Kabardinka museum old park. Old park in Kabardinka - photos and how to get there. Virtual walk through the Old Park of Kabardinka

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I went to the Old Park in Kabardinka, like to Mini Siam in Thailand, if anyone knows, or to Mini City in Turkey, that is, to a park with copies famous buildings... But the Old Park, although it is a thematic and architectural park, does not contain a copy. All the buildings in it are by themselves (not copies), rather the theme is simply observed, be it Japanese, Greek, or Caucasian.

The price is high, but in Kabardinka there is not so much that you can still see. And in general, there is nothing similar either in the nearest cities or on the entire coast.

old park

The Old Park is one of the main attractions of Kabardinka. This is a thematic architectural park with an area of \u200b\u200bhalf a hectare, where the architecture created by the author reflects different cultural epochs and styles from Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece to the heritage of the peoples of the Caucasus. This is a mini-encyclopedia of architecture, a very compact journey through time and space. The creator of the park, Alexander Alekseev, graduated from Rostov University in 1983, studied the history of culture and art for many years. Its park embodies not only historical elements of architecture and decor, but also the author's philosophical ideas.

The territory of the park is very small and therefore it may not be crowded there during the peak season. I was at the beginning of October and it was difficult to take photographs, I had to wait until they moved away from the place I needed. Each building has its own theme. They stand quite close to each other, they are separated by paths and a lawn. Everything is very well maintained. As far as I understand, there is only one architect here - Alexander Alekseev. A writer who changed his profession as an architect and sculptor. The old park was created by him from scratch, earlier there was just a wasteland. That is, all buildings, although they reflect some era, are a remake, you should not expect antiquity here. Only in the house of the East is there a collection of old weapons and armor. Alexander has his own architectural studio, and this park, one might say, is a visiting card. Not bad, thought up! Soon, another part of the park will open, another piece of land nearby has been bought. How everything looks in real life, the photo will tell for me better.

Almost Taj Mahal, only this is the House of the East

Separately, I drew attention to the design of one electrical panel. Amazing! From a distance, some kind of milling or painting looks. But if you come closer and see ... That face is a piece of an ordinary plastic tablecloth with old earrings and plant stems around.

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Information to visit

The ticket price is 500 rubles per adult, 200 rubles per child (6-13), children under 6 are free. The price includes a 30-minute sightseeing tour that runs almost every hour (at 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 hours). The Caucasus Museum and the gallery of paintings are paid separately - 50 rubles.

Opening hours from 8 to 22 (June-September), from 9 to 18 (October-May). You can stay in the park all day. Works every day.

There is a toilet, mini-cafe on the territory.

Map and how to get there

There is a fairly large parking lot near the park. Most likely it will be busy during peak season, but the rest of the time you can find a place. But in general, the Old Park is located in the center of the village of Kabardinka. You can park in another place (near the embankment, for example) and walk. Well, vacationers in Kabardinka should initially go on foot if they don't live right off the edge.

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Good afternoon, readers of the site. I continue the theme of the Old Park in the village of Kabardinka. There are a lot of impressions, information and photos too. Therefore, I divided the posts into several parts for ease of reading and viewing photos. In the first article about the Old Park in Kabardinka, I described my impressions. You can say that I made my own review of the park. Here I want to tell you more about the architectural part of the Old Park.

The old park is probably one of the first and so far the only one on Black sea coast architectural theme park. The park area is about half a hectare. And here, it would seem, on a small territory, the world epochs of Culture and Aesthetics are located: Greece, Ancient Egypt, the eras of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Orthodox and Eastern culture. Here the Museum "House of the Caucasus" is located. More detailed information you can read about the Old Park here.

Such a unity of compositions of the time has been created in the park. In one place you can see a pyramid, an antique temple, the Greek god Zeus, a medieval bridge, a watch tower, a house for two of Eloise and Abelard, an Orthodox church, a stone of time, a Japanese chapel. Of course, you cannot list everything, but this is not necessary. Whoever here knows how close different times and different cultures are. But those who have not been here before - be sure to come!

Near the main entrance to the Old Park, you can see a Gothic fountain. It became, as it were, one with the architect's house, which is located behind the fountain. He immediately draws attention to himself. The reason for this is not ordinary architecture, which makes you think. Medieval Europeans symbolized such a font as the Source of Life.

The Gothic fountain features images of saints: St. Paul, St. George, St. Peter, St. Mephistopheles. These sculptures are endowed with emotions: Paul - pacifying, Peter - preserving, George - smiting, Mephistopheles - omnipresent. Each sculpture is created according to a special concept. The main idea of \u200b\u200bthis plan is that you can never relax, since the Devil can live in each of us. And you always need to be prepared so as not to succumb to temptation.

Having created here such attractive effects as a stream of pure water that beats from the jaws of the gargoyles, falling down into the bowl. The effect is amazing, probably due to the straight lines and fragile structures.

Just entering the Old Park, the gaze immediately falls on the Temple of Zeus. Built according to ancient canons, which creates the image of classical Greece. The temple is not large in size, with a high ceiling and large wooden doors. When the doors are open, entering the park you can immediately see the majestic Zeus, who sits peacefully, watching everyone who comes in.

Sculptures of Aphrodite and Galatea greet everyone entering the temple of Zeus

Classical antiquity is not only ancient Greece, but Ancient Rome.

Coins are left at the feet of Zeus

In the temple of Zeus, these are decorated with drawings ancient greece Panel

The phrase said by Homer: "" You, almighty, Father Almighty, everything flows out of you. "

Fountain "Classic"

Seeing the Pyramid and the Sphinx guarding it, you are immediately transported to Ancient Egypt. Although the Pyramid was proportionally reduced and the dimensions differ from the real one, all the same, this atmosphere of a great and mighty ancient civilization does not leave. If we look at the reliefs, then you can see many incomprehensible signs. As the saying goes, not dedicated do not understand. Ancient Egypt will forever remain a mystery of antiquity, which a person will never be able to fully understand.

Obelisk ("Small spit") - a monument tapering towards the top, in most cases square in cross section. An important element of the architecture of Ancient Egypt, where obelisks were symbols of the Sun. In ancient Rome, obelisks were used as gnomon sundial or turning signs in circuses. Egyptian obelisks are monolithic, carved from a homogeneous block of stone (usually Aswan red granite). They were installed in pairs on the sides of the entrance to the temple. Read more here.

Entrance to the Pyramid

Drawings inside the Pyramid

Sphinx at the entrance to the park

Copper weather vane on the building of the Architect's house

On the main tower of the building of the art gallery sits a guardian angel who carefully examines the park and protects it from the platoon. The angel can be seen from anywhere in the Old Park.

This place is special, it combines the harmony of nature, fairy tales and the classicism of enlightenment. A strange combination, but it is assembled uniquely. Such an element of landscape design, where the colonnade neatly fit. And at the foot there is a picturesque fairy tale made of small figurines.

The idea of \u200b\u200bbuilding this colonnade was to write two phrases on it. First: "The moment the word was carved on the stone, history began." And the second: "Even the gods are not able to change the past ... But history repeats itself."

What else you pay attention to is the gazebo, which is located almost in the center of the first part of the park.

Angry and stern faces on the stone of time, who do not say anything, but only by their appearance make you think about their meaning of their life, about their goals. And remember that life is not eternal and you need to fill it with good moments and not waste your time. Forever is only culture, art and history.

Human sins are located on the palace gazebo, as reminders that the devil is always there. There are only seven sins: Anger, Greed, Pride, Gluttony, Fornication, Despondency and Envy. But there are eight figures on the gazebo - maybe this is a sign that there is always a chance to realize.

It is a symbol of luxury in medieval times

Gazebo with a small fountain

Openwork ceiling of the gazebo

The chapel of the Old Park is dedicated to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Unique antique icons are collected inside the chapel. Here, the pleasant smell of lavender and wax, candle burning and silence, creates peace and tranquility. It reminds me of a monastery in Gorny with peace and quiet. The chapel was lit on February 20, 2011.

Shinto is a traditional religion in Japan that deifies nature. It is believed that everything on earth is animate. Every thing has a soul. This chapel is dedicated to one of the seven gods - Ebis. This is the god of happiness and good luck, labor and trade, family and children.

God Ebis - in his hands the fish Tai.

This building combined three types of architecture: spiritual, military and civil. Household items and tools from the past are located near the “House of the Caucasus”.

Many peoples perceived the stone as a symbol of eternity and firmness. This is probably why the main oaths were made on the stones.

"Old Park" in Kabardinka

Utah Arbatskaya, Konstantin Vikhlyaev

Every real artist, in contact with the outside world through the study of history, geography, literature, philosophy, tries to realize his own sense of the unity of the world through the art forms available to him. Sometimes it works out, and then we, descendants, admire the true masterpieces of human creativity. Sometimes it does not work, but this does not diminish the greatness of the idea that everything around is interconnected and interdependent in time and space. One of the necessary conditions for the emergence of a real work of art is the master's own spiritual development. Figuratively speaking, the brighter the light of the soul of a creative person, the further into the Universe his gaze penetrates. The uniqueness of each creator, his individuality is realized through a sensory form, through which he conveys to us, viewers and listeners, his vision of the Universe.

In November 2016, the authors of this article were lucky enough to get acquainted with the work of such a Master. His name is Alexander Ivanovich Alekseev. He lives in resort village Kabardinka, which is located on the Black Sea coast between Novorossiysk and Gelendzhik. This man managed to create a park in a small area, where the principle of the unity of historical cultures is embodied. The grandiose ensemble includes architectural symbols of different eras and states - from ancient Egyptian civilization to modern art galleries. By and large, this is an architectural and landscape park, harmoniously combining natural and artificial in the context of the development of human civilization. And what is most surprising - this is the only PRIVATE park on the Black Sea coast, that is, built at the expense of the owner and maintained at his expense! Little of. Almost everything that is in the park - fountains, buildings, museums, temples, sculptures, frescoes - was made by the hands of one Master - Alexander Ivanovich Alekseev!

A.I. Alekseev at work

The idea of \u200b\u200bembodying the principle of the unity of the world by means of gardening art is not new. Since the times of Ancient Rome and Ancient China, the organizers of their own gardens and parks have tried to allegorically project the image of the universe on earth using a special selection and grouping of trees and plants, arrangement of water compositions, arrangement of small architectural forms and other landscape techniques. The idea of \u200b\u200ba park or garden as a universal artistic image of the unity of the world gained universal recognition in the twentieth century. The authors of this article have visited many of these parks in different countries world, and even wrote detailed articles about some of them. These include the landscape on the Cote d'Azur in France, in Paris, on the island of Jeju in South Korea, Chinese in Hong Kong and others. There are two such parks in Crimea: the old and modern Paradise Park in Aivazovsky. The latter was created by the efforts of the landscape architect Anatoly Annenkov, where he combined in a single space with the help of composite gardens the cultures of different peoples who left their mark on the history of Crimea (Greeks, Turks, Armenians, Huns, Slavs, etc.).

We ourselves have tried many times to implement the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating such a garden, but with the help of historical roses created at different times in different countries of the world. Alas, the constant lack of finances and complete misunderstanding on the part of the authorities (both old and new) do not allow us to bring our plans to life.

Against the background of these reflections, the enthusiasm and fantastic tenacity of the creator of the "Old Park" in Kabardinka are amazing.

It makes no sense to describe the park in detail - anyone can visit it personally, or at least get acquainted with its structure on the Internet. The park administration is actively promoting this tourist site in the vastness of social networks, and caring bloggers draw in detail the landscape paintings and architectural objects that struck them. Therefore, we will focus on only some fragments.

First, about the history of the park. We were so fascinated by what we saw that naturally, questions naturally arose: who is Alekseev, what is his inner worldWho helps him, where does he get the money for all this? We were not able to personally meet Alexander Ivanovich, so we use information from the Internet, citing some quotes from his interviews with correspondents of various newspapers.

From childhood, Alexander saw himself as a writer, wrote from the age of 10. I read a lot, mainly adventure literature. He graduated from vocational school with a degree in universal turner, worked as a driver. The craving for painting, and especially for sculpture, manifested itself in the army: "When this everyday life began to choke me, I pestered the political officer to get me a piece of granite, and I would carve out of it some figure of a soldier-defender."

Demobilized, Alekseev was looking for an opportunity to continue his education, but there was no literary institute nearby. The nearest university was Rostov University, where Alekseev entered the Faculty of Journalism. During his studies, he was carried away by scientific and philosophical literature, but most of all for the formation of a worldview was given by foreign classical literature - from antiquity and the Middle Ages to modern times. Even then, he realized that history can and should be studied not from scientific treatises, but from the classics of foreign prose, such as Balzac, Dickens, Maupassant, Zola. From their individual novels, like bricks, the vision of the whole was formed.

After graduating from the university with a journalist degree, having worked for some time (5-7 years) in his chosen profession, he very quickly became disillusioned with it. At first, the profession of a journalist seemed to him romantic, it was respected, but then there was no yellow press. But once, having received an assignment from a Donbass newspaper to go to the factory and write a report about the primary party cells (which, in principle, were not there, they existed only in reports on paper) and their impact on labor productivity, he realized that he could not bend soul.

Then there was a period of various covens in Donetsk, work in various newspapers. He made country fireplaces, built houses, repaired the roof. In parallel, I read a lot of literature on history and philosophy. He never left his writing work - he wrote stories, short stories. Then, when I realized that books were no longer read, and literature in cultural life people began to occupy a very small niche, then he began to look for other types of activity, one of which was architecture. Here is what the artist himself says: “Architecture, in my opinion, is an art form that has always influenced a person. Architecture creates the environment in which a person grows up. And the environment forms consciousness. And architecture will form consciousness when it is high and when it carries a certain content. Such an idea to create a certain architectural world, merge it with living nature and fill architectural structures with some kind of content, was born already somewhere in the two thousandth year. "

But first there was perestroika and general devastation. In the village of Kabardinka, Alexander Ivanovich's parents lived who were in a difficult economic situation, and Alekseev, like his older brother, was forced to move to them. The family started farming. The farm had fifty dairy cows, many other livestock, for which the brothers mowed the mountain slopes from Gelendzhik to Novorossiysk. Alexander Ivanovich, together with other family members, performed the entire production cycle - from storing feed to making dairy products. This helped not only to survive, but also instilled in him, as he himself said, "the habit of constantly working."

Gradually, Alekseev was increasingly inclined to the idea of \u200b\u200bcreating a series of architectural structures on the territory of the family courtyard, but first there was a sculpture. Back in 1994, Alexander Ivanovich, using the simplest tools, carved a bust of Voltaire from a piece of marble, then Dante, Homer, Shakespeare ... Then he took up a smaller copy of the Cheops pyramid.

“I originally had a rather modest plan. Sculpt several architectural structures, line them up and call it the "Alley of Civilizations", gradually filling them with content. Naturally, I started with Ancient Egypt - the most ancient culture. In those years I had to immerse myself thoroughly in the study of Egyptology. It was not an easy question. At the beginning of the 2000s, literature on Egypt began to appear quite a lot, but mostly it was superficial literature, illustrative, or even mystifying, and it was necessary to filter, select the necessary, really valuable. I had to thoroughly immerse myself in the study of Egyptology. "

Gradually appeared the "Museum of the Caucasus", "House of the East", the Orthodox Church, "Temple of Zeus", a medieval castle, a Japanese Shinto temple, a Roman aqueduct. Alexander started with three enthusiasts. Now fifty people are working on a common cause. In 2012, father and sons joined the business. The eldest, also Alexander, graduated from the St. Petersburg University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. Wife Tatyana is engaged in plant filling the park. The territory of the park is expanding due to the purchase of neighboring plots. There is an architectural and floristic workshop at the "Old Park", there is a souvenir and book shop. The guides are happy to conduct excursions around the park, as well as museums. The park was officially opened in 2006, although construction began in 1996. This year the park celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Not only the park is unique, but also the material from which the sculptures are made. Alexander Alekseev invented colored concrete. This artificial composition is similar to a chameleon and can replace natural travertine, marble and sandstone. Walking around Kabardinka, we noticed that sculptures and architectural structures of Alekseev can be seen at every step - on the embankment, in sanatoriums and boarding houses, on the streets and squares. Recently in Novorossiysk, after a long reconstruction, the "East Park" was opened, in the design of which AI Alekseev also actively participated. In the photo he stands with a letter of thanks from the founders.

A.I. Alekseev at the opening of the park in Novorossiysk

Thus, the "Old Park" from the initial series of busts has turned into a real cultural center not only of Kabardinka, but also of Gelendzhik. The artist comments on his idea as follows: “The idea of \u200b\u200bshowing the culture of the whole world is not new. And versatile. Because there is no one isolated culture. When you start to study the culture of different nations, you understand that we all came out of the same cradle. And to talk about one culture, purely Russian, Slavic, Armenian or Greek, is to emasculate this national culture itself. Because we have intertwined, culturally assimilated to such an extent over these millennia that we cannot tear one away from the other, this whole. "

Now, after examining the sources and motivation of the author of the "Old Park", we will begin a short retelling of the content of this amazing place. The whole space is replete with symbols.

The park guards are stationed at the entrance. The very first guard sits on a stone - this is an owl, a symbol of wisdom. Only the wise discover the hidden secrets of places and symbols. On the back of the stone there is a quote by A.P. Chekhov: "If every person on his piece of land did everything he can, then how beautiful our land would be." We considered it deeply symbolic that the inhabitants of Yalta, the last refuge of the great writer, begin their inspection of the park from Chekhov.

The central entrance is guarded by two more wise guards - the ancient Egyptian sphinxes. Among the Egyptians, the sphinxes, the lords of secrets, stood at the entrance to the sanctuaries, guarding their secrets and warning those who entered that they should not reveal the higher knowledge to the uninitiated. They symbolized rulers and rulers who, like the gods, were hidden from the eyes of the people. Bull sides mean corporeal matter, the wings of an eagle mean life force, the head of a person means an immaterial spirit, the legs and limbs of a lion mean all-consuming fire, active force and uniting energy. Ancient wisdom borrowed from the Sphinx four basic rules of human behavior: to know - thanks to reason; to desire - with the power of a lion; to dare - that is, to soar bravely on powerful eagle wings: to be silent - with the unshakable strength and composure of a bull.

In addition to the sphinxes, there are other guards outside the park. These are sculptural images of St. Paul, St. George, St. Peter and Mephistopheles, installed in a Gothic fountain. The architect named each figure with an appropriate epithet: Pacifying (Saint Paul), Smashing (Saint George), Keeping (Saint Peter) and Omnipresent (Mephistopheles).

The lower part of the gothic fountain

Based on the ideas of the Middle Ages, the fountain symbolizes the Source of life. Water itself represents life. The place of the ascension of the righteous to heaven was seen in the form of a hill, at the foot of which the so-called Source of Life beat. A painting by the 15th century Dutch artist Dirk Bouts depicts just such a source. It is an architectural structure in the classical Gothic style. The Gothic fountain in the Old Park echoes to some extent precisely this picture.

Dirk Bouts. Paradise. Ascension of the elect. 1470 Fragment

At the entrance to the park we were greeted by a smaller copy of the Cheops pyramid with a sphinx. Inside the pyramid, which can be accessed through a specially made entrance, the frescoes depict the spheres of activity of the Egyptians. In the center - the scales on which after death the gods weigh the soul of a person: if it is lighter than a feather, then it goes to heaven.

The pavilion of antiquity is a stylized temple of Zeus, built according to ancient canons and recreates the appearance of classical Greece. Sculptures of Aphrodite and Galatea adorn the parapets of the granite steps.

The central place in the upper part of the park is occupied by a classic fountain, the choice of which is quite justified. Classicism as architectural style formed in the era of the European Enlightenment. Together with him, the first European parks took shape, which gained popularity among the nobility. In parallel with the emergence of parks, their main attributes were formed - fountains, gazebos, benches, flowerpots, park sculpture and spectacular exotic landscaping. The smoothness of the lawns and the geometry of the shrubs, the cutting of trees and flower beds - everything took on aesthetic forms.

The classicism of the Enlightenment is most vividly expressed by such an element as the colonnade, built here for the sake of two philosophical phrases:
“At the moment when the word was carved on the stone, History began” - this saying can be considered a prologue to the beginning of the avenue of civilizations.
The second inscription consists of two independent catch phrases:
“Even the gods cannot change the past” and “History repeats itself”.

A little further off there are two rotundas.

The era of the Middle Ages is represented by a majestic composition, the center of which is a sentinel stone tower with a stone bridge. The watchtower can be accessed by a stone spiral staircase.

The tower is surrounded by a pond, which should resemble a moat around a medieval castle.

The fence of the pond in a corner of the Middle Ages is a real work of blacksmithing with its own idea and the author's embodiment of the theme of the Last Judgment by the master of artistic forging Igor Klyuchnikov.

Just behind the medieval pavilion is the House for Two, a medieval town house that refers to the legend of Abelard and Eloise. The city teacher, who fell in love with his student, the daughter of a respectable burgher, at the age of 35 at that time was probably already an old man. Otherwise, their wedding and love would not have become a secret that angered Eloise's relatives. Neither the marriage itself, nor the child born, kept them from revenge. Abelard was severely beaten, but miraculously survived and, settling in the abbey, kept in touch with his beloved through letters. Eloise herself also went to the monastery and until the end of her life she answered all the letters of her beloved.

Pierre Abelard lived for 63 years and left a great legacy in the history of philosophy. He was one of the first in theological disputes to speak about human problems. And in his letters to Eloise, one can trace the fact that love, even with the cessation of physical life, does not die, but passes into a higher connection, into Spiritual Unity.

The Orthodox chapel, located at the very beginning of the Alley of Civilizations, is a functioning church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Consecrated on February 20, 2011 by Metropolitan of Kuban and Yekaterinodar Isidor.

Opposite the chapel is the House of the Caucasus. Three types of architecture are presented in one building - the spiritual Caucasian Orthodox chapel, military tower and a civic house, which houses a small museum of the history of the Caucasian peoples.

For us personally, it was the strangest architectural object - both in form and in content. Perhaps because we have never seen with our own eyes caucasian temples in their original form, but only stylization.

On the right side of the building there is a military tower. Its upper windows offer a view of the dome of the Caucasian Orthodox chapel located in another wing of the same building.

In the central part of the building, there is an exposition representing various objects and works of art related to the history of the Caucasus and reflecting the culture of the peoples of the Caucasus. What is not here! Weapons, clothing, household items, archaeological and paleontological finds, minerals, gems, paintings, dishes, ancient women's jewelry, sculptural miniatures. There are so many objects that the eyes run up. Their placement in one, albeit a large room, creates the effect of disorder, eclecticism, and congestion. The museum obviously does not contain all the exhibits - either a new room is required, or it is necessary to decide on the theme of the changing exhibitions. In addition, as we found out, employees “stew in their own juice” without leaving the museum and not sharing experience with other museums. The scientific department has not published a single catalog, and there is also no periodical newsletter informing fans of the history of the Caucasus with new acquisitions.

Museum work is very painstaking, often thankless and invisible to prying eyes. But it is she who makes the museum a museum, and not a warehouse of antiquities.

Between the Orthodox chapel and the House of the Caucasus, there is an interesting exhibit - the Stone of Eternity or the Stone of Oaths.

According to the legend of the mountaineers, the most powerful oath is the oath on the stone, it is indestructible. If you want to confirm the strength of your word, put your hand on a stone and mentally or aloud say your promise. For many peoples of the world, the stone is a symbol of constancy and firmness of spirit, therefore, the most serious vows of love, fidelity, and blood feud are pronounced at this Stone. The oath stone is located on a pedestal, a through hole was made in the stone itself, and palm prints were made to the right and left of it. The inscription on the stone reads: "The stone of eternity hears you and keeps what was said."

Shinto is the traditional religion of Japan, based on the deification of natural forces and phenomena and their worship. It is believed that everything on earth is animated to one degree or another. Each thing has its own spirit, deity - kami. Most of the shrines are dedicated to a specific kami and are located in scenic locations. The chapel in the park is dedicated to one of the "seven gods of happiness" - Ebisu .. Inside the chapel is kept the "shintai" body of the kami - an object that is believed to be possessed by the spirit of the kami. It is always hidden and not displayed.

Ebisu is the god of happiness, hard work, trade and crafts, the protector of the hearth and small children. He is the only one of the seven to be of Japanese origin. According to ancient legend, he was the patron saint of fishermen, directing fish into their nets. In his hands is the fish Tai. Over time, Ebisu became the patron saint of all trade. It brings good luck to those who are honest in trade, and the fish Tai is a symbol of reward for inner purity and skill. Ebisu helps to find a gold mine in business and bestows business flair. The firstborn of the main gods Izanagi and Izanami was born without bones. Before his third birthday, he was carried off to sea on a reed boat, which after long wanderings was thrown onto the coast of Hokkaido. There he was picked up by a fisherman. Overcoming many difficulties, he grew his arms and legs. At the age of three, he turned into the god Ebisu. Due to the fact that all the healings happened to him at a young age, one of his hypostases is the patron saint of children. All marine life has made Ebisu the god of fishing and hard work. He helps only those who are trying to achieve everything with their work. Ebisu is considered semi-deaf from birth, so he always smiles. IN flora The symbol of Ebisu is bamboo. You can turn to Ebisu with the help of the Ema tablet or orally, by stroking him on the head and drinking the pure spring water that flows from the mouth of the Tai fish.

To the left of Ebisu is the "Black Samurai" - a stone found in the Caucasus Mountains. After rain, it really turns black. A whole expedition was carried out to find him, as a result of which the "Black Samurai" took its place of honor. According to the Japanese, stone and water create harmony, and specially selected plants add coziness and a mood of worldview to the image.

"Black Samurai"

The main principle of Shinto is life in harmony with nature and people. The deification of nature is at the heart of the centuries-old passion of the Japanese for stones, special reverence for mountains, rocks, and bizarre debris. There is a legend about a famous artist who refused to bow to officials, but instead weighed deep bows to handsome stones. Yes, and today's masters speak of a stone as a living person. The famous stones have their own biography, they believe that they are charged with a special vital energy. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the central place in the Japanese corner is occupied by the huge Black Samurai stone.

The Alley of Civilizations continues with an Indian architectural ensemble. The main building is the "House of the East". Outwardly, it vaguely resembles the Taj Mahal.

"House of the East" is a synthesis of Islamic and Oriental diversity. The facade marks the grandeur of the palace, the minarets symbolize the Islamic mosque, the golden dome bears the character of Persian and Indian tombs - mausoleums. Inside, the House of the East is no less beautiful than the outside: fine carvings, openwork vaults, in the center of the hall - a bowl with a spring. Today the interior space is filled with items of oriental antiquity and is gradually turning into a museum, like the House of the Caucasus.

The ensemble is complemented by the Indian Ratha, which is traditionally dedicated to the deities and heroes of Indian legends. This building serves the technical needs of the park. Inside is the extraction and purification of water required for the needs of the park.

Indian Radha

Finally, another element of the eastern ensemble is the Indian fountain. Four elephants with their trunks raised high look to the four cardinal directions and hold a bowl with flowing water and a traditional Indian turret.

There is an aqueduct in the back of the park. It is an architectural structure in the form of arches and serves central part the entire water system of the park, since it contains a supply of water for the needs of the park, as well as for creating moisture in the lower part of the park, so that tropical plants feel great. A small and beautiful waterfall can be seen in the center. And in the evenings, the backlight turns on, which creates the illusion of an underwater kingdom.

In summer, the aqueduct looks like this:

Undoubtedly, without the vegetation content, the "Old Park" would not have had that charm, thanks to which up to 3 thousand tourists come here every day. Of the arboreal trees, we noticed here gingko, sakura, magnolia, albicia, camellia, trachycarpus, hamerops. It is clear that there are many conifers, and there is even birch among deciduous ones. Ornamental shrubs are represented by Syrian hibiscus, rhododendrons, oleanders. But roses are not held in high esteem here. And in vain. The aroma of blooming roses in the kingdom of architecture would not be superfluous.

We haven’t talked about many things yet - about dolmens, stones, compositions, the “museum of the USSR”, an art gallery, an architect’s house, and floristry.

In fact, the park is developing, a new exposition is being built. The ancient theater promises to be especially interesting, where, according to the Master's plan, concerts of classical music will be held. The theater acoustics, according to experts, are ideal for such performers. We also learned that a greenhouse is being built. Here is what Alekseev himself says in an interview:

“The park is not finished, only the capital construction of the first stage has been completed. Our guides are trained to talk about the culture of certain epochs and peoples in order to talk with visitors. And this conversation is very important. In dictionaries, encyclopedias there are definitions of culture - these are huge articles, I have condensed them to one phrase: "culture is knowledge and reverence." Here in the park, a few more phrases are carved in stone that remain from my writing. They carry deep meaning and make you think. "

“Our cultural center, which is the Old Park, accommodates several objects, which by themselves, individually, are not profitable. But being in cultural center these are all non-profitable objects, suddenly become profitable. And they allow them to develop further, to help the same artists, even the artist's widow to calculate her pension. This is what we have been proving for the past ten years. And now we want to spread our experience in the construction, maintenance and development of such cultural centers to other territories. They are needed there like air. There should be a cultural center not only in every city, but in every village. Everywhere there are squares, parks that are practically abandoned, or there is no funding, or it is not profitable to deal with them. But people live around who do not know where to gather. At best, mummies with strollers walk there. And there are people who know the history of their small homeland, want to tell about it, but they have nowhere to do it. In this regard, it is not difficult for me to assemble a team that would work in this cultural center, you just need to arrange all this. And, of course, the support of the administration, its understanding plays a big role in this matter.
I will say more, now this is the industrial development of mankind, its information content, the power and speed of technology development, and against this background, a deep lag in culture leads to a serious crisis. We pay less and less attention to culture. And this can result in redistribution, to war. Necessarily, with a low cultural level, everything will end in a big fight. And studying history now, I am more and more convinced of this. When it all just started in Ukraine a year ago, I turned off the TV and stopped being interested in what was happening in the world. I suddenly realized that the TV just takes part of my life. I was worried when I looked at something that I can't influence in any way. And if I spend energy, time on something that I cannot change, then this is a waste of myself.
It is important to understand that everything has a deep, universal meaning, which is addressed to each person individually, to his specific problem, and the problem is in himself: "Everything flows out of you." Only a cultured person can understand this. A person of low culture will always demand. For some reason, we believe that the state owes us that the head of the city owes us something, sprinkle the path with sand, mow the grass near the house, fix the roof, paint the fence. I face this every day, and therefore I show by my example that your territory, enclosed by a fence, does not end with this fence. It goes out into the street, continues down the street, goes further into the village, into the city. And this is all your territory, you are responsible for it. For example, I equally spend money on landscaping the park inside and outside. We put there paving slabs, we put up lampposts, we keep it in working order, clean, so that a person approaching the "Old Park" from afar can see how the atmosphere is changing, and under the influence of what he sees, something changes in him, he opens up, and then he is ready to touch with art ".

Fragment of the frieze of the theater under construction

This lengthy quote from Alekseev's interview could have ended the story, but we also want to draw some conclusions.

What this person does is worthy of the widest publicity and distribution. Alas, we think that all Alekseev's calls to enthusiasts will remain the voice of one crying in the wilderness, since, as practice shows, any good deed rests on the personality of the author of this case. With the departure of a person, the matter goes away. Perhaps not immediately, over time. A great deed is held by the fire of the Master's soul. God grant that we are wrong, and the park survived our great-grandchildren.

The arrangement of the Summer Garden in St. Petersburg by Peter the Great comes to mind, who set the enlightenment of society as the primary goal. This is especially evident now, when in Summer garden the reconstruction was carried out and the garden acquired its original appearance, as it was during the time of Peter I. Alekseev is engaged in the same educational activity through architecture. He tries to reach our hearts, reminding us that man does not live by bread alone.

Of course, we try on the Master's actions on ourselves, on our life experience: what can we do? While at the Old Park, we met with the park administrator, trying to explain that our approaches are in many ways similar. Our plans to build the Imperial Rosary, that is, to create a rose garden as a picture of the unity of the world, carried exactly the same message - to familiarize the population with the culture of civilizations. We have written about this more than once in our books and articles. But we were not so lucky with the leadership of Yalta as Alekseev was with the administration of Kabardinka. It is a rare success when the mayor's office supports enthusiasts who want prosperity for their small homeland. Perhaps we can still work together. Why don't our ideas be embodied in the "Old Park"?

Old Park is a unique theme park on the Black Sea. Having visited Kabardinka, one cannot but visit the "Old Park". The half-hectare park, representing one large green space, includes objects from different eras: Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The cultures of the peoples of the Caucasus, Orthodox and Eastern cultures are also embodied here. A kind of gallery of civilizations contains the concept of placing that which in history has always contradicted each other: East and West, Ancient Egypt and Classical Antiquity.

The inscription on the stone:

If every person
on your piece of land
did everything he could
then how beautiful
was our land ...

A. Chekhov

The central entrance is in Egyptian style. Ancient Egypt in the Old Park is also personified by a small copy of the Pyramid of Cheops and two Sphinxes. The stylized temple of Zeus, the sculpture of Aphrodite and Galatea, relief panels with illustrations of Homer's "Iliad" transfer to the world of antiquity and the flourishing of Greek civilization.

A pond decorated with a wild stone with a bridge and a picturesque watchtower in a wooded part of the park personify medieval civilization. The path around this pond, which is 70 meters around the perimeter, is half juniper and cypress. This alley is a luxurious attribute of the green part of the park. In the style of the Middle Ages, the Palace Gazebo was also made, in which there are sculptures of deadly sins, which were so much talked about during the dark Middle Ages.

The Old Park also has art Gallery modern painting, built in the classical modern style of the late 19th - early 20th century. Here you can enjoy viewing paintings by contemporary Russian artists of different directions. The Gothic style of the 12th century also took its place in this park. An eye-catching fountain in this style has found its place in front of the main entrance. A whole sculptural group of images of St. Paul, St. George, St. Peter and Mephistopheles.

Of particular interest is the House of the Architect, which is made in various styles: classicism, modern, as well as gothic elements. In the lower park you can get into the atmosphere of various civilizations, such as Asia, Europe, India and Japan. The Japanese Corner has a Shinto chapel and a sculpture of the god Ebisu. A source of pure water flows from the fish Tai held by Ebis. The fountain with four elephants embodies Indian civilization.

A special place in the Old Park is occupied by the House of the Caucasus, which combines spiritual, civil and military architecture. There are two millstones on the way to the building. The character of the Caucasian peoples was forged in the millstones of Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Persian, British and Russian history. Therefore, a fragment of a millstone is imprinted as a symbol on the pediment of the House of the Caucasus.

Here the poetic lines of Valery Bryusov are appropriate: "The centuries have passed. And as from the greedy mouth we pulled the past out of the earth." They characterize as well as possible
asceticism of the rare enthusiast Alexander Alekseev, who sparing no effort creates a man-made miracle that captures human history.
The author of the project is architect Alexandra Alekseev, a resident of the village of Kabardinka.

There is one of the most interesting sights of the region, which is definitely worth a visit - "Old Park". Architect Alexander Alekseev, on a small plot of land, created a theme park that amazes with its beauty and fabulousness. Every piece of land here has turned into a real work of art. Without exaggeration, the founder of the park and his assistants have worked and continue to work on every centimeter of the land.

The village of Kabardinka is located 11 kilometers from the city of Gelendzhik. Less than 10 thousand people live here, and in the summer season the population increases several times thanks to tourists. Kabardinka, like Novorossiysk, is located on the coast of the Tsemesskaya Bay in a picturesque valley. From winds and storms from the south-west, the village is protected by Cape Doob with a low Tuapkhat ridge, and from the north-east - by the spurs of the Markotkh ridge.

How to get to Kabardinka

Kabardinka is located on the M4 Don highway between Gelendzhik and Novorossiysk. You can get to the village by taxi or public transport:

taxi from 500 rubles from Gelendzhik and from 600 rubles from Novorossiysk,
bus number 103 from 25 rubles from Gelendzhik,
intercity bus from Novorossiysk from 50 rubles,
excursion from Gelendzhik or Novorossiysk from 500 rubles.

Address, ticket price and opening hours of the "Old Park"

"Old Park" is located on Chernomorskaya street, 55.
Work schedule - daily,
in the summer season June / September from 8-00 to 22-00,
in the winter season October / May from 9-00 to 18-00.
The entrance to the "Old Park" is paid:
adult - 500 rubles,
children - 200 rubles (children under 6 have free rest).

What's interesting in the "Old Park"

Crossing the threshold of the "Old Park" you find yourself in another reality. The "Old Park" is divided into thematic zones that every visitor to the park can easily guess. And from the doorway we find ourselves in the zone of "Antiquity", where Zeus meets us in the temple on the throne. To the left of the temple, located egyptian pyramid, there is also a rotunda and a beautiful fountain.

Behind the fountain there is a small corner of the Soviet era, from which every adult visitor will have their own memories.
Infinite attention has been paid to the detailing of the park, and besides the exotic plants that grow on its territory, there are also funny little figurines, forged creatures and stone sculptures under a bush and on a branch.

There is also a thematic zone "Middle Ages" in the park, where a real Gothic castle with a tower and a moat awaits the visitor, though without crocodiles, but with turtles. A spiral staircase leads to the top of the tower overlooking the surroundings of the park. Separately, we can note the work of a blacksmith, without whose forged sculptures the castle would not have looked so medieval.

There is also an Orthodox chapel in the Old Park in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

There is also the "House of the East" similar to the Indian Taj Mahal. In the "House of the East" there is a permanent exhibition of valuable things that were provided to the museum by private collectors. Its pearl is a beautiful carpet woven of gold, which, thanks to the light pouring through the hole in the ceiling, shimmers in the sun with all colors.

To the right of the "House of the East" on the central alley of the park, there is a large fountain with elephants holding a bowl on their mighty backs.

The "House of the Caucasus" also fits in the park. There is an exposition inside, for which you will have to pay extra: an adult ticket - 50 rubles, a child ticket - 30 rubles. Here are collected household items and weapons, jewelry and creations of painters.

At the end of the central alley of the park there is a beautiful aqueduct, in the architecture of which Celtic, Slavic, Germanic and other motives of peoples who worshiped the God of Light are mixed. The aqueduct is equipped with a spectacular waterfall and beautiful underwater lighting.

"Old Park" in Kabardinka is a very popular place among tourists in Gelendzhik. If you get tired of beach holiday and I wanted new experiences, and climb the hills in search of nice looking or the waterfall is hard, then you can go to the "Old Park". The theme park located 11 kilometers from Gelendzhik together with the Kabardinka embankment will make an enviable duet for a must visit.