While Sochi needs no introduction, not everyone knows the Sochi district of Khosta. It is located on the banks of the river of the same name in the place where Khosta flows into the Black Sea. Electric trains make a stop at Khosta station. The sea pier bears the same name. Khosta is a medieval fortress in the mountains near the coast. People lived in this fertile place thousands of years ago.
Khosta - Greater Sochi region
Under the wing of Greater Sochi
Greater Sochi is a real seaside metropolis. Its total length reaches 100 kilometers! There is no longer city in Russia. It absorbed several small towns, villages and villages. The inner-city district of Khosta is also part of the famous resort city, located between the center of Sochi and Adler. The natural boundaries of the Khostinsky district are the Kudepsta and Vereshchaginka rivers.
The coastline of Khosta is 13 kilometers. Almost all of them are beaches. Houses in the northern part of the region are located in ledges on the slopes of the spurs of the Main Caucasus Range. Behind them begins the territory of the Sochi National Park, which stretches in a narrow strip along the coast. In the west, Khosta borders on the Lazarevsky and Central districts of Sochi, in the east – on the Adler district. The highest point is Mount Fisht with a height of 2867 meters.
The coastline of Khosta is 13 km
The Khostinsky district includes such places as Matsesta, Svetlana, Bytkha, Maly Akhun, Khosta, Kudepsta, as well as 11 villages in the Baranovsky and Razdolsky rural districts. The Tuapse-Adler railway runs through the region. About 96 thousand people live in the area. The number of residents of the village of Khosta itself is 20 thousand. However, during the year another 120 thousand people come here on vacation!
Khosta is lucky with its climate, since the area is located in the humid subtropics. This is very rare in Russia. The weather is shaped by the mountains and the sea. Winters here are warm and summers are hot and humid. The Caucasus ridge is a reliable protection from northern winds. The sea cools the air in summer and warms it in winter. It also brings heavy rainfall. Summer lasts from the beginning of May until almost the end of October. Everything else is a cool spring-autumn period. Winter is missing as a class.
What will surprise you with the local cuisine?
It is probably not correct to say that in Khost you can try some culinary delights. Of course, it all depends on the skill level of the chef, but, in general, the menu here contains the same dishes as the menu in restaurants and cafes of other Russian resorts.
Caucasian cuisine is widely represented: shish kebab, khachapuri, pasties. They serve Uzbek, Japanese, Italian dishes. Lots of fresh fish and seafood dishes. The prices are reasonable, and you can find an establishment within your means. In addition, the Adler region is the only place in Russia where citrus fruits and tea are grown. There are many apiary farms in the area; you can try chestnut honey. The average bill ranges from several hundred to several thousand rubles per person.
The legacy of Prince Khamysh
In the 12th century, on the site of present-day Khosta there was a Genoese trading settlement called Casto. This was the period when the first fortresses appeared on the coast. In the 17th century, Prince Khamysh took possession of these lands. Then several villages appeared on the southern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains. In total, there were about eight dozen households. Piers were built on the seashore, and local residents actively engaged in trade. After the name of the owner, the area began to be called Khamysh.
After the end of the Caucasian War, the indigenous population left the coast, and newcomers began to actively populate it. At the end of the 19th century, the village of Khosta received city status. Dachas and two brick factories appeared on the shore. The population grew to 200 people. The most amazing thing is that there was no administration or police in the city at that time. Hosta lived on her own.
This is what the city looked like at the beginning of the last century
Perhaps for this reason, in 1905, Khosta became the capital of the newly formed workers' and peasants' Sochi Republic, which lasted only one year. In 1951, the city lost its independence, becoming part of Sochi as a district. Now Khosta is a popular beach and health holiday destination.
Khosta fortress
The next attraction is the Khosta fortress. It is located on the right bank of the Khosta River. It is located on a cliff and once served as a defensive fortification. It is an early medieval building that dates back to the 17th–10th centuries AD. This fortress was built in such a way that it was surrounded by a cliff on three sides.
The southern part has a wall, a gate and three towers. When it was built, the soil layer was removed down to the rock, then stone blocks were laid. The towers were two and three-tiered, with a combat platform at the top. The three-tier towers reached a height of 11 meters . The gates were in the shape of arches. At the moment, the wall and towers are preserved only in fragments. But despite this, you need to visit the fortress in order to touch the history and construction skills of past centuries.
Through the pages of the Red Book
The Khostinsky district borders the Sochi National Park, where most of the plant and animal species growing and living in these areas are represented. There are 11 mammals listed in the Red Book. Mostly these are bats. Among birds, 12 species are under protection. Among them are the golden eagle, the snake eagle, the Caucasian black grouse and others. 4 species of reptiles are listed in the Red Book. Of these, you should be wary of the vipers Dinnik and Kaznakov.
Sochi National Park
Even more plants listed in the Red Book. In total there are about 50 species. It is worth noting the Caucasian lily, oriental poppy and magnificent colchicum, which are a real decoration of mountain landscapes. Of course, these rare representatives of the flora cannot be found in the city. To do this you will have to climb the mountains. The national park staff have developed 28 excursion routes especially for tourists.
Zmeykovskie waterfalls
The next place you definitely need to go to is the Zmeykovsky waterfalls.
Their beauty is mesmerizing; they are located not far from the Zmeyka River. Ask why the name is like that. Yes, everything is very simple from above, the river and its tributaries look like a snake. You can't get lost here, because there are always a lot of curious tourists. The waterfalls consist of 5 cascades and are simply stunning. If you have never seen natural waterfalls and picturesque gorges, then you definitely need to visit this place. Get a lot of impressions. Here, it is even possible to swim. And for photography lovers, you can take wonderful photographs of the picturesque nature of this place.
Location: Izmailovskaya street - 180.
Treatment with passion
Stalin, Budyonny, Voroshilov, Brezhnev - what unites these famous people? All of them improved their health at the Matsestinsky resort, which is located in the Khostovsky district. The main remedy is the world famous Matsesta hydrogen sulfide mineral water. It contains more than 20 chemical compounds. Mineral baths help normalize blood pressure and metabolism in the body. Local water is used to treat diseases of the nervous system, musculoskeletal system, and skin.
Famous health resorts are located in Khosta
The first resort using local mineral water was opened back in 1902. They called him "Matsesta". It was estimated that over the entire period of operation of the hydropathic clinic, 220 million procedures were performed! And the first hosting hotel, which would now receive the prefix “SPA,” appeared seven years later. It was called the “Caucasian Riviera” and had an electric light and water therapy clinic, mineral baths, a concert hall, a casino, a restaurant and even a reading room. Currently, there are about a dozen sanatoriums in Khosta.
As befits a seaside resort, Khosta has many hotels and several public beaches, including “Wild” and “Wild”. The latter is especially popular with fishermen and divers, since the sea water here is crystal clear. Boarding houses and sanatoriums have their own beaches. The Breeze Hotel has a water park of the same name.
Hosta rental prices
Do you want to go on vacation in May? Look for housing now. Let's take a closer look at what real estate options and estimated prices are here.
On the territory of Khost there are a number of sanatoriums and boarding houses where during your vacation you can improve your health or boost your immunity. Do you want to combine relaxation with treatment? Then rent a room in one of these establishments.
You will have all the conditions for relaxation and your own beach area. Please note that tours must be booked in advance. Choose an establishment taking into account your plans and book a room without delaying until the last moment.
There are hotels and hotels, the cost of living here depends on the comfort and size of the room. The price is influenced by the popularity of the establishment, its location and the time of the holiday season. Lovers of wild recreation look for campsites and enjoy living in tents. Housing of this type is considered the cheapest, but one cannot count on comfortable conditions.
You can rent an apartment daily and live on your own. The cost of such housing starts from 1,500 rubles per day. Some real estate offers can be seen here https://hosta.travelrent.com/kvartiry-posutochno-hosta, https://hosta.spiti.ru/ . If you rent a cottage or a modern villa, then the cost of living can rise to 15,000 rubles per day.
When a large group of you is going on vacation, this price is not important. There is an option to rent a small house, a guest outbuilding or a room in a residential building. The cost of such housing is around 600 rubles per day per person.
The search can be carried out by any available means. It’s good to look for information on the social networks Odnoklassniki and VKontakte, you can use Avito and other message boards.
Finding inexpensive but good housing is quite possible if you put in a little effort. Plan in advance where you will live, what conditions you want and how much you are willing to allocate for accommodation. A small plan is better than big chaos.
What to see?
The cult landmark of Khosta is the yew-boxwood grove, which is located on the slopes of Mount Akhun. In fact, this is a huge open-air botanical museum. Here are relict species of flora that appeared 30 million years ago and have remained unchanged to this day. In total, 200 species of plants grow in the grove. The real giants are yews up to 30 meters high. The age of some specimens has exceeded 2 thousand years!
Yew-boxwood grove
The Navalishinsky gorge is very picturesque. Its name comes from the name of the former owner of the local lands. The canyon is about one and a half kilometers long and is a popular route for excursions and hikes. It is decorated with yew and boxwood groves that frame the slopes. On one of the terraces rise the picturesque White Rocks.
The canyon is about one and a half kilometers long
The Agur waterfalls are beautiful, one of which falls from a height of 30 meters. At the confluence of the Western and Eastern Khosta rivers, millions of years ago, a canyon was formed, which was called the “Devil's Gate”. The height of the walls in some places reaches fifty meters. An interesting place is the Vorontsov Caves. The total length of the underground passages is about 600 meters. There is a reconstruction of a primitive man's site in the cave. Zmeykovskie waterfalls, which include five cascades, are also beautiful.
Wall of an ancient fortress
Among the man-made attractions, the ancient Khosta fortress should be noted. It is believed that it was built by Genoese merchants in the Middle Ages. The walls of the citadel are made of large limestone blocks. Four watchtowers and fragments of the wall have survived to this day. The ruins are surrounded by powerful boxwoods and hornbeams.
Tower on Mount Akhun
In Khost there is a local history museum and the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord. The most popular museum is considered to be Stalin's former dacha, which is located between the Agur Gorge and Matsesta. Here you can see the personal belongings of the leader. Not far from the left tributary of the Agua River, the ruins of an ancient church have been preserved. It is believed that it operated back in the Middle Ages. For some reason, treasure hunters love this place. No less interesting is the “Plastic in Wood” art gallery, which displays about half a thousand masterpieces carved from wood.
Mount Akhun
You should definitely climb Mount Akhun, on the top of which a stone observation tower was built in the 1930s. Its height reaches 30 meters. From the top platform a magnificent panorama of the Black Sea coast opens. The main tourist street of Khosta is Platanovaya. The maximum number of restaurants, entertainment, and souvenir shops is concentrated on it. A popular place for walking is the Khosta embankment.
Where to relax in Khosta. Beaches and entertainment
Khosta, surrounded on three sides by mountain formations (Cape Vidny, Mount Akhun and the Ovsyannikov Ridge), is located in a natural bay of the Sochi coast - Tikhaya. Thanks to the mountain protection, cold winds do not penetrate into Khosta, and only a cool sea breeze dominates on its coast. it is warmer in Khosta
than in the city of Sochi, and in the summer it is much
more comfortable
.
The sun sets behind Cape Vidny every day
Khosta is divided by the fast river of the same name into two parts, connected by numerous crossover bridges. It so happened that the right side of the city became a “sleeping” area, and the left side became a recreation area.
Vacationers can stay in sanatoriums
or boarding houses, hotels or guest houses, there is a private sector and mini-hotels. If you wish, you can live directly in Khosta, or you can live in the Matsesta area, although not everyone likes its hydrogen sulfide smell. There is another option to settle in the area of the village of Kudepsta.
Beach holidays in the Kudepsta area are also quite comfortable
Like any Black Sea resort, Khosta has all the required tourist attributes to entertain vacationers. You can go to the cinema
or to a disco, relax in bars or restaurants. But basically this city is intended for a calm, leisurely family holiday.
Fans of active recreation can hike along mountain trails, for example along the Navalishchensky Gorge, to the Agur waterfalls or to Mount Akhun. There are places to take a walk in the evening in Khosta itself.
There are more than enough places for evening walks in Khosta
a diving center for diving enthusiasts.
, which is located next to the Caucasus sanatorium. There you can undergo preliminary training and rent the necessary equipment. After that, the center’s employees will take you by boat to the most picturesque underwater diving spots.
Children can be taken to the Amusement Park
, located near Platanova Street.
The park is equipped with children's attractions, sports grounds and the ever-present Ferris Wheel. For teenagers there is an Autodrome
with brightly colored cars.
Children will find something to their liking at the Amusement Park
But the main entertainment of any resort was and remains a beach holiday.
Beaches
Almost all, in some places, the rather wide Black Sea coast of the Khostinsky district is a beach area and stretches for almost 20 kilometers. Directly in Khosta, the beaches occupy about 4-5 km of coastline and can be accessed from Yalta Street
or
with Platanova
. The beaches are located behind the railway line, and the path to them will pass under the Khostinsky viaduct, which in itself is quite interesting.
All Khosta beaches are similar to each other and stretch in an almost continuous line
All Khosta beaches are well equipped, have developed infrastructure and not very complex water attractions. Most of them are open to everyone and absolutely free.
. There is a closed beach area owned by Gazprom, where a more comfortable environment for relaxation has been created, and if desired, you can get there for a fixed fee. Gradually, there are more and more such departmental beaches in Khosta, but some of them are allowed into their territory for money.
There is one more thing, the Khosta beaches are not equipped with the usual resort embankment for vacationers, so you won’t be able to walk around here much in the evening, but there are cafes where you can sit and admire the unique sunsets.
Beach area near Platanova Street
is located near the mouth of Khosta. What does this mean for vacationers? The proximity to Khosta, which flows into the sea, makes the water near this place colder and somewhat cloudy. The further from the mouth, the cleaner and warmer the water.
Some of the beaches are located at the confluence of Khosta with the Black Sea
In addition to the Central City Beach, which is the only municipal beach area here, there are areas of sanatorium beaches
- “Crystal”, “Aurora”, “Caucasus”, “Blue Hill” and “Waves”. But since entry to most of them is free and free, it doesn’t really matter which beach you’re on. Sanatorium beaches are more equipped - sun loungers, umbrellas, etc. But these amenities are already provided for money. Some have volleyball courts.
, the “wild” beaches begin
, some of which are favored by nudists... You can swim on them, but there are no lifeguards or changing rooms there.
Khosta beaches stretch in the form of a pebble strip almost continuously
The majority of Khostinsky beaches are covered with pebbles, sometimes coarser, sometimes smaller. You can also find almost sandy areas.
The beaches on the side of Yalta Street are slightly different in appearance. They are not so wide, and there are quite a lot of large stones in the sea. The water here, away from the Khosta riverbed, is warmer and cleaner, which means that much more vacationers flock here, which creates certain inconveniences.
There are children's attractions on the beaches and sometimes shows are held for them
Since the length of the Khosta beaches is not particularly long, it will not be difficult to explore all the beach areas in a short period of time. Everyone will find their own beach corner, and the Black Sea remains the Black Sea everywhere!
Author of the article: Kasatkina Tatyana
Temple of Agua
The history of this temple is not as well studied as historians and researchers would like. Now the ruins of a medieval building in the vicinity of Khost attract the attention of a large number of archaeologists and tourists. Agua is located on the top of a mountain, and even in the photo it looks unusual and mysterious. Many legends are told about treasures buried on the territory of the ancient temple.
Photo of the Temple of Agua photo taken from the site: https://sochigram.com/attractions/agua
White Rocks
Continuing your exploration of the interesting surroundings of Khosta, it would be nice to visit the white rocks. They are located near the Eastern Khosta River. There are very picturesque places here. A beautiful boxwood forest, a huge number of canyons and waterfalls, and breathtakingly beautiful gorges.
Of course, you can walk here in a few hours, but it’s better to devote a whole day to it. Then it will be possible to explore these wonderful places in more detail, take beautiful photos of these picturesque places and just have a great time in nature in the company of family and friends. White rocks will give you a lot of good impressions.
Vorontsov caves
Another interesting place is the cave system, which is called Vorontsovsky. Illarion Vorontsov - Dashkov was the royal governor in the Caucasus. This is the largest cave system, which is suitable for tourist visits. Their total length is 600 meters . Moreover, the temperature there is +12 degrees all year round; during the excursion you can see the formation of stalagmites and stalactites. There is also evidence that there used to be sites of ancient people there, so next to the cave you can find a real model of a “Cro-Magnon” site. In the parking lot there is a fireplace, a goat, a bed.
Water park "Breeze"
On the central embankment of the resort village of Khosta there is a cozy and attractive water park “Breeze”. This place will be equally interesting for both adults and children. By visiting the water entertainment facility in 2022, you will be able to ride slides of varying degrees of difficulty, swim in pools with modern equipment, and sunbathe in cozy recreation areas. Prices here are low, and the service is at the proper level. If desired, tourists will be able to check into a hotel of the same name, on the territory of which there is a water park.
Photo of the Breeze Water Park taken from the site: https://yugarf.ru/
Navalishchenskoye Gorge
It is located along the Khosta River. Its mighty rocks squeeze the river, thereby creating an unforgettable feeling of grandeur. The rocks rise 140 meters, the gorge is very narrow. Boxwood trees lie on the rocks. This is a very beautiful and picturesque place.
There is also a cave of the same name, which reaches approximately 100 meters . It is divided into several halls. Archaeologists have proven that it was in this cave that there was once a site for an ancient man and this is evidenced by the found household items. There is also a legend that a robber - a cannibal - lived in this cave for a long time.
Location: Kudupstinskoye forestry, block-54, section-31.
Agur waterfalls
Another place that deserves attention is the Aguar Falls. Here you can see three beautiful waterfalls, all of them different in length. The lower one has a height of 30 meters, and the upper one is 21 meters. There are always a lot of tourists here. The places are simply mesmerizing; there is a restaurant on site where you can refresh yourself and just relax in a picturesque place.
You can also use the services of a guide who will tell you the interesting history of these places. You can, of course, go on an independent walk, leisurely walk through picturesque places, enjoy the gorgeous nature and take beautiful photographs.
Tower on Mount Akhun
The history of the development of this mountain begins in 1935, it was then that an 11 km long highway was located on its top, but in 1936 an observation tower was built there. All construction began with Stalin's order. The tower was erected in 10 months from limestone, which was quarried during construction a year before the highway. The author of the project was S.I. Vorobiev.
The tower belongs to the Romanesque style and is 30 meters high. But the main highlight of the tower is the staircase, which is made from the outside, so when climbing it, stunning views of the landscape open up. From this tower you can see all the beauties of this wonderful land, its incomparable beauty of nature. Moreover, Eagle Rocks and Aguar Falls are located very close by. Like all the sights of Khosta, the tower is no less interesting and exciting place.
Location: Mount Akhun.
