Cape Fiolent beach Tsarskoye Selo. Beaches “Tsarskoye Selo. Royal holiday for savages
Cape on the Heracles Peninsula on the southwestern coast of Crimea, in the Balaklava region of Sevastopol. The Main Range of the Crimean Mountains begins here and ends at Cape Ilya near Feodosia. It is worth noting that local residents call Fiolent not only the cape itself, but also the 10-kilometer coastal zone with holiday villages. Here on the coast there are several picturesque beaches that are popular with local residents and visitors to the city.
The most ancient name of Cape Fiolent is Parthenium. It is associated with the ancient Greek myth of Iphigenia, who was brought here by Artemis to become a priestess in the temple of the Virgin. Euripides, Goethe, Pushkin and other writers and poets wrote about this legend.
At different times, Cape Fiolent was also known as Parthenium, Felenk-Burun, Manastyr-Burun, Cape St. George. Fiolent, translated from Greek – “God’s Country”, from Italian – “Furious”, from Turkish – “Tiger”.
Arriving by bus or car, you may be disappointed at first. Flat, steppe terrain and dacha plots... But walking along the streets of dacha villages to the edge of the cape, you will see a view that will amaze you with its beauty: the endless expanses of the sea are spread out in front of you, and you yourself are above the sea at a bird's eye view. The magical, unreal, majestic beauty is breathtaking. People come here to be alone with themselves, absorb the energy of the surrounding nature, and enjoy the sea views.
One of the attractions of Cape Fiolent is the famous one, which almost everyone used to consider it their duty to visit. In 1820, A. Pushkin visited Cape Fiolent. In memory of this event, in 2011, not far from the monastery, a rotunda with a memorial sign was installed. According to legend, it was at Cape Fiolent that Apostle Andrew the First-Called set foot on Crimean soil, arriving here to preach the Gospel.
Cape Fiolent appeared as a result of the action of an ancient volcano 150 million years ago. You can see petrified lava flows. The rock sometimes contains inclusions of various minerals. On the shore, among the colorful pebbles, you can find chalcedony, carnelian and jasper polished by time and sea waves, thanks to which the most famous Fiolent beach got its name - Jasper Beach.
Fiolent beaches
Jasper Beach
Jasper Beach- pebble, one of the most comfortable on Fiolent. The beach has shelters with sun loungers and changing rooms. The staircase (800 steps) leading from the monastery to the beach winds like a serpentine in the shade of trees. The water in the sea is amazingly clear, turquoise in color. In the summer months, a boat runs from Balaklava to Jasper Beach. It departs from Balaklava at 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 hours, from Jasper Beach at 10, 14, 16, 18 hours. You can combine a visit to the beach with a trip to Balaklava and take a boat trip, during which you will breathe the sea air and see the majestic Fiolent cliffs from the sea.
How to get to Jasper Beach? You can get to Jasper Beach from the “5th km” interchange (also called “5th km market”). No. 3 and from the stop "50th Anniversary of October" bus. No. 3, 19 to the stop “Monastery”, then walk 200 meters towards the sea to the descent and 800 steps along the descent.
- located west of Yashmovoy. The descent to the beach is safe. First you walk along a wide dirt road, then go down the stairs (160 steps) with strong metal railings.
How to get to Tsarskoye Beach? You can get to Tsarskoye Beach from the “5th km” stop - bus. No. 3, from the stop “Ploshchad 50 Letiya Oktyabrya” bus. No. 3, 19 to the Tsarskoe Selo stop.
To the right of the royal beach is Cape Lermontov with Diana's grotto. People call the cape Crocodile, as its outline resembles a crocodile crawling into the sea. On the opposite side (from Tsarskoe Beach) of Cape Lermontov, at its very bend, there is a descent to the sea. This place cannot be called a beach (there are practically no pebbles, there are large stones on which you can sit and sunbathe). If you have an inflatable mattress with you, then you can put your things on it in a plastic bag and swim along the shore to the next Caravelle beach.
Caravel Beach– cozy pebble beach. A safe staircase leads to it. From the top there is a magnificent view of the bay and Diana's grotto. Early in the morning, sometimes you can see dolphins in this place.
How to get there? You can get to Karavella beach from the “5th km” stop - bus. No. 3, from the “50th Anniversary of October Square” stop, bus no. 3, 19 to the “Karavella” tourist center stop. To the left of the camp site is the gardening partnership "Luch". Enter the gate and go straight until the 2nd turn left, then the 1st turn - right.
Breeze Beach or Cape Vinogradny– a picturesque pebble beach. Emerald water, so clear that you can see schools of fish. There is a path leading to the beach. When descending, it is advisable to have sports, non-slip shoes.
How to get there? You can get to the beach from the “5th km” stop - bus. No. 3, from the stop “Ploshchad 50 Letiya Oktyabrya” - bus No. 3, 19 to the stop “Breeze”. From the highway along the dirt road, past the dachas, without turning, you will reach the descent.
Beach at Mayak
Beaches near Mayak are located on the right side of Cape Vinogradny. The beaches are wild. Paths lead to them. Sports, non-slip shoes are required. The descents are not easy.
How to get there?
You can get there from the “5th km” stop - bus. No. 3, from the stop “Ploshchad 50 Letiya Oktyabrya” - bus No. 3, 19 to the stop “Mayak”.
The beaches of Fiolent, due to the descents and ascents, will serve you as a good workout, will allow you to lose excess weight, and if you add sea and sunbathing to this, then the accumulated health will last you at least until your next vacation.
Tsarskoye Selo beach is located near Cape Lermontov, not far from the famous Cape Fiolent.
Cape Fiolent is one of the most popular attractions in the city of Sevastopol, where tourists regularly come. Here are the most crowded beaches, which are famous for their clean water and developed infrastructure. Despite the long and sometimes difficult stairs to descend, the beauty of these places makes up for everything.
The length of the Tsarskoe Selo beach is approximately 300 meters, and the width is 15 meters. The beach itself is pebble, the shore is covered with medium and small pebbles of a dark color; it is better to walk along the beach with shoes. The water here is crystal clear and transparent.
The beach itself is located in the Balaklava district of Sevastopol, near the settlement of Tsarskoe Selo, where it got its name. On the south side of the beach there is a nudist beach.
Descent to the beach
A distinctive feature of all the beaches of Cape Fiolent is their difficult descent to the coast. But by and large, access to the Tsarskoye Selo beach can be called relatively uncomplicated. Since transport is prohibited from entering here, you can first go down only on foot, and then you will go up an iron staircase of 180 steps.
When descending, you need to be extremely careful, since the entire slope is subject to landslides and a stone can roll down.
Infrastructure
Despite the short length and the entire area as a whole, the infrastructure of the Tsarskoye Selo beach is quite developed.
Throughout the descent there are benches for rest, where you can stop and look at the landscape of the entire area. There is a spring to the right of the stairs.
At the place where the stairs begin, there is a mini-cafe where you can have a snack, and a concession stand where you can buy soft drinks, fish and ice cream.
Attractions in the surrounding area
Cape Lermontov
Cape Lermontov, next to which the Tsarskoye Selo beach is located, is located on the southwestern coast of the Heraclean Peninsula in Crimea. Cape Lermontov is in no way named after the Russian poet Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov. At the beginning of the 20th century, a village developed near the cape, which was named after the owner - Lermontov Dacha. He is simply the poet’s namesake. This is how the name of the cape came about.
On the other side of Cape Lermantov there is the Caravella beach. From this beach, Diana’s Grotto is clearly visible, but you can also get there by water.
Diana's Grotto
Not far from the Tsarskoye Selo beach there is Diana’s Grotto, which is located on Cape Lermontov itself. The grotto is a kind of arch through the rock. The length of the Grotto is 10-15 meters, the height of the arch is about 10 meters, the depth of the water is about 2 meters, and it is much colder here because the sun’s rays do not fall into this opening. The rock itself protrudes into the sea about 100 meters.
From the Tsarskoye Selo beach, Diana's Grotto itself is not visible, but you can get to it directly by water - from both sides of Cape Lermontov. Vacationers swim there on inflatable mattresses, boats or yachts. From the Grotto of Diana, the most extreme tourists dive into the water from the rocks, sink to the bottom wearing masks in search of interesting things.
Many people are interested in the question of how the Grotto was formed and why Diana? There are a great many legends about its origin.
Many people begin to confuse Tsarskoe Selo beach with Tsarskoye Beach, but these are two completely different beaches, located at a decent distance from each other. Tsarskoe Selo beach, as mentioned above, is located next to Cape Lermantov. Tsarsky Beach is located near the village of Novy Svet in the southeast of the Crimean Peninsula. The distance between the two beaches is 189 km, and this is provided that you take the shortest route by car. Travel time is 4.5 hours.
Despite the small area of the Tsarskoe Selo beach, many tourists always come here to relax. Breathtaking views, a beautiful beach with its clear water, famous attractions - all this attracts vacationers here.
How to get there
GPS coordinates: 44°30.558′, 33°28.875′
To get to the Tsarskoye Selo beach, you first need to get to Cape Fiolent, then to the Tsarskoye Selo dacha area itself. After these dachas the passage is closed, that is, there is no entrance to the beach area. Cars and other personal vehicles must be left at the entrance.
From the city center you can take a trolleybus or minibus:
- trolleybuses: No. 2; 12 and 13;
- minibus: No. 17, 20.
Take a trolleybus or minibus to the 5th km, then from the 5th km you need to transfer to minibus No. 3, going to the Tsarskoye Selo stop at Cape Fiolent.
To get to the Tsarskoe Selo settlement, you can use the following taxi services: Transavto-7, Taxi Cruise, Taxi “Maxim”, SEVTAXI, Taxi Metro.
Panorama of Tsarskoe Selo beach on Google Maps:
Video about Tsarskoye Selo beach
About an hour away by public transport, there is a stunning natural attraction, a place where the steep coast meets the azure sea waters.
All this is Cape Fiolent! The main wealth of Fiolent are the beaches with crystal clear and transparent water.
Arriving in Sevastopol, not a single tourist will bypass Cape Fiolent (Fiolent). And many people go to this point just for these beaches, and most importantly for the clean sea water, swimming in which is pure bliss.
So we couldn’t drive past Fiolent and looked at its beaches!
Fiolent is not just a name, but a very specific place marked on the map. Although local residents call Fiolent not only the cape we are talking about in this article, but the entire surrounding territory, Cape Fiolent is still a specific point.
There is one road along the coast of Fiolent, along which on one side there are picturesque beaches with a steep coast, and on the other there are private sector buildings.
Approaching the edge of the cape, a stunningly picturesque area with dizzying views of azure water opens up to your eyes.
Fiolent beaches
The beaches of Fiolent are mostly wild, the slopes to the beaches are mostly steep and rocky, in some places they are equipped with steps; you have to walk about 800 steps; this is the most famous beach of Fiolent - “Jasper”. And sometimes the descents to the beaches run along steep paths right along the steep shore. To make the descent more convenient, people even pull ropes.
For example, the stunningly beautiful beach near the Fiolent tourist center. At first glance, the descent to the beach may seem difficult and even dangerous.
But believe me, it's worth it. When you go down, you will be rewarded: on one side you are surrounded by steep overhanging cliffs of the cape, with huge stones, it seems as if one of them is about to fall down, and on the other, there is a stunningly clear endless sea.
Difficult descent, this is only the first time. Having gone down and up here and there a couple of times, the descent becomes familiar. People, even with very small children, are already running down to the sea and even manage to take a couple of photos along the way.
Advice! To approach the sea, wear comfortable shoes and backpacks so that your hands are free.
During the descent or ascent, you can enjoy ripe blackberries and drink delicious spring water from the springs.
There are also beaches:
Wild beaches under (or near) the Lighthouse;
The aforementioned Jasper. The most famous beach of Cape Fiolent, located near the stop Fiolent (or Monastery), landmark St. George's Monastery. The beach is widely known for its colorful pebbles, also called jasper, hence the name of the beach itself. The beach has some infrastructure. There is a nudist section of the beach;
Tsarsky. Located near the holiday village “Tsarskoe Selo” (Tsarskoe Selo stop). Descent to the beach along an iron staircase with about 150 steps;
Wild beach behind Cape Lermontovo, under the Karavella recreation center. Stop at the Karavella recreation center.
Next to the previous beach there is another wild beach (mentioned in the article) under the Fiolent recreation center. And other wild beaches.
You can see that Fiolent has both wild and less wild, equipped beaches. However, the steeper the descent and the less refined the beach, the fewer people on the beach, which means the water is cleaner and easier to breathe. After all, this is exactly why we all come to Fiolent!
All the beaches are located close to each other, you can easily walk there, and sometimes you can even confuse one gorgeous beach with another.
Right on the wild beaches, people set up tents, stretch out awnings, bring boats on which they go out to sea, catch fish, pick mussels on the rocks, and spend their holidays this way. I think it's very romantic.
For example, on the wild beach near the Fiolent base, on this “Big Stone,” as the locals call it, they pick mussels. They dive with a knife, collect them, and then fry them over the fire. Delicious.
On the slopes, in the cliffs of the cape, there are small recesses; lovers of wild tourism also settle here.
In general, campers stop wherever they can find a more or less suitable place to place a tent.
And here are several tents set up on a small sloping ledge, on the descent to the wild beach.
Having seen such a vacation, we also wildly wanted to devote another week to this “wild” and beautiful life away from civilization. Swim, sunbathe, drink spring water, collect mussels, fish, and then eat your catch, cooked over a fire.
Sea on Fiolent
As has already been said, the Fiolent Sea is of stunning beauty and purity. Swimming in it is a pleasure.
The entrance to the sea on wild beaches is rocky, the pebbles are quite large and slippery, covered in some places with algae, which is not very pleasant for the feet. All this is not scary and you quickly get used to it, you just need to be careful when entering the sea. We took a couple of steps and immediately began to swim. It’s better to have special slippers for swimming.
In general, we can talk about the delights of Fiolent for a very long time, but it’s time to wrap it up. Better come and experience all the charm of this stunning place for yourself. For us, after a long journey along the coast of Crimea (from Feodosia), Fiolent became simply a godsend and an outlet. Believe me, Fiolent, this is one of the few and best places in Crimea!
Finally, a few more words, purely informational and auxiliary - how to get to Fiolent, the store on Fiolent and where it is better to stay.
How to get to Cape Fiolent from the center of Sevastopol
Cape Fiolent can be reached both by public transport and by car.
By public transport:
Up to the 5th kilometer by bus or trolleybus. There are many buses and trolleybuses running from the center of Sevastopol to the 5th kilometer. For example, by bus from the center or from the bus station without transfers. You can get from the center by trolleybus No. 12. Travel by bus costs 13 rubles, by trolleybus 10 rubles (prices are indicated at the time of writing). In any case, the easiest way is to ask the drivers: “How can I get to the fifth kilometer?” Drivers are happy to give advice.
From the 5th kilometer, bus No. 3 will take you straight to Fiolent. There is a queue for the bus. In summer there are a lot of people with backpacks, you can’t go wrong.
Attention! You need to pay attention or ask the driver that the bus goes specifically to Fiolent, the landmark is Mayak.
By car or taxi:
By personal car you can take the same route of the 3rd bus from the 5th kilometer, near the Kalfa Cemetery along the main road without turning anywhere, there is only one main road.
Or from the Gagarinsky district along the T2703 road.
You can also easily and quickly get there by taxi. You can order a taxi/transfer on the website in advance. At any time of the day, a driver will be waiting for you.
Sevastopol itself can be reached by car. And the fastest way is by plane to Simferopol, and from there the most convenient way is by bus to Sevastopol. By train using a single ticket to Krasnodar or Anapa, then by bus to Sevastopol. Or by buses, trains with independent connections. In all directions, with the exception of the plane, a single Russian Railways ticket and the route through Ukraine, do not forget about independent travel. The cost of crossing a passenger car is 1,700 rubles one way, passengers 150 rubles one way. The ferry operates 24 hours a day. Further from Kerch also by buses to Sevastopol.
Shops on Fiolent
Small shops are located along the road to Fiolent, mostly at stops. In these shops you can buy all the essentials, drinks, alcohol, bread, milk, sausages and other products.
Prices in stores in Fiolent are slightly more expensive than in the city. So, it’s better to stock up on groceries in advance, while still in the city. For example, at the same 5th kilometer, there are many stalls and a market with quite reasonable prices.
Where to stay in Fiolent - hotels, guest houses and private accommodation
Fiolent is a low-key private sector, consisting mainly of gardening (dacha) partnerships. Currently, pieces of land continue to be bought up and built on.
Many country houses have already been converted into guest houses. Private owners also rent out rooms to vacationers. There are also many tourist centers. You don’t have to book rooms in advance, but when you arrive, walk through tourist centers, guest houses or the private sector, looking for “Housing for rent” signs and rent housing on the spot.
However, during peak season, there may be no available rooms upon arrival, or the most unsightly and expensive ones will remain.
You can, of course, stay in Sevastopol itself, but the beaches and sea in the city were nowhere near the beaches of Fiolent. But we all go to the sea, first of all, because of the sea itself. Moreover, there is nothing special to see in the city; one day was enough for us to see the main attractions of Sevastopol. And the fabulous Fiolent, with its clean beaches, mirror-like sea and fresh air, has become exactly the place that is so lacking in big cities.
Here are some good options for accommodation on Fiolent.
“Monastery Rock”, “Cape of the Virgin”, “God’s Country”, “Tiger Cape” - all these names belong to an amazing place on the western coast of Crimea under the modern name Cape Fiolent. The opportunity to relax surrounded by rocks rising into the sky, feel the aroma of pine needles and the sea, and visit places covered in legends attracts modern tourists here and can rightfully be called. A short essay:
Where did Cape Fiolent (Crimea) come from?
It is believed that this coastal area at a distance of 10 km is created by solidified lava of the volcano. Therefore, in the thickness of the rock, brick-red rock and dark layers of tuff interspersed with jasper, chalcedony, and sometimes carnelian alternate in multi-colored stripes. Over many millennia, the rocks were destroyed under the influence of sea waves, sun and wind, forming bizarre stone figures, grottoes, and small caves. The surface was covered with limestones of the Heraclean Peninsula. The lands around are overgrown with pine and juniper trees. The glades were covered with steppe grasses. Cape Fiolent (Crimea) - photo:
Cape Fiolent on the map of Crimea
Cape Fiolent - beaches with photos, map, video
Several convenient “wild” and not so bays along the cape, created by nature itself, are today used as.
Jasper Beach
Cape Fiolent is known primarily for this luxurious place. A very famous beach where bright minerals are found among the gray pebbles. Hence the unusual name - Cape Fiolent.
How to get there?
Closest to it. Cape Fiolent can be visited directly if you take bus No. 3 from the TSUM stop in Streletskaya Bay (Vakulenchuka, Repina). If you are leaving from Belbek airport, you first need to get to the bus station, and then take route transport No. 110, 107, 109 to the Central Department Store. You can also take 117 to 5 km and take minibus No. 3 or 3a, which goes straight to the St. George’s Monastery stop.
It is more convenient to get from Balaklava by sea. Boats come here regularly throughout the season. And every two hours, the motor ship “Diana Trivia” delivers vacationers.
This monastery was built in 891. as a sign of gratitude after the miraculous rescue of Greek sailors who were shipwrecked in coastal waters. A raging storm carried them to the rocks. Having climbed onto a small stone island, the sailors cried out to God for help. The appearance of St. George the Victorious pacified the storm, and they swam safely to land and named this place Cape Fiolent. The monastery on the edge of the cliff and the rock in memory of the Holy Apparition with a seven-meter cross are reminiscent of those distant days.
The monastery has an observation deck. From here you have a breathtaking view of the sea. A feeling of human smallness comes over us compared to this block of water. The piercing wind and rolling waves complete the picture and recall another meaning of the name Fiolent - “Furious”.
There are stairs leading down to the beach. It was built 1000 years after the founding of the monastery. The 788 steps can be climbed slowly. There are benches for resting. But, nevertheless, to hike in the mountains you need to have comfortable shoes and go down only on certain paths. An attempt to take a direct shortcut may lead to the need to call the Ministry of Emergency Situations.The size of the beach is 500m. It is clean and not many tourists. It is prohibited to rest with tents, and it is also not customary to make fires.
For comfortable relaxation, stationary canopies are provided to create shade. There are changing cabins on the beach. Sun beds are available for rent. You can have a snack or quench your thirst in a cafe or bar.
In addition to beach holidays, there are activities on the water. This includes riding bananas and cheesecakes, motorcycles and catamarans. Jasper Beach provides an opportunity to relax comfortably and at the same time touch the preserved wild nature.
Beach under the Lighthouse
To get to this beach you need to get off at the “Mayak” stop. The descent to the sea is very steep. The path is equipped with special cables. Rocks are perched along the 1 km bay. Lots of big stones in the water.
Avtobat Beach
The bus stop has the same name. There are two beaches here. One is paid. This is a small pebble beach. The descent to it is along an iron staircase through the rock.
The second one is free. Known as the most extreme. A difficult and dangerous descent along a narrow mountain path runs along a steep slope and ends with an almost vertical staircase. What attracts here is not the beach holiday, but the opportunity to dive from a height. At the same time, you can admire the beautiful grotto, which creates an enclosed bath in the limestone rock.
Caravel Beach
Bus stop "Karavella". This is a stone beach combined with pebbles, stretching for 200 meters. The path to it goes from Cape Lermontov, and further along the coast. Or the second way, as usual, is up the stairs. There are few people here. The water is very clean and perfect for snorkeling.
It is from this beach that a very beautiful view of Diana's grotto opens. This is a volcanic rock that protrudes from the sea several hundred meters. There is a through grotto inside it. Its width is about 15 m. The water temperature in the area of the grotto is colder, since little sun gets here. The staircase that used to be used to descend to this grotto was destroyed by a landslide, so you can only get here from the Tsarskoye Selo beach. But difficulties do not frighten those who like to dive and snorkel in the beautiful underwater world.
Tsarskoye Selo Beach
It is located on the other side of Cape Fiolent not far from Cape Lermontov. The entire territory occupies 300 meters, the beach is covered with small pebbles. Access to it is free. A very successful descent goes to the cliff, and then continues with a 5-meter wide path and ends with a convenient metal staircase with 180 steps. The entire journey will take no more than 10 minutes. There are places with shallow and warm sea. It is considered the best place - the easiest way to get here is the descent is long, but quite manageable for small legs.
Cape Fiolent is located just 15 km from the city of Sevastopol. These unusually beautiful places are described in ancient myths. It is believed that it was from these places that Apostle Andrew the First-Called began his preaching of the Gospel. These landscapes became inspiration for the paintings of I. Aivazovsky and V. Vereshchagin. The steep cliffs against the backdrop of the sea still impress everyone who decides to visit here. These places are not for spa lovers.
Constantly visiting Fiolent in the summer, I can’t escape the associations with the Latvian Jurmala. After all, Jurmala, by and large, is a whole necklace of small towns following each other, smoothly flowing into each other. Travelers often say that they have been to Jurmala, and then specify the name of the town, and there are at least a dozen of them.
It’s about the same on Fiolent. Only here everything is much, much more modest. Districts differ in their minibus stops. All life revolves around them here.
How to get to Fiolent
For tourists and lovers of sea recreation, Fiolent is a 5-kilometer strip of the Black Sea coast with incredibly steep mountain slopes, sometimes very dangerous. And this is the first difficulty of “developing” Fiolent: you just need to know where and how to go down to the sea.
I give immediate advice and strongly recommend that you follow it: be sure, when going to beaches of Cape Fiolent, Invite a local expert in this area with you, otherwise there is a lot here that will remain completely unknown to you.
You should not contact any agency or service bureau about this. Just be friendly, sincerely communicate with the locals, and you will definitely find a guy in the city, or best of all a young couple, who will want to spend a day with you on Fiolent just like that.