Golitsyn's grotto. Crimea, New World - Golitsyn's Grotto Golitsyn's Grotto Crimea New World

How did the grotto get such an unusual name? Prince L.S. Golitsyn was in love with Crimea. He was fascinated by the Crimean nature, giving preference to the production of local wines. One day the Count decided to build an estate in one of the most beautiful places in Crimea, and gave the village the name Novosvetskoe. One day, the count's servant went fishing to the Cave Rock. And while walking along the mountain I came across a natural depression, which was carved by the waves of the black sea. Upon returning to the estate, he told Golitsyn that he had discovered the grotto. It was not in vain that the servant told about his discovery, since the count not only found a use for the grotto, but also glorified it.

This grotto can be considered a unique place, because in the middle of the recess there is a well, which constantly contains ordinary drinking water. Despite the fact that there is a salty sea ten meters away, this means that underground water does not flow here quite normally.
The second amazing property of the natural depression is the temperature of 9 degrees and it is constant all year round. This temperature is typical for storing champagne. For this reason, Golitsyn built a tunnel that connected to his winery. In the grotto he made storage for the champagne produced and, due to its size, it could accommodate about ten thousand bottles of the famous Crimean drink.

The third advantage of the grotto is its impeccable dimensions. It is 27 meters long and 16 meters wide. Such parameters create a good acoustic atmosphere and therefore Count Golitsyn loved to invite acquaintances, people from high society, and held concerts, parties and balls for them. Not a single event was complete without musical accompaniment. The count’s friend, Fyodor Chaliapin, was supposed to participate in one of these events, but unfortunately, he did not come, but the event was surrounded by legends and for a long time it was believed that he was here. The musician at that time amazed everyone around him with his amazing voice. At one of his performances, Chaliapin surpassed himself, and Count Golitsyn was so amazed by the singing of his friend, Fyodor Ivanovich. That at that very moment I decided to name the grotto in honor of Fyodor Chaliapin.

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The world is filled with wonderful places to visit. You can’t visit them all in your lifetime, so the most interesting and affordable options are chosen. Such a place could be Chaliapin's Grotto near, which is located on the Crimean peninsula. This place is remarkable for its naturalness and deep history. The name itself speaks of involvement in the history of the great singer Fyodor Chaliapin.

Location of the grotto

It is located on the east coast. This is a space naturally washed by sea waves near the rocks of Mount Koba-kaya. The closest settlement to the tourist site is Novy Svet. To get from it to the cave, you need to follow the Golitsyn path. This village, together with the grotto, was the property of the prince at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries. From Simferopol to the New World there are 102 km of travel, from Sevastopol – 175. From Kerch to the New World there are 153 km of travel. Therefore, any vacationer in the area can visit the attraction without wasting time.

Historical perspective

The past of the underground passage associated with humanity begins with the Middle Ages. Then it was used by Christians as a cave monastery. Until the 19th century, remains of paintings could be found, but now, unfortunately, nothing of this kind has survived.

Prince Golitsyn left a good historical legacy. Lev Sergeevich was the recognized founder of winemaking in the Tauride province and the founder of the Novy Svet estate. The history of the name of the village is interesting.

In 1912, the last emperor of the Russian Empire, Nicholas II, and his family visited him. The king, having drunk a glass of wine, said that he saw everything in the estate in a new light. In 1913, due to the deterioration of the owner’s health, most of the territories and wineries were donated to the emperor.

The name of the niche in the rock comes from a half-true legend that the singer Fyodor Chaliapin gave his concert in it. According to legend, the singer's voice was so high that glasses of champagne burst from tension. It is difficult to verify whether this is true or not. The suitability of the place for concerts speaks in favor of the legend. The cave is still popular as a good place for concerts today due to its special acoustics.

A must-see place when visiting the grotto is the Golitsyn trail. This is the only way to get to the tourist place, which is an excursion site. The trail is one of the most beautiful platforms for contemplating the seascape. Its length is about 3-4 km, and at every meter traveled the tourist will be greeted by a view of indescribable beauty. The path was built specifically for the arrival of Nicholas II. The initiator was the owner of the estate - aristocrat Lev Sergeevich.

Description of the grotto

The height of the cave is 30 meters, width 17. Inside you can find the remaining part of the wine library and a semicircular stage room. The acoustics attract concert organizers to hold their evenings there. There is a climbing route along the ceiling of the cave and three more routes along the walls. But due to the dense flow of tourists, it is rarely possible to use them. The combination of natural reliefs, man-made activities and a significant past make this excursion site one of the most unforgettable in Crimea.

How to get there

To take a self-guided tour of the grotto, you first need to get to the New World. There are bus services from Sudak. From the village, walk to the Golitsyn trail, which is located at the very edge of the beach, and follow it towards the tourist spot. You won’t be able to pass by, because when approaching the trail you will see a sign indicating the arrival at the excursion area. It is not possible to get there by water, because the coastal area is strewn with stones.

Information

You only have to spend it once. Entrance to the trail costs 200 rubles for an adult, and it is open until 18:00. Having paid for the passage, the tourist will not have to pay separately for his stay in the cave. You can visit the grotto, the trail and some of the attractions along it as a tour group. Then the price will be slightly higher, you can spend an additional 200 rubles. Often a visit to the Chaliapin Grotto is combined with other attractions of the Crimean peninsula. A tourist will be able to choose the ideal route for himself and visit beautiful places in Crimea.

One of the most beautiful places I have seen in all my time is Golitsyn trail. I liked it so much that I went there twice, although I always try to visit new places, because there are so many of them on our planet that there is no need to go somewhere twice. The Golitsyn Trail is an exception to this rule.

Where is the Golitsyn trail and how to get there

The trail is located in the village of Novy Svet not far from Sudak. You can get to the New World by bus from the Sudak bus station. Then you will need to walk to the sea and to the right along the embankment all the way, about 10-15 minutes. You can also visit the trail by taking a boat excursion.

Green Bay is the end of the embankment in the New World

In any case, I recommend visiting the New World by bus. The road to it runs along a serpentine road very close to the cliffs. On one of my trips there were several men on the bus who apparently had never traveled on such a road before. So they were really scared, and everyone laughed hysterically. On the way out, one of them uttered a phrase that perfectly describes a trip to the New World by bus. He said: "It was the coolest and cheapest ride I've ever had in my life." (bus fare costs 11 rubles.)

How I found out about the Golitsyn trail

I came to the New World by accident. My friend and I were going to go to Koktebel to look for adventure at our fifth point. In Koktebel there is the opportunity to paraglide and hang glider, which is what I wanted to do. And also at that time there was an annual jazz festival taking place there, so the program promised to be eventful. But everything fell apart, on that day I learned that during the high season bus tickets in Crimea must be purchased in advance. So as not to lie around like seals on the beach, we went to the New World, since minibuses go there often.

A piece of the New World from the trail

Since the trip turned out to be spontaneous, I had no idea what to do in the New World and what to see. After a few walks up and down the boardwalk, I noticed a kayak rental. Before this, I only had experience with my own three-seat kayak, but here I could try a single-seat kayak. The organizer of the rental told us about the Golitsyn trail, along which we went kayaking.

By sea along the Golitsyn path

I just get incredible pleasure from this type of movement, and then you walk along the sea and see such picturesque places. Everything was great, even though the rental kayaks are absolutely not designed for long trips. The path we have taken is the maximum for which they can be used. The distance from the New World to the Tsar's Bay is about 3 km one way by water; by land it can be about 4 km. Using kayaks, the round trip plus swimming took us an hour and a half.

Along the way there are places like this where you can sit and relax

Already when we handed over the kayaks, I realized that I would come back here again and walk the trail. Taking a quick look on the Internet about the Golitsyn trail, I saw information that entry there is paid and costs about 100 rubles. There really was a guy with a “cashier” badge sitting at the entrance, but either the entrance fee was only for excursion groups, or he was dumb and didn’t notice me. In general, no one demanded money from me, and I myself did not offer it.

View from the trail to Mych Kapchik

The incredible grotto of Golitsyn or Chaliapin

Throughout the entire journey along the Golitsyn trail, beautiful landscapes of the Black Sea coast await you, but the most epic place is the Golitsyn grotto. This grotto is also called Chaliapin's grotto. Chaliapin, apparently, also knew a lot about places to relax and loved to hang out there :) In order to hear more about the history of this place, it is not necessary to follow the trail with a guided tour. You can go on your own and you won’t even hear it on purpose, because the excursion groups go there one after another.

View of Chaliapin's grotto

Golitsyn's Grotto is an amazing place with some kind of magical atmosphere, with some kind of pleasant, almost tangible magnetism, I would say. It is difficult to convey in words these sensations when you lie on the stones next to the grotto and look at the giant rock hanging above you against the blue sky.

Inside Chaliapin's grotto

A little extreme in Chaliapin's grotto

In addition to contemplating this magnificent grotto, you can swim in the crystal clear water there. It would seem to be the same shore as in the New World, but the water in the grotto is many times clearer. It's just a pleasure to swim there. You can swim, or you can get a dose of adrenaline. Previously, there was a place where you could go down from the cliff into the water using a cable.

There is no platform at the top and no stairs now. I jumped from the place where there was a platform at the top.

Now there is none of this there. But you can jump off a cliff. In my opinion, this is the ideal place for such entertainment. It's very deep there. I dived from the very top and never reached the bottom. In terms of safety, everything is in order there; when jumping, you will only hit a rock on purpose. Another plus is the ability to gradually gain altitude. For those who, like me, are afraid of heights, it is possible to start with a meter and gradually move higher at intervals of half a meter. That's how I dared to jump from the highest point.

The Golitsyn Trail is truly a unique place that will not leave anyone indifferent, and where everyone will find something interesting for themselves.

Until new adventures!

For lovers of hiking, there is plenty of freedom in Crimea. One of the most visited routes is the Golitsyn trail in the New World. Walking along it you will definitely end up in the Chaliapin or Golitsyn or Estradny grotto.

Leapfrog with names
Initially, the grotto was called Golitsynsky after the name of the owner, who improved the place and set up a wine warehouse here.
After a concert organized in the grotto by F.I. Chaliapin, the place began to be called after him.
Occasionally concerts and music festivals are held here. That’s why the grotto is sometimes called the Variety Grotto. The place is really nice, the acoustics are wonderful!

A little history

Archaeologists believe that in the Middle Ages there were cave temples in the grotto. Traces of ancient paintings remained on one wall until the beginning of the 20th century. Whether this is true, we will not know; the earthquake of 1927 changed the appearance of the surrounding area. Part of the grotto was littered with stones.

This place was ennobled by Prince Lev Sergeevich Golitsyn, a legendary figure in Crimea. Suffice it to say that local cab drivers nicknamed him “the wild master,” and the Tatars gave him the nickname “Aslan Deli,” the crazy Lion. On his orders, a path to the cave was cut in the Koba-Kaya rock, a terrace was built in the depths on the right for receiving guests, and a wine library was built on the left. The semicircular niches for bottles were made of sandstone.

The visit to the Golitsyn grotto by Emperor Nicholas II and his family in 1912 is a historical fact! But the performances of Fyodor Chaliapin are a beautiful, but still a legend that has no documentary evidence.

Until 1993, the entrance to the grotto was guarded by a stone wall with a door. A powerful hurricane blew out the wall, and now waves during a storm easily penetrate into the grotto. Therefore, if you have not been here yet, hurry up.

Modern realities

Now the height of the grotto reaches 30 m, the width is approximately 17 m. Part of the wine library and a semicircular stage have been preserved. The acoustics of the grotto are amazing, the sound is deep and voluminous. Periodically, concerts, performances, performances with fireworks and a traditional drink - Champagne are held on the terrace!

It is impossible to get into the grotto from the sea; there are piles of stones near the shore. Divers love to dive near rocks. Under the Turtle stone there is a through tunnel, passing through it for the first time, you will experience a complex range of feelings.

Climbers laid out a route along the ceiling of the grotto. With sufficient skill and equipment, you can try your hand at rock climbing.

Video review of the Golitsyn grotto

How to get to Chaliapin's grotto

First you need to come to the New World by any available transport. In the village, go down to the embankment and walk along the shore to the right. The road will take you to the beginning of the Golitsyn trail. After walking along a narrow rocky path for the first kilometer, you will find yourself in Chaliapin’s grotto. Be sure to take your camera with you. There are a lot of photo ideas here!

Opening hours of the Golitsyn Trail:

You can access the trail at any time of the year during the daytime. Entrance to the site is paid. The fee for visiting is purely symbolic; in 2016 the fee was 100 rubles per person.

Note:
If the trail is closed, do not try to look for workarounds; it is possible that there was a strong storm or a landslide in a narrow area near the rocks; rescuers are eliminating the consequences. This means that it will not be possible to go around.

Chaliapin's Grotto on the map of Crimea

GPS Coordinates: N 44°49.840, E 34°59.362 Latitude/Longitude

Where is: New World, st. Embankment, 3
Chaliapin (Golitsyn) Grotto coordinates (latitude, longitude): 44°49"22"N 34°55"05"E
How much does the ticket cost: 100 rub.

Chaliapin's Grotto is the pearl of the peninsula, which attracts thousands of tourists every year. The grotto is a unique cave about 20 meters deep. The origin of the grotto is natural and miraculous: a sea wave carved deep “apartments” into the slopes of Mount Koba-Kaya.

A little history of Chaliapin's grotto

For hundreds of years, this grotto has been actively used by people for various purposes. Tribes of ancient people lived here, worshiped deities in the Middle Ages, and the powers that be of past centuries rested and enjoyed the joys of life. Prince Golitsyn also used the unique microclimate of the grotto to store wines, and the acoustics for surround sound music and the voices of the best performers. The walls of the grotto contain echoes of those times: the remains of temple paintings, stone wine racks. The grotto received its name in connection with the story associated with Fyodor Chaliapin. They say that when he sang here, his voice, amplified by the acoustics of the walls, was capable of not only causing goosebumps on the skin of those listening, but also breaking glasses.

The beauty of Chaliapin's grotto

The stone grotto is pleasant because even on the hottest, hot day it is fresh and cool here. If the air temperature outside reaches +33 degrees Celsius, then in the depths of the grotto it may not rise more than +5. The inside is quite spacious and somehow solemn: ceilings, floors, walls made of monolithic stone with unique natural imprints of sea waves, unusual deep acoustics of voices, special air. The spring with cold fresh spring water that flows in the center of the grotto deserves special attention. This water is the first thing a traveler might wish for on a hot, hot day. Inside the grotto there are routes for climbers: two along the walls and one steep on the ceiling itself, but they are abandoned due to the constant presence of crowds of tourists in the grotto. There is a stage for concerts and festivals, as well as a wine cellar with delicious Crimean grape wines.

How to get to Chaliapin's grotto or Golitsyn trail

The road to the grotto is called the Golitsyn trail and consists of stone steps carved directly into the rock back in the 19th century. It is amazing what titanic efforts the workers had to make to cope with the hard monolithic stone, using only their physical strength and primitive tools, because the total length of the trail is 5400 meters. On steep cliffs, the path was cut by workers suspended in special devices. There is a story about a case when people had to stay in such devices for two days due to the raging elements. There are sections of the trail that were created through blasting. Stone stairs have railings and viewing platforms. And the view here is wonderful: the boundless Black Sea, impressive majestic mountains in a bluish-gray haze.

To see the grotto with your own eyes, you need to get to Simferopol, then to Sudak, then by taxi or minibus to the village of Novy Svet. You can visit the attraction on your own, or as part of an organized group with a guide.

Modern life of Chaliapin's grotto

The grotto is not only part of a favorite tourist route, but also a venue for opera concerts and classical music festivals. The most talented performers and connoisseurs of their art come together to enjoy music in this unique place on the Black Sea coast. The Fyodor Chaliapin Festival is held here every summer, attracting many fans of high-quality classical music. The unique sound of instruments, deep surround sound, the beauty of local landscapes, and stone arched niches create indescribable emotions among visitors to these music festivals.

Before visiting the attraction

A visit to Chaliapin's grotto requires little preparation, especially if traveling with children. Wear comfortable sports shoes, put on a hat, bring warm sweaters and swimsuits, and equipment for photography. The ideal time to visit the grotto, as well as the entire peninsula, is from May to October. The resulting impressions will more than repay the time and money spent.