Arboretum in Sochi and the cable car - photos, opening hours, how to get there
The arboretum is one of the main attractions of Sochi and its visiting card. It is home to about 2000 exotic and rare plants brought from different parts of the world, a unique collection of subtropical flora and fauna is collected. In addition to a variety of vegetation, on the territory of the arboretum you can see rare animals and birds..
The first time I came to this arboretum was 10 years ago, but then it seemed to me too crowded and somehow faded, faded. It is not surprising, it was the peak of the season in August, the heat was terrible. And he made a completely different impression in October, on my last trip to Sochi.
The content of the article
- one Cable car and observation deck
- 2 Impressions of the arboretum in Sochi
- 3 Historical reference
- 4 Information to visit
- five On the map
Cable car and observation deck
Unfortunately, I did not calculate the time and came a couple of hours before dark. Still, if there is a desire to get around, as much as possible, or to walk calmly, then it makes sense to lay 3 hours, after all, the arboretum is large. So I ran straight from the ticket office to the cable car (the ticket office is at the entrance to the park, and the cable car stop is a 5-minute walk), trying to catch the last departure of the trailer. By the way, the option of visiting the arboretum, starting from the cable car, is very convenient, since the park is located on a mountainside. Upward you go up the cable car, admire the views of Sochi from the observation deck, and then go down with your feet through the arboretum to the starting point. In general, I recommend doing this.
The cable car brings you not to the observation deck itself, but several floors below. Considering that there are no signs, and almost everyone, leaving the trailer, rushed down immediately, it seems that not everyone knows that you can climb a couple of floors up, from where views of Sochi and, in fact, of the arboretum itself will open.
Impressions of the arboretum in Sochi
As you already understood, I liked it. In general, I love such corners of nature in cities - squares, forest parks, arboretums. Especially when it is not just a park, but just such a refined one, with ladders, outlandish plants, fountains and so on. Of course, sometimes you want to go for a walk in the forest in order to get away from civilization, but the Sochi arboretum is a kind of balance, you forget about the city here, especially if you bore into the far part of the park.
I will separately mention «Japanese garden». The metasequoi with their orange needles on the lush green grass amazed me, very beautifully. Sometimes, I see some small corners of nature, albeit man-made, that I would like to embody at my own home. They look so organic ... I would like to stop here, relax, sit and think about life, or just relax. If you are inclined to such moods, then allow for more time to visit, otherwise you will have to run like me.
Historical reference
The history of the Sochi Arboretum, which is now declared a monument of garden and park art, began in 1889, when a collector, playwright and publisher «Petersburg newspaper» SN Khudekov bought 50 acres of land on the slope of Lysaya Gora in Sochi. In 1899, a villa was built in the center of the site «Hope», named after the owner's wife, Nadezhda Alekseevna, and a park with plum and peach orchards was laid out on 15 hectares of land. Plants for the park were brought from the Crimea, Germany, the Caucasus - a total of about 400 species of trees and shrubs. The park was modeled after the French-Italian terraced parks of the late 19th century and was constantly replenished with new plants. By 1917, there were more than 550 species of them in the park. In addition to plants, it was decorated with sculptures, stairs, gazebos and magnificent vases ordered in France.
In 1922, a new era began in the life of the park - it was nationalized, and in 1944 it was transferred to the Sochi Scientific Research Forestry Experimental Station. In the early 60s, the area of the arboretum grew to 48 hectares. Here were arranged ponds with cascades, a rose garden, geographical zones in which plants from the Caucasus and the Mediterranean, North and South America, East Asia (Japan, China, the Himalayas, the Far East), Australia and New Zealand are represented. Now the arboretum has a large collection of pines, oaks, palms, cypresses, and many rare subtropical plants grow here. The arboretum in Sochi consists of two parts: upper and lower. In the lower part, an aquarium is built, in which the inhabitants of the Black Sea are represented, and there is also a pond. In the late 70s, a cable car was opened in the arboretum. The observation deck at the highest point of the arboretum offers a panoramic view of the city, the coast and the park itself. In 2012, the Sochi Arboretum became part of the Sochi National Park. At the same time, a model of a tiled dolmen was opened in the Upper Park. Every year from the Arboretum, more than 1000 seed samples of rare plants are sent to different parts of the world..
Information to visit
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Price for a ticket to the arboretum: 250 rubles per adult, 120 rubles per child 7-12 years old, up to 7 years free.
The cost of the cable car one way: 200 rubles per adult, 100 rubles per child 7-12 years old, up to 7 years free.
One-way cable car + arboretum: 450 rubles per adult and 220 rubles per child 7-12 years old, up to 7 years old free.
Excursion to the arboretum: 100 rubles per person.
Monthly subscription: 2500 rubles.
The Arboretum ticket is valid for both sides of the park.
Opening hours of the arboretum: from 8 to 21 in summer, from 9 to 17 in winter. Changes depending on the season, works all year round without breaks and weekends.
The cable car runs from 9 am to 4 pm.
On the map
There is no parking near the arboretum itself. At the time of my arrival, there was a parking lot at the intersection of Jan Fabritius Street and Kurortny Prospect. It was not marked as a parking lot, although there were many cars..
Sochi arboretum
Sochi arboretum
Maintained in excellent condition, the central part resembles a regular palace park with neatly trimmed plants and wide manicured staircases. Many species of subtropical plants, pines, eucalyptus, cypresses are planted here..
More details.
Maintained in excellent condition, the central part resembles a regular palace park with neatly trimmed plants and wide manicured staircases. Many species of subtropical plants, pines, eucalyptus, cypresses are planted here. More details.