Abkhazia attracts Russian tourists with deserted beaches, clean sea, cheap housing and a huge variety of fruits. But in Abkhazia you can spend time not only relaxing, but also visiting the sights, opening the pages of history.
Those who come to Abkhazia for the first time visit the New Athos Monastery, the New Athos Cave, the Sukhum Botanical Garden, the Monkey Nursery, Lake Ritsa and other common places where every travel agency organizes excursions. But in Abkhazia there are other interesting, but less "promoted" places.
Lake Mzy
The alpine lake Mzy is located among evergreen fields at an altitude of just over 2000 meters above sea level. The water in the lake is around +4 all year round, and the snow does not melt here even in the hottest days in summer. July, August and September are ideal times to visit the lake, just remember to wear comfortable shoes and bring some warm clothes.
Church of the Holy Apostle Canaanite
The temple is a small building, built in the 9-10th century on a cross-domed type of snow-white limestone. Above the entrance to the temple, you can see Greek inscriptions from the early Middle Ages. Previously, the walls of the temple were covered with frescoes, but only a small part of them has survived. Fragments of frescoes showing the great martyr-healer Panteleimon appear under the plaster on the northern wall. Divine services are held in the temple and it is open to the public.
Bedia Cathedral
The medieval Orthodox church located in the village of Agubedia is an example of Georgian architecture of the 10th century. The temple was built in honor of Our Lady of Blachernae and covered with luxurious paintings. A hundred meters from the temple, the ruins of a large stone palace with the remains of the vaults and columns of the lower floor have been preserved. At this time, restoration work is underway in the temple, but it is open for visiting.
Castle of the Prince of Oldenburg
The castle is located on the slope of a mountain in the region of Old Gagra. It is surrounded by a beautiful park of cypresses, palms, agave, orange and lemon trees. The castle was erected in 1902 in the Art Nouveau style and is an unusual structure with balconies, chimneys, a tower and a tiled roof. Now the castle is in a dilapidated state, but walking in the park and next to the castle is absolutely free.
The healing springs of the village of Tskvara
The village is located just two kilometers from New Athos, but it is rarely seen in excursion programs. And the village is famous for its thermal hydrogen sulphide spring with mineral water. This water is useful not only for prevention, but also helps in the treatment of various diseases. There are also therapeutic muds near the mineral spring.
Sukhumi lighthouse
The lighthouse is installed on special screw cast iron piles, which go into the rock for 17 meters. Therefore, it is almost impossible to knock down this structure. And what a wonderful view of Sukhumi and New Athos opens from the lighthouse. But to get to the observation deck, you have to climb 137 steps of the spiral staircase. Since 2008, the lighthouse has been doing its job again and is open to visitors.
