Rest in Tsandripsha. Housing for vacationers in the village of Tsandripsh (Abkhazia) Gagra village of Tsandripsh
The urban-type settlement Tsandrypsh (Tsandripsh) in the very west of the Gagra region of Abkhazia is better known under the old name Gantiadi.
It lies on the shores of the Black Sea in a small bay into which several mountain rivers flow - Lapsta (Laps), Mekhadyr, Khashupsa (Khashupse) and Bagrepsta (Cold River), just 5 kilometers east of the border with Russia.
Despite its modest modern size, this is a very ancient place - various Bronze Age products were found on the territory of the village, and until the 6th century Sauchi, as the settlement was then called, was the capital of first the principality of Sanigia, and then the historical province of Sadzen (the so-called Little Abkhazia) . In the 18th-19th centuries, the region was actively populated by Russians and Armenians; residents of the Baltic republics also moved here (the Estonian villages of Salme and Sulevo in the Psou Valley still have quite a significant population), which formed an amazing multicultural community here, which has retained many of its features to this day. days.
Sights of Tsandripsha
Tsandrypsh temple
The main historical monument of the region is Tsandrypsh temple, or Tsandrypsh Basilica- a unique complex of the Justinian era. It was presumably built in the 6th century on the site of an older complex and is richly decorated with marble, deposits of which are still being mined further up the Mehadir River valley. Built, like many temples of that era, from large hewn blocks of white limestone, it was carefully plastered on the inside - traces of decoration have survived in some places to this day - and decorated with carved elements of marble - they are still found in abundance around. By all indications, the complex had excellent acoustics, which was only enhanced by the “sound jars” characteristic of that period, embedded in the walls, as well as by expanding rooms in the pre-altar part. It is characteristic that the complex was initially built using a technology quite typical for an earlier period - wooden vaults and ceilings were supported by powerful stone walls. However, during the alterations of the 15th-16th centuries, the walls were strengthened with pilasters, and the stone ceiling and vaults began to rest on a number of additional pillars.
At the same time, a small fortress- powerful foundations of three towers and fragments of walls are still visible 150 meters to the east. In the eastern part of the southern nave there are several tombs VI-XI centuries, plus about a dozen more burials from different eras were found in the surrounding area. In 1576, the temple was partially destroyed by the Turks and was never restored, and in Soviet times it was preserved by restorers in the hope of more detailed study. Quite well preserved for its age, the Tsandrypshsky Temple is now one of the most significant architectural monuments of the early Middle Ages.
Around Tsandripsh
Khashup fortress
7 km upstream of the Khashupsa River (Khashupse), on its left bank rises Mount Deransort(407 m), topped with ruins Khashup fortress, more often referred to simply by the name of the river and the nearby village of the same name. By all indications, it was one of the most powerful fortifications of the early Middle Ages (the construction dates back approximately to the 10th century), which grew on the site of a fort that was clearly built in antiquity (presumably the 1st-2nd centuries AD).
Two rows of walls made of cut limestone, up to 8-10 meters high in places, with a base thickness of about two meters, are very skillfully integrated into the landscape and topped with powerful quadrangular towers. A powerful stone staircase with wide steps leads to the massive gate; the rest of the perimeter is impregnable due to cliffs and a carefully planned system of firing sectors. Several more foundations of buildings of unknown purpose were found in the dense forest near the fortress complex, and inside the double ring of walls a large three-apse basilica and an entire system for collecting rainwater with a cistern and peculiar filters made of sand and gravel were discovered.
As a result, it is easy to imagine what a formidable force this structure once represented, which today is abundantly overgrown with blackberries and wild grapes. And if you climb the ruins of the watchtower, you can see a majestic panorama from the azure coast in the south to the snowy peaks of the Bzyb ridge in the north. You can get to the fortress along the road from Tsandrypsh, leading north along the picturesque river valley to the village of Khashupsa, after which the road turns to Bagnari, and a path goes to the left, leading past the cliffs to the ruins.
White Rocks
It is interesting that the surroundings of Tsandrypsh have also been famous for their marble since antiquity. This is the only place along the entire Black Sea coast of Russia and Abkhazia where the precious stone has not only been mined since antiquity (it is believed that all early Christian temples in the region were decorated with local stone), but in many places it simply openly comes to the surface - and not only in the mountains , but also at sea. So called White rocks of Tsandrypsha represent the exit of a marble layer directly onto the beach in the south-eastern part of the town. And in the upper reaches of Khashupse and Mahadyr, marble of different colors is developed using an open-pit method.
Cold River
About 7 km southeast of the center of Tsandrypsh on the seashore lies the resort village of Kholodnaya Rechka.
Where is Tsandripsh
Tsandrypsh is located on the shore of a small bay approximately 5 kilometers east of the Russian border.
How to get to Tsandripsh
The easiest way to get to Tsandrypsh is by flight to Adler, followed by crossing the border (to the checkpoint from the airport about 20 minutes by bus or minibus) on foot and transferring to Abkhaz taxis, buses or minibuses traveling through the entire territory of the republic. By bus along the highway you can get to Tsandrypsh in about 15 minutes. There are direct buses and minibuses from Adler airport, you can also hire a taxi directly to the place, however, due to the fact that there are often huge queues at the car checkpoint, using them can sometimes be inconvenient. However, due to Tsandrypsh’s proximity to the border, in some cases this route turns out to be even faster.
By train you can take direct flight No. 075C Moscow - Sukhum - in Adler several cars are uncoupled and travel further to Sukhum via Tsandrypsh and Gagry. Customs and passport control is carried out directly in the cars at the Veseloye station (on the Russian side) and at the Tsandrypsh station (on the Abkhazian side), however, due to its duration (often up to an hour and a half at the border, to which it is worth adding two days in transit to and from 2 hours after) this method of moving is not convenient for everyone.
From the Russian station Adler to Sukhum via Tsandrypsh and Gagra there is a comfortable train, the schedule of which changes every year. Taking into account the border parking lot in Vesely and numerous stops at intermediate stations, the entire journey to Tsandrypsh will take about an hour.
The small urban village of Tsandripsh is located in the Gagra region of Abkhazia. The population is about 10 thousand people. I would call it an Armenian village, because I didn’t have a chance to see Abkhazians.
I asked our hostess:
Where are the Abkhazians?
She explained:
Abkhazians live high in the mountains, and there are only two of them left in the village.
The village of Tsandripsh is sandwiched between the federal highway leading from Adler to Sukhumi and the old neglected Sukhumi railway running along the seashore. So there is no way to avoid the railway on the way to the beach. You can get through: either by overcoming the embankment with the railway track, or from below - through a tunnel.
We noticed two tunnels in the village: one closer to the center, the other on the outskirts - in the White Rocks area. We were able to see the train going to Sukhum a couple of times - the train was very short, only a few cars.
And now I would like to talk about the warmest and nicest place in the village - the White Rocks. This is perhaps the main attraction of Tsandripsh. The White Rocks are located at the exit from the village towards the Cold River. You can reach them in about an hour in two ways: either by the seashore or along the main street towards Gagra.
The rocks are really absolutely white and smooth, lying right at the water's edge. They were created by nature itself - and the sea waves have painstakingly worked for centuries to polish them.
The central street, Oktyabrskaya, pierces the entire village and merges beyond its borders with the federal highway. This street is a very pitiful sight - most of the houses are in gaping ruins, so it is better not to look around.
At the foot of the destroyed buildings there are open kiosks under bright umbrellas - these are retail outlets selling some souvenirs, beach accessories and small items. Trade brightens up the feeling of devastation a little.
In the fragments of the first floors of houses that have been preserved in some places, there are small shops selling groceries or pharmacies. There are several cafes in the village and even a canteen on the corner of Lenin Street - but the very appearance of these establishments is repulsive. At the beginning of the main street, near the bus station, there is a small and scarce fruit and vegetable market.
I note that there has been no post office in the village since the war. We asked the hostess many times: how could this be? There was only one answer: there is no post office in the village. We also learned from her stories that in past years Tsandripsh was quite comfortable and prosperous.
Several successful enterprises operated - a winery, canning and crushed stone factories, and a tobacco factory. Wine and tobacco were produced under the mark of quality and were mainly exported. Now none of this is there - everything is destroyed and looted.
If you walk a little deeper from the main street into the residential area, the eye immediately catches the contrasts. Houses are clearly divided into three main types: miserable, dilapidated shacks, solid, newly rebuilt houses, and unfinished huge mansions, long abandoned by their owners - most likely during the war.
The only food market, where the population actually buys food, is open only three times a week: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Active trading begins at 6 am, and after 11 there is nothing to do there - you can’t buy food. Prices are very high, much higher than in Moscow. I'll write about them a little later.
I would like to note an important detail: there is no embankment in the village - there is only a long pebble beach. There is nowhere to walk in the evening - no park, no square - just vacant lots. That’s why vacationing young people like to hang out on the beach at night: guitars, music and beer brought with them - everything is there...
Abkhazia has very short daylight hours - it gets dark early. Absolute darkness sets in around eight o'clock in the evening. And in the evening, only one central street in the village is illuminated - and that’s in the place where the 24-hour store is located...
There is nowhere to go. Therefore, during the long Abkhaz evenings, vacationing people are doomed to either watch TV, or stupidly drink beer, or try to sleep after nine in the evening... True, this is problematic - pop music thunders from the only restaurant in the village until four in the morning. By the way, in the evening you can only get to this establishment with a flashlight in your hand, otherwise you will break your legs; only the main street in the village is paved.
Closer to the morning, when the restaurant rhythms fall silent and you try to fall asleep, another story begins: packs of stray dogs start battles on a huge garbage heap rising right in the center of Lenin Street.
Since we are talking about the animal world, we should also mention other representatives of the fauna. Chickens roam freely on the streets, finding their food in the same street mountains of garbage.
Here, not only stray cats walk on their own, but you can also suddenly meet a cow. One morning I headed to the grocery store and on the street I met a lonely horned cow, who accompanied me on the way there and back.
If we talk about small animals, I saw real scorpions for the first time. They constantly lived on the walls of our toilet, coexisting peacefully with huge fat snails. And at night, evil mosquitoes attacked - but these are trifles.
I have already said about the global mountain of garbage on the street named after the proletarian leader, which was shared by dogs at night and chickens during the day. Imagine another picture like this. In front of the tunnel leading to the beach, I had to watch Russian resort ladies in hats and multi-colored pareos parading in the direction of the beach.
And the old woman’s daily fashion show took place against the backdrop of three unchanged scenery: a huge garbage dump, an old abandoned cafe and a local peasant sitting by the road. This little guy was selling some kind of red wine bottled in plastic bottles, as well as a local delicacy - dead sea rays, spread out at the bottom of an old zinc trough...
Just beyond the tunnel there is a pebble beach. However, getting closer to the blue sea is not so easy. To begin with, we had to go around the beach garbage heaps, consisting of the results of the vital activity of vacationers during the holiday season. A ridge of garbage mountains stretched along the entire beach - all the way to the White Rocks.
There was not a single place for swimming on the entire shore - there were no small pebbles to enter the sea. So there was only one opportunity to swim - to swim in special shoes or directly in flip-flops.
There weren’t many people on the beach, but it was still not possible to swim calmly in the sea. Hot horsemen on their jet skis and motorboats rushed right over the heads of the bathing public - trying to attract the attention of vacationers and earn as much money as possible at the end of the fading season...
I forgot to mention the theft of money by local telecom operators. In Moscow, we prudently put a decent amount of money on our phones - just in case there is a fireman. We did not have information that when crossing the border it is necessary to manually select an operator.
Three days after our arrival, four thousand rubles disappeared. We spoke with Moscow only a few times, and very briefly.
And when we went to find out the reasons for the outage at the local communications office, they popularly explained to us old fools that there was nothing unusual here. As soon as visitors get within the coverage area of the local network, their money is like that...
Continued in part five
The village of Tsandripsh is a picturesque resort with a mild climate and abundant vegetation on the Black Sea coast. Tourists in Abkhazia prefer to photograph pebble beaches, azure shores, picturesque water cascades and Tsandripsha mountain gorges.
Tourists are greeted here as if they were a family member, they spare no treats for guests, and they try to create the most comfortable conditions for living and relaxation.
Tsandripsh (Abkhazia), photographs of which can be found on many popular tourist sites, is a resort village in the Gagra region, 5 km from the border with Russia. The village is located on the 1st coastline of the Black Sea coast, at the mouth of the Khashupse River.
Near Tsandripsh there is the village of Leselidze and the village of Kheivani. There are no boundaries or divisions between the beach areas of the settlements, so the village of Tsandripsh is perceived by tourists as a segment of the large tourist zone of Bolshaya Gagra.
History of the village
The small village of Tsandripsh has a long and rich history. The rich life activity of the region back in the 1st century is evidenced by archaeological finds - well-preserved bronze axes were discovered on the territory. In the 6th century, the town became the capital of the entire principality of Sanigiya, and later the historical center of the province of Sanzen.
Trade ships arrived in the former capital of Little Abkhazia, and active trades and transactions were conducted at the pier. Precious metals, fabrics, jewelry, wines, honey, refined oils and leather were brought from Crimea to Abkhazia. Today, only the ruins of ancient temples and fortifications testify to its former greatness.
The turning point for the village was the formation of the Russian settlement of Pilenkovo in 1867 and the mass resettlement of Armenians hiding from genocide in the Ottoman Empire to the territory.
With the advent of the USSR, the village acquired another new name - Ermolovka. But it did not last long and quickly changed to Gantiadi and then to modern Tsandripsh. The modern name comes from the surname of the ancient princely family of Tsanba, who owned lands along the Black Sea coast for several centuries.
The population of the village is just over 5,000 residents. Most of the population is Armenian by nationality, and about 900 Russians and Abkhazians also live in the village.
How to get there
1. By car: The M4 (Don) highway leads from Moscow to the village. Upon arrival to the Black Sea, you need to turn onto the A-147 road leading to the city of Dzhubga. Travel time: about 40 hours with overnight stay.
NOTE: OSAGO and CASCO insurance are not valid on the territory of Abkhazia.
2. By plane. The nearest airport to the village is located in Adler. The distance between Adler and Tsandripsh is 21 km.
From the airport you can take bus No. 173 to the Psou checkpoint stop. The bus drops off tourists a few hundred meters before the border. After passing the border, you need to walk another ¼ km and find the next stop. Already on the Abkhaz side you need to wait for a minibus with a sign “Tsandripsh” and then go directly to the center of the village.
The second option to get from the airport is to contact taxi drivers or local residents waiting for tourists right at the exit from the airport terminal. Total travel time: depending on the time at the border (from 15 to 120 minutes). Travel by transport before and after the border takes no more than 45 minutes in total.
3. By train: to the Adler station all year round or to the Tsandripsh station from May to October.
Direct trains to the village:
- Moscow (Kazansky railway station) – Sukhum (travel time – 35 hours);
- Moscow (Kursky Station) - Sukhum (journey time 49 hours, runs only in season);
- St. Petersburg - Sukhum (journey 53 hours);
- Belgorod – Sukhum (journey 40 hours).
From other Russian cities you can get to Tsandripsh with a transfer in Adler. From Adler station to the border there are buses, minibuses and taxis.
4. By bus. At the station The intercity bus with the route “Ivanovo - Sukhum” stops at the Shchelkovskaya metro station. Travel time is about 25 hours.
Where to stay
A distinctive feature of the resort is the almost complete absence of sanatoriums and recreation centers. Accommodation that a tourist can count on is mainly located on private property. The private sector in Tsandripsh is very developed and, importantly, all housing is located on the 1st coastline. Prices for renting a house by the sea are lower than analogues in the more developed resorts of Abkhazia.
Photo of the Donskoy Tabak hotel in Tsandripsh, Abkhazia Photos of guest houses in Tsandripsha (Abkhazia) can be found on social networks and on websites for housing rentals.
| Type of housing | Name | Peculiarities | Price |
| Sanatorium | "Donskoy Tabak" | Large territory. Library. Sports grounds. Accommodation in rooms and separate houses. | From 1150 rub. |
| Hotel | "Tristan" | BBQ bar. Transfer and excursions from the hotel | From 1100 rub. Minimum check-in period 5 days |
| Park Hotel | "Abkhazia" | Swimming pool, laundry. Pets allowed | From 1000 rub. |
| Hotel | "Amra" | Breakfast included. Plasma. 2 minutes to the sea. Billiards | From 1700 rub. |
| Guest House | "Eden" | The most budget option. Bathroom and shower in the yard | From 200 rub. |
| Guest House | "Visiting Aza" | TV, internet, shower and bathroom in the room, transfer, barbecue | From 700 rub. |
| Apartments | St. Career | Transfer, barbecue. Pets allowed | From 1500 rub. |
Where to eat
In guest houses and hotels in Abkhazia it is very convenient to cook with your own hands. There is a good market in the village, where locals offer fruits and vegetables from their lands. There are also fresh curd cheeses and meats. 
It is better to go to the market by car. The market itself is located at the bottom and most of the guest houses are at the top, so returning home with full bags can be an ordeal. Ripe apples, pears, lemons, figs and grapes can be purchased from local residents who harvest their gardens right in front of the buyer.
The real highlight of Abkhazia is tangerine juice and homemade wines, which local residents make with their own hands. If self-cooking is not part of your vacation plans, then for breakfast you can go to the Fork-Spoon cafe, where they serve delicious homemade porridge in the morning. Address: st. Desantnaya, 2.
The favorite catering establishment among the locals is the Stolovaya cafe. The cafe is located on the street. Oktyabrskaya, 1. The establishment has three rooms: bar, veranda and VIP. The restaurant serves very large portions, the menu is varied, the dishes are rich in seasonings, but not excessive. 
It is quite difficult to get into the establishment during the day; you may get the impression that the whole of Abkhazia has come here for lunch. But in the evening it is spacious and not crowded.
The competition for the “Dining Room” is the Georgian cafe “Caucasus” on the street. Lenin. According to reviews from many tourists, this is one of the best places in the city. The cuisine is clear, tasty and simple: shish kebab, khinkali, pizza and spaghetti. The establishment has its own green courtyard, and guests are offered a small dance floor.
There are many bars, bistros, cafes and canteens in Tsandripsha. The entire coastline is dotted with catering establishments. Prices in the village are not high, the products are high quality, and the employees value every guest.
NOTE: in Abkhazia, all establishments include a 10% service charge directly in the check.
Recreation and entertainment
Tsandripsh (Abkhazia): photos from the resort are colorful and bright. The main recreation of a tourist in Tsandripsha takes place in the fresh air. The resort village has a very mild climate and there is a lot of vegetation on the streets.
Eucalyptus, cypress and pine trees create pleasant shade. There are many cafes and canteens serving national cuisine in the village, and discos open in the evening. During the day, you can wander around the local markets, shoot at the shooting range, or rent an inflatable boat.
There are no tourist parks, alleys or neighborhoods in Tsandripsh. The small village is designed for a relaxing holiday on the beach with occasional outings to cafes and excursions. But you can add a little variety to lying on a sun lounger in the village.
Price: 700 rub. with tea tasting.
Tsandripsha beaches
The total length of beaches in Tsandripsha is more than 6 km. All beaches are covered with small and medium pebbles, so the water on the coast never blooms or smells, but remains clean and transparent throughout the year. Cleanliness is a distinctive feature of the beaches in Gagra; there is no garbage on the coast. The water warms up to +18°C in May, +21°C in July, and +26°C in September.
The sea in Tsandripsha is always calm, small waves only occasionally appear over the water surface of the coast. There is access to the shore from almost all rental houses of the resort. 
Tsandripsh (Abkhazia), photos of beaches that are posted on the websites of Greater Gagra, reflect many of the features of the local coast. For example, the pebbles on the coast are very slippery, so you should go into the water in special rubber slippers with thick soles.
Tourist services on the beaches are minimal, which makes being near the water very comfortable. There are no annoying animators and salespeople hanging around the beach. You can have a snack with Soviet chic: shish kebab or boiled corn. Entertainment on the beaches: water banana, parachute flights and jet skis.
Rafting on the Bzyb River
Bzyb is one of the deepest rivers in Abkhazia. Bzyb begins at an altitude of 2.3 thousand meters above sea level and descends with an average fall of 22 m per 1 km. Rafting on the river is practiced from the confluence of the Bzybi and Gega to the mouth of the river on the coast. The total length of the section is 20 km.
Other sections of the river are not safe and even professionals do not risk doing water sports there. The safest month for rafting is August. At this time, the river becomes shallow and becomes relatively safe. The Bzybya section along Tsandripsh has the 1st category of difficulty. But you shouldn’t count on a quiet walk. The river is replete with steep cliffs, gorges and ramparts. 
Rafting prices: from 1000 rub. with an instructor for 1.5 hours, the cost of a photo is 500 rubles.
Boat trips
You can ride along the water surface of the Black Sea on the high-speed boat “Bagration”, which starts from the coast of Gagra. The boat sails past the castle of Prince Oldenburg, the Colonnade and Stalin's dacha. From the boat you can dive into the open sea and swim with dolphins. Price for adults – 1000 rubles, children free.
The Sukhum motor ship also runs along the Bzyb River. The cost of the excursion is about 700 rubles.
In Tsandripsha you can enjoy relaxing on the water by taking a boat ride to the Khashup Gorge. The Khashupskaya Gorge is a narrow corridor of rocks, between which a river flows, which later flows into the Black Sea. The river is formed by two small rivers – Zheopse and Sandripsha.
Bicycles for rent
You can rent a bicycle throughout the village. The largest concentration of rental points is located on the street. Oktyabrskaya. By bicycle you can climb to the most inaccessible points of Tsandripsh and go on a mini-trip to neighboring villages.
Flight over the sea
The central beach of Tsandripsha offers vacationers a parachute flight over the sea. The flight takes place with an instructor for 20-25 minutes. Rising above the water surface of the Black Sea, you can see all the beauty of the coast, see the snow-white marble rocks, and feel all the charm of free flight. The cost of the flight is 3000-4000 rubles. Additional flight photography – 1000-1500 rubles.
Jeep tours
Jeep excursions can be booked in neighboring Gagra. The excursion includes a visit to Lake Ritsa, Stalin's dacha, the Bzyb River, Gegsky Waterfall, Yupshar Canyon, as well as tasting of honey, wine and chacha. 
Excursion time is from 8 to 12 hours. Cost: from 1400 rub. for 1 person.
Paragliding
A flight over Abkhazia begins with a journey upward by car. A driver and instructor pick up a curious tourist and take him to a height of 1440 m. A breathtaking paragliding flight begins from the Fulari take-off site. Finding himself right under the skies, the newly minted pilot has a view of the sea and the long coast of Bolshaya Gagra.
Maximum weight for flight is 135 kg. Age – from 5 to 75 years. Prices from 2000 rub. in 8-10 minutes of flight.
Trip to Pitsunda
Pitsunda is an ancient city of Abkhazia with a beautiful, special landscape, saturated with relict pine trees, air and a wide pebble beach. You can become immersed in the history of the city at the walls of the Patriarchal Cathedral or the Pitsunda State Historical and Architectural Reserve "Great Pitiunt". Couples with children can visit the National Dolphinarium and Khetsuriani Museum. Entrance prices: from 50 rub.
Trip to Sukhum
Sukhum is the capital of sunny Abkhazia. A visit to the ancient city must be included in your vacation program. Along with snow-capped mountain peaks and azure shores, the city has a larger number of ancient architectural monuments, places for leisure and recreation. 
The main attractions of the capital of Abkhazia are the Sukhumi Fortress, a botanical park, a monkey reserve (entrance 200 rubles), Bagrat Castle and the Great Abkhaz Wall.
Attractions
Basilica
Location: st. Oktyabrskaya, 155
The basilica is an ancient Abkhaz temple of the 6th century. The material for the construction of the temple was hewn stone. The original walls were decorated with marble, and high-quality acoustics were provided by special sound jugs. The significance of the temple for the history of Abkhazia is difficult to underestimate. Wedding ceremonies, baptisms and burial ceremonies were held in the temple.
During excavations, archaeologists discovered ancient marble blocks with the remains of inscriptions of the titles of high-ranking officials. The temple was cared for and restored. A major restoration of the 10th century is known, when the builders replaced the dilapidated wooden beams with new stone partitions. There was also once a fortress around the Basilica, in the southern part of which burials of the 6th-9th centuries were later found. 
The Basilica saw its destruction at the hands of the Turks, who destroyed almost the entire structure. The remains of the attraction were preserved during the Soviet era and today you can see the remains of the great heritage of Abkhazia with your own eyes. The temple is conveniently located near typical tourist spots in Gagra.
White Rocks
Location: Departure from Tsandripsh towards the village of Kholodnaya Rechka, 3.2 km southeast of the Basilica.
White Rocks is a section of snow-white rocky coastline washed by the azure water of the Black Sea. The white cliffs of Tsandripsh are nothing more than an exposed layer of marble. Marble in the surrounding area was mined back in antiquity, but even for Gagra, such places with open layers of rock are of exceptional value.
Stalin's Dacha
Location: Stalin's dacha is located in a neighboring settlement, the village of Kholodnaya Rechka (or Bagripsh), which is about 1 km from the White Rocks coast.
The Cold River is located in a pine forest on the slope of the Gagra ridge. You can get to the village by road. Stalin's dacha rises 350 m above sea level, so the view from the local landmark is breathtaking.
The total area of the building is about 850 m². Tourists can see the living room, bathroom, study, dining room, as well as a cinema and billiard room of the former leader of the nation. 
The entire interior of the dacha remained untouched. The elegant wooden furniture sets, wall decorative elements made of Karelian birch and crystal-filled windows have been preserved intact.
Entrance price: 300 rub.
Khashup fortress
Location: left bank of the Khashupse River, Mount Deransorta, 3 km from Tsandripsh towards the village of Khashupse.
The ancient citadel is located in a dense pine forest on a high cliff, overlooking the picturesque rocky coast. According to scientists, the ancient Romans erected the fortress back in the 1st-2nd centuries. Then the fortress was supposed to protect the local population from enemy raids from the sea. The Khashup fortress is one of the most powerful defensive structures of the Middle Ages.
The structure was strengthened by a double ring of high stone walls framing the fortress. The thickness of the defensive wall is about 2 m, the height is up to 10 m. The path to the gate ran along a wide stone staircase. Another approach to the fortress was impossible, the perimeter was surrounded by cliffs, and the area was clearly visible by riflemen.
Abkhazia holds the record for the number of tourist reviews. Half of the tourists desperately criticize the region, the other half praise it admiringly.
Holidays in Abkhazia are suitable for those who value peace, cleanliness, beautiful landscapes and untouched nature.
Lovers of developed infrastructure, fashionable parties and glamorous photos should definitely avoid a trip to Tsandripsh. You should choose your vacation wisely, then you will have enough impressions at least until the next holiday season.
Article format: Mila Friedan
Video about Tsandripsh
Tsandripsh review:
