Even if you have never been to Crimea before, you probably know what its "business card" looks like, famous castle called "Swallow's Nest". A majestic and at the same time graceful stone structure crowns the peak of the sheer Aurora rock. He seems to be looking at his reflection in the waters of the Black Sea, harmoniously blending into the surrounding mountain landscape.

From the history of the Swallow's Nest

The stone castle did not appear at this place immediately. The first owner of the picturesque site was a retired general, who built a wooden dacha here after the end of the Russian-Turkish war at the end of the 19th century. One of the subsequent owners of the estate, the merchant's wife Rachmanin, demolished the old building and erected a wooden castle on the top of the cliff. It was she who came up with the famous name of the castle, which really resembled the nest of a nimble bird, accustomed to huddle in sheer cliffs.

The modern castle building in medieval Gothic style was built with funds from the German tycoon, Baron Stengel. In 1914 this architectural masterpiece passed into the hands of the merchant Shelaputin, who tried to make a restaurant out of it, but the institution brought only losses. After the death of the entrepreneur, several more owners changed.

In the 1920s, when Soviet power came to Crimea, the castle was seriously neglected. It was nationalized and turned into a party canteen. The 1927 earthquake caused significant damage and the building was closed.

Until 1967, the Swallow's Nest was in a state of complete desolation. Fortunately, the government allocated funds for the restoration and strengthening of the foundation, appointing the architect Tatieva to head the project.

The second reconstruction took place in 2002, and after 9 years the castle was recognized as a monument of history and architecture. Tourists are constantly crowding here, wishing to capture the beauty of the "business card" of Crimea, enjoy the sea panorama of the Yalta Bay and the view of the surrounding rocks and Mount Ayu-Dag with its observation deck... Ethnographic, art and archaeological exhibitions are often held inside.

Swallow's Nest: how to get there

The distance from the center of Yalta to this attraction is about 16 km. Several paths by water and land lead to the castle on the Aurora rock.

You can visit the castle as part of numerous excursions or boat trip... But if you prefer to travel on your own, then you have a choice of several types of transport.

1. The easiest and cheapest option is to travel by bus (about 30 rubles). You will need the “Parus Sanatorium” stop. There are two routes to the Swallow's Nest:
   • - No. 102 from the Yalta bus station;
   • - No. 132 from the Yalta clothing market;
   • - Route taxi No. 33 from the center of Yalta.
2. Traveling by car is the most convenient and fastest option. You can easily rent a modern model in Yalta. Map with by car route from the city to the castle you can see below. First you need to go to Sevastopolskoe highway, then turn to Alupkinskoe. The trip will take just over half an hour. Please note that there is a charge for parking near the castle, the rate is 100 rubles per hour.
3. You can reach the castle by ferry or boat, which regularly run in this direction from the Yalta embankment named after Lenin. This is the most beautiful and romantic way that will allow you to enjoy the seascapes and stunning views of the coastal beauty of Crimea. The journey will take about 20 minutes. The cost of a boat ticket for adults is 300 rubles, for children aged 6 to 14 years - 200 rubles.

Swallow's nest: photo

This attraction is very photogenic. Images of the castle itself, taken from afar, from the sea or from land, are especially vivid and impressive. Climbing a little higher than the castle itself, you will find yourself on a small vantage point, from which a unique panorama with the castle against the backdrop of mountains and the sea surface opens.

Once inside, you will be able to capture the stunning views from the observation decks.

Swallow's Nest: excursions in 2020

The attraction operates all year round in the following mode:

• - During the period from November to May, tourists can visit the castle from 10 am to 4 pm daily, except Monday;
• - V warm months from May to October the doors of the castle are open from 10 am to 7 pm, seven days a week.

Anyone can see the castle from the outside absolutely free of charge. Price entrance ticket(without a guide) to the territory with exhibitions varies depending on the age of the visitor:

• - Adult - 200 rubles;
• - Children from 7 to 18 years old - 100 rubles;
• - Kids up to 7 years old - free of charge.

Detailed information on the official website: https: //zamok-lostochki-nest.rf

The administration offers several options for exploring the most visited attraction of the Crimean peninsula:

• - If you wish, you can order sightseeing tour around the castle and learn a lot interesting facts from the history of this object and Cape Ai-Todor.
• - Inside the castle every month and a half, a new exposition is exhibited, which can be viewed by everyone.
• - Exclusive The cultural program An Evening at the Castle will allow you to experience the romantic atmosphere of this place, enjoying performances, live music concerts and master classes by artists in the open air.
• - Carrying out wedding ceremonies- a unique opportunity to arrange a wedding in such a beautiful place, covered with legends of love and fidelity.
• - Make a wish and tie a ribbon to a magic tree near the castle. Tourists assure that everything will certainly come true!
• - Use swallow mail and send home or friends postcards from this unique location.

A visit to the Swallow's Nest Castle is possible within the framework of great excursion on the sights of Yalta. Usually such trips cost about 1,500 rubles and take the whole day.

Do not forget that you will have to climb the mountain along a special path to the Swallow's Nest. This will take you about 15 minutes. The main recommendation for tourists is to wear comfortable shoes and a hat, and take a bottle of water with you.

Planning cultural and entertainment program your trip to Crimea, set aside one day to visit this unique architectural monument, the image of which has become a real symbol of the peninsula.

Walk through its stone halls, grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant, and capture and photograph the wonderful views from its observation decks. A visit to this romantic place that resembles a fabulous the Royal Castle in miniature, it will definitely not leave you indifferent.

Ask Russians to name the symbol of Crimea - and 9 out of 10 will remember bird home... The gray, Gothic castle with graceful turrets fits perfectly into Crimean landscape... It hovers above the waves, and from below it seems that its spiers can reach the clouds. The swallow's nest is located in the village of Gaspra on South Bank Crimea: if you are resting nearby, spend a few hours visiting this attraction of Big Yalta, you will not regret it!

Where did the name "Swallow's Nest" come from? Such a name was given to her palace by one of the owners, the merchant Rachmanin. It seemed to her to symbolically call the building that hung over the sea at the edge of the cliff as the Swallow's Nest. True, at that time the palace did not even remotely resemble a modern majestic castle: it was a two-story wooden house.

The address of the Swallow's Nest is the village of Gaspra, Alupkinskoe shosse, 9A. Gaspra herself is small resort village by the sea. It is located 12 km from Yalta. To get here, you need to go along the Yalta-Sevastopol highway.

Here is a map to help you find your way around:

There are several ways to get to the Swallow's Nest in Crimea:

1. On own car: you need to drive along the highway to the turn to Gaspra and enter the village. Once you see a large cluster of souvenir shops, you can look for a parking spot.
2. By bus from Yalta. Anyone traveling in the direction of Alupka or Simeiz will do: for example, No. 102,132,115. Get off at the Swallow's Nest stop.
3. By boat from Yalta... They depart every half an hour from the Marine Station. In addition, private boats and yachts offer their services: but the cost of tickets will be significantly higher.

Here is the schedule of boats and motor ships to the Swallow's Nest from Yalta for 2020:

History of the Swallow's Nest castle in Crimea

According to historians, the rock near the modern village of Gaspra was chosen by primitive people: for example, now under the palace there is a hidden cave in which they supposedly lived. During antiquity, the Kharaks fortress was built on the Ai-Todor cape. In the middle of the 19th century, there was a lighthouse here.

The history of the Swallow's Nest castle begins in the 80s of the XIX century. Then a house was built on Aurora Rock for a general who took part in the Crimean War. Unfortunately, there are no more details about this historical person and the building itself. You can make an opinion about him by the canvases of artists - for example, a small house on a rock was captured by I.K. Aivazovsky and A.P. Bogolyubov.

The next period in the history of the Swallow's Nest in Crimea begins with the transfer of the wooden structure to the merchant Rachmanina. It was she who gave the name to the most famous Crimean landmark and built the first semblance of a palace on the rock - true, wooden and not distinguished by exquisite architectural solutions.

The Swallow's Nest acquired its modern look by 1912. By that time, the wealthy oil industrialist P.L. Steingel, a connoisseur of the Crimean beauty. He wished that a Gothic-style building was erected on a picturesque rock, reminiscent of the medieval palaces around the Rhine. His idea was embodied by the architect L.V. Sherwood.

The palace has passed from hand to hand more than once. So, after the First World War, P.G. Shelaputin, who opened a restaurant in the palace. However, the times were bad, and soon the unprofitable palace was forgotten. After the imminent death of Shelaputin, he passed to the merchant's wife Rokhmanova, and then, after the Civil War, was transferred to the Main Directorate of State Farms of Crimea.

The black stripe in the history of the Swallow's Nest in Yalta continued into the 1920s. An earthquake created a crack in the rock. A large piece broke off from it (there was a beautiful garden on it). The castle itself was not damaged, but it hung dangerously over the sea. For a short time there was a reading room of the local recreation center "Zhemchuzhina", but it was also closed for security reasons.

Restoring the Swallow's Nest

The first works to preserve the unique castle began in the 60s. Employees of the Yalta branch of the Institute for Urban Design have succeeded in almost impossible. In order to secure the building, they installed a monolithic reinforced concrete base under it. I had to not only manually lift the great height all building materials, but also literally disassemble the Swallow's Nest brick by brick (each of them was numbered!) and assemble it again in the same form.

From the 70s to 2011, a restaurant was opened in the castle. In 2012, the building was once again closed for reconstruction, but a museum was organized on the territory. Today it is a cultural monument. Work on the reconstruction of the Swallow's Nest continues. So, the balcony is closed - the most beautiful observation point of the castle (the reason for the dissatisfied comments of tourists). In addition, only a limited number of tourists are allowed into the territory - groups of no more than 15 people. We hope that the work will be crowned with success and one of the main attractions of the Crimea will be preserved in its original form!

What's inside the Swallow's Nest?

If you study the history of the Swallow's Nest and look at the photos from the inside, it will become obvious: no interesting historical interiors have survived here. This is partly the fault of the first owners: according to historians, the first owner of the Gothic castle, Steingel, simply did not have time to furnish it in accordance with the exterior, and the last pre-revolutionary owner decorated the interior in the old Russian style, which absolutely does not combine with Gothic architecture. Then for many years there was a restaurant here at all. To make your visit to the museum interesting, exhibitions are regularly held here.

Prices for tickets to Swallow's Nest in 2020

Since the restaurant was removed from the palace, the entrance to the territory of the castle itself is free. You can inspect the exterior of the building, admire the view from the steep Aurora rock.

Excursions inside the palace are paid. For 2020, the cost is:

Schedule

The opening hours of the Swallow's Nest change depending on the season:

• November - May: from 10.00 to 16.00. The day off is Monday.
• May - October: from 10.00 to 19.00. Seven days a week.

Legends of the Swallow's Nest

In Crimea, almost every rock has its own history: the peninsula has been inhabited since time immemorial and beautiful legends passed from people to people. Around the Swallow's Nest has developed its own mythology, and to make a visit to the castle more interesting more money), legends are invented in our time.

The most beautiful story refers to the name of the rock. At this place, the goddess of the dawn Aurora loved to meet the dawn. Poseidon fell in love with her, but Aurora rejected his feelings. The god of the seas made an agreement with Aeolus, who commands the winds, and he filled the sky with clouds that did not let the sun's rays through. When Aurora next came to the cliff to meet the dawn, the sun did not appear. The girl waited for a long time, was tired and fell asleep. Poseidon wanted to sneak up and grab her, but Aurora was quicker - she managed to escape. The diadem fell from the head of the upset Poseidon, the magic lost its power and the sun rose again.

Interesting stories surround the castle itself. Basically, the reason is that no one knows for certain who built the Swallow's Nest, who the subsequent owners were, and even about the identity of the architect there are disputes. According to one of the legends, the first owner of the Swallow's Nest was a general-horseman, who entertained people by jumping from a cliff into the sea on a horse, having previously blindfolded her. The horses did not survive, and the general himself, in an amazing way, always survived. Similar stories about daredevils who dived from the site of the castle are told by a great many: most often they are associated with people suffering from unrequited love.

The most modern legend The Swallow's Nest appeared along with the Tree of Happiness and a chest that is installed next to it. Allegedly, the merchant Shalaputin put money in the chest, and in the morning a magic tree grew next to him. The man made a plan for a castle to appear on the rock, and a few years later the Swallow's Nest was actually built there. Now everyone is invited to tie a ribbon on the Tree of Happiness (they are sold side by side for 150 r) and toss coins into the chest to return to this place.

Interesting facts about the Swallow's Nest

• This is one of the most "cinematic" places in Crimea: about a dozen films and TV series were filmed here, the most famous is "10 Little Indians".
• Today the palace is still in disrepair. A large crack has been found in the rock on which he is standing, and so far no way has been found to strengthen it without adding weight or increasing the risk of splitting.
• There is a cave under the palace, which is now flooded. Scientists believe that ancient people could have lived there. The walls of one of the halls of the cave are completely black.
• It makes sense to visit the Swallow's Nest in the evening. Firstly, because of the stunning illumination, and secondly, because of interesting cultural events - for example, open-air concerts of a symphony orchestra.
• From afar, the castle looks like a toy, but close up it is the smallest in Crimea. Its height is 12 m, and its area is 120 sq. M.
• You can send a letter directly from the Swallow's Nest - there is a mailbox where you can drop a postcard with the "business card" of Crimea.

1. A road with 1200 steps leads from Gaspra to the Swallow's Nest. There are benches along the edges of the road, however, according to the reviews of tourists, the path to the palace will still be difficult, especially in the summer heat. We advise you to choose a cloudy day to visit or go on an excursion early in the morning or in the evening.
2. If you plan to sail on a motor ship from Yalta, take tickets in both directions at once: it will cost less - 600 rubles round trip versus 400 rubles one way. However, the disembarkation usually lasts 50 minutes - barely enough to reach the palace, take a few pictures and return back.
3. People who came to Gaspra on their own or by car will have to try to find out where the swallow's nest is. Unfortunately, there are no pointers. If you arrive at a non-tourist time and cannot follow the excursion groups, ask the locals for directions.
4. Do you want beautiful footage of the Swallow's Nest in the Crimea? Wear comfortable shoes. The most spectacular views are from the cliffs surrounding the path to the castle.
5. As an independent object for an excursion, the castle is boring. Due to its small size and poor history of events, the Swallow's Nest boasts an interesting exposition inside. Usually, tourists are offered to visit a small historical excursion (remember that the interior of the 19th century has practically not survived!) And an art, archaeological or local history exhibition (they change about once every 2 months).

The guides recommend a more difficult route: for example, combine a trip to the Swallow's Nest with a tour of Vorontsov Palace(it is located very close, by car - less than 15 minutes) or a walk around Yalta. By the way, the city where the Swallow's Nest is located in Crimea also has other facilities. Here you can look at the famous Parus rock, Ai-Todor lighthouse, the ruins of the ancient fortification Gaspra-Isar, Panina's palace.

Cape Ai-Todor

The rocky cape, named after the not preserved medieval monastery of St. Fyodor, is formed by three spurs. Sightseeing ships dock to the shore in a miniature bay of the eastern spur, whose name Limen-Burun is naturally translated from Tatar as “the cape of the harbor”. A narrow strip of the coast is reliably protected from sea winds even during a storm, when the parking lots closest to Ai-Todor are closed. There are simply no other areas suitable for mooring ships and bathing on Ai-Todor - there are boulders and rocks all around.

On the miraculously preserved from the weathering patches of soil in Limen-Burun, juniper grows, enriching the air of the resort, it is no coincidence that patients with pneumonia and bronchitis are treated here. At the top of the cliff there is a real juniper grove, fenced with a railing. Vacationers walk along it and enjoy marine species... The observation deck is located at a height of 82 m, right above the sculpture of an eagle ready to take off. Opposite the spur, in the sea, the Parus rock is visible. Previously, it was connected to Limen-Burun by an isthmus, but during the earthquake in 1927 the natural bridge was destroyed.

Military Camp Kharax

The western spur, actually Ai-Todor, in ancient times, when the peninsula was Greek, was called Kriumetopon, or Sheep's forehead. Here in the I-III centuries. the Roman military colony Charax was established - the largest settlement of this kind in the Crimea. After the Romans, the Goths lived on the territory of the fortress, and then - peaceful fishermen. In accordance with the tasks of the camp, the builders did without frills, placing only the most necessary things on the seashore: barracks, baths, a sanctuary, an aqueduct, a necropolis. Full-fledged archaeological research of the ruins began in late XIX centuries, but they are not completed to this day.

In 1835, on the foundations of a Roman lighthouse at an altitude of 87 m above sea level, by order of the famous navigator M.P. Lazarev, a new lighthouse was laid. Outwardly resembling a squat white cylinder, surrounded by a coarse mesh and relict oaks and junipers, it still functions. The work of the lighthouse was interrupted only during the world wars and battles on the territory of the Crimean peninsula.

The palace of the Grand Duke Georgy Mikhailovich was named in honor of Kharax, located 15 minutes walk west of the Swallow's Nest. The ensemble is famous for its park with 200 species of cultivated plants. The gray limestone building with red tiles follows the tradition of Scottish architecture, quite unexpected among the lush subtropical vegetation.

Avrorina Skala

The middle part of the cape in the Middle Ages served as a haven for monks hiding from the bustle of the world. The Tatars, who assigned the name Monastyr-Burun to the spur, did not bother them. TO XIX century When not a trace remained of the monastery, the rock received a poetic name in honor of the ancient Greek goddess of the morning dawn Aurora.

Panorama of the castle and surroundings

The history of the Swallow's Nest complex

It was on the Aurora rock in the 70s of the twentieth century that the first "Swallow's Nest" appeared - an unremarkable wooden building on the edge of the cliff. At that time, the cape was built up with cottages for the sick, and a doctor and his family settled near the cliff. After his death, the widow organized a major overhaul, gave the building a presentable look and sold it as a country house. Baron Steingel became the new owner of the snow-white house. Soon he initiated the construction of another building to replace the cracked old one.

Construction and reconstruction of the "Swallow's Nest"

The author of the project was Leonid Sherwood, a representative of the famous creative dynasty, who until that time had shown himself only as a sculptor. In accordance with the wishes of the owner of the site, it was decided to take advantage of the experience of European architecture and create a building in the neo-Gothic style, with its characteristic narrow graceful spiers and towers directed into the sky. The emphasis was placed on the exterior of the house, the interiors remained unworked. The next owner of the house built in 1912, Rokhmanova, arranged the interior in the Old Russian style, discordant with the exterior. However, after a few years there was no trace of an unsuccessful design decision: during the Civil War, the territory passed to the Bolsheviks, but before that it was almost completely plundered by looters.

During the NEP period, the building was repaired and a restaurant was arranged in it. The earthquake of 1927 destroyed part of the balcony and the garden - they simply fell into the sea, while miraculously there were no casualties. The young state did not have money for the complete restoration of the complex, therefore, until the 60s, the building stood simply fenced off from unwary visitors. Gradually turning into ruins, "Swallow's Nest" still remained an excellent background for photographs. During the reconstruction of the late 60s, the building was literally dismantled by stones, an earthquake-resistant base was installed, and then assembled in the reverse order, retaining its original appearance. All materials were brought by hand, since heavy equipment could not drive up to the Aurora rock, the crack in which was also repaired. Since 1971, the facility has been open to tourists. Inside the house, exhibitions were held, a restaurant was open, until engineering surveys confirmed a new collapse hazard in 2016.

Dacha "White Swallow"

Some sources claim that the merchant Shelaputin was the owner of the Swallow's Nest, and it was he who came up with the idea to create a neo-Gothic landmark in Crimea. Historians are sure that there was confusion: just 30 meters from the real "nest" there is a two-storey cottage "White Swallow", built by order of Shelaputin in 1888. Part of the Zhemchuzhina sanatorium, in 2002 it was reconstructed and is now rented out to tourists for living. The object is absolutely safe, since it is far from the edge of the cliff, but from its terrace there is an excellent view of the Swallow's Nest and the sea.

Architectural features of the Swallow's Nest castle

Sherwood was often criticized for lack of taste, pointing to an excessive number of tiers and towers per unit area. In fact, such a building density was forced: a plot of land suitable for work occupied only 10 by 20 m, and it was supposed to live in the house. Initially, the Swallow's Nest complex included a residential building, a summer kitchen with amenities and a watchman's house. The owners were housed in a 12-meter two-story tower, in tiny bedrooms, a more substantial living room was laid away from the cliff. What the author can really be blamed for is ill-conceived additional protection for the foundation. In an earthquake-prone area, it was possible to say with absolute certainty that conventional measures were not enough and the building would be partially or completely in the sea. This is exactly what happened just 15 years after the completion of construction.

Active recreation in the surroundings

Under the Avrorina rock, below the water level, there is a network of grottoes up to 10 m deep. The narrow entrance to it is located at a depth of 8 meters, therefore, single diving without an experienced instructor and flashlights is strictly prohibited. The grottoes are called the Ichthyander Caves in memory of the movie "Amphibian Man", which was filmed in these places.

Another option extreme rest available only to professional athletes. From time to time, acrobatic jumping competitions are held on Aurora Rock. A push-off platform is installed at a height of 27 m. Without this device, a daredevil throwing himself down from the height of a city high-rise building is guaranteed to crash against the rocks.

In this post:

Famous places of Yalta - "Swallow's Nest"

There are a lot of different places in Crimea that deserve close attention of tourists. The castle is considered the main one with nice name"Bird home". It is located practically in the suburbs of Yalta. And it was to him that I decided to dedicate this post.

A bit of history

There are many legends about the main attraction of Crimea - "Swallow's Nest", but the history of the castle is no less exciting and interesting. And it began in the distant 18th century, namely in 1783, when the Crimean peninsula officially joined Russia. At this time, in the south of the peninsula, rich people began to actively buy up land, lay out gardens and build castles.

It was at this time that the tradition of having a rest in Crimea was born. Around the same time, the rock on which the "Swallow's Nest" was erected received its name - "Aurora". And most likely it was given by the people who came here at sunrise. The very first building on Avrorina Gora was a dacha with an interesting name “Generalif”, its second name at that time was “Castle of Love”.

The dacha was built by an unknown general who took part in the Russian-Turkish war (1877 - 1878). What prompted him to give this interesting name its ownership is unknown, but the fact remains. Even then, a one-story building on the edge of a cliff evoked delight and a desire to paint among such famous artists today as Aivazovsky and Lagorio, as well as A.P. Bogolyubov.

The heirs of the general after his death decided to sell the house to A. Tobin, the court doctor from the Livadia Palace. He did not support the structure in original form and made certain changes to its appearance. However, the name was not left the same, but the building was renamed "Swallow's Nest".

No one knows the reason, but at a certain moment Tobin's wife decided to sell their estate to one influential lady at that time - A. Rakhmanova. The new mistress naturally began to make her own changes, but already cardinal ones. The wooden structure was completely demolished, and in its place were erected stone mansions, captured on postcards issued at the beginning of the 20th century.

True, this lady was not a mistress for long, in 1911 she sold it to the German Baron Stengel. And now it was he, or rather by his order, who erected the building, which we are with you today and have the opportunity to admire. Getting to know with. In 1914, a small castle in the Gothic style appeared on the Avrorina rock.

The son of a very famous architect, Leonid Sherwood, was engaged in it. It was he who conceived the composition of the steps. This decision was made in view of the limited territory, and at the same time he managed to even break a small beautiful garden... The total height of the building was twelve meters. With a foundation width of 10 and a length of 20 meters.

True, this owner did not stay long in the modern sight of Yalta. Since the war began at the end of July 1914, the baron quickly had to leave his possessions. And the castle passed into the ownership (was bought) of the noble merchant P. Shelaputin. The castle lasted unchanged until the Yalta earthquake (1927). The building survived, but received the status of "emergency" and the authorities began to overhaul it only at the end of the sixties of the last century.

The employees of Yalatspetsstroy have done a truly fantastic job. Their merit is that the castle remained hanging over the cliff. The walls were not dismantled, the foundation was strengthened. Slightly changed the appearance of the facade and some of the interior. In the course of these works, anti-seismic belts were also equipped. Already in this form, the building received the status of "Architectural Monuments".

Here is such an interesting and exciting history of the Swallow's Nest castle - the main attraction of the Crimean peninsula. Reading it, I just want to go to Yalta once again to enjoy this greatness and beauty again. And in addition to learn a few legends, of which there are many about this place.

What is special

Yalta is rich in various beautiful and interesting places, perhaps that is why a huge number of tourists tend to come here. The "nest" is located in the village of Gaspra, about 14 kilometers from the center of the resort. This place has several features. And the first one is placement. The castle was built on a steep rock Aurora. The rock itself is included in the composition.

The sight is amazing, especially considering that the structure in literally the word hangs off the cliff, that is, it goes over the edge. It is worth mentioning that the height of the Aurora rock is forty meters. On the way to the castle there is an observation deck, from where the castle looks especially majestic. By the way, from this point to the Swallow's Nest itself, it is necessary to overcome another 1200 steps. But don't let this figure scare you.

The ascent is not difficult, but there are still fewer steps than stated. I thought, but I will not say for sure, maybe I was mistaken. are certainly not limited to one "socket". And at the same time, it is this place that is worth paying attention to, since you have already arrived on the peninsula. By the way, there is another one on the way to the castle. amazing place- "Garden of living tropical butterflies." They are even sold there, so you can make an interesting purchase if you want.

There is another platform near the building, from which an equally mesmerizing view opens up. It is she who protrudes beyond the edge of the cliff. Approaching the "Swallow's Nest" you understand that it is not quite the same as in the pictures, calendars. This does not mean the general appearance, but the dimensions of the structure. Honestly, I expected to see the building much larger.

In general, there are many attractions in Yalta. And one of them can be seen directly from the observation deck "Swallow's Nest" - Mount Ai-Petri. With its famous cable car. By the way, we did just that, looked at the castle, walked around the territory, ate at the restaurant of the same name and went to the “cable car”. Impressions are great. More about Ai-Petri.

Prices 2019, official website

Where is, how to get

It all depends on which city you are planning a trip from. It can be not only Yalta, from which buses run to the castle. But Alupka, however, like any other city of Crimea. If you are coming from Yalta, take a bus with a sign “Swallow's Nest”. But first ask the driver where he is going and which bus will go first.

By car, your own or, as well as by taxi to get to this famous place of course the most convenient. If you drive your car, follow the H19 highway (Yuzhnoberezhnoe highway), go to T2709, from it you need to turn off onto Alupkinskoe highway and follow the corresponding sign. In principle, experienced autotourists will always find the right path. Exact location on the map and GPS coordinates at the end of the article.

Excursions

Another option to get to the main attraction of Crimea is excursions. First, it's convenient. And secondly, learn more interesting information about these places. By the way, from Yalta the majority excursion programs pass through the sea. And this is another reason to choose this route to a local celebrity.

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