Report on a trip by car from Stavropol to Adygea - to the city of Maykop and to the Rufabgo waterfalls. Photos, impressions and prices.
Preface
Exploring the beauty of our vast homeland, I visited its most diverse and remote corners. I myself live in the south of the country, so all nearby attractions, including seaside resorts, have been studied up and down. But many people don’t know that the south is not only the sea. The south of Russia is also the mountainous Caucasus, and this year I decided to explore the nature and landscapes of the mountainous area, and therefore went to Adygea.
I was inspired to travel by reviews from friends and acquaintances about the majestic mountains, caves and waterfalls of Adygea. Since this is practically a neighboring region to Stavropol, I figured offhand that the journey would not be long. Despite this, it was decided in advance on the website to calculate the mileage and the amount of fuel that will be spent on the road. I decided to stay in the capital of Adygea - Maykop, so I pre-booked a room on Booking.com in one of the best hotels in the city (according to reviews) - "Bibe".
Travel and accommodation
Having calculated the route and gas consumption in advance, I filled up the tank for 500 rubles and found a travel companion through, who paid me these 500 rubles. As a result, traveling is not boring, and money is saved. I planned my trip for two days, from June 21 to 23. I didn’t know exactly how much I would have to travel around the area, so I took 5 thousand rubles in reserve for the road and any problems related to the car.
On June 21 at 9 am I left Stavropol with my companion. It was a weekday, so the track was almost empty. As planned, we arrived in 4 and a half hours. On the way, we stopped for a snack in Armavir, just halfway to Maykop. Several times we were stopped by traffic police officers to check our documents. The largest checkpoint is located on the border of the Stavropol Territory and the Krasnodar Territory, it definitely cannot be avoided, and the second time we encountered law enforcement officers was already on the border of the Krasnodar Territory and Adygea. Fortunately, no violations were noticed by us, so there were no problems. We arrived at the place at half past two in the afternoon, I drove my fellow traveler to the desired address, and I myself went to the booked hotel.
Hotel "Biba" in the building of the Maykop brewery
"Biba" is located in an old pre-revolutionary brewery building, which is still in operation and produces the famous Maikop beer, known far beyond the borders of Adygea. On the territory of the hotel, in addition to the plant, there is a patio under an open roof and a beer restaurant "1882", where you can try freshly brewed beer and signature snacks.
I usually spend my money quite sparingly when traveling, but this time I decided to allow myself a little luxury - I booked a luxurious room at Biba for 3,900 rubles per night in European style and with a huge double bed. Although it is called “standard”, any “suite” can give a head start: spacious, like an entire apartment, equipped with everything necessary, including a refrigerator, hairdryer, bathrobe, wine glasses and other pleasant and necessary items. Meals were paid separately, you could even order breakfast in your room, but I preferred to explore local cafes, restaurants and canteens, so I refused the buffet at Biba.
Maykop city
Leaving the car in the internal hotel parking lot and unloading my things, I began to explore the map of the city of Maykop and the sights of Adygea. First, I had to have lunch; the choice fell on the Sicily pizzeria, which was located a 15-minute walk from the hotel. The interior of the cafe is made in pastel colors.
Upon entering they greeted me and immediately brought me a menu. I ordered a couple of slices of the small Farmer's Pizza and a raspberry milkshake, which was served not in a regular tall glass, but in a glass jar with a handle. The pizza was fresh, soft and juicy. I was satisfied with lunch and the service, the prices were also pleasant: the entire order cost approximately 400 rubles (a slice of pizza: 90 rubles, 250 ml of cocktail: 160 rubles + tip).
Maykop city park, top view
On the day of arrival, I decided to explore the city a little, so during lunch I began to monitor the Internet for attractions in the city of Maykop. I was in the very center, so first I decided to visit the city park and look at the mosque. IN big park there is a beautiful fountain with multi-colored illuminated jets, there is also an amusement park and a city swimming pool.
Entrance to Maykop City Park
Fountain in Maykop city park
A few years ago there were several pools here:
- adult: the largest, deepest and only one now;
- sports: with lane markings for swimmers;
- children's: medium in size and relatively shallow.
However, the last two are overgrown with reeds and even small trees at the bottom. It is obvious that they have not been filled in for a long time. But the large pool looks very well maintained, the water is constantly updated due to four fountains, which are evenly located in the center of the pool.
City pool
Alleys of the city park
There is a sandy beach nearby and sun loungers are available for rent. There is also a beach volleyball court and a small sports town nearby.
In general, there are all conditions for physical activity here, which certainly pleased me. I didn’t go swimming, I wandered around the neat alleys for a while and went to Friendship Square, where the next attraction of the city was located - the mosque.
The square got its name because of the monument located on it - a Russian hero and an Adyghe nart (the same as a warrior) stand shoulder to shoulder and symbolize the friendship of peoples.
Monument "Friendship"
There is a fountain under this monument, and opposite it is a mosque with blue domes. In the morning and evening, the mullah’s singing can be heard throughout the city from there, announcing the time to perform namaz. In Adygea, this religious temple is rather purely symbolic meaning, because the local indigenous people are not particularly committed to Islam, their own code of ethics called Khabze is much more significant for them.
Mosque lights
Near Friendship Square there is a small square and the city Philharmonic, but it was evening, the author of this story was a little tired and hungry, and therefore went in search of dinner. After looking at the city map on my smartphone, I found the XL cafe nearby. There were a surprising number of people there, and the reason for this became clear when the order arrived. This time I took my favorite California rolls and a non-alcoholic Mojito cocktail. The service here was not as perfect as in Sicily, since the waiters were simply overloaded with orders, but the quality of the food here was simply excellent. top level. I spent about 500 rubles on dinner, was quite satisfied with it and went to rest at the hotel and think through a plan of action for the next day.
The beauty of Adygea: mountains, rocks, waterfalls and caves
My plans were to visit the famous Rufabgo waterfalls, so after studying the road and setting up the navigator, on the morning of June 22, I hit the road. Driving through unfamiliar mountainous terrain was a bit scary, but the distance was relatively short, so I decided to tackle this task on my own. According to tourists, Rufabgo waterfalls are one of the most striking and picturesque attractions of Adygea, located 2 km from the village of Kamennomostsky.
View of the rocks
Mountains
The road was steep in every sense: unexpected turns, looming intimidating rocks on one side and a bottomless abyss on the other terrified me, but the quality of the roads pleased me, so I reached my destination without any particular difficulties and spent only an hour on the unfamiliar route. I parked the car near the bridge that was supposed to take me across the raging river to the waterfalls, paid 500 rubles for the entrance and went on foot to explore the beauty of this region.
Mountain river, view from above
On the other side of the river I was greeted by a whole tourist site with small cafes, a children's playground and a mini-museum of Adyghe culture. I was a little hungry, so I bought some coffee and started exploring the area. At first, nothing reminded us of wild beauty here. mountain landscapes: the paths are sprinkled with sand, there are railings everywhere, and you can’t even see the waterfalls. But this was only the beginning, and what I saw next was probably shown only in some fantasy films: a clean, transparent river torrent made a noise right next to my feet, there were rocks all around, and then some kind of impenetrable jungle forest.
Needless to say, nature has been preserved here. And here I am at the first waterfall (by the way, there are seven of them, and each has its own name) - “Grandiose”, although it is relatively small.
After it came a waterfall with the strange name “Sukhoi”; winding rocky paths and natural growths of soil in the form of steps lead to it. The third is called "Deep".
Waterfall "Deep"
Waterfall view
This is a real waterfall - stormy, sparkling and high. By the way, even in the most intense heat it is cool near the mountain rivers, the water there is icy and clean. Unfortunately, I no longer had the strength to reach the fourth waterfall, the trails became more and more difficult, I had to climb higher and higher, so I turned back.
Road to Rufabgo waterfalls
On the way to the city, I saw a small diner with local Adyghe cuisine; it was decorated in an antique style, in the style of Circassian peasant huts. There I ordered mamalyga (corn porridge with milk) and real Kalmyk tea. I appreciated the cuisine of the Circassians, the only thing was that the price was steep - for such a simple lunch I paid almost 300 rubles.
In the evening I returned to the hotel tired, I wanted to relax, so I went down the street and went to the Biba patio, where I ordered the famous Maikop beer and took some snacks. I didn’t drink much, because tomorrow I had to go home. The beer is excellent - I took several bottles with me to treat my friends.
Results and finances
I would like to note that the trip cost me quite a lot. About 3,000 rubles were spent on gasoline, and about the same on food, considering that I ate in cafes and pizzerias. A ticket for an excursion to the Rufabgo waterfalls cost me 500 rubles and, of course, hotel accommodation took the lion’s share of expenses: 7800 rubles for two days. But I have nothing to complain about, the room was truly luxury.
Overall, I was pleased with my vacation; it’s a pity I didn’t have time to explore all the picturesque places. Next year I have already planned to visit the Azish Cave, the Guam Gorge and the Lago-Naki Plateau, about which.
Adygea is one of the most popular and attractive holiday destinations in New Year. In anticipation New Year's holidays the site has made a selection of the most popular destinations for relaxation during the winter holidays.
Ski routes Lago-Naki
The Lago-Naki plateau in winter is the center of humiliation for ski lovers from all over Russia. This is an opportunity not only to ride along steep slopes and trails on skis, sleds, and snowmobiles at an altitude of 1700 m above sea level, but also to see endless expanses, the majestic mountains of the Caucasus range and beautiful nature Adygea. And then drink hot tea from alpine herbs with a bite of mountain honey.
Ski resort Lagonaki in Adygea.AiF/ Photo by Nadezhda Guseva
Horse routes
Leaving behind the soulless equipment, you can transfer to a live horse and go on an equestrian route through the most beautiful places mountainous Adygea. An educational, uncomplicated and exciting horse riding tour can be booked in almost every tourist complex in the Maykop region, even in winter. The horseback riding tour is interesting both for tourists with experience with horses and for beginners. These can be one-day horseback riding or multi-day, with overnight stays in guest house.
Horseback riding. Photo by Nadezhda Guseva
Walks take place in the area of the Una-Koz ridge and in the area of the St. Michael's Monastery, with panoramic views of the peaks of the Main Caucasus Range, with visits to unique excursion sites: the Royal Chapel, Galkin Rock, “Devil's Finger”, Fars River Canyon.
Thermal springs
There are more than 20 thermal springs in Adygea. They are concentrated in the Maykop region, in the villages of Tula and Tsvetochny. There are even “wild” ones that simply spring out of the ground and are not equipped in any way. But visiting them is not very convenient.
Thermal spring. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Ghisolabella According to the Pyatigorsk State Scientific Research Institute of Roszdrav, Adyghe thermal water contains compounds of cobalt, barium, iodine, bromine, boron and zinc. But this is not the only thing that makes it truly living water. Caucasian thermal springs with a hydrocarbonate-chloride-sodium composition of water and a high content of silicic acid and sulfur surprisingly easily relieve stress and overexertion. In addition, the bactericidal properties of silver water have an excellent effect on the digestive tract.
Belovodye Museum
Lovers of antiquities should go to the Belovodye Museum, which is located at the exit from the village of Kamennomostsky. A copy of the sword of the Prophet Muhammad Zulfiqar with a double blade, donated by Dagestan blacksmiths, a mammoth tooth and one of the largest ammonites in Europe from the banks of the Belaya River, women's mirrors made of tin bronze, which were common among nomadic peoples in the 7th-6th centuries. BC, ancient Greek amphorae are only part of the rarities that can be seen in the museum.
Museum "Belovodye". AiF/ Photo by Nadezhda Guseva
Rufabgo Falls
The waterfall system is business card Adygea. The Rufabgo River Gorge is incredibly picturesque and very popular among travelers. Each waterfall is good in its own way and is associated with an ancient Adyghe legend. The names are so sonorous that they immediately involuntarily arise vivid images: Noise, Cup of Love, Heart of Rufabgo, Maiden's Braid, Cascade.
Rufabgo waterfalls. AiF/ Photo by Arthur Lautenschläger
Many tourists think that in winter the waterfalls look even more impressive and beautiful than in summer. However, walking on icy paths can be traumatic.
Cable car
See the parking lot ancient man, the mountains of the Caucasus Range, the Grotto of Desires, the Dust and Dakhovskaya caves, the Devil's Finger rock, you can take a ride on the only cable car in Adygea.
Its length is 1200 m, elevation differences are 450 m.
Cable car in the village of Dakhovskaya. Photo: AiF/ Photo by Nadezhda Guseva
In a quarter of an hour, having risen to a height of 1200 meters, you can visit the Tethys rope park, go jeeping, ride ATVs, and admire the opening view of the Caucasus Biosphere Reserve from a large panoramic platform.
Ropeway. AiF/ Photo by Nadezhda Guseva
St. Michael's Monastery
Connoisseurs of antiquity will not pass by the St. Michael's Hermitage. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is the highest mountain monastery in Russia - over 1000 m above sea level.
Caves, the origin of which dates back to the 9th century AD, the ancient thousand-year-old source of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon, the large Trinity Cathedral, the same age as the monastery, are far from full list his "miracles".
St. Michael's Monastery. Photo: AiF/ Photo by Arthur Lautenschläger
One of the true “rarities” is the icon Holy Mother of God“The Gracious Sky”, which was written by the monks more than 135 years ago. After the transfer of the monastery to the secular authorities, this icon was hidden and preserved by local Cossack residents. 10 years ago, after the revival of the monastery, the icon was brought from Maykop and given as a gift.
Scientists became interested in the foundation of the cathedral and the font made of stone. Archaeological studies have shown that the age of the stone font is approximately the 9th century AD; it was laid out even before the adoption of Christianity in Rus'.
Today, the Republic of Adygea is one of the most popular tourist routes. Gradually, the infrastructure is developing here, as the flow of vacationers increases every season.
Before vacation important issues can be solved using the Internet. For example, it is first advisable to find accommodation in the Krasnodar Territory, and then continue preparing for the trip.
Main attractions
Both in winter and summer in Adygea you can find a lot of interesting beautiful places. One of the main attractions is the Khadzhokhskaya Gorge, located on the outskirts of the village of Kamennomostsky.
It is worth noting that there is an entrance fee here. The ticket price for adults and children is different (300 and 150 rubles).
It is best to come to the gorge in the summer, since in winter the natural attraction loses its charm. But there is a pleasant moment even in the cold season: here you can look at interesting animals.
After this, it is worth going to the Rufabgo River gorge. This is incredible beautiful place with picturesque landscapes.
The main feature of the attraction is the presence of a large number of waterfalls. In the summer, it is unusually beautiful here, and the water creates a pleasant “melody” in the air, which leaves pleasant memories in the memory.
If you are lucky enough to visit Adygea, you can include the following points in your tourist route:
- Lago-Naki. From this place you can see the endless expanses of Adygea, and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landscapes from the observation deck;
- caves. Located in Adygea large number caves, the most famous is “Dakhovskaya”;
- thermal springs. Many people visit Adygea in order to go to the hot mineral waters.
If you decide to climb Mount Physiabgo, be sure to go to the holy spring of Panteleimon the Healer. Here you can not only get water, but also swim in the font.
Other options
In addition to the above-mentioned places, Adygea is rich in other, no less interesting and picturesque attractions. This includes.
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Once upon a time in Tula...
Three people were running along the deserted street of the night city. The windows in the houses were not yet lit; people were sleeping off after celebrating the New Year. Only in the distance did it sparkle with a scattering of lights. d. station, which was the target of the night runners. They needed to get there as soon as possible; they were late for the train. But running was hampered by the snow underfoot and heavy bags in my hands. Their hearts were beating wildly, their eyes were clouded with sweat, but the thought that the train would show them its tail forced their bodies to produce new portions of adrenaline.
Here is the platform. The train is already standing. A little more and we are already in the compartment. Literally a minute and the station outside the window began to float away. To formulate swear words The brain was no longer capable of addressing the taxi service.
This is how ours began New Year's trip to Adygea.
How to get to Adygea and where to live
On this trip we were again horseless and at the mercy of Russian Railways. Honestly, it’s very convenient to travel to Adygea in your own car. In this case, you will have almost unlimited opportunities to explore local attractions. If in Sochi we did not feel the lack of a car due to the well-developed infrastructure, then in Adygea this is completely sad. That's why taxi drivers can help us.
As a place of residence Kamennomostsky village fits perfectly. Many beauties can be easily reached on foot, and most tourist routes start from here. But the train goes to Krasnodar, so you need to think about the transfer in advance. You can negotiate with taxi drivers or go with transfers to Maykop, and from there to Kamennomostsky. Thanks to our friend from Krasnodar, we “teleported” very comfortably in both directions.
There are no problems with housing in the village. Here you can find something for every taste and budget, from luxury hotels to authentic huts local residents. We stayed in a guest house a 10-minute walk from the Khadzhokh Gorge.
Our housing had certain disadvantages of a domestic nature, but the undeniable advantage was a very good location and friendly hosts.
Main attractions of Adygea in winter
1. Khadzhokh Gorge
On the outskirts of the village of Kamennomostsky there is one of the most popular attractions of Adygea - Khadzhokhskaya Gorge.
Today, this section of the Belaya River gorge has become an equipped route. Admission costs 300 rubles for adults and 150 rubles for children. According to our subjective feelings, the price is not entirely adequate. In addition, according to old-timers who visited these places before these innovations, the canyon has clearly lost its natural charm.
Due to the fact that we lived literally a stone's throw from the gorge, we put off visiting it until later. As a result, we had to walk in the rain, and the water at the bottom of the gorge lost its blue tint, turning into a dirty brown stream.
The route is quite long, crossing the bridges you can explore the Khadzhokh Gorge from all sides. Along the way, you will definitely meet local residents: the bear Timofey, who for some reason did not hibernate, but cheerfully waddled around the territory, she-wolves, foxes, chickens, and a raccoon.
High in places stone walls decorated with hanging icicles. The icy fringe added elegance to the gorge.
Once you reach the last observation deck, you will be greeted by a quaint stone bridge and arches. Finally, having overcome all obstacles, White breaks free at breakneck speed.
Next to the gorge there is a small but very worthy cafe of the same name. They cook excellent kebabs and meat. There are not so many food outlets in the area, so from time to time we enjoyed a snack at Tesnin.
2. Rufabgo Falls
The Rufabgo River gorge is incredibly picturesque and very popular among travelers not only for beautiful scenery, but mainly because you can find a considerable number of waterfalls here. Each of them is good in its own way and different from the others. The names are so resonant that vivid images immediately involuntarily arise: Noise, Cup of Love, Heart of Rufabgo, Maiden's Braid, Cascade.
We were lucky enough to walk to the waterfalls in twenty-degree frost along the hiking trail along the Belaya River. Everything inside was trembling snow fairy tale which surrounded us. I had to overcome steep ascents and descents, climb up, clinging to a ghostly support, find myself on the edge of an abyss, almost turn back, but not give up. And the reward was frozen ice waterfalls, inside of which crystal water beat like an artery.
A delightful, unforgettable sight. I will definitely tell you in detail about our adventures and how to get to Rufabgo waterfalls in a separate post.
3. Lago-Naki plateau
Coming to Adygea at any time of the year and not visiting Lago-Naki means not seeing Adygea. This place is the center of gravity of the republic. Everyone comes here to see the endless expanses, majestic mountains and beautiful nature of this region.
In winter, Lago-Naki welcomes guests no less than in summer. Here you can enjoy stunning scenery from various viewpoints.
Visit the equipped Azishskaya and Nezhnaya caves. And also many smaller “wild” caves.
Fall back into childhood and enjoy everything possible from the heart winter activities from cheesecakes to snow bananas.
Leaving the soulless equipment, transfer to a live horse and gallop across the Adyghe expanses. And after all, drink hot tea with mountain herbs with a bite of mountain honey.
4. Extreme parks
In the vicinity of Kamennomostsky there are two parks with extreme entertainment: the Mishoko extreme park and the TETIS rope adventure park.
Pointer to "Mishoko" stood almost next to our guest house. Therefore, you can get to them without any problems on foot, walking along an abandoned quarry. And God himself ordered us to experience exciting rides, because... Literally on New Year's Eve, in an extreme park group, I won a flight over the gorge.
This day caused a fantastic storm of emotions in our mortal bodies. In addition to the extreme flight and the unforgettable via ferrata, we walked around the Mishoko gorge itself and enjoyed the horseback ride. Of course, all these adventures require a separate story.
To the rope park "THETYS" a little more difficult to get to. They are located at the top of the Una-Koz ridge. There are several options to go upstairs:
- Walk along the tourist trail from the old bridge in the village of Dakhovskaya. If the weather is good, I think the walk will be quite enjoyable.
- You can order a transfer on one of the park's SUVs. You will be taken on a breeze along the mountain trails.
- And we chose the last one possible, we went up on the only Savran cable car in the Republic of Adygea.
Ticket prices for January 2016: adults – 500 rubles, children – 200 rubles.
Having climbed the cable car, you will immediately be greeted by a bunch of signs. Having decided on the direction, you may encounter:
parking lot primitive man with picturesque holes in the rock and a fairly equipped fireplace.
Cave "Dakhovskaya" and "Dusty". And if you strictly follow the signs, you will go straight to TETIS Park.
Having covered about 1.5 kilometers from the park along the hiking trail, you can see another popular panoramic point – the Devil’s Finger rock.
And we returned to the signs and tried our luck in the Grotto of Desires, entrusting our most cherished treasures to the stone vaults.
The descent from the cable car is very picturesque. All the way you will enjoy the panorama of the Dakhovskaya valley and the road to Lago-Naki running away like a snake.
5. St. Michael's Monastery of Athos
Just 14 kilometers from Kamennomostsky, in the village of Pobeda, at the foot of Mount Fiziabgo, there is a special place - God’s destiny on earth.
St. Michael's Monastery is a must-visit on any day, but when that day is the Nativity of Christ, a trip here will take on a special blissful connotation.
It was this kind of blissful, peaceful state that I experienced the entire time we were within the walls of the monastery, listening to Christmas stories, eating monastery pancakes, drinking aromatic herbal tea, deep underground, touching the miraculous cross, drinking healing water from the spring and ringing the bells three times.
Coming out of the locker room, however, is not at all hot. Fortunately, on this day the thermometer already showed +6 °C. But what a bliss it is to plunge into a hot thirty-seven degree mineral water with a plus sign.
They write that water has a healing effect and is indicated for many diseases. Having plunged into the warm waters with a specific smell, I felt an indescribable relaxation, every cell of my body was completely relaxed.
It was so nice that I didn’t want to get out at all. Jets of water were turned on periodically, standing under which one could feel all the delights of hydromassage.
But you shouldn’t get carried away with swimming either. As they say, everything is good in moderation. As soon as you get out of the water, the effect of thermal springs will not take long to appear, that is, the relaxation continues.
But this is not a complete list of what you can see in Adygea in winter. At the entrance to Kamennomostsky there is Museum "Rock Garden". Interesting finds were brought there, including ancient ammonites. One of them lies on the road to the Khadzhokh dolmen.
Khadzhokh dolmen located near the highway in an orchard. These ancient structures are quite common in these parts. Mysterious megaliths still excite the minds of scientists. They are believed to be of a ritual nature. And here is the victim from visiting tourists.
There is also a beautiful suspension bridge. But our search was not crowned with success; instead we found the picturesque bank of the Belaya River.
Cossack stone, which you definitely won’t pass by when going to Lago-Naki.
And they also live here wonderful people who sincerely love their native land. Local residents are happy to talk about the sights and beauties of Adygea, about extraordinary places and natural monuments of the republic.
This is what Adygea is like: hospitable and amazingly beautiful.
Adygea is a tiny republic of the Northwestern Caucasus in the Laba, Kuban and Belaya river basins. Despite its small size, it has a large and ancient history. The first written mentions of the Circassians date back to the 5th century BC, and their ancient religious buildings - dolmens - are scattered throughout the region.
Sights of the Republic of Adygea with photos and descriptions
In Adygea, the tourist infrastructure is not very developed and there are very few traditional attractions. This is due to the fact that there are only two cities in this region: Adygeisk and the capital of the republic, Maykop. But, nevertheless, the rich nature of this region and its low cost attract thousands of travelers here every year.
Natural attractions
The nature of the Republic of Adygea is unusually rich and diverse, and its mountains are included in the list of attractions World Heritage UNESCO. More than 30% of the territory of this region are historical, cultural, tourist and natural recreational resources and are protected by the state.
Lago-Naki plateau
Lago-Naki plateauThis unique natural monument is one of the most popular places among tourists visiting the Republic of Adygea. The 2000 m high plateau is located between Mount Abadzesh and the Stone Sea ridge. The height of the surrounding hills reaches 3500 meters.
The Lago-Naki plateau is unusually rich in attractions. Here tourists will encounter the hanging valley Zhelob, many caves and ski slopes, as well as the beautiful flora of alpine meadows.
Caucasian Reserve
State Natural Biosphere Reserve named after. Kh. G. Shaposhnikova is one of the oldest protected areas in the Western Caucasus. It was founded back in 1924 and occupies the territory of three regions of the Russian Federation, the Republic of Adygea, the Krasnodar Territory and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic.
The proximity to the warm Black Sea has created several different climatic zones in this biosphere reserve, in which about 3,000 plant species grow. More than 30 flora specimens are included in the Red Book. In addition, up to 400 representatives of the animal world live here, many of which are also on the verge of extinction.
Dakhovskaya Cave
Of significant interest to guests of Adygea is the main attraction of the village of Dakhovskaya - a cave in the Una-Koz mountain range. It was studied by the famous archaeologist A. A. Formozov, who discovered traces of human settlement in it during the Paleolithic era.
The entrance to the cave is quite small, only 70 cm in size. But inside it is divided into several huge halls, the cultural layer of which suggests that people lived here before the beginning of the Middle Ages.
Kamennomostsky village
The center of mountain tourism in the Republic of Adygea is definitely the village of Kamennomostsky. The name of this settlement comes from the stone crossings across the Belaya River that once existed here. Among local residents, the old name of the village Khadzhokh is more common, which is reflected in the toponyms of most local objects.
Khadzhok Gorge
Khadzhok Gorge Khadzhokh Canyon is a forested gorge through which the Belaya River flows rapidly. In 1979, this attraction was included in the list of natural monuments of regional significance.
The best way to admire the Khadzhok Gorge and its roaring waters is from a height on a suspended pedestrian bridge. This place is also extremely popular among rafters, and in the village of Kamennomostsky you can find everything necessary equipment and instructors for canyon rafting.
Rufabgo Falls
One of the best attractions of Adygea is located in the gorge of the Rufagbo stream. In total, there are more than ten waterfalls along its course, five of which: Cascade, Three Brothers, Heart of Rufabgo, Lace and Noise, are available to all tourists, and to explore the remaining objects you will need special equipment and mountaineering skills.
This place is especially beautiful during heavy rains, when a calm stream turns into a huge roaring stream. Actually, Rufabgo translated from the Adyghe language means “fierce.”
Other attractions of the village of Kamennomostsky in the Republic of Adygea:
- Aminovka River gorge;
- Mishoko River gorge;
- doo-doo-Gushi ridge;
- Khadzhokh dolmen;
- Mount Big Thach.
Architecture
Most of the historical and architectural attractions of the republic are located in two major cities Maikop and Adygeisk. In addition to traditional buildings, ancient dolmens scattered throughout this region are of particular interest to tourists in Adygea.
Cathedral Mosque of Maykop
Cathedral Mosque of Maykop Definitely one of the best architectural sights of Adygea is the main mosque in its capital. A huge building with an azure dome and four minarets was erected in 2000 at the expense of the Arab Sheikh Khalid bin Saqr al-Qasimi. The prince’s main condition for financing was a strict deadline for completing the work - one and a half years.
Did you know? This mosque is very popular among guests of the republic, since entry is free for tourists of other religions.
Mikhail-Athos Trans-Kuban Hermitage
An Orthodox communal monastery on the outskirts of the village of Pobeda, near the city of Maykop. It was built by Hieromonk Martyriy in 1877 with voluntary donations from the Cossacks. IN Soviet years the monastery was closed and its churches were destroyed. Since 2001, the deserts have been transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church, and today the Trinity Church has been completely restored.
Monument "Unity and Harmony"
Memorial complex with an area of more than 100 square meters. m, was opened in 2013. The monument is made in the shape of a classic Adyghe hearth, and it depicts various scenes from the history and legends of this region.
Khadzhokh dolmen
One of the most mysterious architectural monuments in the republic. Scientists still put forward various hypotheses about the origin of dolmens on the territory of Adygea and their purpose.
The Khadzhokh dolmen was founded around the 3rd millennium BC, most likely for religious rites. Today it is a cultural monument Federal significance, and next to it is a museum of paleontology.
Museums
A fairly large number of different museums are open in Adygea that will introduce tourists to the ancient history of this republic.
Giaginsky Museum of Local Lore
This municipal institution in the village of Giaginskaya was founded in 1989, and Polina Petrovna Tynchenko was appointed its director. The first exhibition of the museum was the “Room of Labor and Military Glory”, created with the active participation of WWII veterans.
Today the Giaginsky Museum owns a collection of more than 11,000 items, which are presented in five exhibition halls. In addition to exhibits, there is also a cinema hall and a local archive.
National Museum of the Republic of Adygea
National Museum Republic of Adygea The main historical and ethnographic museum of the republic is located in its capital - the city of Maykop. Its funds contain more than 270,000 items that introduce tourists to the culture and customs of the peoples who inhabited Adygea.
Most interesting for visitors ethnographic collection“Culture and life of the Circassians at the end of the 18th century - early XIX century." It presents a variety of paintings, sculptures, jewelry, weapons, clothing and household items, as well as banners of the Adyghe tribes - Natukhais, Shapsugs, Ubykhs.
Museum of Stones
One of the main attractions of the dendrological park in the village of Goncharka. The museum was founded by the chairman of the collective farm in the 1980s, and its basis was the stones left over from the construction of the road.
Did you know? The village of Goncharka is located just thirty kilometers from Maykop and is very convenient for visiting by tourists staying in the capital.
What to see in Adygea with children
The Republic of Adygea, in addition to traditional attractions, offers a lot of opportunities for family pastime for every taste. The best solution for tourists visiting this mountainous region with children is an active holiday in one of the natural parks:
- Khadzhokhskaya Gorge on the outskirts of the village of Kamennomostsky;
- Khadzhokh dolmen;
- waterfalls of the Rufabgo River;
- Lago-Naki plateau;
- extreme park "Mishoko";
- rope park "Tethys";
- climbing wall "Sorcerer";
- Big Thach Mountain Park.
Rope park "Tethys" Fans of quieter entertainment will love it City Park of Culture and Recreation in Maykop or trampoline arena "Freestyle" in New Adygea.
Video review of the sights of the Republic of Adygea
The Republic of Adygea will certainly appeal to fans. And after watching the promotional video we specially selected for you, you will be convinced that Adygea is quite an interesting place.
Perhaps our readers would like to add their favorite places to the list of attractions of the Republic of Adygea? Be sure to share them in the comments!