Ai-Petri, Harax Park

Great mood, good weather and a wonderful day prepares us a magnificent excursion to the mountain Ai-Petri!

From an incredible height, there is a stunning view of the Black Sea, Yalta, Alupka, the resort villages of Simeiz, Miskhor, the magnificent Cape Ai-Todor, the legendary Swallow’s Nest Castle, as well as the famous Ai-Petrinsk teeth. It's an unforgettable sight.
We will walk on the plateau, take beautiful photos.

Those who wish will be able to walk down the road. The cost of 400 rubles - adult, 250 p - children, for those who will descend by minibus, we will make a stop on the "Silver Gazebo", from where a magnificent view of the Stavri-Kaya mountain opens. After the descent, we will continue to the park "Haraks", where you can swim in the cleanest open sea sanatorium "Dnepr".

The main attraction of Kharak Park is a juniper grove. The trees here are 400-1000 years old. Coniferous trees, such as spruce, cedars, laurels, fir, magnolia and linden trees, have taken root well in the Kharak Park. The trees were planted at the same time as the construction of the estate was completed. Krasnov skillfully showed his skills not only in architecture, but in landscape design. He achieved a stunning effect when architecture organically combines with nature, mutually emphasizing the advantages of the “rival”.
In parallel with the main construction, an open pool for drinking water was built, a park was laid and all kinds of plants were planted, farm buildings were erected. The palace grew last in a well-organized space that combined buildings and the surrounding landscape. Towering behind the Kharak Park, Mount Ai-Petri is present in the architectural ensemble as a majestic “background”.

The estate "Haraks" belonging to the grandson of Emperor Nicholas I - Grand Duke George Mikhailovich Romanov, was founded in the second half of the XIX century, located on 22 hectares in the eastern part of Cape Ai-Todor. The estate was named after the fortress "Harax", which was built by order of the ancient Roman emperor Vespasian in the I-III centuries, the ruins of which have survived to this day. In 1896, the excavations started brother of Georgy Mikhailovich - Alexander Mikhailovich. Where, as a result, a museum of finds during excavations in 1907-1908 was created. The estate, for the Grand Duke’s family, became a summer residence where they rested every year.
Until now, not only the palace, but also the retinue building has been preserved. The building belonged to the project of architect Krasnov N.P. (1904-1908). It was very simple and comfortable, in the style of Scottish summer houses with roofs of tiles. In front of the estate there is a platform, and a spacious stone staircase leads to the sea. The main attraction of Kharak Park is the surviving “ancient gazebo”, which was built from 12 marble columns, and in the center there is a fountain. Recent finds of archaeologists indicate that the columns in the gazebo were previously part of the Roman palace, burned down in 1882 - a copy of the Roman premises in Pompeii.

Previously, there was a rocky and rather arid terrain without water, juniper was rarely found. In the process of building this palace, Krasnov revealed himself as a skilled builder and landscape architect. Simultaneously with the construction, a large pool of drinking water, buildings for economic purposes were laid, a park was immediately set up for planting various plants in it, and only at the end of the completion of all buildings the palace was rebuilt. Standing right on the horizon, Ai-Petri irreplaceably complemented the presence of an architectural ensemble as an incredible “background”.
Kharak Park occupies 17.5 hectares in the resorts of the village of Gaspra. The territory of the park is one of the warmest places on the South Bank. That is why even heat-loving foreigners will feel great here.