The village of Pshada (Gelendzhik region) - description, map, photos, attractions, description of ways to get there, holidays in Pshada. Pshada is not quite a resort village in Gelendzhik Rest in the Krinitsa River Pshada
Pshada is a village within the municipal resort city of Gelendzhik Krasnodar region. It is the center of the Pshad rural district. Located on the river of the same name, 32 kilometers from Gelendzhik on the highway federal significance M-4 "Don" "Novorossiysk - Moscow". The distance to the Black Sea is 11 kilometers.
In addition to s. Pshada, the rural district includes the villages of Beregovoe, Krinitsa, Mikhailovsky Pereval, as well as the villages of Shirokaya Pshadskaya Shchel and Betta.
About 2 thousand 800 people live on the territory of Pshada, mainly Russians, as well as Greeks.
Story
The area near the village of Pshada was most likely one of the first to be inhabited on the Black Sea coast. In any case, this is indicated by the dolmens located on the territory of the district and dating back to the early Bronze Age (some of them are about 5 thousand years old!). The location of dolmens in the vicinity of Pshada suggests that people lived here already in those ancient times. After all, a dolmen is nothing more than an ancient burial structure.
The founding date of Pshada is 1864. Initially it was a village that was part of the Shapsug battalion. The first settlers of the created settlement were families of low-ranking officials and families of soldiers.
The next, second, wave of settlers lasted from 1887 to 1893. Thanks to the royal decree allowing foreign citizens to settle, citizens of other states were settled in the territory of Pshada: Greeks, Czechs, Armenians, etc.
The third wave of settlement started with the arrival of employees: doctors, teachers, etc.
Climate and nature
The climate of Pshada is transitional from temperate to subtropical. During the summer average temperature the air temperature does not exceed + 24 C. There is almost no wind here (this can be learned from the name of the village, since “apshada” in translation means a windless lowland).
The village of Pshada is located in a beautiful valley surrounded by mountains and deciduous forests. The forests are inhabited by: roe deer, wild boar, raccoon, badger, etc.
The mountain river Pshada flows through the territory of the settlement, on the banks of which juniper and wild walnut grow. In the upper reaches the river is an unbridled seething stream, and in the lower reaches it is a calm river that provides life-giving moisture to countless orchards. In the Pshada River there are observed large reserves blue clay, widely used for cosmetic purposes. Therefore, here you can not only swim, but also spend time benefiting your appearance.
Attractions and entertainment
Find fun things to do in Pshad seaside resorts, will not succeed, since there is no sea here. They come here for something else: to admire the famous Pshad waterfalls (excursions to them are organized in almost all resorts of the Krasnodar region), to comprehend the secrets of dolmens, which, by the way, are the same age as the Egyptian pyramids, to offer a prayer to the Lord in one of oldest temples Black Sea coast, in the Church of the Great Martyr Dmitry of Sologun.
Recently, such types of active recreation as canyoning and jeeping, as well as mountaineering along the mountain river Pshada and its tributaries, have been developing on the territory of the village.
Infrastructure and economics
The village of Pshada has everything for a comfortable stay. The social infrastructure of the village is represented by a kindergarten, a school, a clinic with an ambulance substation, a recreation center, a library, a children's art school, a post office, a fire station, and a sports ground. Trade and service facilities on the territory of Pshada include shops, a market, cafes, guest houses. Near the village there is a fishing farm.
Residents of the village are mainly involved in agriculture. Pshada is famous for its orchards, where delicious apples and peaches are grown, which are sold both at the local and city markets. Also, one of the leading industries in the village is tourism, including agritourism. The highlight of the village is the ostrich farm, where you can meet ostriches and also enjoy dishes prepared from the eggs and meat of these birds. Horseback riding and fishing in the local reservoir are also organized here; You can rent a catamaran or ATV.
Pshada has a very good location - the village is located on federal highway M-4, which indicates good transport interchange. Regular bus services have been organized to Gelendzhik and others settlements district, public transport also runs to Krasnodar, Novorossiysk, Tuapse, Sochi. The nearest railway station is in Novorossiysk (about 70 km), the nearest airport is in Gelendzhik (about 40 km).
Real estate
Private development predominates in Pshad; there are only three apartment buildings. The real estate market has a large selection of plots for building a house. Real estate prices in the village are among the most attractive in the region.
In connection with the development of the tourism sector, objects have recently come up for sale more and more often. commercial real estate, including guest houses.
Rural development
Master plan of the city district g-k Gelendzhik provides for the implementation of the following projects:
- Construction of a bus station (in connection with the organization of a new highway "Krasnodar - Pshada", which will be the shortest access to the Black Sea coast);
- Construction helipad(to improve system efficiency air transport in terms of servicing vacationers, as well as in case of emergencies);
- Reconstruction of kindergarten No. 19 with an increase in capacity to 107 places;
- Reconstruction of the library, providing for an increase in the book stock to 10 thousand units with the organization of 10 reading places;
- Construction of a cinema with 200 seats;
- Laying a gas pipeline from Teshebs to Pshada.
Any tourist, going on vacation, makes a list of attractions in Pshada that definitely need to be seen. Some plan independent routes to explore the city, others book various sightseeing tours. As a rule, they capture the main attractions of Pshada and help to better understand the historical events and cultural traditions of the city.
Art lovers are always looking for sculptural attractions on the Pshada map. In the main squares of the city you can often see iconic sculptural compositions, against which all travelers take traditional photos. But in the famous public gardens you can see exhibitions of modern sculptural compositions and installations. They can be made from the most unconventional materials and have amazing shapes that you will need to think about more.
Religious sites stand out among the main attractions of Pshada. They form the architectural appearance of the Russian city, many of them survived significant religious and historical events. In Pshad and beyond, you can go to famous monasteries, feel the elegant appearance of large Orthodox churches or look into the cozy and miniature chapels that are so popular among the townspeople.
While traveling around the area, you may also come across unusual religious sites. These could be objects of other religious movements, ancient religious buildings, or generally mysterious places of power.
A great idea is pedestrian promenades along Pshada. You can purchase a Pshada map in advance with attractions and routes, or even go wherever you want. This will make it even more exciting. Allow yourself to get lost in colorful alleys or wander through public gardens. And if you want to take a break, you can have a snack or drink coffee in a nice cafeteria. By the way, in Pshad there are a couple of iconic establishments that any traveler dreams of.
If you want to get the most complete picture of the city and its history, go to museum complexes Pshads. They contain rich collections of ethnology, painting, handicrafts, and archeology. Usually these attractions are concentrated in the center.
Wherein open museums, dedicated to a specific topic, can often be found in suburban areas. They present interesting exhibitions telling about national traditions and folk art. Moreover, this can be a format of realistic recreation of ancient cities or military forts. Such attractions in Pshada will be very educational for children.
For family tourists The main question on the agenda all the time is: where to go with the children. The most popular option is to go to one of the Pshada water parks. Most often, when ordering a day ticket for the whole family, there are preferential rates.
If you are going on vacation in winter or spring, we recommend that you consider ski resorts Pshads. There is a wide variety of activities for children and parents: a variety of slopes for skiers and snowboarders, snow tubing, interesting snow parks for experts. Usually such resorts are not very far from the city. In this regard, it is more comfortable to get there in person vehicle or rent a car.
Excellent prospect for a family holiday – leisure Outdoors. Natural attractions are located near Pshada. These could be rivers, caves, famous nature reserves. The choice of location is always yours: Bolshoi Adegoi waterfall, Bolshoi Kaverzinsky waterfall. You can get here by own car, and on public transport. Find out in advance the schedule of intercity buses running from suburban bus stations in the direction you need. In such an adventure you will get many unforgettable emotions from being in nature, and you will put your mind and body in order.
If you arrived in the city for a business purpose, then for a long time excursion programs you don't have much time. In such a case, we advise you to find a concise guide to the sights of Pshad with photos and descriptions.
You can look at such a directory at any time after arriving in the city for railway stations or at the airport. There is a list of the most interesting places, where to go in Pshad, with names and photos of attractions. Agree, this greatly simplifies the task of what to see in Pshad, especially if you are limited in time.
However, if the guidebook describes the most popular places Pshad, then in the search network you can see the rating of unfamiliar, but no less interesting attractions with reviews of tourists who have been there. Abandoned mines, mysterious quarries, unique narrow-gauge railways, overpasses - these attractions attract adventure lovers.
When planning a trip to Pshada, you should find out not only about the sights, but also about other significant infrastructure facilities of the city. For the convenience of moving around the city, it is important to imagine the traffic pattern of urban transport, the localization of bus, train or sea terminals, and metro stations. At the same time, these important public buildings of Pshada can become objects of tourist interest. Often they are the ones who become business card cities.
There are so many natural attractions around Pshada that it is impossible to explore them in one day. These places have become widely famous thanks to the ancient megaliths. In the village and its surroundings there are more than 70 dolmens, built during the Bronze and Iron Ages - the same period when the Egyptian pyramids were built. For this reason, Pshada has become a real Mecca for lovers of antiquities and fans of esoteric tourism.
From the village up the picturesque valley there are excursions to the famous Pshad waterfalls - a cascade that is located in the middle reaches of the river. In Pshad you can see many amateur tourist groups whose routes are laid out along the sights of the North-West Caucasus. From here you can climb the Gray Monasteries or Krasnodar Pillars rocks, and also climb Mount Papai - the westernmost rocky peak of the Main Caucasus Range. Most often, travelers are passing through Pshad and do not stop overnight. They come here on time bus tours or safaris that take place in jeeps and trucks.
There are no asphalt or dirt roads along the Pshada River, and especially in the valleys of its tributaries, and only old logging roads exist. Even in low water, only off-road vehicles can drive up the river valley.
Those who plan to travel along Pshada on foot should keep in mind that walking along mountain trails and canyon-like river valleys requires good physical fitness. For hiking According to Pshada, you need to have trekking shoes, as well as camping equipment for spending the night in the field.
History of the village of Pshada
People began to inhabit the fertile land around Pshada since the Stone Age. In 1837, a Russian outpost appeared here, and then a village grew in its place. In 1866, a wooden Orthodox church, consecrated in honor of the Great Martyr Dmitry of Thessalonica. This church has not survived to this day. A new Orthodox church dedicated to the same saint was built in the 2000s on Shkolnaya Street.
Now about 2.7 thousand people live in Pshad. There is no industrial production in the village, so local residents are engaged in gardening, beekeeping and receiving tourists. There are many orchards around Pshada, and the peaches, apples and hazelnuts grown here are famous far beyond the Gelendzhik region.
The hotel business in Pshad is almost undeveloped. The reason is that those coming to Black Sea coast tourists prefer to stay in coastal resorts, by the sea. The demand for housing in Pshad itself is low, and only two guest houses and one private mini-hotel are open in the village. Pshad also has a market and cafe.
Dolmens
The Pshada Valley is the only one on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus where you can see so many dolmens. Some ancient monuments have been preserved in very good condition, while some megaliths are dilapidated.
Most Pshad dolmens are a rectangular structure made of four vertically placed slabs. They are covered with another slab on top. Each part of the dolmen is carved out of sandstone and weighs more than a ton. As a rule, a round hole is made on one of the vertical plates.
At the time when the Caucasian dolmens were erected, there were no jacks or other construction equipment, so it remains a mystery to scientists how the people who lived then managed to build them in such large numbers.
Another unresolved question is the purpose of megaliths. There are different points of view on this matter. Some scientists are sure that dolmens were needed for astronomical observations. Others say that they were used to perform ancient religious rites. This idea is suggested by the mysterious drawings, ornaments and patterns preserved here and there on the stones. Most of researchers agree that megaliths served for the burial of the dead, that is, they played the role of large stone crypts.
Two dolmens can be seen right in the village of Pshada. The most popular monolithic dolmen among tourists is called “Mother’s Heart” and is located on Kubanskaya Street. More than 20 megaliths of varying degrees of preservation are scattered on the slopes of the low Tsygankova Mountain - above the village buildings.
There are 18 dolmens on the left bank of the river, and 20 on the right bank, with the largest and best preserved megaliths located on the right bank. Near the Skull Cave, not far from Pshada, there is an unusual trough-shaped dolmen.
A group of four Bambakov megaliths is located 4 km southwest of the village. They are located on the territory farm"Dolmen", from the south of the M-4 Don highway. About 5 km above Pshada, on the left bank of the river, in a place called the Wide Pshadskaya Gap, there is a dolmen village popular with tourists. Here you can see 8 well-preserved and two dilapidated megaliths.
Pshad waterfalls
In the valley of the Pshada River and its tributaries there are about 100 picturesque waterfalls. The most popular of them are given the name “Pshadskie”, although they are not located on the river itself, but in the valley of its right tributary - the river. Krasnaya, 20 km above Pshada. Eight picturesque waterfalls of different sizes are located close to each other, so you can explore the entire cascade in an hour.
The largest of the waterfalls - Olyapkin - has a height of about 9 m. Another waterfall is slightly smaller (7 m) located higher, in the valley of the Vodopadny stream - the right tributary of the Krasnaya River. The height of the other six Pshad waterfalls varies from 1 to 4.5 m. There are houses near the cascade of waterfalls tourist shelter“Pshada”, where groups of amateur tourists like to stay.
At the height of summer there is not much water in the river. But even with a small amount of water, the Pshad waterfalls present a breathtaking sight. Olyapkin waterfall falls into a small lake - the so-called water well, which the water washed into the stone river bed. Tourists who come here love to swim in this natural body of water. The cool water of a mountain river is very pleasant and refreshing after a tiring hike.
You can get to the Pshad waterfalls by all-terrain vehicles - UAZ, GAZ-66 or ZIL-131, which are available in the village of Pshada. Their rental can be negotiated with local residents. During the summer tourist season, people are taken to the waterfalls from Pshada several times a day.
Those who want to walk to the waterfalls should expect to spend the night in tents, because the journey to the waterfalls and back takes 2-3 days. A walking tour through the Pshada Valley has its advantages. During it you can admire the clear mountain river, picturesque tributary streams and beautiful rock outcrops. The Pshada Valley is forested. Oaks, beeches and hornbeams grow here. IN summer time tourists are accompanied by birdsong all the way. There are also animals in the forest, but they are usually shy and try to avoid meeting people.
There are also many waterfalls in the side tributaries of the Pshada River. Those located in the valleys of the Gorlyanova Stream, in the upper reaches of the Thab River, on the Melnichny Stream and in the Kochkarskaya Gap are considered especially beautiful.
Fishing ponds and apiaries
In addition to traveling to dolmens and waterfalls, in Pshad you can go fishing and visit apiaries. In total, there are four stocked ponds in the vicinity of the village. One of them is located in the valley of the Doguab River, the second is on the territory of the Filippovskaya estate, at the end of Kubanskaya Street, and two more are in the Yin-Yang recreation park on the outskirts of the village (Rechnaya Street).
The Yin-Yang Park is very popular among tourists who relax in Pshad and Krinitsa. He is considered great place for family and corporate recreation. Arriving here, you can undergo mud therapy and massage procedures, as well as have a picnic with friends in gazebos with barbecues. The two park ponds are home to carp, carp and grass carp. Here you can fish with your own gear or rent the necessary fishing equipment.
People come to Yin-Yang for half a day or several days. For those who want to spend the night in the park, small houses have been built. If desired, horseback riding, jeep travel through the Pshada Valley, as well as paintball tournaments are organized for guests.
Pshad has a mild climate and many flowering plants, so there are several apiaries in the vicinity of the village. One of the largest is located on the territory of the Dolmen farm. Delicious mountain honey is sold at the Pshady market, as well as at equipped trading platforms stretching along the M-4 Don highway, at the entrance to the village.
How to get there
Since Pshada is located on the M-4 Don federal highway, it is easy to get here by car. The nearest airports to the village are located in Gelendzhik, Anapa and Krasnodar. The distance from Gelendzhik and Dzhubga to Pshada is the same - 33 km, and the entrances are convenient on both sides.
Those who come to the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus by train take tickets to Novorossiysk or Tuapse. From Novorossiysk and Tuapse to Pshada it is about 70 km. Pshada is connected with Krasnodar, Novorossiysk, Tuapse, Anapa and Gelendzhik by regular by bus. In addition, many people pass through the village intercity buses. If desired, it is easy to get to Pshada by taxi.
The southern foothills of the Caucasus are full of waterfalls and mountain rivers, and on the outskirts of Gelendzhik the nature is also very curly and rich. It seemed to us as stormy as , so after walking along the Gelendzhik embankment we were increasingly drawn to nature excursions, and not to be too disingenuous, also because the swimming season was not yet open. Among others, we planned a trip to the Pshada River. Excursion Pshad waterfalls are strikingly different from self-guided tour to the waterfalls of the Zhane River. If you are a supporter of the walking option and are determined to do it in one day, then you will have to go to Pshada as part of an organized group.
How to get to Pshad waterfalls on your own
The village of Pshada, from which the route begins, is located between Gelendzhik and Arkhipo-Osipovka. From Gelendzhik to Pshada it is about 35 km. The road connecting Gelendzhik, Pshada and Arkhipo-Osipovka is the M4 Don highway. Bus No. 106 departs from Gelendzhik from the old (suburban) bus station at very large intervals, this should be taken into account. Bus schedule No. 106 Gelendzhik-Pshada for 2016: 6-00, 8-20, 11-30, 14-00, 17-15. Be sure to check the return schedule either with the driver or final stop in Pshad. Thus, if you leave on the first bus and return on the last bus, you will have 11 hours at your disposal. But having reached Pshada, the easy part of the route ends and the grueling part begins. You have to walk about 10 km along the river bed, and in some places you will have to get your feet wet. The journey will take about 2-3 hours to the cordon, from where a small walking route It will take about 1 hour more to get to the waterfalls. Thus, the given time is only enough to come, stand at the waterfall and immediately go back. Things will of course be different if you go to these places with a tent for the weekend.
Having studied all these nuances, we decided to take a field trip to the Pshad waterfalls from Gelendzhik. The excursion includes a transfer to the village of Pshada, transfer to the pedestrian part of the route in GAZ-66 vehicles, a visit to the waterfalls themselves, then we make a short detour to the dolmens located in the valley of the Pshada River and on the way back to Gelendzhik we will stop by local entrepreneurs for a tasting of local wines. The cost of the excursion to the waterfalls of the Pshada River was 1100 rubles per person(600 rubles for excursion support and 500 rubles for transfer by GAZ-66 car). There is another opportunity to get to Pshada, this is to go not as part of an organized group, but to take an individual jeep tour in UAZ from numerous private owners whom you will meet more than once while walking around Gelendzhik. There is some risk in this choice, since the excursions are private, then only you bear responsibility for your safety, and UAZs are often driven by less qualified drivers, who only increase the degree of risk.
Rodeo along the bed of the Pshada River
Having reached the off-road, we transfer to the legendary GAZ-66, the most favorite car of excursion companies in the Caucasus. We already rode exactly like this in Greater Sochi, when we went to.
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Excursion companies turn the everyday delivery of tourists to the excursion site into a real attraction that will not leave anyone indifferent. Sitting in the back of a car racing off-road, you have to make an effort to sit still. And sometimes, when driving into a river, the driver does not slow down, as logic requires, but accelerates, showering the group sitting in the back with a sheaf of water spray. This event is very refreshing in hot weather, and if there is more than one car along the route, as happens in the summer months, then the drivers take turns stopping in the shallow water, waiting for another car to drive into the river and cover everyone with a sheet of water from under its massive wheels. 
It is also worth considering that if you go here on your own with the hope of transferring to a GAZ-66 in Pshad, then there may not be a free car, but they will almost certainly pick you up from the waterfalls if you wait there tourist group. The breeze carried us to the cordon, where there is also a cafe where everyone can have a snack. There is a wonderful view of the mountains here, here we turn off the Pshada River. 
From here we go deeper into the forest along one of the tributaries of the Pshada, technically the waterfalls will not be Pshadskie, but the waterfalls of a tributary of the Pshada, the Red River, but all travel companies position this excursion as Pshada waterfalls, so for simplicity we will further call these waterfalls Pshadskie. 
On the way to the waterfalls, the guide enthusiastically talks about the features of the local flora, which is really very informative. Our route runs along the river bed, and although the river has already become very shallow, like all mountain rivers in the spring, in places crossing its bed there is a chance of getting your feet wet, so you either need to immediately put on flip-flops so you can splash through the water without fear, or walk in grippy sneakers or sneakers to jump over rocks without fear. 
So along the river bed we reached the first waterfall. The forest through which we made our way can easily claim to be impenetrable; as soon as you step off the path, thorny bushes and ivy rise up like a wall. If you walk a little along the riverbed, you will come out to a waterfall, and to get to the next waterfall you will need to climb the hill on the left. 
The waterfall itself is not very big, but in the dense thicket, where the sky is not always visible, it is perceived as a breath of fresh air. 
Then the trail goes uphill, and then downhill. We walk further through the forest, admiring how and where the river carved its channel. Sandstone layers here reach the surface almost vertically. 
In one place you have to practically climb a wall, along which, in addition to everything else, water flows in a trickle; one must think that at times of the year when the river is full-flowing, a full-fledged waterfall is formed here. 
So we reached the second waterfall. The guide has a prepared legend regarding the healing properties of the waterfall. After the story, the group has 15-20 minutes to take pictures against the backdrop of the waterfall and bathe themselves in it. 
We set out on the way back and reach the clearing no more than an hour and a half after starting from it. Here we are waiting for kebabs ordered in advance, which, admittedly, are not as tasty as on the Zhane River. 
Dolmens of the Pshada River Valley
Then everyone in the same GAZ-66 takes us on an excursion to the dolmens. The nature of the Pshada River valley is simply charming; you never cease to be amazed at how rich nature is. It is not difficult to notice that the Pshada channel is much wider than the stream of water that flows through it. This is not surprising, because in the summer the flow of mountain rivers is greatly depleted. The main flow comes down from the mountains from January to February, when there is little available channel. Such streams carry away everything in their path, so it’s not uncommon to see trees uprooted along the riverbed. 
There are about 70 dolmens in the valley of the Pshada River, they were built in the 3rd millennium BC, there is no exact data, but it turns out that the dolmens are the same age Egyptian pyramids. The guide will give a full lecture about the history of construction and the purpose of dolmens, give a few more minutes for memorable photos, and we will set off on the way back. 
For the last time, the GAZ-66 will rush us along the rocky riverbed of the much-shallow Pshada, and take us to a comfortable minibus that will take us to a wine tasting; children under 18 years old will not be allowed into the tasting; a cartoon will be played for them outside the threshold of the establishment. After tasting the wine, everyone is invited to buy the product they have just tasted. 
After the tasting we finally head home. The entire excursion to the waterfalls of the Pshada River from start to finish took 8 hours. If you are bored with a leisurely vacation and want adventure, then an excursion to Pshad waterfalls is what will help you overcome the blues. Unforgettable races in the back of a GAZ-66 along the bed of the Pshada River, a mysterious forest, refreshing waterfalls and mysterious dolmens, what else is needed on a hot summer day for have a good holiday? Oh yes, tasting!
Video: Excursion to Pshad waterfalls from Gelendzhik
Video review of the excursion to the Pshada River valley.