Solar path in the Crimea: description and history

The solar path is one of the most popular hiking routes in the Crimea. Once it was available exclusively to members of the imperial family, interconnecting the palaces in Livadia and Oreanda. Today, finding out how to get to the Tsar's trail in the Crimea, you can effortlessly - just study the detailed description of the route and determine the starting point. This path is great for active tourists and vacationers who prefer to organize sightseeing tours on their own. In addition, many interesting artifacts have been collected here, and in terms of the number of attractions per kilometer of road, the Tsar's Path can be called a recognized leader among the memorable Crimean routes.

The solar path is a tourist route connecting Livadia and Gaspra. Here, nature creates unique climatic conditions, allowing to fully appreciate the full benefits of mountain and sea air. The royal trail adorns the Livadia Palace, where its official beginning is located. It makes it possible at any time to turn off the main route and go to see the surroundings of Oreanda or visit the observation platform of the Swallow Nest.

Once specially laid out for walks of monarchs with children, the Tsar's path is distinguished by a minimum bias - it does not exceed three degrees. Above sea level, this path is located in the range between 133 and 203 m. In areas with elevation differences, there are stairs on the route, and every 100 m you can find signs indicating the distance traveled and helping to not lose direction. The uniqueness of the solar path is undeniable. It is from it that the most picturesque views of Oreanda and Yalta, the Southern Coast of Crimea, and local rock massifs open up. The beginning of the route is located behind the Svitsky (page) building of the Livadia Palace and allows you to get additional pleasure from a walk through the local park complex.

The existence of the Royal Trail dates back long before the estate in Livadia was bought by the imperial court. Since 1843, this path has been successfully used, enjoying the magnificent views and healing air. However, until 1900, it took place exclusively in Upper Oreanda and served for walks of Grand Duke Constantine and his family members. And only in 1901, Emperor Nicholas II issued an order to connect Cape Ai-Todor with the Pink Gate in Livadia.

The history of the solar path is closely connected with the history of the royal family, but it received its modern name in the years of Soviet power. Avoiding any mention of the former monarchical government, they gave it, wanting to emphasize the healing nature of the local nature. In fact, most of the route lies in the shade of the trees, and is not particularly illuminated. Interestingly, the mansion in Gaspra, which became the end point of the route, until 1902 was the residence of Leo Tolstoy.

Terrenkur markings, carved into boulders, also appeared thanks to the legacy of Soviet power. It was created for the 150th anniversary of the founding of Yalta. Initially, there were 64 signs, today there are no more than 20 left. Carved benches installed on the route are also of interest.Of the carvings, only one crocodile remained, but initially it was possible to see birds and dogs, as well as an old man with an old woman.

The map on the map allows you to get a complete picture of how and where the Tsarskaya or the Sunny Path runs. A detailed preliminary study of all the sights awaiting travelers on the route will be useful and will not allow to miss something important. A characteristic feature of the solar path is the almost complete absence of descents and ascents. You can navigate through it comfortably to people with any level of physical fitness, and even children.

According to the plan of the Sun Trail, travelers are awaited to see a number of places of interest during their walk.

• Plates announcing the start of the route. It is located in Livadia, the countdown of 6,711 meters of the upcoming journey begins from here.

• Alley with marble bench, intended for the rest of the imperial personages. The track covering here is tiled, created over a century ago.

• Crossroads, from which you can get to the royal corps of the sanatorium "Livadia". Before him from the alley with a bench about 100 m. You need to go further, without changing direction.

• Sundial They show almost the exact time, the error is small. Here, right on the stone wall is carved a map of the solar path. Here you can see what is to be seen further along the route. However, from time to time some of the names were erased or turned out to be repulsed.

• Oak-hornbeam forest, famous for its coolness. Representatives of the ruling dynasty highly appreciated this section of the trail, considering it to be healing and incredibly useful for the treatment of pulmonary diseases.

• Carved figures and benches made of wood. They are a real decoration of the route, created in a characteristic ethnic style.

• Jalits - a kind of symbol of Yalta in the form of an image of a woman’s head carved into stone. She is considered the spirit of the forest and the patroness of these places.

• Oreanda village. It is clearly visible from the path, there are descents that allow you to reach the Old Church of the Intercession, built of stone left after the fire in the palace of Grand Duke Constantine. Moving further, you can get to the sanatorium park, which belongs to one of the main health resorts of the coast - "Lower Oreanda".

• Rotunda. This snow-white viewing platform is only 40 minutes walk from the beginning of the route. It was here that members of the imperial family liked to have tea parties, enjoying the panoramas of the mountain and the palace. After the fire on the site of the royal estates, the Soviet builders erected a beautiful sanatorium building, and the opening view allows you to appreciate the beauty of Swan Lake. Nearby you can see the remains of the staircase steps that were filled in, which once connected the rotunda with the palace.

• Cross Mountain - a sheer cliff on which a cross is erected. To her from the solar path there is a turn that allows you to visit the northern slope and see the ruins of ancient settlements. In the rock, periodically find the wreckage of household items, weapons, jewelry. Having been at the top, you can see the cross, installed on this place by Empress Alexandra Feodorovna during her first visit to these places. Unfortunately, because of the vandals, its original version was not preserved - today it is only a designation of a memorable place.

• Princely wine cellar. He was knocked out in rock in 1888 by order of Prince Konstantin Nikolayevich - the owner of the palace in Oreanda. The basement operates in our days, today it is used to ripen sherry, produced by the plant Massandra.

• Temple of the Archangel Michael. It is located on an additional descent, after crossing the Alupka highway. The church was built relatively recently - in 2006, in the place of the ruins of the monastery. But such a deviation from the route will require an additional 1.5 km to go in each direction.

• Therapeutic path. This is the name of the 1.5-kilometer stretch of the Sun Trail, on which there is a coniferous and deciduous forest, a small bridge and a real relict grove.

• Stone ironingbefore it you need to go under the rocks, at the top there will be private houses in the Stroygorodok. From this observation deck offers a magnificent view of the Bear Mountain and the panorama of Yalta.

• Pine alley with healing air and comfortable wooden benches for relaxing. From here you can go to the Swallow's Nest - the main thing is not to miss the desired branch of the trail, it will be on the right. A stone signpost mounted on the alley will help orient oneself.

• Signs about the end of the route in Gaspra. Here she crowns the wall of the sanatorium - you can go for a walk around the village or return to Livadia in the same way that you came.

In Crimea, everyone knows about the Tsar or the Solar Path. You can go the route as starting in Yalta, and starting the journey in the village of Gaspra. The picturesque southern coast of the peninsula, magnificent views, unique vegetation - all this makes the walk really interesting and fascinating. But first you need to get to the starting point of the route, and here the tourist always has to make a choice.

If there is enough time, it is worthwhile to combine a visit to the Solar Path with a tour of the Livadia Palace and its park, from where the health path originates. The easiest option is to take a bus or a fixed-route taxi, following to the desired stop, the journey time is about 40 minutes. Once in Livadia, you need to go down the avenue towards the main entrance to the palace. Passing through the metal gates, you have to follow to the front porch, then turn left and move to the fork.

If you plan to start the route in Gaspra, you should take a taxi number 102 or 115. You have to get to the children's sanatorium. Rosa Luxemburg. In the local park and you can start a journey along the Sunny Path. On the way to it, there are special pointers to keep you from getting lost.

To learn how to walk the sun path in the Crimea, see the next video.