Vityazevo, one of the most famous resorts in Russia, located in the vicinity of Anapa, has its own history, and not every resort village can boast of such a riot of events that led to the creation and development of this settlement. So, the Pontic Greeks, the Russian-Turkish wars, the Cossack village, the Crimean War, the arrival of Vladimir Adolfovich Budzinsky... What else don’t you know about Vityazevo? Let's look at the details of the unique history of the region in this article.
Hospitable sea
In fact, one of the early ancient Greek names for the sea was “Inhospitable” (Πόντος Ἄξενος). Perhaps this was due to the difficulties of navigation and the wild tribes inhabiting its shores. Later, Greek colonists, who successfully mastered the coast, rethought the name and changed it somewhat; the sea began to be called “Hospitable” (Πόντος Εὔξενος). About 2000 years ago, they founded the city of Euxine Pontom (otherwise known as Pont Euxine) on the site of present-day Vityazevo. Despite the fact that during the entire history of the existence and gradual transformation of the village, the families of the Pontic Greeks could have been forced out of the territory of its borders and generally destroyed, this did not happen. Therefore, many tourists visit this resort precisely for its special atmosphere - on the streets, in cafes and shops you can hear Greek speech; the icons decorating the Church of St. George the Victorious were painted by icon painters from Athos; many houses are painted in the national Greek colors - blue and white; Many architectural elements are made in the Greek style.
Attractions
The fundamental difference between Vityazevo and other settlements located on the coast is its architecture. She is the main attraction of the village. Everything here reminds of Greece - the small homeland of most people living in the village. Whether you walk along the Paralia embankment, where there are many cafes and restaurants, there is an amusement park, or whether you want to walk along the quiet streets - in any corner of Vityazevo you can come into contact with Antiquity - the legendary period of Greek culture.
Being a resort village, Vityazevo will always find something to show its guests. It has its own winery, which you can visit on a tour, its own water park with the true Greek name “Olympia”, its own drinking gallery “Pearl”, where real mineral water flows, as well as its own holy place - the Temple of St. George the Victorious.
Russo-Turkish wars
In 1809, it was in the Vityazevo region during the Russian-Turkish wars that a battle took place between the Circassians, who were constantly raiding the Anapa fortress, and two companies of the Jaeger regiment under the command of Major Vityaz. The battle continued for several hours; out of 15 officers, two remained alive, and even those were seriously wounded, but they continued to command their fighters. The battalion that arrived to help defeated the highlanders, but Major Vityaz died 3 days later from wounds received during the battle. The Cossack village of Vityazevskaya was later named after him.
Rent a Car
You can rent a car directly in Vityazevo or in the surrounding area: at Anapa airport, in the neighboring village of Dzhemete. Local and international franchise companies (Europcar, Sunnycars, Hertz) offer their services.
An economy class car (5-door sedan) costs from network companies on average from 2800 RUB per day, from private companies - from 2500 RUB (a domestic car is cheaper - from 1500 RUB). The latter offer a more flexible system of discounts: you save 200-300 RUB per day when renting a car for at least 2-3 days. In addition, they also offer hourly rentals - from 300-450 RUB per hour.
If the “network operators” will definitely take the credit card information and freeze the deposit on it, then private rental companies are ready to accept a deposit in the form of cash.
There are few organized public parking areas, both paid and free, on the coast. Therefore, they put it as necessary. The parking lots at the guest houses are occupied by guests' cars during the season. In areas closed to traffic, parking may be paid. Thus, parking at the Bolshoy Utrish nature reserve costs from 400 RUB. In the morning and evening hours, traffic jams may form near Anapa.
Cossack village
In 1829, the Treaty of Adrianople was concluded between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, according to which Russia was given a large territory in which the Russian-Turkish wars were fought, including the entire eastern coast of the Black Sea. In this regard, the question of settlement around Anapa arose. In 1837, a village with bastions and a moat was erected in the Vityazevo area, which housed more than 400 garrison people. Despite the peace treaty, in 1838 the highlanders attempted to capture the settlement, but were repulsed by a detachment of Yesaul Babych. By 1852, about 2,000 people already lived in the village, which was recorded in the population census. After this, the village of Vityazevskaya existed for exactly one more year - due to the onset of the Crimean War of 1853–1856, the population of the village had to be evacuated.
Infrastructure
The village of Vityazevo is traditional Vityazevo, where the bulk of the residents live, plus two new quarters: the first in the area of the Chaika sanatorium, the second near the Paralia amusement park. The last two quarters are aimed directly at vacationers. If in summer the whole of Vityazevo can be compared to a buzzing beehive, then in winter the new quarters are completely empty, which cannot be said about the old village. With the onset of cold weather, life here does not stop at all: local residents do everyday things, relax and visit each other. Therefore, before buying real estate, you need to decide for what purposes it is needed. If you are going to settle in the village on a permanent basis, then you should pay attention to the old area. If you are interested in real estate for guest business, you can consider options in new neighborhoods.
It is safe to say that every year Vityazevo is succeeding in its development. It is difficult to say whose merit this is: local authorities or entrepreneurs. But, nevertheless, the fact remains: every season the village welcomes guests in a new, more perfect guise. The changes apply to retail facilities, entertainment complex facilities and many other aspects.
Modern Vityazevo has everything necessary so that everyone who lives here (or comes to relax) does not feel disadvantaged in any way. The infrastructure of the village is fully developed: it has its own school and kindergarten, pharmacies, ATMs, hairdressers, Internet cafes, shops, a market, a 3D cinema, a post office, an ambulance station, etc. Communication with Anapa is maintained through buses that run regularly every 5 – 10 min.
After the Crimean War
People gradually began to return to Vityazevo, but only in 1862, that is, actually 9 years after the evacuation, the settlement of Vityazevo appeared on the site of the village, the basis of which was the Pontic Greeks - everything returned to normal. The number of vineyards in the settlement increased significantly; local residents equipped wine cellars and built 18 windmills.
Beaches
Both villages stretch along many kilometers of coastal strip and are not much inferior to each other in terms of cleanliness, width and amenities of the beaches. In Vityazevo, the beach is bordered by high dunes and covered with a mixture of shells and sand. The entrance to the water is gentle, comfortable, the adult depth begins 20-50 m from the shore.
On the shore there are changing cabins, toilets, showers, and rental points for umbrellas and sun loungers. Available entertainment includes riding bananas, cheesecakes, jet skis, inflatable water slides and attractions. Vacationers can enjoy cafes, snack bars, retail outlets with ice cream and drinks, and a water park is located nearby.
Beaches of Dzhemete. Photo: wikiway.com
The beaches of Dzhemete are fenced off from buildings by picturesque sand dunes; the sandy surface is much softer and more suitable for delicate children’s feet. The water here is cleaner, it does not stagnate, like in Anapa, and thanks to its shallow depth it warms up faster and does not cool down longer. The entrance to the sea is gentle, without sharp descents, dips or sharp stones. The bottom is flat, sandy, perfect for kids and older people.
You may be interested in: Holidays with children in Vityazevo
The beach infrastructure of Dzhemete is identical to that of Vityazev, but there are fewer people here and it’s not difficult to find a free sun lounger even during peak season. In addition, unlike the competing village, in Dzhemet a walk to the sea from the farthest point will take 15 minutes, and in Vityazevo the distance to the shore varies from 7 to 60 minutes on foot.
Vityazevo coast. Photo: wikiway.com
For the beaches, Vityazevo gets 1 point, Dzhemete - 2 points
Becoming a tourist resort
Back in 1856, military authorities noted that staying in Anapa had a beneficial effect on restoring the health of officers and junior ranks suffering from malaria. It was then that the first military hospital was established there. In 1893, a note by the doctor Alexander Ivanovich Pesochinsky appeared in the Kuban Regional Gazette newspaper, who assured that Anapa, more than all other settlements on the Caucasian Black Sea coast, has the right to be called a climate station. Vladimir Adolfovich Budzinsky first visited Anapa and its environs in 1898. He was a talented Russian doctor, whose scientific field of activity was balneology and orthopedics. Correctly assessing the unique natural and climatic factors of the area, he immediately developed vigorous activity in the construction of resort institutions:
- In 1900, the first water and mud bath was opened (Institute of Physical Methods of Treatment), which operates to this day, but on the basis of the Mayak sanatorium.
- In 1902, a boarding house with 90 beds was built on its territory.
- In 1909, the children's anti-tuberculosis sanatorium "Bimlyuk" was opened.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the first hotel was built in Vityazevo, a collective farm was formed, and agriculture took off sharply. The development of the village as a tourist destination was temporarily interrupted by the First and Second World Wars.
Population of Anapa. Cosmopolitan city
And who will you meet in Anapa! The descendants of all conquerors live here, from the Greeks and Turks, naturally, Russians, to newcomers from neighboring countries. More than 150 thousand people live in Anapa and the region. The people are hardworking, friendly, able to meet, welcome, and entertain numerous resort guests.
Some nationalities unite and create their own diasporas. They honor traditions, observe rituals, communicate in their native, national language, trying to preserve their mentality and instill in their children the foundations of their culture and way of life. The most active and largest diasporas of Anapa are Armenian, Crimean Tatar, Greek and Yakut.
Vityazevo today
At the end of the 20th century - the beginning of the 21st century, the history of Vityazevo as a tourist village developed at a rapid pace. Today there are a huge number of boarding houses, holiday homes, and mini-hotels where vacationers can stay.
Rest can and should be combined with wellness treatments. At the service of tourists are the famous medical and health complex "Vityaz", built in 1998, the sanatorium "Aquamarine", opened in 2005, and many other medical institutions, on the territory of which there are beaches, swimming pools, libraries, bars and restaurants, game rooms for children.
Nature and climate
Vityazevo, one might say, is part of Anapa, therefore the climate here is similar: very mild, with an almost imperceptible transition from one time to another. The beach season can open as early as May, and until the end of September - until the beginning of October.
Almost immediately beyond the village. Vityazevo originates from the Main Caucasus Range, in the lowlands of which there are orchards. The village is home to many species of southern vegetation. In addition, the resort is considered a natural mud bath, where you can improve the functioning of the musculoskeletal system.
Entertainment
In addition to sea and beach holidays, Vityazevo offers a wide range of various entertainments. At the same time, they are able to satisfy both young couples and vacationers with children.
Adults can sit in the cafe in the evening; they often play live music. Pop stars come to give concerts.
On Traktornaya Street No. 36, you can visit a kitesurfing school .
Foam discos are popular, for example, the largest open
area “Zhar” .
Bowling alley with 10 lanes, located on Southern Avenue.
On Chernomorskaya Street there is a billiard club “Salen” , where tournaments with a prize fund are held for both men and women. On the same street (Chernomorskaya, 238), festivals and show programs are held with the invitation of professional musicians.
Other bars and clubs in Paralia:
Special attention should be paid to the dolphinarium, also located in the embankment area, at the address: Nikolaevsky proezd No. 4.
At the dolphinarium you can:
Children under 5 years old do not need a ticket.
In Vityazevo there is also an Amusement Park (from 150 rubles) on Central Boulevard.
How to get there
Vityazevo is located 15 km from the resort town of Anapa. The airport is located closer to the village than to the “older” resort. The village of Vityazevo is only 5 km away from it (taxi prices are around 400–600 rubles). If you arrived in the Anapa urban district by train from Moscow, Krasnodar or another city, then the journey from the railway station is about the same, and the prices are similar.
You can easily travel along the Anapa-Vityazevo road by car or minibus. In the second case, the journey will cost from 40 rubles, but at the height of the season there are almost no seats in the cabin. A taxi from Anapa to Vityazevo costs approximately 350 rubles.
Comparison criteria
Before you start comparing which is better - Dzhemete or Vityazevo, you need to determine the parameters by which they will be compared. First of all, this:
- Distance from Anapa.
- Beaches and their condition.
- Entertainment.
- Treatment. Availability and quality
- Nutrition. Quality and cost.
- Accommodation prices.
So where is it better and cheaper: in Dzhemete or Vityazevo? Let's try to figure this out. Of course, any village has its admirers and opponents, but newcomers want to know more about each village.
