Gagra building next to the castle of the Prince of Oldenburg. Prince of Oldenburg Palace: a dream of an ideal world
If you ask any passerby “Which, in your opinion, is the most beautiful and most famous landmark of Abkhazia?”, everyone will certainly answer - the castle of the Prince of Oldenburg.
This truly magnificent building represents the cultural and historical value of the resort city of Gagra. In addition, the residence of A.P. Oldenburgsky is considered a step in the history of the entire city, as it is the starting point in the development of Gagra.
Prince Alexander Petrovich of Oldenburg, the great-grandson of Paul I, comes from the oldest Oldenburg family, ruling in the Duchy of Oldenburg. The Oldenburgs were related to the Romanov dynasty. Alexander Petrovich was born in 1844, held high government positions, and before the fall of the Russian Empire had membership in the Imperial House.
His merits are countless, but the main thing is that the prince founded the first resort town of Gagra on the Caucasian coast. It is with the construction of the palace that the transformation of Gagra into a resort town, “Russian Nice” begins. The castle of the Prince of Oldenburg is located on a slope near the place where the Joekwara River flows into the Black Sea.
This part of the city is considered one of the most picturesque. In addition, a park has been established along the entire coastline, in which various “exotic” plants grow, such as palm trees, cypress trees, as well as lemon and orange trees, which creates an even more attractive environment. This park is called Primorsky, it gives you the opportunity to once again enjoy all the beauties of Gagra.
History of the castle
Despite the fact that some researchers call 1898 the date of foundation of the palace, the castle of Alexander Petrovich of Oldenburg was built in 1902. It became a kind of “noble nest” of the Oldenburgskys.
The place for the construction of the palace was chosen by the prince himself. The architect of the building was Alexander Petrovich’s longtime friend Grigory Ippolitovich Lyutsedarsky. Many sources name the creator of the project and the manager of the construction of the palace, Grigory Ippolitovich, who managed to bring to life one of the most beautiful creations of classical modernism.
The palace has incorporated all the most beautiful elements of Art Nouveau: the red tiled roof harmonizes perfectly with the many balconies, and the chimneys of the fireplace in no way spoil the view, but only emphasize the status of the building. In addition, researchers note the importance of the Falconer's Tower, located on the territory of the residence. According to local residents, Prince Alexander Petrovich himself was very fond of falconry, which is why he ordered the construction of the Tower.
The Prince of Oldenburg had many more plans to transform not only the castle and the Seaside Park, but the entire city. But the outbreak of war did not allow all plans to be realized. The prince was quickly summoned to St. Petersburg, from where he was later forced to emigrate abroad.
After the Bolsheviks came to power, the prince's palace was converted into a sanatorium named after Stalin. The highest officials of Soviet society came here every year to rest. Later, the palace was given the status of a boarding house, after which it began to bear the name “Chaika”.
With the collapse Soviet Union The Oldenburg castle fell into disrepair, it was looted and even suffered a fire, which destroyed part of the building. By the end of the 1980s. The castle of the Prince of Oldenburg was classified as an architectural monument.
Gradually, restoration work began to unfold here. But further events interrupted the restoration of the palace. Georgian-Abkhaz war 1992-1993. this creation of architecture did not pass by. The constant military operations that took place here caused serious damage to the building, leaving behind traces of bullets and shells.
Legends about the castle of the Prince of Oldenburg
There are quite a few legends associated with the palace of A.P. Oldenburgsky. One of them relates to the construction and foundation of the residence.
According to legend, after many unsuccessful attempts to lay down and begin the process of constructing a building, the Prince of Oldenburg decides to call the architect Yahya Abbas-oglu, an Iranian by origin. Allegedly, there were no long conversations between the prince and the builder. Abbas-ogly undertook to complete the construction of the castle within a certain time frame. If not fulfilled this condition he had to bear all financial expenses. Yahya did not hesitate and immediately got to work.
As construction was nearing completion, minor problems arose. All that remained was to complete the final part, which required spending money. But the prince had no funds, and the Iranian himself had to get out of the situation - borrow money from acquaintances and friends. As a result, the work was completed on time. When the time came for Alexander Petrovich to settle accounts with Yahya Abbas-oglu, the prince did not want to pay according to the agreement.
In addition, Yahya’s situation was aggravated by the conflict with the governor of Kutaisi, who, according to contemporaries, was envious of the successes of other people. The Iranian, in turn, by this time had become quite popular and had great authority. In connection with this conflict, Abbas-ogly could be arrested.
The builder could not come to terms with such injustice, both on the part of the governor and on the part of the prince, and decided to go to St. Petersburg with a complaint. Despite the fact that the trip took considerable time, it was still crowned with success. Ultimately, for his hard work and professionalism, Nicholas II awarded Yahya with a diploma and a medal “For Diligence,” and Prince A.P. of Oldenburg was forced to pay off his debts with the Iranian.
Although this legend has no documentary evidence, yet one cannot deny the fact that Yahya Abbas-oglu really took part in the construction of the prince’s castle.
What is a castle like these days?
Today, the palace of Prince Alexander Petrovich of Oldenburg is an echo of a bygone era. Now, looking at the residence building, we will no longer see the architectural beauty that existed before.
A sagging roof, partially destroyed walls, traces of fires and bombings - this is all that remains of that marvelous palace that many guests came to admire. But even in this form, the castle does not lose its popularity and attracts the attention of many tourists, because, in fact, it has reached us almost unchanged.
On this moment the residence was purchased by a private person; large-scale restoration of the building is planned. The castle itself is in disrepair. You can get to the castle thanks to the Gagripsh restaurant, which quite often organizes excursions for everyone.
Approximately, the cost of such an excursion will be in the area 700−1000 rubles. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that the building is in disrepair, and therefore the excursion may be refused.
How to get there
- The residence of the Prince of Oldenburg is located near the pier and the terminus of the city public transport. You can get to the castle through the Seaside Park, which can be reached on minibus or by booking a tour in advance from the administration of the Gagripsh restaurant. The cost of travel by minibus will be about 30-60 rubles, excursions - 700-1000 rubles.
- On foot. Most budget option will become walking to the Seaside Park, then going up, you will find yourself there.
- By cable car. A cable car leads directly to the castle, starting from the Seaside Park. This option is suitable for lovers of not only beautiful and picturesque places, but also extreme sports. The approximate cost of such a walk will be from 200 rubles.
- Taxi. The fastest and most comfortable option is to use a taxi, which will cost about 150 rubles.
reference Information
Castle address: Prince of Oldenburg Castle, Old Gagra district, Gagra city, Republic of Abkhazia.
Coordinates: 43.325583; 40.225367
Address of the restaurant "Gagripsh": Gagra, st. Nartaa.
Restaurant opening hours: from 11:00 to 0:00.
Average bill at the establishment: 1700 RUB.
*Prices are valid for February 2016.
Another amazing place in Gagra - the castle of Prince Oldenburg. Every tourist who comes to Gagra should visit there, because this castle is the initial step in the history of the development of Gagra. Like any tourist, I was attracted to this castle by its interesting history, architecture and picturesque surroundings. If you are vacationing in Gagra, then you should definitely take a walk to the castle of Prince Oldenburg. Now I’ll tell you how to get to it without difficulty.
How to get to the castle
So, the very first question is how to get there?
The castle of Prince Oldenburg is located in the old part of the city of Gagra. It is located near the Zhoekvara River, on the slope of Mount Mamzyshkha. If you want to take a walk and relax, then next to the castle there is a magnificent Seaside Park where you can enjoy the surrounding nature.
Thus, you can get to the castle of the Prince of Oldenburg:
History of the Prince of Oldenburg Castle
The castle begins its history with one of the most noble families of Oldenburg. What kind of dynasty is this?
This branch begins with a small branch, namely the Holstein-Gottorp family of the Oldenburg family. Once they were excellent rulers of this small possession, and a little later the glorious county of Oldenburg was formed. If we recall the history of the Romanov dynasty, then Prince Alexander Petrovich was their closest relative. Thus, the great-grandson of Emperor Paul was Prince Alexander Petrovich of Oldenburg.
One of his most important decisions is the establishment of a unique resort on the Gagra coast. In those days it was called the second Nice. It is here that the prince decides to begin building his castle. The architect I. Lucerne was appointed to supervise all construction work, since he was very educated and loved new styles and trends in the art of that time. Therefore, the castle was built in a completely new and unique Art Nouveau style. This was very atypical for that time!
The palace was finally completed in 1902. And the next year, a wonderful vacation spot was built near the castle - the Primorsky Park.
A variety of bushes and trees from all over the world were brought and planted here. Cypress trees, date palms, cork oak, pink olendras, magnolias, araucarias and many, many others.
During Soviet rule, the house of the Prince of Oldenburg was converted into a sanatorium named after. Stalin, it was here that the entire Soviet elite came to rest.
Somewhat later it became known as the “Chaika” sanatorium.
The castle fell into the combat zone during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict (1992-1993) and was very badly damaged. Walking past it, you can see traces of bullets and other projectiles. But the palace survived and has survived to this day.
Description of the castle
And so we arrived at the castle of Prince Oldenburg. The huge stone structure with a bright red tiled roof immediately catches your eye.
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Every tourist wants to look at it not only from the outside, but also to take a walk inside the castle itself. I note that this must be done very carefully, since it is in disrepair.
Still, we took a chance and went into the castle itself. I immediately drew attention to the rooms that once shone with expensive decoration with paintings still remaining on the walls, beautiful columns near the landing, fireplaces and windows of different shapes and sizes.
Unfortunately, we were only able to walk through a few rooms; the rest were completely destroyed. Peeling paint, debris and broken glass indicate that urgent repairs and restoration are needed. 
Extreme seekers can be advised to get to round window and watch the Old Gagra area from the top. From there you have a beautiful view of the sea and the city itself!
When we left the castle, we were immediately struck by a picturesque tower called Sokolnichnaya. In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful buildings of the castle. It is clearly visible from anywhere in the Old Gagra area, especially from the embankment. They say that it was from this tower that the prince once hunted local birds.
Excursions to the castle
The Gagrypsh restaurant sometimes conducts excursions to the castle for its guests. Its approximate cost is 700-1000 rubles. May be on different days (they may change, so you need to check with the organizers).
Those who want to save money can get to the castle on their own. Many travelers come here on their own to admire the beauty.
It is worth clarifying a very important point. Since the castle is in disrepair, it is now officially closed for excursions (except for excursions for guests of the Gagrypsh restaurant). However, no one forbade anyone from entering the territory of Oldenburg Castle.
Therefore, if desired, tourists can even go up to the top floor. True, I did not do this for security reasons.
***
We were very pleased with our trip to the castle of Prince Oldenburg! Despite the fact that today it is in a very poor condition. We, like every tourist visiting the castle, believe that one day it will be transformed and shine like in the old days. Then you will be able to see all its original beauty both inside and outside!
Details Sights of the Gagra region
Prince Alexander Petrovich of Oldenburg was born on June 2 (May 21, old style) 1844. He was a Russian general, senator, and member of the State Council; before the fall of the monarchy in Russia - a member of the Imperial House. One of the main merits of this man is considered to be the founding of Gagra climatic resort, the first on the Caucasian coast.
The history of the Gagripsh restaurant dates back to 1901. Then, at the behest of Nicholas II, his closest relative, Prince Alexander of Oldenburg, took charge of the Gagra climate station. His idea was to turn this place into a high-society resort that would meet European standards.
To implement this, the tsarist government allocated 14,500 acres of land and allocated about 3 million rubles.
The Prince of Oldenburg installed electric lighting, running water, founded a telegraph, a subtropical technical school and built a climate station. The park was laid out along the seashore, where palm trees, agaves, orange and lemon trees, and cypresses were planted. Mansions and palaces, beautiful in architecture, began to be built on the slopes of the mountains. One of the most beautiful palaces was the palace of Princess Eugenie of Oldenburg. The palace has been preserved, and in the present and in it there is a restaurant “Gagripsh”.
The restaurant was bought by the Prince of Oldenburg in Paris at the World Exhibition. It was a wooden house with a clock, which was built in Norway. It was delivered to Abkhazia in 1902 disassembled. The palace (castle) of the Prince of Oldenburg was built in the same year 1902. It was built on a slope picturesque mountain in the area of Old Gagra, not far from the confluence of the Zhoekvara River into the Black Sea.
On January 9, 1903, the grand opening of the climate station took place in Gagripsha. This day became considered the founding date of the resort.
During Soviet times, the city was declared a resort of national importance, and the former palace was turned into a sanatorium named after Stalin. (later renamed the "Chaika" sanatorium). During the Georgian-Abkhaz war of 1992-1993, the city of Gagra found itself in a combat zone and suffered greatly. The Prince's Castle was no exception. It also suffered from fire and looting.
In the present, the city of Gagra has been greatly rebuilt, which has contributed to the development of the tourism business. Restoration work is underway in the area historical monuments and for the reconstruction of various holiday homes.
Symbol of Gagra.
"Gagripsh" is not only a restaurant, but also one of the most popular tourist places the city of Gagra and a kind of emblem of the city. The clock located on the facade of the Gagripsh restaurant is still wound manually from a locker - it is located inside the building.
From the restaurant's balcony there is a wonderful view of the Black Sea and the coastal strip of Gagra. Gagripsh at one time was visited by Nicholas II, Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Chaliapin, Maxim Gorky and Ivan Bunin. Joseph Stalin loved this restaurant very much and visited it often.
About the construction of the castle of the Prince of Oldenburg.
The Prince of Oldenburg Castle, so famous among the sights of Gagra and Abkhazia, was built at the beginning of the twentieth century according to the design of the skilled architect I.K. Lyutsiransky for the crowned person.
The building was the most amazing and beautiful embodiment of the best in the Art Nouveau style. The roof of Oldenburg Castle is covered with red tiles, above which chimneys protrude, organically fitting into the outline of the palace.
The Prince of Oldenburg Castle is rich in many balconies that highlight the design and architecture of the facades. The prince was a well-known admirer of falconry and hunted often and skillfully, which is why a falconer’s tower, towering above the palace buildings, was included in the design of the palace.
The decision to build his residence in old Gagra was due to the prince, to implement the idea of creating a full-fledged resort town in this district. The Gagra resort was conceived as an analogue of Russian Nice, which was favored by the wonderful climate and weather in the city of Gagra.
With the advent of Soviet power, the castle of the Prince of Oldenburg and all outbuildings were nationalized. The prince’s chambers were converted into rooms in the elite Holiday Home named after Comrade Stalin and called the “Chaika” sanatorium.
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The Prince of Oldenburg Castle, built by the talented architect I.K. Lyutseransky in 1902, is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the Art Nouveau style on the territory of Abkhazia. Initially, the building, erected on a mountainside near the mouth of the Zhoekvara River, housed the summer residence of the Prince of Oldenburg, a relative of Emperor Nicholas II and a major public figure who took on the hard work of improving the Black Sea coast. The prince dreamed of turning the picturesque area into a resort area where his compatriots could improve their health for reasonable price, so the first thing he did was order to drain the swamps and lay out a park, which later received the name Primorsky. The implementation of grandiose plans was prevented by the war: the prince was urgently summoned to St. Petersburg, from where he later emigrated to France. With the Bolsheviks coming to power, the castle received the status of a boarding house and was renamed “Chaika”. After the collapse of the USSR, the building fell into disrepair, was looted and survived a fire that destroyed part of the structure. It is currently leased to a private party who is planning a complete restoration of the property.
What to see
The road to the castle passes through the picturesque Seaside Park with many rare plants and trees that fill the air with an amazing fragrance. Periodically along the way there are recreation areas with fountains and benches, where you can sit and watch the dance of crystal clear streams. Visitors are greatly delighted by the pond where live herons live: they are not at all afraid of people and calmly react to camera flashes.
Opposite the entrance to the park there is the Gagripsh restaurant, famous for the fact that it was here that the Prince of Oldenburg announced the decision to create resort area. The past of the establishment is inextricably linked with the past of the castle and the city as a whole, so it is definitely worth a visit, if not for the delicious food, then at least for the opportunity to capture the unique interior. The restaurant building resembles a classic London train station with a built-in clock. Once inside, you can examine the mechanism of the device in detail - it is always open for viewing. The restaurant's balconies offer stunning views of the city and the sea. It’s hard to believe that this structure is over 100 years old: it was brought from Paris in 1902 and assembled on site without a single nail. I. Bunin, M. Gorky rested and created within its walls, and F. Chaliapin performed.
The building of the Gagripsh restaurant is more than 100 years old: it was brought from Paris in 1902 and assembled without a single nail.
Having paid tribute to “Gagripsh”, we enter the territory of the park and, after getting lost a little, we come out to the ruins of the castle. The once beautiful building with snow-white walls, a falcon tower, balconies with carved railings and a sloping tiled roof is now abandoned, and it is unsafe to be in it. Here and there the road is blocked by collapsed ceiling beams, but this does not stop the especially brave: they rush to the second floor, from where an amazing view of the surrounding area opens. In some places, ornate patterns are still preserved on the floor, and the fireplaces that were damaged by vandals have not lost their beauty and grace, despite the inscriptions covering them and a thick layer of dust. Looking at the leftovers former luxury, I want to believe that the current owner of the castle will do everything possible to restore this unique monument architecture with a rich past.
Practical information
The castle is located near the final stop of city minibuses. You can get to it on foot or by cable car from the Primorsky Park. Considering the current state of the castle, access to it is limited, so you can visit it on your own or as part of an excursion conducted for visitors to the Gagripsh restaurant.
Restaurant address: Gagra, st. Nartaa. Opening hours are from 11:00 to 0:00. The average bill at the establishment is 2000 RUB. Prices on the page are for June 2018.
restaurant "Gagripsh" and Primorsky Park in Gagra
The beauty of the Abkhaz land, glorified by poets and writers, attracted many: travelers, adventurers, romantics, invaders, ordinary people looking for better life. After Russia's victory in the Russian-Turkish wars, a new type of “guests” appeared on the shores of Abkhazia - active Russian generals and statesmen. One of them was a member of the imperial family Prince of Oldenburg.
More than a century has passed since the time when he, fascinated by the climate and picturesqueness of the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, got the idea to turn it into a “domestic Nice”, making popular place rest of the Russian aristocracy. And he almost succeeded! Appeared in the mountains prince's castle, in Gagra – a park, and then... However, let's talk about everything in order.
The Russian government began to consider the Black Sea coast as a resort area at the end of the 19th century. At that time, there were few coastal cities in Russia, and the capital’s nobility vacationed in Europe - on Cote d'Azur in France, on the waters in Germany and on the beaches of Italy. Victory in the last Russian-Turkish war gave the empire the most beautiful Black Sea lands. They were in a subtropical climate zone, very close in its characteristics to the Mediterranean. In addition to the climate and beautiful scenery, in the new possessions of the Russian crown a lot was discovered mineral springs and deposits of healing mud. A specially created commission examined everything Black Sea coast and came to the conclusion that there is no better place for “Russian Nice” than Gagra. There is nothing surprising here: the average annual temperature is +16°C, the mountains come close to the shore, forming a unique mountain-sea microclimate.
Biography of the Prince of Oldenburg
On January 9, 1901, by his decree, Nicholas II ordered the construction of a climate station in Gagra (as the resorts were then called) and appointed him as construction manager Alexander Petrovich Oldenburg – Prince of Oldenburg. Alexander Petrovich - a descendant of the dukes Holstein-Gottorp, close relatives of Peter III and Catherine II. He was the great-grandson of Paul I. The prince had a military education, served in the Life Guards of the Preobrazhensky Regiment, participated in the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878, and besieged Plevna. Since 1896, he “sat” in the State Council and was a senator.
At court, the prince was not particularly favored: he was considered an eccentric, at the same time active and active, and therefore dangerous. His energy and selflessness are proverbial. Alexander Petrovich was a big fan of progress, supported scientific and charitable institutions, and communicated widely with famous doctors and scientists. However, conservative Russian society perceived his ideas as unworthy of an aristocrat and too bold.
Together with his wife Eugenia, daughter of Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna and the Duke of Leuchtenberg, he organized Women's Paramedic Courses and opened a Vaccination Station at his own expense. At the end of the 1880s, at the Holy Trinity community of sisters of mercy, he created the first Russian Empire research center in the field of biology and medicine - Institute of Experimental Medicine. Alexander Petrovich despised drunkenness, fighting against them with all his might in his position as Chairman of the Russian Temperance Society. He hated laziness, worked tirelessly himself and did not let others down.
Climate station, restaurant "Gagripsh" and castle
And it was precisely such a person who was entrusted with the difficult task of transforming the backyards of Russia. Construction began in the fall of 1901 climate station in Gagra. More than seven million rubles were allocated from the treasury for its needs. took up the new business with his characteristic enterprise and energy, and two years later the official opening of the new resort took place. Along with it, electric lighting, telephone, telegraph and running water appeared in Gagra.
Alexander Petrovich decided to turn Gagra into a Russian Monte Carlo, to make it a high society resort. He built a hydropathic clinic and castle on the seashore, mansions and villas, restaurants and hotels. A road was built into the mountains, to the “Alpine Gagra”, and the city was decorated with a picturesque Seaside Park. On its 14 hectares they amazed with their rare species exotic plants from different parts of the planet: fan palms from China, date palms from Canary Islands, coconut - from South America; cypresses, orange and lemon trees, Himalayan cedars, chamerops, American magnolias, Syrian mallows... A unique system of ponds of different sizes appeared in the park, connected by small streams. Swans gracefully glided along the water surface of the ponds, and peacocks strolled importantly along the shady alleys.
Opposite the park there was one that still exists today restaurant "Gagripsh"- emblem of Gagra. In 1902, it was assembled in Europe, and then disassembled and transported to the Caucasian shores. The stage of this establishment, assembled without a single nail, remembers the performances of F. Chaliapin, and people loved to dine at its tables M. Gorky, A. Chekhov, I. Bunin.
The enthusiasm of the Prince of Oldenburg turned out to be contagious: rich people flocked to Gagra, like to the New Riviera. Mass construction of mansions and dachas began. The resort became fashionable, and Russian nobility began to visit it. In 1911, the first foreigners came here - German tourists... Everything in the city was under the watchful eye of the Prince of Oldenburg. In his Mercedes, he drove around the resort every day, observing discipline and delving into all matters - both large and small.
To supply catering establishments with fresh food, fruits, vegetables and grapes Prince of Oldenburg organized a real agricultural enterprise on his estate “Otradnoye”. Gagra became the prince's favorite toy, his dream come true, earthly paradise. But the happiness he carefully built turned out to be fragile: in 1914, with the outbreak of the First World War, Alexander Petrovich recalled to St. Petersburg, appointing him to the post of Supreme Chief of the sanitary and evacuation unit. He never returned to Gagra... On the eve of the October Revolution, Prince of Oldenburg emigrated to Finland, and after some time moved to France. He died in September 1932 on the Cote d'Azur, in Biarritz, far from the shore of his dreams, built with his own hands.
