Sights of Foros: Foros Temple and Foros Park

The Crimean resort village of Foros is famous not only for the fact that the first and last president of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev, was here during the August 1991 putsch. It is notable for its mild climate and beautiful nature. The sights of Foros make it interesting for those who love not only a beach holiday, but also a useful educational holiday.

A few facts about Foros

• The history of Foros as a resort began in the 19th century, when the Russian nobility began to develop their estates and estates here.
• The most beautiful park in Crimea is located in Foros - Foros Park.
• The population of Foros is about 1.9 thousand people.
• Foros is part of the Yalta urban district.
• The distance from Foros to Balaklava is 37 km, to Sevastopol - 50 km, to Inkerman - 45 km.
• The closest city to Foros is Alupka, located 25 km away.

Public transport

Foros has its own bus station, with buses leaving approximately every 45 minutes, starting at 7 a.m. and ending at 7:30 p.m. (departure times and intervals depend on the destination). The routes are not for moving around the village; buses travel long distances to other cities.

Taxi prices in Foros are 12-15 rubles/km or 200 rubles/hour. Foros is full of attractions, interesting places and beautiful beaches. Prices for housing, transportation and food vary, which will help everyone choose the most affordable and convenient option. A holiday in this place will definitely be remembered with vivid impressions and will fill your albums with magnificent photographs.

Article design: Oleg Lozinsky

Foros Temple

The Church of the Resurrection of Christ or the Foros Temple is also called “floating in the clouds”, as it is built on the cliff of a high cliff, Red Rock, at an altitude of more than 400 meters above sea level. The surrounding area of ​​the temple is an excellent observation deck from which the whole of Foros can be seen at a glance.

The Church of the Ascension was built with the money of the tea industrialist Alexander Kuznetsov in 1892 by the architect Nikolai Chagin, this was his best creation. The architectural style of the nine-domed temple is neo-Byzantine and pseudo-Russian.

The temple is dedicated to the story of the rescue of the family of Emperor Alexander III after a train crash at Borki station in 1888. As a result of the disaster, 21 people died and 68 people were injured. The emperor, his wife and children remained alive, none of them were seriously injured. In memory of the miraculous salvation of the royal family, chapels and churches began to be built throughout the vast Russian Empire, the Foros Church being one of them. In 1898, as part of the 10-year anniversary of the accident, Emperor Nicholas II visited him with his wife and daughters.

During its history, the Foros Temple had to endure many shocks; they tried to demolish it more than once, but it still stood and waited for restoration.

Hotels

Foros has a large selection of hotels and inns:

*price may vary depending on the season

Kuznetsov's House

Alexander Kuznetsov (1856-1895) - tea magnate and an iconic figure for the village. With his money, not only the main temple of Foros and the park were built, on the territory of which, by the way, the house is located. The entrepreneur bought more than 250 hectares of local land and was actively involved in developing the infrastructure of Foros, for example, he installed a telephone, telegraph, electricity here, and built a pier.

The two-story house that Kuznetsov built for himself also became a landmark. From the outside it looks quite modest, but inside it is truly beautiful. Marble staircases, fireplaces, and from the windows and balconies there are magnificent views of the surrounding area. There are a large number of paintings on the walls, but they do not hang in frames, but are glued directly to the plaster. This, at first glance, barbaric treatment of objects of art saved them during the war: the paintings could not be taken out.

Currently, Kuznetsov’s house is located on the territory of the sanatorium, but is open to the public.

How to get there

There are several ways to get to Foros. The best option is to drive to the village in your own car, but this is not the only way. You can also get to Yalta by train, and then take a bus and easily get to the village. There is an air route option: by plane to Sevastopol or Simferopol, and from there by bus to Foros.

Buses from the Yalta bus station to Foros depart every 30 minutes. Suburban route No. 128 operates daily from 7.00 to 20.00. The cost of the trip is 60 rubles, the journey takes 50 minutes. There is no need to book bus tickets; they are purchased upon arrival of the transport.

You can get from Sevastopol airport to Foros by direct bus. According to the schedule, it departs twice a day: at 11:30 and 19:25, but the schedule may change, so it is better to get your bearings on the spot. The fare is 370 rubles, travel time is about 3 hours.

There is plenty of transport to Foros Sevastopol. From here you can get to your destination by trolleybuses No. 9, 20, 54, 55 for 12-20 rubles; by bus No. 49 and 98, and by minibus No. 115. Buses run from 6.25 every 50 minutes, it is possible to book tickets.

Foros Park

Founded by industrialist Alexander Kuznetsov at the end of the 19th century, it is distinguished by its rich flora: more than two hundred species of trees and shrubs grow here, which were brought here from all over the planet. The park is divided into three parts, which are located at different levels. The uppermost part is practically a wild forest with centuries-old and even older trees. The middle one is called “Paradise” and is distinguished by its amenities: it is cozy, there are many fountains, recreation areas, observation platforms; this part of the park is popular among tourists. The lower tier is access to the seashore.

Unfortunately, in the middle of the 20th century, on the orders of Stalin, the cypress trees were cut down in the park. They say this happened after the visit of American President Roosevelt to Crimea. In America, cypress trees are planted only in cemeteries and coffins are made from them, so Crimea made a depressing impression on Roosevelt, and Joseph Vissarionovich ordered to get rid of the cypress trees.

Gorbachev's dacha

In the early 90s, the name of the village was on everyone’s lips thanks to another architectural landmark of Foros - the dacha of USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev (the Zarya object). Even now it is a very interesting and attractive place for tourists, but it is unlikely that you will be able to drive to it and enter the territory. Now it belongs to the Federal Security Service of the President of Russia.

The dacha was built not far from Foros itself, the place was chosen by Raisa Maksimovna. However, it is not the most successful. Firstly, the house is open on all sides, which makes it very difficult to guard. Secondly, this is a seismically dangerous rocky area, and landslides often occur here. From the point of view of flora, not everything is fine either; we had to bring in different plants here to create a landscape that is pleasing to the eye.

They say the inside is richly decorated and even equipped with a nuclear room. But despite all the efforts of the founders, it was not popular among Gorbachev’s followers. They say this place has bad energy.

House-Museum of Yulian Semenov

The house of the author of the legendary novels “17 Moments of Spring”, “TASS is authorized to declare”, “Major Whirlwind” is located very close to Foros, 8 km from it. Yulian Semyonov did not live here for very long, but he lived here constantly, leaving him only in winter. This is a rather modest dwelling, but it reflects the spirit of the Soviet era and the documentary writer himself, who called his house “Villa Stirlitz.” Alla Pugacheva and USSR Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko were here.

The founder of the museum was Olga Semyonova, the daughter of the writer. She tried to preserve as accurately as possible the situation that existed during Yulian Semyonovich’s life. You can visit the house for free. True, only part of the house is open to guests, the second part is residential.

Cape Sarych and its lighthouse

Guests of Foros should definitely visit the nearby Cape Sarych - the southernmost point of Crimea. But it is not only the territorial feature of this place that attracts tourists. There is a lighthouse here, reminiscent of the famous Foros lighthouse.

Once upon a time, ancient Alexandria stood on the site of the modern city. Next to it was the island of Pharos. On its rocky shore, ancient craftsmen built the world's tallest lighthouse, which became the seventh wonder of the world. The coast and the island were connected by an artificially created sandy isthmus, making it easier to maintain the building.

The lighthouse was built in 280 BC. It was gigantic: it consisted of three tiers, and the total height was one hundred and twenty meters. The lower tier was located separately, from where the three-story tower originated. The thickness of its wall blocks was thirty meters. The first tier was built from massive limestone slabs. The second tier had a tower shape with eight sides. This design was chosen for a reason: each face looked in the direction of the wind. The tower walls were lined with marble slabs. On the third tier there was a lantern. It was a round turret with columns, a giant dome and a seven-meter statue of a sea deity on it.

There was always a fire burning in the small round tower of the lighthouse. Its light was incredibly bright due to reflective plates made of the thinnest metal. That's why the sailors saw him from afar. The wonder of the world stood until the 14th century, when it was destroyed by an earthquake.

The lighthouse on Cape Sarych is just a reminder of the majesty for which Foros was famous. It is much smaller, and has nothing in common with the ancient structure.

Tsar Nicholas II chose the place to build the lighthouse when he sailed along the coast of Crimea. The sailors pointed him to the southernmost point of the peninsula, and the sovereign decided that there should be a lighthouse at this place. There were many bureaucratic disputes associated with its construction, since at that time this land was private property. The lighthouse has survived cataclysms, wars and changes of states. It is already more than a hundred years old, and it is still a property of Cape Sarych and Foros as well.

Baydar Valley

In addition to architectural, there are also natural attractions of Foros. The place is still little explored by tourists, but is gaining popularity. An ecologically clean area, a protected nature reserve with a large number of rivers, waterfalls, lakes, rich flora and picturesque landscapes.

The valley is also called “little Switzerland” due to the similarity of the landscapes. Here are the remains of an ancient road from Rome, which was used in winter due to the impossibility of sea crossing.

Cape Aya

This natural attraction is located near Balaklava. A characteristic feature of Cape Aya is sheer cliffs and grottoes. The place is famous for its beautiful wildlife, with rare plants and Mediterranean woodlands. Here you can see Sudak and Pitsun pines, different types of juniper and pistachio trees.

Many animals listed in the Red Book live on Cape Aya: weasel, horseshoe bat, marten, snakes, deer, foxes, roe deer and even wild boars. Hunting is not allowed here, as Cape Aya is a protected area.

Baydar Gate

They were built on the pass that connects the southern coast of Crimea and the Baydar Valley. They are located near the Church of the Resurrection of Christ.

This massive monumental stone structure, which looks like the Arc de Triomphe and adds solemnity to the entrance to the South Coast, was built in 1848 specifically for the opening of the road from Sevastopol to Yalta. It’s simply impossible to drive past the Baydar Gate. Tourists stop here to take beautiful photographs, as there is an observation deck built right above the gate. Catherine II herself noted the uniqueness of the local landscapes.

Temple of the Sun

This unique place is located in the Laspinskaya Valley near Foros. It is also called “Crimean Stonehenge”. The miraculous natural structure is a cluster of huge stone boulders, which are located in a special way. From above, the Sun Temple looks like a flower, in the center of which is the largest stone.

At sunrise, the first ray of the Sun falls on it. Apparently, this is why many legends and beliefs are associated with this place. It is popularly considered a place of power that gives energy to everyone who reaches it. And according to legend, only a person with pure thoughts can overcome the path. Finding the Sun Temple is not difficult, which is why more and more tourists come here.

general information

Foros is my favorite Crimean corner. I always visit memorable places associated with ancient legends.

In 1475, the Fori fortress was located on the site of the resort village.

The archaeological complex dating back to the Middle Ages included:

• rampart;
• Baydar Rock;
• burial mound;
• Cape Foros.

In 1783, the lands were owned by Prince G.A. Potemkin and nobleman K.P. Naryshkin, Tesselli estate - General N.N. Raevsky.

Modern Foros is an urban-type settlement. Tourists are attracted by the healing climate, beautiful mountains, and gentle sea.

Laspi Bay and underwater rock gardens

It is located 15 minutes by car from Foros towards Sevastopol. They say that the water in this bay is the cleanest on the entire coast of Crimea, and the climate is so favorable that the beach season does not end here until late October. Apparently, the film crew of the film “Amphibian Man” was also guided by this, since this particular place was chosen for filming. The films “Savages” and “Before First Blood” were also filmed here.

Divers love Laspi Bay because of its clear water. They are attracted by underwater rock gardens that were formed after the earthquake and consist of grottoes, caves and stone streets.

Weather. When is the best time to visit

Foros is located in the west of the South Coast. There is very little precipitation here - 300-400 mm per year. Air humidity is low. The air temperature rarely drops below 0 in winter, and does not rise above 30⁰C in summer. The holiday season reaches its climax from mid-July and lasts until the 20th of August. The velvet season begins in September and continues until the end of October.

The best time to relax in Foros is from mid-July to mid-September. At this time it is warm, the water in the sea has already warmed up, local fruits are producing their harvest. True, the largest influx of tourists occurs precisely at this time.

Laspinsky pass

A beautiful view from above of Laspi Bay opens from the observation deck of the Laspi Pass. It is located on the road from Sevastopol to Yalta and is included in almost all excursion routes along the southern coast of Crimea. Laspi Pass is the highest point of the route. In 2000, in honor of the Nativity of Christ, a chapel was built here.

The listed attractions of Foros are not all the interesting places in this region. Tourists will find a variety of beaches, observation decks, caves, canyons, parks, cultural and entertainment centers, and water parks. That is why Foros is becoming an increasingly attractive place.