosystems, glacial landscapes, and impenetrable forests. In order to preserve the ancient flora and fauna that formed several thousand years ago, the Caucasian Biosphere Reserve was created. Its area is 280 thousand hectares . There are a wide variety of excursions to these places - thematic, one-day and multi-day, sightseeing. Helicopter rides are popular, allowing you to see all the beauty of the reserve from a bird's eye view.
