Spiral temple in Lazarevskaya. Spiral temple in Lazarevskaya Local legends about the Cave of Witches

Vacationers in the Lazarevsky district of Sochi have the opportunity to arrange a real adventure trip for themselves. We are talking about visiting one of the attractions of the Ashe River Valley - the so-called Cave of the Witches. The Cave of the Witches is located on the right bank of the Ashe River, behind the village of Kalezh.

There are two versions of the origin of the name.

First:

• The name remains from the aliens (guests, not aliens). In the pronunciation of the Circassians - local residents, the name of the cave sounds like Jinen (jine (Arabic) as a spirit, and une - as a house.), in a free translation: the house of spirits. Why witches are accepted by spirits is not explained in this interpretation.
• There is an even more intriguing option: they say that in ancient times, if a woman was convicted of black intentions directed against her fellow villagers (apparently using magic), she was brought to this cave, the stone that closed the entrance to it was rolled back, and the witch was closed there (such Caucasian version of the European fires of the Inquisition).

Second:

• The cave is also called the Salvation Cave. There is a legend saying that: once, when the enemies approached the village, all its inhabitants hid in the depths of the cave. Having passed along it, all the inhabitants came out in a wonderful mountain valley. Leaving the women and children safe, the men returned through the cave and attacked the unsuspecting enemy. The highlanders won and saved their people. According to many testimonies, the second exit from the cave was in the area of ​​the village of Bolshoe Pseushko, more than twelve kilometers from the first entrance.

The cave is quite deep - its length is more than eighty meters. The corridors of the cave are filled with water in many places. You can go through the explored part of the cave (in some places - swim), then there will be a siphon, after passing which we will get into a small corridor, behind which is another long siphon (not yet passed by anyone). The cave has not yet been fully explored, the length, the presence of other halls and corridors are only assumptions.

An incredibly beautiful place is located on the territory of the National Park of the city of Sochi - the valley of the Ashe River. This valley contains several tourist sites:
1. Cave of witches. It can be viewed while traveling by boat.
2. Waterfall Psydakh
3. Shapsug waterfall.
Suspension bridges crossing the river will also attract attention.

We went here on a special day. I had a holiday - a birthday. All the previous week we basked by the sea of ​​the Tuapse region, walked in the nearby mountains. My husband decided to give me a trip. There was no doubt that it would be unforgettable.
Finding ourselves in Tuapse, we stood in a traffic jam for a long time and this darkened our mood for a while. Tuapse meets us every time with long traffic jams. Therefore, I associate it with long rows of cars that do not move.
But after the city of Tuapse was left behind, there were fewer cars, and the road became sharply winding.
When we reached the Kalezh highway, every second I admired the passing beauty.

On the way we saw the Shapsug village. The name of this place is formed by two words: “hajj” (the pilgrim who reached Mecca) and “ko” (the place to which this pilgrim returned).
On the way, we met a nice cafe called "Away from the Wives." Unfortunately, we had absolutely no time left, so we could not go there. Yes, and we went as a couple - they might not have let my husband in 🙂.
So we got to the village of Kalezh. This place is not very big, but for some reason it is translated as "old town".
As soon as we got to the village, the entrance to the bridge was blocked by a herd of resting cows.

Mysterious Valley of Waterfalls
An unsurpassed valley of the Ashe River appeared before our eyes. In translation, the name of the valley means "weapon". But only the heart with its unforgettable beauty can hurt this place. Bright greenery, clear water, which reflects the blue sky. Because of a large number green, the valley was nicknamed the Emerald.
However, the valley is not as calm as it seems at first glance. When it rains, the river begins to rage, its banks diverge and the hasty stream blows away everything that meets in its path.
This happened in 1991 as well. The river overflowed so strongly in August that the whole village was flooded. This caused some houses to collapse. This resulted in casualties.
The valley of the Ashe River is considered a very mysterious place, full of various legends. People have composed many different legends associated with this place.

It is located here. The legend says that earlier exhausted and sick old people were thrown down from here. But one day one man did not want to throw off his father, and so that no one would find him, he took the old man to a cave. The son often came to his father for advice. For making the right decisions in the district, he was nicknamed the wise man. And once the advice of his father helped to save the whole village. And then the young man told about his secret. Since then, throwing old people off a cliff has stopped.

Of course, this legend is very similar to fiction, because the Caucasus has always been distinguished by its respect for old age. Probably, a flight from a cliff deserves more guides who turn their tongues to tell tourists such implausible legends.

And if you start looking at travel sites, you can generally find a bunch of incorrect and outdated facts about the valley. For example, there you can find information that the path to the Cave of the Witches is closed because it was flooded. And in general, only the most courageous can enter it.
I think it's all speculation. We were there even with children. There are flooded areas in the cave, but this makes the stay in this place even more exciting and intriguing. We did not experience any fear and horror from being in the cave.

THE ASHE RIVER VALLEY PROVIDES THREE TYPES OF MOVEMENT ALONG IT.

The first type is on foot. It takes a long time and is very tiring, especially when it is very hot.
The second type - SUVs(UAZs are most often used, and large groups prefer GAZs). They move along the river. It's a lot of fun to watch the spray scatter under the wheels in different directions.
However, all equipment will have to be carefully hidden and packed in something waterproof. Yes, and you run the risk of being completely wet.
The third type is your car. A road has recently been built along the river bank. Travel on the road must be paid (hiking, by the way, too). The road will take you almost straight to the falls. Even an ordinary car can easily drive along this road, let alone an SUV.
We got to this beauty in our car.

PSYDAKH - ONE OF THE WATERFALLS OF THE VALLEY ASHE

Getting acquainted with the Ashe valley, the very first thing you can see is the Psydakh waterfall (sometimes called Psedakh). The translation of its name means "beautiful water"

The beauty of this waterfall is undeniable. It is located in a very unusual place, which can only be seen by getting closer, looking into the well-cleft.

You can hear another name for this waterfall - "Waterfall of brides." There is a sign that if a girl bathed in this place, then in the near future she will get married. Therefore, at the waterfall you can see a huge number of ladies who do not care about cold jets. Even women of advanced age are not averse to believing the myth and trying their luck.

But the origin of the second variant of the name may also be related to another fact: water falls to the ground in such a way that it resembles a veil in shape. So the ladies-dreamers, perhaps in vain, sacrifice themselves in vain, plunging into the icy stream. Well, in general, the main thing is to believe in the realization of your dreams.

On the way to the waterfall you will meet the wish bridge. All the wishes made here must certainly come true. True, I didn’t guess - I was fascinated by the view of the waterfall.

The structure of the waterfall includes three cascades - upper, middle, lower. Now even the highest cascade can be easily reached, because bridges have been built to it and even special platforms have been equipped from which everything is perfectly visible.
The waterfall reaches a length of 30 m. The upper cascade looks most impressive.
The height of this cascade is 20m. He cut his way into a hole in the rock. Water from it falls directly into the bowl located below. The spray from the waterfall is scattered over a long distance, forming a cloud, so it is pleasantly cool here even if it is hot everywhere.
The upper cascade is located in a canyon that looks like a bag made of stone 6m wide and 11m long. Its slopes are steep and seem to consist of layers. There are indescribable sensations when you stand in this huge well, which was created by the power of water.
The height of the middle cascade is approximately 5m. There is also a bowl underneath. It is larger than the top one.
And the last, lower cascade. It is smaller and wider than the other two. In height, it reaches only 2.5 m. The foot also has a small bowl.
The entire rise of the falls is littered with signs warning people to be careful, walk only in sports shoes and others. But if you come here in slippers, no one will kick you out. However, this is very thoughtless and unsafe. You risk not only parting with slippers, but falling and injuring yourself.
In front of the Psydakh waterfall, there are various tents where you can buy local honey and wine or eat fresh pies. I do not recommend tasting wine before climbing the waterfall - the stairs here are already very dangerous. It is better to buy wine and take it with you. It is made from local berries, so it has a truly unique taste.
Not far from this waterfall there is another smaller one. It's beautiful here too.
There is a chair-lift along a small waterfall. It's already rusted all over, because probably no one uses it anymore.

PHOTO OF THE WATERFALL "PSIDAKH" (BRIDE'S VEIL)

WATERFALL SHAPSUG

Shapsug includes 4 cascades. It is higher than the first waterfall. Its total height reaches 50m.
The height of the lower cascade is approximately 20m. At the base of the waterfall there are a lot of huge stones. The remaining cascades reach 5, 10 and 8m.
To get to the waterfall you have to cross the bridge. It is very narrow, about 30m long. When you walk on it, everything starts to stagger. It's very exciting.
Near the Wishing Stone, located next to the waterfall, you can think of something to make it come true.
By the way, there are plenty of other places for making wishes. Yes, and desires, it seems to me, in this place are similar for everyone - to come back here again.

Waterfalls can be found at the following coordinates: Psydakh - N44 00.041 E039 23.454,
Shapsug - N43 59.947 E039 23.808.
Most likely, they will not be useful - there are signs everywhere.
The valley of the Ashe River is also rich in other attractions that we did not get to: the Rock of the Old Men (I wrote a legend about it) and Mukhortova Glade. But one thing is very mysterious place we still managed to visit - an unusual cave.

PHOTO OF THE WATERFALL "SHAPSUG"

WITCH CAVE

The valley of the Ashe River contains another unusual miracle - the Cave of the Witches or, in other words, the House of Spirits, the Cave of Salvation. It is located on the right side of the river.

To get to the cave, you need to cross the bridge, which is 90 meters long.
The view of the bridge, of course, leaves much to be desired. It is as if made by otherworldly forces - its curvature, old age, rotten boards and the absence of railings in some places make you shudder. Nails stick out here and there.
But from this bridge, the Ashe Valley looks unforgettable.

Passing the bridge, you will find yourself in the Colchis forest. To get to the cave, you need to follow the signs.

All three names of the cave have a history behind them.
The Cave of the Witches was nicknamed because in the past witches were locked up here. If it was discovered that one of the women was engaged in magic, she was immediately sent here, they propped up the entrance with a huge stone, and death awaited the poor sorceress in the cave. This, of course, is hard to believe, because the entrance there is very large. And if you find a stone of this size, then it would be beyond the power of not only a poor witch to budge it. And the guide whispered to us that the witches did not live here. All this was invented to give this place more mystery.
The real name of the cave is the House of Spirits or Jinan in Arabic. There is a legend that spirits of underground waters lived here.

This place has another name - the Cave of Salvation. According to legend, at one time the village of Kalezh was surrounded by enemies. Residents, not wanting to give up, hid in a cave. There were no flooded places in it at that time. Therefore, the men managed to lead the people to the nearby valley and hide them there. The warriors themselves went back and, taking the enemies by surprise, won the victory. After that, they began to live in their village calmly and happily.
When we got to the cave, we got rubber boots and disposable foot caps (hygienic requirement).

About 40 meters had to walk through the water on foot. In some places it was necessary to bend strongly - the ceiling was either low or high.
I was afraid that I could slip, because the water was dirty in color and because of this it was impossible to see the bottom. The guide assured us that there could be no algae here, since the light does not penetrate here. So it won't be slippery.
As we walked, we saw many bats and unusual growths of calcite. It looks like the stones are growing - something at the level of fantasy.
Finally, we got to the boat. We lit our way with lanterns. The course was set by our guide. There were yellow growths here and there on the walls.

In some places, they hang over the water, forming curtains of stone.
The guide told us that nowadays many places in the cave cannot be reached. At the end of the tunnel, he showed us a depression in the water. Through it you can penetrate into the lower layer of the cave. Scuba divers worked there, who opened a whole hall below, filled with water. There are also many moves there. Where they can go is unknown. No one was engaged in a detailed study of the cave, so no one can say its exact size. It is believed that it stretches for about 12 km in length.
Looking into the darkness of the passage located in the water, I got goosebumps from the fact that there is a dungeon below, full of mysteries and suspense.

There are rumors that there is another way out in the cave. It is located near the village of Bolshoye Pseushko, located just twelve kilometers from here. Therefore, the belief about the capture of the village is quite plausible and, perhaps, it is based on real events. After all, if the cave was not flooded, then there was every chance to get out of it.
Currently, the water in the cave reaches a depth of 1m 20cm (because of this, you can only go on foot at the beginning of the tunnel, and then only by boat). Cave water flows into the Ashe River. This water is incredibly cold. My feet were cold in boots and warm socks, although the weather was warm outside. Our guide explained that the water temperature here is constant throughout the year and is about 10 degrees.
Also, the cave is infested with mosquitoes. We were all bitten by them. Therefore, keep this in mind and wear something with long sleeves and treat yourself with something from mosquitoes. You can also find spiders here. Our guide warned us about this. But we didn't see them. The cave in which we visited reaches a length of 74 meters, a width of about 2.5 meters, and a height of 1.6 - 2 meters.

Photo

PRICES FOR VISITING THE CAVE OF WITCHES

Now I will tell you how much this fascinating excursion will cost. Walking through the cave costs 100 rubles for an adult and 40 rubles for a child under 10 years old. But remember that you won’t be able to walk through the entire cave - it is flooded. So you will see only half of all the beauty. So I advise you to pay for the boat tour right away.

For the price, it will not differ much from a walking tour: adults 150 rubles, children - 60. But emotions will be much stronger and brighter.

If you are afraid to go inside, you can take a walk near the entrance to the cave, capture the original footage. Entrance to such a walk will cost children under 10 years old 30 rubles, the rest - 50 rubles.
But I think that you need to overcome all your fears, go inside and make sure that there is nothing terrible there. But there is a lot of interesting and fascinating things. Of course, there was a slight discomfort in the form of very cold water knee-deep and clouds of mosquitoes. But that didn't spoil the tour at all. Positive emotions drowned out all the bad ones. On top of all that, caves are my passion. And I was delighted that I could sail through such a place on a boat.

TOTAL

After the tour ended, we got out of the cave. The valley seemed to us even more picturesque, its colors sparkled with bright colors.

The clothes in the sun became dry very quickly, and we warmed up. We also saw some mushrooms near the cave.

I don’t know much about them, but it seems to me that they were fly agarics. Probably, the witches brewed their terrible potions from them.

The Cave of the Witches can be found at the coordinates: N 44.015621, E 39.365446. The likelihood that you will use them is very small, because there are signs and trails everywhere.

Have you ever been to the valley of the Ashe River? What natural scenes have you most excited about - the view of the waterfalls, the Cave of the Witches, or the man-made bridges?

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The Ashe River Valley is one of the most beautiful places in the vicinity of Sochi national park. There are three interesting tourist sites here: the mysterious Cave of the Witches, where you can ride a boat, and beautiful waterfalls Psydakh and Shapsug. And also - unusually picturesque suspension bridges across the Ashe River ...

The day we went there was not an ordinary one. It was my birthday. We've been on vacation for a whole week. Tuapse district, swam in the sea and walked around the surrounding mountains. And my husband gave me such a wonderful gift - a trip that (I'm sure of it) will be remembered for a lifetime.

In Tuapse, we got into a giant traffic jam, and it almost spoiled our mood. We always get into Tuapse traffic jams for many hours, and for me this city is associated with endless lines of standing cars.

But as soon as we passed Tuapse, the road became freer and very winding.

And when we turned off the Sochi-Tuapse highway to Kalezh, I only had time to gasp and admire.

The beauty is simply breathtaking: huge mountains, deep gorges, mountain river valleys…

On the way there were some villages with names similar to Georgian ones. For example, Hajiko.

In fact, this, of course, is not a Georgian village, but a Shapsug one. And its name comes from the words "hajj" (a person who made a pilgrimage to Mecca) and "ko" (a place where this person returned).

And on the way we saw a cafe with a charming name "Away from the Wives." Too bad we didn't have time to stop. In addition, my husband was traveling with his wife, all of a sudden they would not let me in.))

And finally, the village of Kalezh. Despite the fact that Kalezh is a rather small village, in translation from the Adyghe its name means “old city”.

At the entrance we were met by a herd of cows, imposingly lounging right on the bridge.

Valley of secrets, legends and waterfalls

Before us stretched the beautiful valley of the Ashe River. Its name translates as “weapon”, but if this valley hurts with something, it is only with its amazing beauty. Emerald green, green water of a river with a blue sky reflected in it. It is not surprising that the valley of the Ashe River is also called the Emerald Valley.

Despite its serene appearance, the Ashe Valley is not such a calm place. The river has a stormy temper and after the rains it turns into a formidable stream, demolishing everything in its path.

In August 1991, the river overflowed its banks and flooded the village of Kalezh. Several houses were destroyed, there were even casualties.

The valley of the Ashe River is also called the valley of secrets, legends and waterfalls. And there are really a lot of different interesting legends about her. . This text is stolen from the Road of Peace website (website)!

In this valley is the Rock of the Old Men, from where, according to legend, once the locals threw their sick and infirm elders into a huge abyss. And then one of the sons, instead of throwing his father into the abyss, hid him in a cave. He consulted with his father all the time and therefore was known as a sage. One of the old man's advice saved the whole village, after which the young man revealed the secret of his wisdom. And then they stopped killing old people.

To be honest, it is hard to believe in this legend, because old age in the Caucasus has been held in high esteem for centuries. And rather, it is necessary to throw guides who retell such unsightly legends to naive tourists into the abyss.))

Unfortunately, tourist sites are full of all sorts of inaccuracies and outdated data about the Ashe Valley. For example, they write that the Cave of the Witches has long been flooded and is inaccessible to tourists. And even earlier, only the most courageous dared to walk along it, they say.

I personally visited this cave with my husband and two small children. Yes, the cave is indeed partially flooded, but its visit is all the more interesting. And no special courage is required for this. Is that a reliable protection against vampires)), but more on that later.

Fisherman in the Ashe river valley

There are three ways to travel along the Ashe river valley.

First option. On foot. Which is quite long and tiring, especially in the heat.

Second option. On off-road vehicles (usually UAZs, but there are GAZs for large groups). Right along the riverbed, under squeals and splashes.

Workhorses of the Caucasus Mountains

Keep in mind that cameras and camcorders during such walks should be carefully packed in waterproof bags. Yes, and it doesn’t hurt to wrap yourself in something either.

Third option. On your car. A few years ago, an asphalt road was laid along the river. Entrance (however, as well as passage on foot) is paid. By car, you can drive almost to the very waterfalls. Moreover, the road is so easy that it is not necessary to have an SUV for this, you can drive on any puzoter. Well, on an SUV - and even more so.

We, of course, preferred the third option, .

Ashe Waterfalls: Psydakh - beautiful water

Waterfall Psydakh (sometimes written as Psedakh) is the first on the road. Its name translates as "beautiful water".

And this waterfall is really very beautiful and unusual. It cannot be seen from afar. He hides from prying eyes in a crevice well.

The second name of the waterfall is “Waterfall of Brides”. According to legend, a girl who bathed in the waters of this waterfall will soon get married. Judging by the number of ladies in bathing suits screaming under the icy jets of the waterfall, this problem worries many. And even those who have long passed the age of brides.))

However, according to one version, the splashes of the waterfall are just very similar to the bride's veil. Hence the name, so perhaps potential brides are in vain engaged in self-torture. On the other hand, the main thing is to believe, and may they all be happy!

Waterfall Psydakh. lower cascade

The very first bridge to the waterfall is called the bridge of desires. Many people sincerely believe that any wish made on this bridge will come true. And I forgot to guess. I was so fascinated by the beautiful waterfall.

The Psydakh waterfall consists of three cascades - upper, middle and lower. Previously, it was very difficult to get to the upper cascade, but now wooden walkways and stairs with viewing platforms lead there.

Waterfall Psydakh. View of the lower cascade from above

The total height of the waterfall is about 30 meters. The upper cascade is the most spectacular.

Waterfall Psydakh. Upper cascade

More than 20 meters high, it descends along a hollow in the rock that it has punched and falls into a small bowl. There is a curtain of spray around the waterfall, and the canyon is quite cool even in the heat.

The canyon itself, in which the upper cascade of the Psydakh waterfall is located, is a stone bag with a bottom size of 6 by 11 meters. Its walls are sheer and layered. It is amazing to stand in such a deep well filled with water. The power of the waterfall delights and amazes.

The middle cascade of the Psydakh waterfall is about 5 meters high. At its foot there is also a bowl, larger than at the top.

And finally, the lower cascade is the smallest and widest. Its height is 2.5 meters. And at the foot is also a small bowl.

Waterfall Psydakh. lower cascade

Despite the fact that signs are hanging around: “Be careful and careful!”, “Visiting the object in sports shoes!”, which is not surprising on such steep stairs, no one will forbid you to go up there in beach slippers. What many do. In my opinion, this is somewhat reckless. If the slippers slip down, you will never get it. But it is even worse to stumble and fall there yourself.

Stairs at the waterfall Psydakh

Near the waterfall Psydakh - malls with local honey, wine and hot delicious pies. Wine is better to try on the way back. There are too steep stairs here ... Better yet, take wine with you - it is really very tasty here. There is even a blackberry, from berries collected in the same forests.

On the left of big waterfall there is another, smaller one. But also very beautiful.

And from this waterfall there is a rusty chairlift, on which, probably, no one has been riding for a long time. But maybe she just looks like this...

600 meters upstream of the river is the second Ashe waterfall - Shapsug. It is named after the people living in this area.

The Shapsug waterfall consists of four cascades and is higher than Psydakh. Its total height is about 50 meters.

The lower two-stage cascade is about 20 meters high. Giant boulders are piled at the foot of the waterfall. The upper cascades of Shapsug are 5, 10 and 8 meters high.

Shapsug waterfall. Middle cascade

The stairs here are even steeper than on Psydakh, and few tourists climb to the very top.

Stairs at the Shapsug waterfall

Observation deck at the top

But in vain: magnificent views of the district and a bridge hanging somewhere far below open from above.

Going down, you can walk on this bridge.

The long (about 30 meters), narrow (it is difficult for two people to separate) and rather high bridge sways strongly even in calm weather.

Walking on it brings a lot of exciting minutes.

At the foot of the waterfall is the Wishing Stone. You can sit on it and guess something secret.

However, wishes here can be made almost everywhere. And, I think, they all have the same thing: someday to come back here again and again to see the Ashe waterfalls.

Waterfalls coordinates: Psydakh - N44 00.041 E039 23.454,
Shapsug - N43 59.947 E039 23.808, but they are unlikely to be needed, there are a lot of signs, it is impossible to get lost.

And you can take pictures in local outfits ...

There are a few more sights in the Ashe River valley that we have not seen: the Rock of the Old Men (which I wrote about above) and Mukhortova Glade with a dolmen right in the courtyard of local residents in Shkhafit. But we managed to visit at least interesting place taking a walk along the underground river.

There is a mysterious cave in the valley of the Ashe River. It is known as the Cave of the Witches, but it is also called both the House of Spirits and the Cave of Salvation. It is located on the right bank of the Ashe River.

A very picturesque suspension bridge leads from the left bank to the right bank. The length of the bridge is 90 meters.

Suspension bridge in the valley of the river Ashe leading to the Cave of the Witches

And in one of its forms there is something diabolical - a curved oblique, the boards are rotten and cracked in places, improvised wire railings are completely absent in some places. Oh yes, and there are nails sticking out of the boards, so you need to look both ways here.

The bridge offers magnificent views of the valley of the Ashe River.

Ashe river valley (view from the bridge to the left)

Ashe river valley (view from the bridge to the right)

And on the other side begins the Colchis forest. And follow the sign to the Cave of the Witches.

Each of three titles this cave has its own explanation.

It is said that it is called the Cave of the Witches because witches used to be immured here. Allegedly, if some woman from the neighborhood was convicted of using black magic, they would bring her here, block the entrance to the cave with a stone and lock the unfortunate sorceress there.

This version is completely untenable. Anyone who has seen the entrance to this cave can imagine what size a stone must be that could close such an opening. No one can roll such a stone. Well, except with the help of some modern technology. The guide secretly told us that there were no witches here at all. And this name was given to the cave simply for greater mystery for tourists.

The real (non-tourist) name of this cave is the House of Spirits. The Circassians call it Dzhinen (from the Arabic "dzhine" - "spirit" and "une" - house). It was believed that the spirits of underground waters lived in the cave. And in fact, where else would they live, if not here.

There is another name for this place - the Cave of Salvation. According to legend, once the enemies surrounded the nearby village of Kalezh. They threatened to exterminate all people, young and old, if they did not surrender. Then the inhabitants of the village took refuge in deep cave. It has not been flooded before. And, having passed through its winding passages, the men took their old people, children and women to the neighboring valley and, having safely sheltered them there, returned back to the village, where they unexpectedly attacked the enemies. Having killed all the enemies, they again returned to the village with their families. Such are the legends...

When we came to the cave, we were given high rubber boots and bags for our feet (for hygiene, crowds of tourists still use these boots).

The first forty meters walked through the cave. Right on the water. In some places I had to bend over a lot, because the ceiling here is everywhere at different heights.

The first forty meters on the water

I was afraid that it would be slippery - the water is yellow and muddy and the bottom is hard to see in places. But our guide said that due to the lack of light, algae do not grow in the cave, so there is no need to be afraid of slipping.

On the way, we were shown a colony of bats and strange deposits of calcite, which are slowly but surely growing here. Such are the growing stones, just mysticism.

Leaks from calcite

Then we went out to the boat and, plunging into it, sailed on, shining our lanterns on. Our guide guided the boat. The real Charon is in the underworld.

While we were sailing on a boat, we saw many more yellow sinter formations along the banks of the underground river.

Calcite deposits

In some places they hang right over the river, hanging from the vaults of the cave like real stone curtains.

stone curtains

Our guide said that now only a small part of the cave is accessible to tourists. And when we swam to the very end of the tunnel, he asked us to shine lanterns there. In the dim light, we saw a black spot underwater.

“This is an underwater passage through which you can get to the lower hall of the cave,” our guide explained. - Scuba divers explored it and found there a huge hall flooded with water. And from this room there are more moves. Where they lead, no one knows. By and large, no one has explored the cave. Therefore, its true dimensions are unknown to us. However, there is an assumption that the total length of the cave is at least twelve kilometers.

I looked at the darkening blur of the passage to the lower hall. And I felt a little better. How many secrets hide these flooded dungeons!

By the way, they say that there really is a second way out of this cave. And it is located in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe village of Bolshoe Pseushko, just 12 kilometers from here. So, it is quite possible that the legend about the Cave of Salvation is not fiction, because earlier this cave was waterless and it was quite possible to walk through it.

Now the depth of water in the Cave of the Witches in some places reaches 120 centimeters (which is why the entire tunnel cannot be walked on foot and tourists are taken by boat). Underground water from the cave flows into the Ashe River, thereby replenishing it. The water is icy - my feet are frozen even in socks and boots. Although it was only the beginning of September. True, the guide said that the water here is the same temperature (about 10 degrees) all year round.

By the way, mosquitoes live in the cave, which have bitten all our hands, so keep this in mind - it is better to smear yourself with repellents first. And also, as the guide said, spiders live there, but I didn’t see a single one.

The length of the cave is 74 meters, the width is up to 2.5 meters, and the height varies from 1.6 to 2 meters.

The cost of excursions along the Cave of the Witches route: walking inside the cave will cost an adult 100 rubles, for a child (from 7 to 10 years old) you will have to pay 40 rubles. But keep in mind that you can only walk half of the route, so it's best to take a boat tour right away.

The difference in price is small: the cost of a boat trip through the cave for adults is 150 rubles, for children (from 7 to 10 years old) - 60 rubles. But there will be much more impressions.

If for some reason you do not want to travel through the cave itself, then you can just walk near its entrance and take a picture there. Such a walk costs 30 rubles for children from 7 to 10 years old; for everyone over 10 years old - 50 rubles.

But inside the cave is much more interesting. And although, despite the high boots, I slightly soaked my trousers, and we were also so bitten by mosquitoes that we itched until the very evening, I did not regret for a second that we visited this cave. In addition, I love caves very much, and for the first time in my life I sailed through the cave on a boat.

When we came out of the dark cave into the river valley, the magnificent colors of the surrounding nature began to seem even brighter to me.

My wet pants dried quickly in the heat. And at the entrance to the cave, we found these mushrooms.

I think it's fly agaric. Apparently, local witches used them to prepare their potions.))

Witches Cave coordinates: N 44.015621, E 39.365446. But you will not need them either, there are signs and hiking trails everywhere.

I hope you enjoyed my story about the beautiful and amazing place. This post is part of the How Beautiful Our Planet contest, organized by the AnyWayTrip blog (no longer exists) and supported by the Life and Philosophy blog. And even if I fail to win, I hope my story has given you many pleasant moments. Our planet is really beautiful and all journeys on it are beautiful.

Have you been to the Ashe river valley? And what did you like the most - Psydakh waterfall, Shapsug waterfall, hanging bridges or the Cave of the Witches?

All materials of the site "Roads of the World" are copyrighted. A big request is not to take articles and photos without the permission of the author and the site administration.

© Galina Shefer, website "Roads of the World", 2012. Copying text and photos is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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We discovered an amazing place in the Caucasus Mountains in August 2012. It was another day of our rest, we went to the Shapsug and Psydakh waterfalls, on the way we saw the sign "Cave of Witches", well, we, as real pagan Vedists and members of the Russian Vedic Community, could not help but visit such a cave and agreed to go there after visiting the waterfalls. It was necessary to go to the cave through a wide dry river along a suspension bridge, which we did when we arrived from the waterfalls.
The Ashe River is full-flowing only in spring, when the snow gets warmer and melts. But even in summer it does not completely disappear, there remains a small stream of 10-15 meters. Having crossed to the right bank, we saw some sheds and a cafe where none of the visitors were. We walked and walked, there are no signs, we don’t know where to go, but then a kind aunt came out with a rag in her hands and waved in the direction we needed. The only annoyance at the resorts Krasnodar Territory These are ubiquitous checkouts. You will go there 100 rubles, you will go there 1000 rubles, you will stand here 200 rubles. This is where I had to splurge. At the cave we were met by a very gloomy guy, of Caucasian nationality, pre-memorized phrases bounced off his teeth and from time to time he slowly yawned, showing with his whole appearance that the cave was very scary.

Cave of the Witches.

Spirit of the Witches Cave.

Another entity from the witches' cave.

Ascent to the dolmens.

First dolmen.

Monolithic dolmen.

The Cave of Witches (also the house of spirits or the Cave of Salvation) is located on the right bank of the Ashe River in the territory of the Sochi National Park near the village of Kalezh. Ashe is a very turbulent river that overflowed its banks and flooded this village and, along with it, the Cave of the Witches.

The cave is a tunnel only 1.5-2 meters high, in some places even less. The length of the Cave has not yet been fully explored by specialists due to its sinking. To date, you can enter the Cave for about 74 meters, it is simply impossible to go further. Some experts believe that the total length of the Cave can reach more than 12 kilometers and have access to the village of Bolshoye Pseushko. But most likely, the truth will be revealed only in the future, when the Cave again turns out to be waterless, and experts will be able to study it.

Cave of the Witches - a favorite place for tourists

Being an extraordinary place by its nature, the Cave of the Witches is considered to be very popular among tourists. To enter it, you can buy a ticket for an excursion, where the guide will tell and show a lot of interesting things. You can choose between a walking tour and a boat tour. But the best option would be a boat tour, as you can’t go far into the Cave on foot even in long rubber boots.

If you shine a flashlight on the water at the end of the river, you can see a black hole. This is an underwater passage through which you can go to the lower part of the Cave, which is also flooded today. There are more passages through the lower part of the Cave, but no one knows yet where they lead.

The Cave of the Witches is highly valued among thrill-seekers, as well as among tourists who are tired of boring excursions. Entering the Cave, you immediately feel strong humidity, because of this there are a lot of mosquitoes in it. You can also see bats in the cave. Only the most persistent can go further and fall into an additional branch of the Cave.

The valley of the Ashe River can be called one of the most beautiful places of the entire city of Sochi and its Lazarevsky district. The most beautiful tourist sites are also located here - the Shapsug and Psydakh waterfalls.

What to bring

With its flooding and difficult route conditions, a trip to the Cave requires you to take some extra things with you.

First of all, you need to take long rubber boots with you, because even at the beginning of the path there is water under your feet. Also for those who want to enjoy the uniqueness natural object, you need to take comfortable clothes, waterproof clothes, mosquito bites, additional flashlights.

Cave of witches in Lazarevsky It is better to visit with a guided tour than on your own. Since part of the cave is flooded and has dark places, the guide gives rubber boots and flashlights to see all the corners mysterious place. In addition, one half of the Cave cannot be reached without a boat. Taking a boat tour, you will be able to see all the most interesting things.

Legends of the Cave of Witches in Sochi

The Cave of the Witches remains a landmark of the Lazarevsky district of Sochi to this day. Its mystery and mystery attracts the attention of all tourists. And the unique Cave of Witches has a great many mysteries and legends.

One legend says that in ancient times, locals hid in the Cave from enemies, which was used as a passage from locality to a safe place. And that is why the Cave of the Witches is also called the Cave of Salvation. At that time, the Cave had not yet been flooded.

According to another legend, witches, sorceresses and evil women were left in the Cave, who were convicted of magic, so that they would not harm others. They were caught and driven into a cave, the entrance and exit were covered with stones so that they could not get out.

Another version says how a whole tribe was saved in the Cave. Men led women, children and the elderly through the cave, and they themselves went to attack the enemies.

How to get there

GPS coordinates: 44.015734 N 39.363509 VD

To get to the Cave, you need to get to the village of Kalezh, where the Ashe River flows, located on the road from Lazarevsky to Tuapse. Then you need to go upstream. There, cross the suspension bridge, the length of which is 90 meters. The entire bridge is located above the gorge, where a mountain river beats below.

Only bus number 159 goes to the village of Kalezh, which follows from the Lazarevsky railway station. But the bus runs once every 2 hours.

How to get to the Cave of the Witches by car

To get to the Cave of the Witches by car, you need to drive along the Sochi highway for 13.4 km, then cross the Ashe River, turn right and drive into the mountains, to the village of Kalezh. From the village along the river there is a road along which you can drive or walk. Then also pass the suspension bridge.

You can also get to the village of Kalezh by the following taxis: Taxi service Lazarevskoye, Red Taxi, Brio Taxi, TAXI "APRIL", Jutta. But a taxi from Lazarevsky to the village will be a little expensive.

Scheme of the route to the village of Kalezh, from where you can go to the Cave of the Witches:

Cave of witches in Lazarevsky, Sochi