There is a real witch in Lazarevsky. Witches cave in Sochi

It is located on the left tributary of the Bekish River. The height of the Psydakh waterfall is about 30 meters. It half-falls-half-flows down a stone chute into a small lake. Consists of three steps. The Psydakh waterfall is surrounded by sheer cliffs and it is impossible to climb them. Therefore, you can look at it only at the foot of the stone bag.

“Psydakh” is translated as beautiful water. It is not by chance that the Shapsugs called it that - the spectacle is really beautiful.

By the way, Psydakh also has a second name - Brides Waterfall. By the next local belief if a girl bathes in the waters of this waterfall, then very soon she will meet her betrothed. Judging by the number of swimmers, women of all ages are looking for spouses.

There is another version why Psydakh is also called the “Waterfall of Brides” - his lower cascade looks like a faucet.

Waterfall Shapsug

Shapsug is located 600 meters further than its neighbor. The waterfall consists of two cascades, and the lower cascade is noticeably larger than the upper one. The upper part of the waterfall consists of several jets that break down onto a rocky ledge. After this stage, Shapsug further breaks down with a single powerful jet. The height of the waterfall is about 20 meters.

Not far from Shapsug there are 3 more waterfalls, 10, 8 and 5 meters high.

Also near the waterfall is the Wishing Stone, which, according to the beliefs of the guides, grants wishes.

witch cave

Inside the cave is not the most pleasant. It is completely dark, low ceiling, high humidity - and in some places the water is knee-deep. In addition, a whole colony of bats lives here. The cave is equipped very so-so - it is very far from the Vorontsovskaya or Akhshtyrskaya caves. In general for ordinary tourists not the most pleasant place, but for adventurers - the most it.

Please note that the journey through the sights of the Ashe Valley is quite long, tiring, but very exciting. So stock up on food, water and comfortable clothing.

Names and legends about the cave

There are several versions of the name of the cave and they are all associated with different stories/legends.

1. The standard legend associates this cave with the place of cruel execution of witches. Allegedly, if the highlanders caught a lady on black magic, then she was led into this cave and closed the entrance with a huge stone. This version is more like the fantasies of tour guides than the truth. If only because the entrance to the cave is large enough and it would be very difficult to find and move a stone that will close it.
2. Initially, the cave was called Dzhinen Cave, which the Russians heard as “cave of witches”. By the way, this name could be translated as “cave of spirits”. By the way, for the same reason, another name appeared - the House of Spirits.
3. There is another name - the Cave of Salvation. According to one version, enemies attacked the local village. The men gathered the women, children, and their belongings, and with them went into the cave. Leaving them in safety, the Highlanders returned home and fought, in which they won a glorious victory. Also, according to one version of this legend, the cave had a second exit and was used as a tunnel, while women and children were left in a beautiful valley.

The legend of the Old Man's Rock

In the valley of the Ashe River there is a place called the Old Man's Rock. Once upon a time, it was believed locals lived according to Spartan laws. Only they threw off the cliff not frail children, but decrepit old people. One young man loved his father very much and did not dare to kill him. He hid it in a cave. He brought him food and often consulted. Thanks to the advice of his father, he was known as a sage. One of the old man's advice saved the village. The young man then confessed to his fellow villagers that all the advice was given by his old father. Since then, the old people in the village began to be revered.

How to get there

Ashe river valley on the map

First, let's determine the location. The Ashe River is located on the road from Lazarevsky to Tuapse. To get to waterfalls, caves and other places, you need to go upstream

On your car

The road towards Tuapse will go along the sea. The first river that we will meet is Kuapse. By the way, the Berendeyevo Kingdom Park and the beautiful Mamedovo Gorge are also located here. But today we skip them and move on. The second river from Lazarevsky is Ashe. First we cross it, and then we turn right and go to the mountains, to the village of Kalezh. From it along the river there is a road along which you can drive almost to the very waterfall.

By public transport

Only one bus goes to Aul Kalezh - 159, from the Lazarevsky railway station. The main problem is that he walks on average 1 time per 2 hours, which is not very convenient.

Taxi

There is such a way, but if you go from Lazarevsky, it will turn out to be a little expensive. But a taxi is convenient with some tricky options.

Another bus + taxi

You can take a bus to the stop “Vodniy Boarding House” and from there get to Kalezh by taxi. Suitable if it is inconvenient for you to adapt to the schedule of bus 159, or if you are traveling from the other side (for example, from Council Kwaje to 160 or 161)

Train + taxi

You can get to the boarding house water station and continue by taxi. This is convenient if you are far away from Lazarevskoye and schedule 159 does not agree well with the time of your arrival in Lazarevskoye. Allows you to get here faster and without unnecessary expectations.

As part of the tour

Given the not very convenient location of the village, the tour is quite a good option to get here. Tours often include a show program from local highlanders with dances, songs, national clothes and, if you're lucky, a tasting.

Fascinating stories about how fairy tale characters descend into the realm of the dead, and to this day excite the imagination of not only children, but also adults. But did you know that sailing in a boat through the dungeon is not so scary? In fact, you just need to dress warmly, stock up on a flashlight and go to Ashe river valley on Excursion to the Cave of the Witches. Let's just say that witches in the cave is not and never was. Just the unusualness of the gloomy underworld gives it that mystery that attracts tourists so much. Let's go and we to this attractions Lazarevsky district of Sochi national park to hear the silence and lose track of time.

How to get to the Ashe river valley

On the map of the Black Sea coast we find the Tuapse-Sochi highway and make a turn to the side village Kalezh. The track winds, taking higher and higher into the mountains. It’s already worth taking out your camera, because with each new turn, the pictures of the surrounding landscape will become more picturesque and unusual. High mountains, overgrown with dense vegetation, river valleys and sometimes exposed ledges of rocks ...

In the village of Kalezh you will have your first acquaintance with the river Ashe. A wide rocky valley, and in its center - a peaceful, calm flow. Mountain streams are deceptive. No wonder the word " Ashe" is translated from the local language as "weapon". The stream is violent and impetuous after a rain or in a flood. And then - do not stand in the way! Accustomed to the insidiousness of mountain rivers, the inhabitants of the coastal zones, however, periodically suffer from floods and floods. Nothing, now you will also have the opportunity to experience some of its innocent "charms". And all because further sightseers from the bus are usually transferred to off-road vehicles and driven right along the riverbed towards adventure. Potholes and water splashes give the ride an extra edge and extreme. Well, how do you like such a vacation on the Russian coast? Did you feel a surge of adrenaline in your blood?

TO Cave of the Witches (Tahira) leads a long suspension bridge 90 m long. From it you get excellent pictures of the valley Ashe river in all its glory. Well, here we are at the entrance to the cave. The height of the ceiling inside is from one and a half to two meters, so you have to bend down so as not to hurt yourself. The first half of the way you have to go on foot, sloshing with rubber boots on muddy and cold water. And then the guide will take you on a boat deep into the cave. Everywhere there are bizarre sand-colored sinter formations. In some places they resemble growing stones, while in others they look like curtains and draperies.

The estimated length of the cave is 74 meters, but a flooded passage goes down, and what's next is known only to those who dive with scuba gear. In fact, witches cave not yet sufficiently studied by experts. There is an assumption that its length is more than 12 km, and the exit is located near the village of Bolshoye Pseushko. Perhaps the existing legend that the inhabitants of nearby villages fled through this tunnel from enemies is not fiction. It is not for nothing that one of the names of the cave is the Cave of Salvation. And we will know the truth when the underground passage becomes waterless again, and it will be possible to walk along it to the opposite exit.

Waterfalls in the Ashe river valley

« Psydakh" means "beautiful water". Is it still possible to surprise the traveler with the beauty of the waterfall, if there are thousands of them on the Black Sea coast! It turns out you can. There is another name for this waterfall - Brides Falls. Like a snow-white veil, a water stream flows along a steep stone gutter. The vertical cut of the rock allows you to see the entire multi-layer composition of the rocks of the cliff. Millions of its steps are washed by the icy waters, rushing down to the lower cascades. The total height is about 30 m (the upper one is more than 20 m, the middle one is about 5 m and the lower one is 2.5 m). Tourists climb wooden steps to each cascade of this amazing creation of nature. Water has knocked out depressions-pools at the foot of the waterfalls, everyone is splashing in them: from small to large.

After walking about six hundred meters up from the waterfall Psydakh, we will see no less impressive Shapsug waterfall. It has four cascades, and its total height is more than 50 m. Not everyone dares to climb the steep steps to the topmost cascade. And there - Observation deck, from which layered rocks, shady thickets of dense vegetation, the riverbed and a 30-meter swinging bridge are visible. Walk along it to enjoy the beauty of nature from the outside.

Before the return journey, sit down at the base of the waterfall on a huge boulder - wish stone- and think of something the brightest and most cherished. And what if the power of the Caucasian land, mighty cliffs and silvery waterfalls will help him to be fulfilled? And then your vacation on the Black Sea will not be an ordinary trip around the Krasnodar Territory, but a significant event in a new - better - life!

Not far from the Black Sea coast (several kilometers), there is a Spiral Temple, it is located not far from the village of Lazarevskoye, somewhere at a height of one hundred meters above sea level, on top of a mountain.

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.

The cave turned out to be very small, two meters wide and about one and a half meters high, a strange guide told us that in the cave a constant temperature of roofing felts is 8 or 12 degrees all year round. After walking about 20 meters through the cave, we got into a boat, the cave became even lower, less than a meter, we had to constantly bend down and dodge the ledges of the ceiling. We did not swim for a long time, about 15-20 meters, we ran into a wall, the cave went deeper from this place. That's actually the whole cave is nothing special, having collected a bottle of clean, cold water, we swam back.

Spirit of the Witches Cave.

On the way back, we looked at the photographs taken in the cave, and it turned out that almost all the photographs contain strange luminous objects, the contours of the bodies are slightly shifted, as if the ethereal body did not keep up with the physical one and this was recorded by the camera. Well, okay, maybe this is just a hardware defect that manifests itself in not quite normal conditions.

Another entity from the witches' cave.

After the witches' cave, we seemed to be carried by an invisible force, after several hours of walking we realized that it was time to look for dolmens. The cashier showed us the way with her finger, and we moved, not even knowing approximately how far to our goal. There were no signs and the road along which we then walked seemed to have disappeared into the grass. We stopped, began to consult where to go next, our advice almost turned into an argument. Then Denis turned around and saw a barely noticeable path leading up. He was sure that we should go there and we went.
The ascent in the very heat was not easy, before reaching the top of the mountain, we were already running out of water collected in the cave of witches. It was especially hard for my wife and daughter.

Ascent to the dolmens.

But our efforts were not in vain. We found them.

First dolmen.

Moreover, walking around the perimeter, we found many dolmens, they were different, made of slabs and monolithic. They were united by only one thing, almost all of them were destroyed to varying degrees.

Monolithic dolmen.

Then I found a menhir, for some reason it was flat with a slight oblong bulge. At the menhir were offerings from people who had been there. Well, I also donated from all of us.

Vacationers in the Lazarevsky district of Sochi, and not only there, but throughout Black Sea coast Krasnodar Territory, swimming in the sea and getting all the delights beach holiday, have the opportunity to arrange a real adventure trip for themselves. We are talking about visiting one of the sights of the Ashe River Valley - the so-called Cave of the Witches.

The cave is sometimes also called the House of Spirits or the Cave of Salvation.

The cave can be reached by a long suspension bridge. All ninety meters of crossing over the gorge, where a mountain river beats along numerous rapids below, will bring travelers many exciting moments. The entire wonderful valley of the Ashe River, and in particular the Cave of the Witches, located on its right bank, is shrouded in many legends and secrets. One of them says that the cave in ancient times became a place of salvation for the inhabitants of the village of Kalezh and other villages from the conquerors. When the Circassians learned about the approach of the enemy, they went into this cave, deepened into its depths and were able to find a way out to a wonderful magical valley.

Then the women and children were left to wait, and the male half of the population, on the way back - through the cave, returned to their native villages, suddenly attacked the enemy and drove him out of their places, inhabited for centuries. Experts say that this legend has every right to exist. Despite the fact that at present the length of the cave is only seventy meters, and its pedestrian part ends with an underground river, which in turn ends in a water gate, scientists believe that the true size of the cave is much larger. If you shine a flashlight on the surface of the water at the end of the river, you can see a dark hole. This is the entrance to the underwater part of this amazing cave. It is believed that its length is about twelve kilometers, and the magical valley from the legend is nothing more than a place near the village of Bolshoe Pseushko, where in ancient times there was an exit from the cave. Who flooded the cave since that legendary time - the gods themselves or nature, one can only guess. How many more secrets hide the flooded corridors - you can guess.

It is also advisable to take an ointment or an aerosol against mosquitoes with you, because these bloodsuckers feel just fine in the cave.

The cave inside is a rather eerie sight: the ceiling height does not exceed two meters, and in many places it is much less, the floor is damp, the ominous sound of falling water drops, twilight, strange formations of beige shades on the walls. Yes, the atmosphere is quite oppressive. Here, in the underworld, you can meet a colony of bats. Impressions are reinforced by another legend, according to which women convicted of using black magic were brought here and walled up alive in a cave. Until now, the restless souls of witches roam underground in search of a way out.

At the beginning of the entrance to the cave, all tourists are given high rubber boots, because most of the underground route has to go knee-deep in water. Further, having ordered a boat in advance, you can continue your journey along the underground river. The cave is quite cool, so warm clothes will not be superfluous. In addition, those who have already visited the Cave of the Witches are advised to take additional lanterns with them as an addition to what is issued during the tour. Thus, it will be possible to better view the quaint interiors of the cave.

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 - very rough River, which overflowed its banks and flooded this village and 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 as walking tour as well as a boat trip. But the best option there will be a boat trip, since 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 lower part Cave, which today is also flooded. 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 V 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