Sun trail in Crimea: description and history of occurrence

The sun trail is one of the most popular hiking trails on the territory of Crimea. Once it was available exclusively to members of the imperial family, connecting the palaces in Livadia and Oreanda. Today, you can learn how to get to the Tsar’s trail in the Crimea without unnecessary efforts - just study the detailed description of the route and decide on the starting place. This path is great for active tourists and vacationers who prefer to independently organize sightseeing tours. In addition, many interesting artifacts are collected here, and by the number of attractions per kilometer, the Tsar’s path can be called the recognized leader among the memorable Crimean routes.

The sun trail is a tourist route connecting Livadia and Gaspra. Here, nature creates unique climatic conditions that make it possible to fully appreciate all the benefits of mountain and sea air. The royal path adorns the Livadia Palace, where its official beginning is located. It makes it possible at any time to turn off the main route and go to survey the surroundings of Oreanda or visit the observation deck of the Swallow's Nest.

Once specially laid for walks of monarchs with children, the Tsar’s trail is characterized by a minimal slope - it does not exceed three degrees. Above sea level, this path is in the range between 133 and 203 m. Stairs are located on sections with elevations on the route, and every 100 m you can see signs warning about the distance traveled and helping not to lose direction. The uniqueness of the sun trail is undeniable. It is from it that the most picturesque views of Oreanda and Yalta, the southern coast of Crimea, and local rock massifs open. The beginning of the route is located behind the Sweet (page) building of the Livadia Palace and allows you to get additional pleasure from a walk in the local park complex.

The existence of the Tsar’s trail originates long before the imperial court bought the estate in Livadia. Since 1843, this route has been successfully used, enjoying magnificent views and healing air. True, until 1900 it took place exclusively in Upper Oreanda and served for walking the Grand Duke Constantine and members of his family. And only in 1901, Emperor Nicholas II gave the order to connect Cape Ai-Todor with the Pink Gate in Livadia.

The history of the emergence of the solar trail is closely connected with the history of the royal family, but she got her modern name in the years of Soviet power. Avoiding any mention of the previous monarchical rule, he was given, wanting to emphasize the healing nature of the local nature. In fact, most of the route lies in the shade of trees, and is not particularly lit. Interestingly, the mansion in Gaspra, which became the end point of the route, until 1902 was the residence of Leo Tolstoy.

The markings of the terraincourt, carved in stone blocks, also appeared thanks to the legacy of Soviet power. It was created for the 150th anniversary of the founding of Yalta. Initially, there were 64 signs, today there are no more than 20. There are also interesting carved benches installed on the route. Of the carvings, there was only one crocodile, but initially you could see birds and dogs, as well as an old man with an old woman.

The scheme on the map allows you to get a complete picture of how and where the royal or solar path lies. A detailed preliminary study of all the waiting tourist attractions on the route will be useful and will not let you miss something important. A characteristic feature of the solar trail is the almost complete absence of descents and ascents. You can navigate it comfortably for people with any level of physical fitness, and even children.

According to the plan of the Solar Trail, during a walk, travelers will see a number of attractions.

• A sign announcing the start of the route. It is located in Livadia, it is from here that the countdown of 6711 m of the upcoming trip begins.

• Marble Bench Alleysintended for the rest of the imperial persons. The track cover here is tiled, created more than a century ago.

• Crossroads, from which you can get into the royal corps of the sanatorium "Livadia". Before him from the alley with a bench about 100 m. You need to go further without changing direction.

• Sundial hours. They show almost the exact time, the error is small. Here, right on the stone wall, a map of the Solar Trail is carved. Here you can get acquainted with what remains to be seen further along the route. True, from time to time part of the toponyms was erased or was repulsed.

• Oak-hornbeam forest, famous for its coolness. Representatives of the reigning dynasty praised this section of the trail, considering it healing and incredibly useful for the treatment of pulmonary diseases.

• Carved figures and benches made of wood. They are a real decoration of the route, created in a characteristic ethnic style.

• Jalits - a kind of symbol of Yalta in the form of a carved image of a female head in stone. She is considered the spirit of the forest and the patroness of these places.

• Oreanda Village. It is clearly visible from the trail, there are slopes here that allow you to reach the Old Intercession Church, erected from the stone left after the fire in the palace of Grand Duke Constantine.Moving on, you can get to the sanatorium park, which belongs to one of the main health resorts of the coast - “Lower Oreanda”.

• Rotunda. This snow-white observation deck is only 40 minutes walk from the start of the route. It was here that members of the imperial family loved to arrange tea parties, enjoying the panoramas of the mountains and the palace. After the fire at the site of the royal estates, Soviet builders erected a beautiful building of the sanatorium, and the opening view allows you to appreciate the beauty of Swan Lake. Nearby you can see the remains of the bombarded stairwells that once connected the rotunda with the palace.

• Cross Mountain - a sheer cliff on which a cross was erected. There is a turn to it from the Solar Trail, which allows you to visit the northern slope and see the ruins of ancient settlements. Debris from household items, weapons, jewelry is periodically found in stone rock. Having been at the top, you can see the cross erected on this site by Empress Alexandra Fedorovna during her first visit to these places. Unfortunately, due to the vandals, its original version has not been preserved - today it is only a designation of a memorable place.

• Princely wine cellar. It was cut down in a rock in 1888 by order of Prince Konstantin Nikolayevich - the owner of the palace in Oreanda. The cellar is valid today, today it is used to ripen the sherry produced by the Massandra plant.

• Temple of the Archangel Michael. It is on an additional descent, after crossing the Alupkinskoye highway. The church was built relatively recently - in 2006, on the site of the ruins of the monastery. But such a deviation from the route will require an additional 1.5 km to go in each direction.

• The healing way. This is the name of the 1.5-kilometer stretch of the Solar Trail, on which there are coniferous and deciduous forest, a small bridge and a real relic grove.

• Stone ironing, before it you need to go under the rocks, at the top there will be private houses of Stroygorodok. This observation deck offers magnificent views of Bear Mountain and the panorama of Yalta.

• Pine alley with healing air and comfortable wooden benches for relaxing. From here you can go to the Swallow's Nest - the main thing is not to miss the necessary branch of the trail, it will be on the right. A stone pointer mounted on the alley will also help you navigate.

• Route signs in Gaspra. Here she crowns the wall of the sanatorium - you can go for a walk around the village or return to Livadia in the same way that you came.

In Crimea, everyone knows about the Royal or Solar Path. You can go the route both starting in Yalta, and starting the journey in the village of Gaspra. The picturesque southern coast of the peninsula, magnificent views, unique vegetation - all this makes walking really interesting and fascinating. But first you need to get to the starting point of the route, and here the tourist always has to make a choice.

If there is enough time, it is worth combining a visit to the Solar Trail with a guided tour of the Livadia Palace and its park, from where the health path originates. The easiest option is to take a bus or minibus, the next to the desired stop, travel time is about 40 minutes. Once in Livadia, you need to go along the alley towards the main entrance to the palace. Having passed through the metal gate, you have to follow to the front porch, and then turn left and move to the fork.

If you plan to start the route in Gaspra, you should use a minibus number 102 or 115. You have to get to the children's sanatorium named after Roses Luxembourg. In a local park and you can start a journey along the solar trail.On the way to it, special signs are installed that allow you not to get lost.

About how to correctly follow the sunny path in the Crimea, see the next video.