Massandra opening hours. Massandra Palace is a small Versailles of Greater Yalta. Opening hours of Massandra Palace

“The Massandra production and agricultural association is one of the most famous attractions of Yalta. The vineyards, stretching for 180 kilometers from Foros to Sudak, give the appearance of this territory a unique flavor. More than a century“Massandra” occupies a special place in the Russian grape and wine industry, being, in fact, the cradle of domestic winemaking. It is more than a business and a brand. This is a treasure trove of wines and the country’s national pride!

Dear connoisseurs of Massandra wines, dear friends! We invite you to visit Massandra and get acquainted with the history of the legendary enterprise.

The tour of the main plant follows the historical routes of Massandra’s founding father, Lev Golitsyn, the founder of Russian winemaking, and Alexander Egorov, who for many years was the main winemaker of Massandra and created most of the famous wines. Guests are introduced to the stages of wine production, classical technologies, and cellars where wines are aged in huge, century-old oak barrels. Massandra also talks about its wine collection - one of the largest in the world and the richest in variety. There are about a million bottles in total. The oldest is Jerez de la Frontera from 1775.

Bright representatives of Massandra wines are served for tasting. The tasting set can be changed depending on production capabilities.

Head plant address: st. Winemaker Egorova, 9, town. Massandra, Yalta, Republic of Crimea, Russian Federation, 298650 (in Yalta - minibus No. 109 “Clothing market - winery”).

When visiting it is prohibited:

In a state of alcoholic (drug, toxicological) intoxication;

With pets;

Children under 14 years of age are not allowed on excursions, and children under 18 are not allowed on tastings. (According to the Federal Law “On the Protection of Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development” No. 436-FZ dated December 24, 2010).

An elegant knight's castle surrounded by centuries-old trees and the striking beauty of the park, Massandra Palace has been one of the most visited attractions in Yalta for many years. Tourists are attracted to it by the same things that once pleased royalty and party leaders - the original exterior, unique interiors and, of course, the location on a hill next to the forest, from where beautiful views to seascapes and the southern capital.

Massandra Palace is one of the most picturesque architectural monuments of the 19th century.

How to get from Yalta and Alushta?

Massandra Palace is located in the village of the same name, ten minutes from Yalta by car. By personal transport you can get almost to the palace and park territory, both from Yalta and from Simferopol along the Simferopol Highway. Let's say you are going to the palace in your own or a rented car. From Yalta there is no turn towards the Massandra Palace; you need to turn right onto the Tourist Highway (towards the Yalta-Intourist Hotel) and turn around under the bridge. Then exit onto the Simferopol highway from the other side and almost immediately turn right and up. From the side of Simferopol, in front of the bridge there will be a sign with the corresponding traffic lanes. Immediately change into the right lane, turn right from there, and then move up to the palace itself.

It is very easy to get to the Massandra Palace from Yalta and Alushta by public transport.

True, not a single bus goes directly to the territory of the museum complex. Both buses and trolleybuses stop at the “Verkhniy Massandrovsky Park” stop on the Simferopol highway. From Yalta you can get to the stop by trolleybus number 2 (follows the Yalta-Nikita route), as well as by minibus number 29. From Alushta you will need to take a trolleybus or bus traveling along the Yalta-Massandra route. From the stop you will have to walk up about a kilometer. The landmark is the figure of an eagle on a picturesque rock; immediately after it there will be a turn leading to the palace.

There is another way to get to the palace from the city, from the clothing market or bus station. Take route 44 to the top point of the Massandra village - Stakhanovskaya Street, and then walk along the picturesque forest path to the palace in the shade of evergreen trees. The trail begins at the entrance to the forest, next to a sign indicating that you are entering the preserve. Route No. 100 also goes from the city to Massandra.

Massandra Palace. Story.

So, you are at the palace. A majestic building with a glorious history, how did it appear in Crimea?

Initially, the Massandra Palace looked much more modest. After all, it was originally built not for Alexander III, but for Count Vorontsov, thanks to whom the southern coast of Crimea received another beautiful castle – Vorontsov Palace. But this is not about him now. Vorontsov managed to create a two-story foundation for the future palace, equipped the area around the building, and died.

Palace under Alexander III

In 1889, the palace was acquired by Emperor Alexander III. The king dreamed of a secluded holiday surrounded by forests and healing southern coastal air. Over the next ten years, the outstanding architect Maximilian Messmacher worked on the castle. He decorated the strict lines of the original with rich stucco, added complex architectural forms, fancy terraces and galleries. Now the palace took on an appearance worthy of an emperor.

Alas, Alexander III did not enjoy life and relaxation in the finished palace. After his death, the castle passed into the possession of Nicholas II, who still preferred the elegant Livadia Palace to him. And then by Russian Empire the revolution swept through the storm, and the palace became the property of Soviet Union. Traditionally, the Soviet government used the palaces and mansions of the southern coast of Crimea to treat workers. In the Massandra Palace, a boarding house operated for almost 20 years, where patients with tuberculosis were treated. Then the Magarach Institute settled there. It is worth noting that these institutions occupied only the last floor of the palace, so the lower two were preserved very well.

The beautiful mansion was appreciated by the party “elite”. Both Stalin and Khrushchev rested in the palace, which was impossible to get into in those years. Brezhnev also loved to relax in Massandra. It was for the Soviet leaders that a picturesque hunting lodge was built deep in the forest, which can now also be visited on a guided tour.

Massandra Palace: ticket price 2020

There are several main excursions at the Massandra Palace. Having been on an excursion once, both tourists and Crimeans themselves regularly return here again. The shady park and calm, slightly mysterious atmosphere invite leisurely walks around the palace at any time of the year.

— At the box office every day from 9 to 17.15, and in the summer - from 9 to 18.15 you can purchase tickets for the following excursions (you can be on the territory of the palace until 18.00, in summer season until 19.00):

— The main exhibition of the palace. Cost: 350 rubles for an adult ticket, 150 for children, 200 rubles for students and pensioners.

Palace interiors

Particular attention is drawn to the luxurious, but rather restrained interiors and unique handmade furniture. After it was decided to create a museum in the castle, carefully selected items from the Tsarist era from the Alupka Palace were brought to the Massandra Palace: paintings, furniture and decorative items. The Palace of Alexander III is in many ways unlike the traditional castles of that time. For example, the architect’s bold decision was to decorate the lower part of the walls of the lobby not with wooden panels, but with azure tiles, as if reminding that the royal family was on vacation by the sea.

Emperor Alexander was very fond of everything Russian, so valuable types of wood were used in the decoration of the palace, which brought a “folk”, “village” spirit into the interior. At the same time, the luxurious, “royal” shades of gold and terracotta do not let you forget for whom the palace was actually built.

Interior decoration.

The emperor's study, the billiard room, the empress's study and the royal bedroom - all rooms are united by the architect's integral idea - a combination of classical Russian style with Western motifs, the use of wood and handmade decor. Carved patterns on fireplaces are combined with the decor of wall panels.

Bright, even gentle against the general background of other rooms, the bedroom of the emperor and his wife is the only one in the palace, which in itself is surprising. In all castles and palaces of the royal family, several bedrooms were always designed. The Rococo-style bedroom turned out to be especially cozy thanks to the curtained alcove and diffused light that comes in from the spacious balcony, decorated with romantic columns. It is noteworthy that the royal family never stayed overnight here, despite the fact that they visited the palace several times.

Excursions

— A separate exhibition at the top of the palace is called “How We Lived... Ideals of the Past.” The works of Soviet artists in the manner of socialist realism seem to immerse you in the world of post-war USSR culture. It was then that the country was actively reviving after the difficult war years. The exhibition will be of interest to those who lived through the times of the Soviet Union and their descendants. To plunge into the world of the Soviet Union will cost adults 50, and children 25 rubles. This tour is not available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

— Introductory tour “Architecture, sculpture, flora of the palace of Alexander III” introduces visitors in detail to flora on the territory of the palace. The guide tells Interesting Facts about ancient trees and rare shrubs, and also draws attention to sculptures of mythical creatures. This excursion is only available for groups of 15 people or more; it costs 60 rubles for an adult and 30 for a child.

— A set of excursions can be visited profitably by purchasing single ticket costing 380 rubles. IN museum complex valid free wifi, there is a cafe and a point of sale of souvenirs.

— Another excursion route touches times of the CPSU and passes through Stalin’s hunting lodge, located above the Massandra Palace, in the so-called “Malaya Sosnovka”. While vacationing in the Massandra Palace, Stalin wanted to build a hunting lodge. The house was built using ancient technology without the use of nails, and it came out with a very colorful, well-finished wooden decor. The house is picturesquely located among tall pines, so the area around it was called “Malaya Sosnovka”. Brezhnev added a glass building in which important negotiations were held with a view of the ancient trees. Excursion route goes through ancient temple and source with healing water, which are also located in Malaya Sosnovka. The cost of the excursion is about a thousand rubles, including an electric car. The territory of Malaya Sosnovka was closed until recently, and is still carefully guarded.

Panorama of the Massanrovsky Palace.

The mysterious and romantic Massandra Palace leaves no one indifferent. The park, spread over several hectares, deserves special mention. Combining exotic plants and Crimean coniferous trees, the park was founded in 1822, when this site was still owned by O.S. Naryshkina. The German gardener Karl Kebach, who also worked on the Alupka Park, worked on the arrangement of the park. Lemon and orange trees grow next to pine and cypress trees. After visiting the exhibition, it is pleasant to walk along the alleys, look at the incredible mighty sequoias, breathe in the aroma of roses, which are practically all year round bloom in the park. The park areas offer stunning views of the sea and Yalta, and after walking around the palace grounds, it becomes clear why the southern coast of Crimea was so valued by the royals.

Everyone Have a good day, Dear friends! If you are planning to travel to Crimea this summer, be sure to visit the Massandra Palace. Today I will try to show you all the charm of this place. Go!

How to get there

The palace opens at 9 am and closes at 5 pm, which creates certain difficulties: from 5 to 8 pm there are a lot of traffic jams. If you want to get there quickly enough, plan your trip for late morning or lunch.

By car

Especially for car enthusiasts, I marked the location of the palace on the map (you can plot the route directly on it):

Coordinates for navigators: N 44°31.030, E 34°12.150.

By public transport

If you are traveling without personal transport, then you will have a little more difficult: you cannot get directly to the palace by public transport; from the nearest stop “Verkhniy Massandra Park” you will have to travel about 1.8 km.

From Yalta

From the “Center” stop, which is located in the center of Yalta, there are several flights at once:

buses No. 100 and 29,
minibus No. 14,
trolleybus No. 2.

In addition, you can use intercity flights which travel from Yalta towards Gurzuf:

From Alupka

You can get to the palace from Alupka by intercity bus, which follows the route Simeiz - Simferopol. The total travel time from Alupka to the Massandra Palace is 1 hour.

From Alushta

To get to the desired stop, you can use the intercity bus that runs from Alushta to Yalta:

From Sevastopol

There is no direct connection between Sevastopol and Massandra, so you will first have to get to Yalta. Sevastopol-Yalta buses run every 20 minutes, travel time is 1.5-2 hours depending on the route. Afterwards you will need to get to the palace from Yalta.

Or you can buy a bus ticket to Gurzuf and get off at the desired stop.

From Simferopol

Any transport that goes from Simferopol to Yalta is suitable:

You can also use intercity trolleybuses 52 and 55.

From Gurzuf

You need to take any intercity bus that goes to Yalta.

Bus 106 also goes on this route.

From Gaspra

From Livadia

Despite the short distance between the points, you will have to travel with transfers.

At the Livadia stop we catch bus No. 47a.
At the Spartak Cinema stop, we change to minibus 18a and take it to the Yalta station.

Or you can go straight to the bus station by minibus 11: it departs from the stop. "Livadia Palace". Travel time to Massandra Palace is 1-1.5 hours.

From Partenite

There is only one bus number 106 from the village: the route departs from the stop. “Market” and in half an hour brings you to the desired stop.

If you don’t want to waste time on public transport, you can simply order a taxi: from locals or cheaper online.

general information

Massandra Palace is located in Yalta and is one of the most visited attractions Southern Crimea. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century under the leadership of Alexander III, who bought the unfinished building after the death of the prince-owner.

Schedule

Now an exhibition and exposition are organized on the territory of the complex.

The palace's opening hours are from 09:00 to 17:00 (on Saturdays until 20:00).

It is better to look at the official website for detailed information, as the operating procedure may vary depending on the season. There is also the opportunity to book an individual excursion.

The cost of tickets to visit various excursions ranges from 50 to 750 rubles - see more details here.

You will have to pay separately for photo and video shooting. A child ticket costs exactly half as much as an adult ticket.

Why is it worth visiting the Massandra Palace?

One of the characteristic features of the complex is its architecture: there are elements of medieval decoration, interspersed with elaborate baroque arches.

You can walk along the spiral staircases of the facade, explore the long shady galleries, carved chimneys and fireplaces. The rooms, which at first glance seem small, are enlarged before our eyes due to the huge mirrors. The main exhibits reflect the life and characters of people who lived in the 18th century.

You will be able to see with your own eyes things that once belonged to the Emperor and his family. In addition, the attic offers a beautiful view of the sea.

In addition to visiting the buildings themselves, tourists are allowed to walk around the surrounding area. There is a fountain in the middle of the lush park; nearby you can see fancy statues of dragons and sphinxes.

Roses bloom in the garden, the beds are decorated with huge vases, and around them there are impressive columns connected by arches.

From the adjacent wall, lions look at visitors, the heads of which are decorated with fountains.

I won’t tell you all the secrets of the palace: visit the complex and see them with your own eyes!

Massandra Palace - French Versailles in Yalta

The history of Yalta dates back to the 5th century BC. In the 19th century, being part of the Russian Empire, Yalta acquired the status of a city. This happened in 1838. The city began to develop rapidly and became a popular resort place. Most of the buildings of that time are real masterpieces. One of these architectural monuments is the Massandra Palace. Some tourists compare it to the French Versailles.

Massandra Palace - excursion into history

In 1881, in the suburb of Yalta in Massandra, just five kilometers from the city, construction began palace ensemble. Its project was created by the architect Etienne Bouchard, and the initiative and financing came from Semyon Mikhailovich Vorontsov, the son of a famous builder. Literally a year later, Count Vorontsov died suddenly. Construction architectural structure was canned. Seven years later, the unfinished palace ensemble was purchased for Emperor Alexander III, who also did not live to see the completion of the project. After another three years, construction of the Massandra Palace resumed under the leadership of architect Oscar Wegener. It changes the decorative finish of the composition, but maintains the overall style.

The palace of the Massandra ensemble became suitable for living at the very beginning of the 20th century and was named Alexandrovsky. The new owner Nicholas II liked it, but for unknown reasons the tsar never lived in it.

During Soviet times, the palace was used as the Proletarian Health sanatorium. Before the Great Patriotic War, children diagnosed with tuberculosis were treated here. With the outbreak of war with Nazi Germany, the sanatorium turned into a hospital, but not for long, it was evacuated. After the victory, for three years, a research institute operated in the palace building, whose activities lay in the field of viticulture. Then the Massandra Palace was used as a summer house for government officials; Stalin, Khrushchev, and later Brezhnev rested here.

Near the Massandra Palace there is a beautiful park, which in the 90s of the 20th century became a branch of the Alupka Museum-Reserve of Palace and Park Art. At the same time, the museum of the royal house of the Romanovs began operating in the premises itself.

Until 2014, the residence was the state museum of Ukraine; now it is a Russian museum, subordinate to one of the presidential departments.

Exhibits in the Romanov Museum

Upon entering the museum, you immediately get the feeling that you are in a French castle of the 17th century, since the hall is decorated in the appropriate interior. The Romanesque style catches your eye.

A further journey through the museum halls of the palace is the billiard room, made in the classic British style, diluted with Gothic components. Here you can look at paintings and carved oak panels for a long time.

You should definitely look into the Empress's reception room, which is one of the most magnificent parts of the Massandra composition. The decoration of the room is in the Rococo style, using amazing stucco.

The Tsar's reception room differs significantly from the Empress's reception room; the Jacob style reigns here mainly. The interior is striking in its severity, one might even say severity.

The Empire style is also used in the palace, the front imperial office looks solemn, with gilded stucco everywhere.

The Romanov Museum contains a collection of paintings and sculptures, and many personal items that belonged to the royal dynasty. This collection is one of the most extensive in the world.

The palace still displays attributes reflecting Soviet times.

After looking at the luxurious design of the palace halls, you can move to the park, considered the best in Europe. The gardening design is in English style. Here exotic fruit bushes alternate with grandiose coniferous trees. Park alleys and paths are decorated with flower beds.

Residence location

The delightful Massandra, the royal palace is located near Black Sea coast, among a lovely park area. Its address: Russia, Crimea peninsula, urban village Massandra, Naberezhnaya street, building 2. The museum building is on the balance sheet of the local municipality.

How to get to Massandra Palace

The best route is to get to the Massandra Palace from Yalta. You can achieve your plans different ways– by bus, trolleybus, minibus.

If you decide to get to Massandra by regular bus, then number 29 or other buses heading towards Alushta, Gurzuf or Simferopol will do. All flights depart from the bus station located in the center of Yalta. The fare will be 15 – 20 rubles.

If you choose a trolleybus, then take any flight. The most frequently used route is number two. The duration of the trip will take only fifteen minutes, and the ticket will cost ten rubles.

IN holiday season Flights to the village of Massandra are also carried out by minibus number 74.

Regardless of the chosen public vehicle, do not forget that the place of arrival is the “Upper Massandra Park” stop, from there to the residence it is about a thirty-minute walk at a calm pace. Due to this circumstance, some tourists resort to private taxi services.

There is an option to get to the museum-reserve from Alushta. A regular bus or trolleybus running on the route Alushta - Simferopol is suitable for this. By trolleybus, the travel time will be just over an hour, and by bus – about forty minutes. The price of a ticket for a trolleybus is twenty rubles, and for a bus it is more expensive - fifty rubles.

You can change the arrival point in the route, take the Yalta regular bus number 3, 100, or 44 to the stop on Stakhanovskaya Street, and then take a walk through the forest. A well-trodden forest path will lead directly to the residence.

The bus takes twenty minutes to the destination, the ticket costs 15 rubles. The trip is cheap and takes little time.

Cost of visiting the Massandra Palace in Yalta

The price of visiting the Massandra Ensemble is quite low and will not damage even a modest budget.

Opening hours of the Massandra Palace in Yalta

It is advisable to devote the whole day to sightseeing at the Massandra residence. Only during this time can you study the palace building in detail and it is quite interesting story, see all the premises, or rather their decoration, interior and decoration, admire the exhibitions of the family life of the royal dynasty, take a leisurely walk through the unique park part of the museum-reserve.

The doors of the museum are open to visitors every day, but according to a certain schedule. The palace can be visited from Monday to Friday inclusive, from nine in the morning to six in the evening. On Saturday and Sunday the museum closes two hours later than usual. There are no days off or lunch breaks in the work schedule.

Massandra Palace

Sights and highlights interesting places Russia
Sights of Crimea
Massandra Palace - photo, park, how to get there

Massandra Palace one of many on south coast Crimea. It is located just a few kilometers from Yalta on the border of the village of Massandra.

The palace itself is quite small, three stories high. Bright yellow, with small turrets, huge balconies and openwork grilles, it looks more like some kind of fairy-tale house than a palace of the imperial family. The Massandra Palace was not intended for holding balls and receptions, so the rooms here are small and rather modest. Because of this, a tour of the palace itself may not be very exciting.

Massandra Palace. Crimea.

Massandra Park near the palace is very small, but very beautiful and well-groomed. The upper part of the park is a real rose garden, ideally complementing the fabulous image of the main building. Collected here great amount varieties of roses, near each bush there is a sign with the name of the variety and description. There is also a small pool with fish.

The main attraction of Massandra Park are two giant sequoiadendrons. These are relatively young trees, they are only 130 years old, but if you get closer to them, their name immediately becomes clear. They are truly gigantic.

Various Crimean herbs are planted in the lower part of the park. The main part of the garden is occupied by lavender, but there are also many other medicinal herbs such as honeysuckle, lemongrass, sage, etc. The mixture of smells here is mind-blowing.

Massandra Park

Ticket office from 9.00 to 18.15, exhibitions until 19.00,

Ticket office from 9.00 to 17.15

The park is free,
Palace: children 150 rubles, adults 300 rubles.
Single ticket for all exhibitions: children 190 rubles, adults 380 rubles.

Massandra Palace, how to get there?

As you might guess, the palace is located not far from Massandra, and Massandra, in turn, is located a little east of Yalta.

From Yuzhnoberezhnoe Highway you need to turn onto Simferopolskoe Highway. However, there is a normal turn onto it only if you go towards Yalta. If you are coming from Yalta, you need to turn in advance. Turn right into Massandra on the street. Mira, right at the turn there is a large inscription “Massandra”, turn coordinates Latitude 44°30′33″N (44.509076), Longitude 34°11′11″E (34.186397) From the street. Mira, at the first fork you need to turn left onto the street. Sovkhoznaya and moving along it get onto the Tourist Highway. You need to drive along it under the Yuzhnoberezhnoe Highway, and immediately after exiting it, turn onto the Simferopol Highway. If you suddenly passed this turn, you can drive another couple of kilometers and turn onto the Simferopol highway at the next turn.

Sequoiadendrons in the park.

Then we go to the sign “Massandra Palace”. As usual, spontaneous paid parking is organized near it, the cost in the summer of 2016 is 200 rubles. no time limit. You don’t have to pay, but there is a chance that something will happen to the car, and not without the help of parking attendants.

From the parking lot to the park you need to walk uphill for about half a kilometer.

By public transport.

Trolleybus 2 from Yalta to the “Verkhniy Massandra Park” stop.

Any intercity trolleybus to Simferopol. You need to ask the driver to stop at the bus stop, because... The trolleybus may not stop here.

From the stop you need to follow the direction of the trolleybus to the big left turn onto Simferopolskoye Highway, follow it to the parking lot and turn left following the signs to the palace.

History of Massandra Palace

The Massandra Palace was erected by order of Semyon Mikhailovich Vorontsov. Construction was completed in 1882. Then it was a house in the style of a knight's castle. The French architect Etienne Bouchard worked on the project.

8 years after the death of the owner, the house was bought by Alexander III. The emperor initiated the reconstruction of the house. The German architect Maximilian Messmacher drew the drawings according to which the house acquired a third floor, and its façade is truly a royal robe. Work began in 1892 and was completed 10 years later.

Alexander III could not wait for the renovation to be completed; the finished house went to Emperor Nicholas II. Although the palace was equipped with the latest technology, both electricity and hot water, it was not to the taste of the Romanovs. The family preferred to relax in the Livadia Palace.

IN Soviet time The royal dacha was used for 12 years as a boarding house “Proletarian Health” for patients with tuberculosis.

When World War II ended, the Magarach Institute of Winemaking moved to the palace. But less than three years had passed when Joseph Stalin ordered the building to be somewhat improved. After conversion, it served as a government dacha for more than half a century.

After the collapse of the USSR, the palace received the title of a state Ukrainian museum and is open to everyone. After the inclusion of Crimea into the territory of Russia, the palace became a Russian museum.

Massandra Palace

Massandra Palace in Crimea is a local landmark, visited by thousands of tourists every year. This is a work of art, shrouded in history. That is why history buffs and others love him. There are special excursions here. The palace itself is located not far from Yalta, so getting to it is not difficult. The area around the building is quite picturesque. There is a small forest belt around, and behind it there is beautiful park, spread over a large area. More than 1,000 plants and shrubs grow there, which is of genuine interest to botanists.

Brief history of Massandra Palace

This building owes its appearance to Count Semyon Mikhailovich Vorontsov. It was he who ordered the construction of this palace in 1881. The main architect was the Frenchman Etienne Bouchard. It was he who drew up the design of this grandiose building, where everything necessary was provided. Unfortunately, construction was suddenly frozen in 1882 as a result of the sudden death of the Count.

In 1892, construction continued according to the existing drawings. Only then did the state become the owner of the palace. Oscar Wegener was appointed chief architect. He kept the base of the palace, which was compiled by Bouchard, but made several changes to it that made the structure even more beautiful.

It is interesting that Alexander III was not destined to see the architect’s creation due to his death. After his death, the construction plan was changed once again. Nicholas II, who ascended the throne, personally approved several changes that affected only extensions. On March 22, 1902, the palace was put into operation and became the imperial dacha in Crimea. Nicholas II was pleased with the work, however, despite the status assigned to the palace, members of the imperial family never visited it. They preferred another palace, also located not far from Yalta.

At the very beginning of the formation of Soviet power, the Massandra Palace was damaged as a result of strong tremors. However, it was restored in 1928 and a medical and preventive institution was created in it as part of the implementation of the All-Union health resort program. It was here that children with pulmonary tuberculosis were treated for a long time. maritime and Mountain air Crimea favorably promotes recovery, and under the control of experienced doctors this process was much faster.

During the Great Patriotic War, staff and patients were evacuated, and after its completion, a research institute was based in the palace, which was involved in the development of winemaking in the USSR. However, the research institute did not last long here. In 1948, the leader of the people Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin made it his dacha. It was here that he loved to relax while in Crimea. After his death, other leaders of the CPSU also rested here: Brezhnev, Khrushchev, Andropov and others.

Today this structure is on the balance sheet of the Alupka Museum-Reserve. A beautiful park was laid out around it, and inside there is an exhibition of the Romanov house. It is considered one of the largest due to the large number of exhibits. At the same time, oddly enough, not a single member of the Romanov dynasty has ever been here.

Excursions and exhibitions

Massandra Palace is conducive to slow walking in a calm atmosphere. Locals and tourists can visit this place from 9.00 to 18.00 on weekdays and until 20.00 on Saturdays. The money collected goes to maintaining the palace and its grounds in proper condition.

There are several excursions here, namely:

Dedicated to Alexander III. It happens all the time. On the ground floor you can see how the emperor lived and how everything was thought out in his habitat. At the same time, there is no special luxury: everything is within reason. Not only household items of the imperial family are presented here, but also various paintings. The price of such an exhibition for adults is 300 rubles and 150 rubles for children.
“How We Lived...The Ideal of the Past” takes place on the third floor of the palace. Paintings by Soviet artists are exhibited here, showing the life and everyday life of Soviet people. Sculptures and other exhibitions are also exhibited here. This exhibition allows you to plunge into the past for only 50 rubles (25 rubles per child). It is of particular interest to those who experienced life in the USSR, but history buffs will also be interested in seeing how their relatives lived.
A tour of the palace grounds is no less fascinating, but is only available for groups of 15 people or more. The ticket price is the same for everyone and is 380 rubles. Here everyone can walk through the royal park and enjoy its beauty. Really, a large number of shrubs, flowers, fountains and sculptures make this place extraordinarily beautiful.
Another tour takes place around the palace grounds and is tied to the life of Stalin. He made the palace his summer home and lived and worked here since 1948. Tourists and local residents they pass through the places where the leader of the people lived.

There are various cafes and souvenir shops on the territory, so everyone can buy something for themselves to take home as a souvenir of their visit to the excursion.

How to get to the palace

It is located in an urban village of the same name, but is separated from it by a small forest belt. You can get there from Yalta in just 30 minutes using public transport. You will need to take bus 29 or other routes that go to Gurzuf, Simferopol or Alushta. From Alushta you can take public transport that goes to Simferopol. You need to get off at the “Upper Massandra Park” stop.

Next you need to walk. The road is asphalted. Along the way you will come across a statue of an eagle, next to which there is a turn that you need. Passing by residential buildings, you can get to the checkpoint to the palace. This is where tickets for excursions are sold. If you do not purchase them here, you will have to go to the palace itself to purchase them.

Crimea is not only amazing nature, historical monuments and warm climate. Crimea is a whole world of wonderful and varied wines for every taste. In my humble opinion, visiting the peninsula and not trying them is blatant blasphemy. And the oldest winery in Crimea, Massandra, is a great start to a journey through the local wine riches.

Massandra wines are not quite what we are used to. Dessert, liqueur and fortified varieties still have very specific tastes. At first they seem cloying and too sweet. But once you’ve tried it and gotten used to it, it’s very difficult to tear yourself away from them! This happened to me too, and now I have a hard time recognizing other wines. So be careful! It's addictive :) And the ancient plant itself is admiration and delight.

Historical reference

Massandra wine cellars are the oldest in Crimea. They were built by a very famous and skillful winemaker - Prince Lev Golitsyn in late XIX century. In Crimea, this name is the second most popular after the name of the president. All Crimeans hold the prince in high esteem. The winery itself was built by order of Nicholas I, after he visited Crimea again and tasted local grapes and wines. Admiring it, the emperor decided to support and develop this Crimean wealth.

By the standards of that time, the scale of the cellars was incomparable: 7 long tunnels underground, where a comfortable temperature for aging wine was constantly maintained at 12 degrees. And the main building wine cellar is a unique architectural monument and therefore provides tourists with remarkable aesthetic pleasure. In addition, the ancient mechanical clock in the main tower chimes musically every hour.

The second building of the winery was built already in the 20th century. It is located immediately opposite the first one, you just need to cross large area. This square in the courtyard is not a parade ground or a venue for events. This is the roof of the wine cellars. Walking along it, you trample on collection wines :) A line is drawn in the middle of the square - a kind of border between the 19th and 20th centuries in the history of this plant. The 20th-century building now houses the administration of the plant, and the historical building houses all the gadgets for storing and servicing wines.

Today, wines from eight wineries of the Massandra Winery, scattered along the entire coast of Crimea, are stored in Massandra. The main plant itself, located in Massandra, does not produce wine, but only deals with their storage and aging. In total, it stores about 200 thousand hectoliters of wine from 60 different varieties.

How to get there

The plant is located at st. Winemaker Egorova 9, in the village that is located on the territory Big Yalta.

Public transport

From Yalta you can get there by minibus No. 40, which starts from the “Veshchevoy Market” stop. The minibus goes into Massandra itself and stops right at the plant. Travel time is about 20 minutes. The minibus runs every half hour.

From Alushta and other villages located east of Yalta, you can take trolleybus No. 52 and No. 53 to the Massandra stop. In summer they run every 20 minutes, in winter - every half hour. In principle, you can get there by any regular buses, next to Yalta from Simferopol or the coastal village where you are staying. They all make a stop at Massandra. Next you will need to walk through the village.

There is an option to ask the driver to stop at the Winzavod stop upon request - this is the next stop after Massandra. Walk a little closer from it (as much as 250 meters, according to Google).

By car

By car you can get there in the same way: first drive along the South Coast Highway to the turn to Massandra, which is marked not only with a sign, but also with a decorative stele, and then follow the village itself along the street. Winemaker Egorov, as shown on the first map.

What to see

You can only see what the guides show at the winery - without a tour guide, entry into the factory is prohibited, except to the store. The excursion schedule changes in summer and winter, you can view it on their website.

Excursion

During the excursion, experienced guides will tell you in detail the history of the plant and quote admiring reviews of great people who visited here at different times; they will show you the cellars where collection wines and barrels in which young wine is aged are stored; They will delve into some of the subtleties of winemaking and talk about the structure and operation of the plant in modern times. With a guide, you will also visit the factory square and admire the ancient architecture. Walking through the basements, halls and staircases of the plant is very atmospheric. Subdued light, centuries-old stone walls, rows of dusty bottles, the echo of the guide’s words - everything here gives the impression that you are in a mysterious castle full of mysteries.

I got it very good guide, and everyone literally listened to him with their mouths open. I believe that all the guides in Massandra are masters of their craft, because the plant is not only a landmark tourist place Crimea, but also a very high-status winemaking enterprise for all of Russia. The cost of the excursion is 300 rubles.

Tasting

In addition to the tour at the winery, you can attend a tasting. In an ancient vaulted hall, you will be seated at oak tables and given a taste of 9 varieties of vintage Massandra wines.

Advice: It’s worth bringing some cheese or nuts to the tasting to offset the flavors of the wines. Unfortunately, these snacks are not provided every time. I talked with other tourists who visited there at different times - some had cheese, but others didn’t. So, be forward-thinking.

Before purchasing a ticket for the tasting, make sure you are already 18 - for minors the door is in tasting rooms, alas, closed. The cost of tasting is 450 rubles.