The village of Abrau-Durso, located 14 kilometers west of Novorossiysk, is widely known for its most popular production - the production of champagne wines. And although this settlement is not located on the sea coast, nevertheless, it enjoys increased tourist popularity, and vacationers come here as a 1 day
, and for a longer time.
It must be said right away that not far from Abrau-Dyurso, located on the shore of a beautiful lake, there is a very nice resort town of almost the same name on the sea coast - this is the Durso farm
. Usually a visit to Abrau-Durso ends with a beach holiday on the Durso coast.
Most of the attractions of Abrau-Durso are associated with the production of champagne
History of the village of Abrau-Durso
The history of this village began in distant, legendary times, when the ancestors of today's Circassians lived in these places. The local mountain settlement flourished in those distant times, and as the legend says, the mountaineers boasted too much of their untold wealth. And so great was their arrogance that they wanted to line the winding mountain road with gold and silver coins. The gods were angry for such pride and boasting and punished the presumptuous mountaineers. That aul fell underground, and in its place a beautiful Lake Abrau was formed, on the shores of which a new aul eventually appeared.
People have long settled on the shores of this legendary lake.
In fact, the lake appeared here as a result of an earthquake and the formation of a dam. But according to one translation version, the word “abrau” is considered to mean “failed.”
The Caucasian War between the highlanders and the Russian state ended in 1864 with the annexation of this part of the Black Sea region to Russia. The local Adyghe population partly emigrated on its own, and partly was deported later. The abandoned settlements began to be populated by Russian citizens.
In 1879, with the highest permission of Emperor Alexander II, the head of the Black Sea district D. Pilenko
formed the Udelnoe estate of the ruling Russian dynasty from the former settlement of Abrau. On a large territory of this estate, work began on the cultivation of vineyards, most of which were varietal varieties of Portugieser and Riesling. The vines of the first varieties were purchased by local agronomist F. Geydukov from foreign farms.
The first vineyards appeared on the mountain slopes of Lake Abrau at the end of the 19th century
Subsequently, other varieties began to be cultivated here in the form of Pinot Franc, Sauvignon, etc. In addition, horse breeding, gardening and farming actively developed on this estate.
Already in the late 70s of the 19th century, decent grape harvests began to be collected on the slopes of Abrau-Durso, and in the early 80s of the 19th century, industrial production of local wine began. The first vintage wines produced locally were Cabernet Abrau. The creator of these wines was E. Wedel
- local wine master.
Local winemakers take the production of wine on an industrial scale seriously
In the 90s, the winery of the imperial estate produced various varietal wines in the form of Sauternes, Lafite, Bordeaux, Burbunsky, etc. And the main one, recently appointed responsible for wine production, Prince Lev Golitsyn
began preparations for the production of sparkling champagne wines here. For these purposes, the re-equipment of production, the re-equipment of wine cellars and, of course, the cultivation of special grape varieties began.
By the beginning of the 20th century, the “Champagne Wine Factory” in Abrau-Durso, equipped with five tunnel cellars, was operating at full capacity and all workers were transferred to it from Sudak. A highway was also built to Novorossiysk and mass production of local champagne under the Abrau brand began.
Today it is difficult to imagine that the first champagne was produced in such conditions
After the revolution, the nationalized winery continued to function as the Soviet winemaking enterprise Abrau-Durso. It was here that the production of Soviet sparkling wine began using a new method called tank. The first head of this state farm and the author of the new method was A. Frolov-Bagreev
.
The occupation during the Great Patriotic War caused very significant damage to the winery. After the war, active restoration of the old plant and construction of a new plant began. For the Abrau-Durso winery, the territory of the raw material base expanded; the lands of Novorossiysk, Anapa, Gelendzhik and other nearby regions of the Krasnodar Territory began to be used. And a workers’ settlement gradually developed around the plant.
The formation of a Soviet workers' village took place around the Champagne Wine Factory
Today, this winemaking enterprise is the main economic production of the village and a major supplier of sparkling wines in Russia. The plant is also one of the attractive tourist sites of the village. People come here on day excursions to see how this legendary winemaking enterprise works, and also to admire one of the largest freshwater lakes in the Krasnodar Territory.
Today's Abrau-Durso is a small but popular resort in the Krasnodar Territory
Pros and cons of holidays in Abrau-Durso
As already mentioned, the village of Abrau-Durso is located on the coast of a beautiful mountain lake. The lake, like the river flowing into it, is called Abrau. And very close by the Durso River carries its waters into the Black Sea. The village, located in a very picturesque place, is reached by the same picturesque highway serpentines along the valley of vineyards. The beauty of this place attracts tourists, of course, first of all.
The beauty of the lake opens up both from its coast and when viewed from the lake itself
The picturesqueness of this place is a very big plus and, perhaps, the most attractive reason to visit Abrau-Durso. You can not only admire Lake Abrau, but also swim in its clean, warm and slightly muddy water due to the presence of limestone, or ride on catamarans.
Many come here not only for the local beauty, which is preserved in numerous photographs, but also to visit the Champagne Wine Factory
. An excursion to this plant will allow you to learn the details of the production of the famous Soviet champagne, visit the wine cellars and taste local products.
Everyone who has visited the wine cellars of Abrau-Durso is amazed by their scale
Among the disadvantages of Abrau-Durso, many travelers note very high local prices for goods, products and services. Also, one of the disadvantages is the presence of garbage, although this is most likely the fault of some visitors who often do not clean up after themselves and behave rather rudely towards other people and the environment.
There are pros and cons everywhere, the main thing is to choose the right angle of view
In any case, you should definitely visit this amazing corner of the Krasnodar Territory, especially if your vacation time is spent in Gelendzhik, Anapa, Novorossiysk or Kabardinka. A trip to Abrau-Durso will brighten up your vacation and get new emotions and impressions. After all, even 1 day
, spent in Abrau-Durso can be made very eventful by combining a visit to the plant, relaxing on the beach and a small promenade around the lake along the embankment and park.
Temple of Xenia of Petersburg
The shrine was built relatively recently - its construction began in 1999, and in 2010 the temple was consecrated. It rises on a hill near Lake Abrau, and both local residents and numerous pilgrims from different parts of the country often come here. The church is active, and prayer services are held here almost every day. On weekends and holidays you can hear the ringing of bells, which can be heard far over the water. There is a Sunday school at the church.
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How to get to Abrau-Durso
You can visit the small village of Abrau-Durso, located on the north-eastern shore of the mountain lake of the same name, as part of excursion groups, which are formed from each nearby settlement. This is perhaps the most organizationally convenient way to travel. There is no need to think about transport, route planning or nutrition. But you can visit Abrau-Durso on your own.
A picturesque serpentine highway leads to Abrau-Durso
You must keep in mind that bus routes go here only from the Novorossiysk bus station. Therefore, when going to Abrau-D.rso from other cities and towns, first of all, you need to get to Novorossiysk. For example, you can get from Anapa to Novorossiysk by bus 184. Minibus 102 runs from Novorossiysk to Abrau-Dyurso
. Travel time is less than one hour. In the same way - through Novorossiysk - you can come from Gelendzhik and other cities and suburbs.
Minibuses run almost every half hour. But you definitely need to clarify what time the last one from Abrau-Durso departs, because the schedule is not constant and you may not have time to leave and stay overnight in this village. Although there is nothing wrong with this, there are only “pros”. After all, if you stay here overnight you can see the Tsar Bottle in the evening light and admire the light and music show of the fountains on the lake itself.
You can get from Novorossiysk to Abrau-Durso by minibus 102
You can come to Abrau-Durso not only by bus, but also by your own car. But no matter which direction you come from, your path will still lie through Novorossiysk. And from there, through the villages of Vasilyevskoye and Glebovskoye, you need to go all the way to Abrau-Durso. It must be borne in mind that at the entrance to this village the road is a small serpentine. It is also quite possible to get to Abrau-Durso from Novorossiysk by taxi.
Independent travel has a number of advantages over a guided tour. Firstly, it is much cheaper. And secondly, the inspection of Abrau-Durso itself can be planned according to your own preferences and interests. By the way, in this small village there are hotels and, if desired, you can stay here for several days or at least one night.
Festivals
Festivals in Abrau-Durso are held annually, as a rule, there are several of them per year. The main public holidays are held mainly in the second half of autumn or at the end of summer and last, on average, a little less than a week.
The list of events is large, usually events such as:
- picnics;
- scientific lectures;
- excursions;
- master classes;
- demonstration sports performances;
- culinary performances and tastings;
- various gaming entertainments.
Towards the evening, a musical concert of popular Russian and foreign performers begins, and at this time there is a “Home Bar” program, in which guests are invited to try various alcoholic drinks and popular types of wine.
Kundalini Yoga is another annual festival held in late August for a week.
It invites tourists to participate in restoring and improving their health, getting rid of bad habits, as well as rehabilitating their psychological state. The entire course includes daily meditations, both morning and evening, master classes from famous professionals, breathing practices, yogic tantric diets and yoga tea.
What to see in Abrau-Durso
Abrau-Durso is a very small and sparsely populated area. The walking strip along the lake is only about two kilometers, which can be walked in half an hour. There is also a park area, Alexander II Square, an observation deck near the Temple of Xenia of St. Petersburg, and, of course, the Champagne Wine Factory itself. You can relax on the beach, visit the Art Bazaar and a local cafe. Now we’ll tell you about all the local attractions in more detail.
What to visit in Abrau-Durso first? Index to the rescue!
Lake Abrau
This mountain lake is a natural attraction not only of the village of Abrau-Durso, but of the entire Krasnodar region. After all, this mountain reservoir of fresh water with an area of about 2 square kilometers is the largest in this region, and one of the largest in the Caucasus.
The depth of the lake reaches 10-15 meters, and the Black Sea is only 2 kilometers away in a straight line. The source of water for the lake is the river of the same name, precipitation and underground springs. The lake has very clean water and does not become swampy, due to the fact that there is a constant water exchange associated with the local dam.
Lake Abrau is one of the most unique natural monuments of the Black Sea region
The color of the lake, which is not very transparent due to the presence of lime, varies from white-blue to emerald. The highest water level here can be observed in the autumn-winter period. In summer, the water level drops noticeably. This mountain lake never freezes. In winter, the water temperature reaches +2 degrees, and in summer it warms up to 24-25 degrees.
The lake contains fish in the form of trout, crucian carp, etc. And along the shores of the lake grow lavender, rosemary, figs, and numerous vineyards. For tourists, a comfortable embankment with a beautiful arch, cafes, souvenir kiosks, an art fair and a nice park area has been built along the lake.
The embankment and Art Park are located right on the lake shore
The beach area is equipped with everything for a comfortable stay, there are sun loungers and umbrellas.
For boating on the lake during the holiday season, not only yachts, scoops or catamarans are offered, but also a retro steamship, made according to the model of the first Russian steamship of 1813. It is very interesting to ride on a replica of a steamship from the early 19th century.
If you wish, you can walk along the lake on foot along the walking trail to the observation deck located next to the Temple of Xenia of Petersburg.
And all tourists to Abrau-Durso are sure to admire the 40-meter “Geneva” fountain, which, like its original Swiss prototype, shoots up from the lake.
The Geneva Fountain is beautiful both during the day and in the evening light and music fountain show
Art park
Walking along the resort embankment area near the lake, which is an Art Park, you can treat yourself to champagne on tap and admire the fountains. For children there are small attractions, a carousel, and relaxation corners on well-groomed lawns.
A walk through the Art Park will bring only the most pleasant impressions
And, of course, all vacationers certainly want to take a photo next to the Monument to L. Utesov
, who is depicted in the image of a hero from the movie “Jolly Fellows”. It is believed that initially they wanted to film the first Soviet musical in this village, and its working title sounded like “The Shepherd from Abrau.” But the shooting took place in Gagra. And this monument to Utesov is just a reminder of the failed filming on the Abrau-Durso set.
The monument to L. Utesov is made in the image of a shepherd from “Jolly Fellows”
There are other sculptures and interesting installations in the park. There is a traditional wishing tree and glowing swings, benches and a rose alley. Also in this Art Park, an exhibition and sale of works by local artists is organized, and a more extensive sale takes place in the Art Bazaar pavilion near Alexander II Square
(Promyshlennaya str., 13).
Getting to know the corners of the Art Park will undoubtedly bring aesthetic pleasure
In the evenings, from the Art Park embankment you can watch an amazing light and sound show
fountains, happening right on the surface of the lake! The singing fountains of Abrau-Durso, considered the largest in the Krasnodar region, have been operating since May 1, 2021. Jets of water are thrown to the beat of classical and popular music to a height of up to 40 meters. And all this action is accompanied by colorful flashes.
In the evenings, from the Art Park embankment you can admire the light and music Fountain Show
The engineering solution for this wonderful project was developed by specialists creating Olympic facilities in Sochi. The program changes every year and is held from May to October every day in the evening for half an hour.
Alexander II Square
Promyshlennaya, 12
Tourists also definitely visit Alexander II Square, where the building of the Wine Tourism Center
and the famous
Tsar Bottle of
Champagne fountain.
The road to Alexander II Square runs between the Champagne Wine Factory and the District Administration. Also, while moving towards the square, all vacationers with great interest visit the Art Bazaar
, which displays products of local craftsmen.
The art bazaar is both a souvenir shop and a local museum of applied art rolled into one
At the Art Bazaar you can buy high-quality and very original handmade souvenirs - paintings, ceramic, wooden and glass products. It is open daily from 10 am to 9 pm. After visiting the Art Bazaar, tourists immediately find themselves in a small area of the square, in the center of which stands the “Tsar Bottle”.
Rarely does anyone leave the Art Bazaar without shopping
Interestingly, the 5-meter art object “Tsar Bottles” was erected on Alexander II Square from real champagne bottles. Of course, from under the empty ones, about two thousand of which went into this construction. A flask runs through the center of this unusual structure, through which water is periodically released from the neck, reminiscent of the splashes of a just opened bottle of champagne.
All tourists come to admire the release of foamy water from the Tsar Bottle
By the way, while the bottle is being filled before the next release of water, you can enter it, and if you make a wish at the same time, it will certainly come true! In the evenings, the “Tsar Bottle”, which is a symbol of the economic basis of village life, becomes the center of a spectacular light show that attracts many spectators. For the sake of this spectacle, tourists often stay overnight in Abrau-Durso.
Dozens of vacationers come to look at the Tsar Bottle in the evening light
In addition to the “Tsar Bottle” Monument, there is also the “Monkey” Monument-Fountain
. The image of this cute animal is inspired by the legends about Prince Golitsyn’s favorite monkey, who opened champagne for his guests, which greatly amused everyone present.
The Monkey Monument is also associated with uncorking a bottle of local champagne
Also on Alexander II Square there is a Wine Tourism Center
, where tourists who want to take a tour of the famous Champagne Factory go.
Champagne wine factory
Promyshlennaya Street, 19
The champagne wine factory is undoubtedly the main attraction of Abrau-Durso. This factory was built in 1870 on the basis of the imperial order of Alexander II, and its main purpose was to produce champagne for the royal table and for the upper classes of society. The first production of sparkling wine on an industrial scale began only towards the end of the 19th century. And the very first batch of vintage champagne with the name “Abrau” consisted of 25 thousand bottles.
The museum building of the Champagne Wine Factory is located behind the Tsar Bottle
Today, visiting the Champagne Wine Factory means taking a tour of the Russian wine house “Abrau-Durso”, which is a museum complex. Tourists are usually offered excursions without tasting and with tasting.
During the excursion, you can get acquainted with the history of the plant through a film screening, view the exhibits of the Wine Museum, listen to information about technological production processes and take a walk through the ancient wine cellars. The excursion route also includes an introduction to the original Gallery of Light.
In the Gallery of Light, the visitor finds himself in a reality created by the play of light
The Gallery of Light art center is a modern landmark of the village, which presents an exhibition of seven works of audiovisual art by the Kuflex studio. This Gallery can be viewed separately, or as part of a tour of the Champagne Factory.
Excursion tastings of sparkling wines take place every hour, but you can try still wines, cognac or factory wines only once a day. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with the schedule of excursions with tasting in advance. You can also get an individual VIP tour at the Wine Tourism Center.
The wine tourism center is one of the most famous attractions of Abrau-Durso
The duration of the excursions is about one and a half hours. The museum complex is open daily from 10 to 19 hours. The Light Gallery, which has a separate entrance, is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. In addition to visiting the museum complex, this tourist center conducts a tour of Abrau-Durso itself, which is designed in the form of a walk-performance, a fashionable format today, called “The Voice of the City.”
During an unusual excursion, tourists get acquainted with local attractions
If you wish, you can also visit the famous local vineyards. Such an excursion is also included in the arsenal of services of the Wine Tourism Center. After visiting the chosen excursion, tourists usually visit the factory’s branded stores, where they purchase something from the collections of local wine products. There are three branded stores in the village. But wine products are sold not only there.
The company store has a large selection of local sparkling wines
Architectural landmarks
Architectural creations created with one’s own hand attract the attention of tourists no less than natural assets.
The most popular architectural buildings in the village are:
- Art Park Abrau-Durso – combines modern conceptual creativity, as well as interactive art. There are various unique objects on display that you can not only visually enjoy, but also directly interact with. The park provides the opportunity to create your own personal melody of the “Wind and Music” concept, or leave your wish at the “Nest of Dreams Come True.” This place completes the local embankment and is located at the address: st. Promyshlennaya, 18.
- Media - stars of world art are ready to demonstrate to the public the creative gallery of the future with the help of audio, technical and visual effects of the installation, using lighting devices and music. The most entertaining demonstration for viewers is the live 3D installation.
- Abrau embankment has an elegant and well-groomed appearance, as well as many planted roses, trees and hedges. Tourists are offered to rent boats and catamarans to admire the lake.
- Singing fountains of Abrau-Durso - a series of light and sound fountains, the total length of which is 70 m, and its height reaches 30 m, which rightfully gives it the name of the largest fountain in the Krasnodar region.
- Fountain with a monkey - located in the center of the village, in the form of a monkey sitting on a bottle of champagne. This object symbolizes local culture, as well as a sparkling wine factory.
Other things to do in Abrau-Durso
Abrau-Durso is a small and outwardly elite corner of a beautiful life, where vacationers admire almost Swiss mountain landscapes and drink champagne. Here you can sail on the lake on yachts, dine in restaurants and have dinner in the grand cafe, drink sparkling wine on the shore of a mountain lake and watch beautiful light and sound fountain shows in the evenings.
In Abrau-Durso you want to relax and feel like a real vacationer
But there are other entertainments in Abrau-Durso that are available to those who decide to stay here for a few days. First of all, in the vicinity of Abrau-Durso there are many hiking routes
. Here you can try your hand at Nordic walking, or take a one-day hiking trip to the sea coast.
There are several interesting tourist routes from Abrau-Durso
SUP surfing on the lake itself.
— SUP rental is offered by the local sailing club “Abrau Sailing.”
And many more come to Abrau-Durso specifically for yoga. The fact is that there is a famous yoga studio here where you can work out for a fee. In the summer, classes are held in the Yoga House
, which is located in an open area overlooking the sea five kilometers from Abrau-Durso. You can take a mini hike to it, or you can come there for a week as part of a yoga tour.
SUP surfing on a mountain lake is a very interesting and exciting pastime
And also, having become acquainted with the posters of local festivals
, you can come here during one of them.
Such an event will allow you to relax and witness an interesting and vibrant event. And, of course, there are horse riding
and
helicopter flights
. As they say, for every taste and budget.
If not to the festival, then in Abrau-Durso you can go to a sailing regatta
If you stop for a short time on vacation in Abrau-Durso, then if you have your own car you can go to the luxurious sea beaches
, which are located in
the Durso farm
. You can drive 7.5 km to them in 15 minutes, and you will find yourself in a picturesque resort cove with modern equipped beach areas.
The Durso farm with beautiful beach areas is very close
The farm has cafes and restaurants, young people will love the nightclubs here, and lovers of a quiet holiday will appreciate the wild beach areas of the farm. More detailed information about the beaches of the Durso farm and other beaches in the Novorossiysk region is here. If you don’t have your own car, you can get to the farm from Abrau-Durso by local minibus.
Thus, no matter how many days you come to Abrau-Dubro, this tourist trip will add a touch of romance and unforgettable variety to your summer vacation.
Abrau-Durso is one of the well-known pearls of the Krasnodar region
Author of the article: Kasatkina Tatyana
General information
The history of the origin of Abrau Durso, who its current owner and owner may seem boring to some, so we will not bore everyone with its description, especially since it can be found through the official website of the winery.
The resort area (for simplicity, we will sometimes call it Abrau Durso) consists of the village of Abrau and the village of Durso. Abrau is located 14 km from the city of Novorossiysk, 60 km from Anapa, 157 km from the city of Krasnodar. The location of the second village of Durso is also known - 7 km from the first (there is only one road there, you can’t go wrong).
In the first village there is a famous winery, with its tunnels in which thousands of bottles of all kinds of sparkling drinks are stored. The length of the tunnels is about 5 km and there is a real danger of getting lost in the intricacies of the wine labyrinths, so the tour is conducted by two employees, one tells the story, the second monitors the tourists.
The village of Abrau is considered the main location for tourists, since in Dyurso there is basically nothing to see except the sea (the beach there is rocky, but swimming is a pleasure).
