The city of Tuapse is a major cargo port of Russia on the Caucasian coast. However, Tuapse can also be called a resort on the Black Sea, since the territory of “Big” Tuapse stretches for 100 kilometers, from Gelendzhik in the west to Sochi in the east.
The largest resort villages of Tuapse to the west of the city are Dzhubga, Lermontovo, Novomikhailovsky, Olginka, Nebug, Agoy. To the east of Tuapse are the villages of Shepsi, Dederkoi, and Ashe. All these villages are located in small mountain valleys, along the beds of small rivers that flow from the Main Caucasian Ridge into the Black Sea.
The main natural attraction of Tuapse is the Kiselev Rock, which is located 4 kilometers east of Tuapse in the relict Kadosh Forest. The Kadosh Forest can also be called a natural attraction. In this place there is a wonderful Beach at Kiselev Rock. It is pebbly, but the bottom is covered with large stones, which is not comfortable for swimming. However, the marl layers of Kiselev Rock and Kadosh Forest are so picturesque that it is interesting to stay here all day to walk around, sunbathe and swim.
Sights of Tuapse
The sights in the city of Tuapse are compactly located near the historical center of the city. The place where the Velyaminovsky Fort was located is now called the Hill of Heroes. During the WWII, an anti-aircraft battery was located here. The defense of Tuapse was created around it. On the Hill of Heroes today there is a Local History Museum and the Church of Metropolitan Alexey.
At the foot of the Hill of Heroes there is a small park with a Stone Flower fountain and a Central Square. The Tower of the Vessel Traffic Control Service stands on it. It looks like an airport control tower. Port terminals for bulk cargo are located nearby.
There are various monuments on the square. In the center stands a Monument to the Fighters for the power of the Soviets, and next to it is the Monument of the city of Military Glory. In one of the buildings on the square there is a small Museum of the Defense of Tuapse.
There is a Marine Boulevard in front of the square on the seashore, where you can take a walk in the evening and have dinner in one of the cafes. From the north side of the Central Square begins the famous Sycamore Alley, which stretches for 900 meters through the entire city center. Plane trees were planted here in 1913 before the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov House. Now these plane trees are more than 100 years old and their huge crowns adorn the city very much.
The beaches of Tuapse are located on the eastern side of the city. Central, Dachny and Vesna are the main beaches of Tuapse. There is a railway along these beaches that goes to Sochi. There are beaches to the west of Tuapse, too, but there they are among the marl rocks.
Attractions outside of Tuapse
The main natural attraction of Tuapse is the Kiselev Rock and the beach next to it, as well as the Kadosh Forest, which occupies an area of 300 hectares. From Novorossiysk Highway to Kiselev Rock, the path goes through an oak grove, and relict pines grow in most of the Kadosh Forest. Tourists vacationing in the vicinity of Tuapse come to the Beach at Kiselev Rock for the whole day. It is not very convenient for swimming because of the rocky bottom, but nature and layered marl rocks in this place look very picturesque.
To the north of Tuapse, there are two more famous sights: the Perun Waterfall and the Induk Rock. The waterfall Perun (30 meters) is located 12 kilometers north of Tuapse. It is one of the highest waterfalls on the Caucasian coast of the Black Sea. The waterfall is seasonal, so in summer you can see only a small stream. Most of the other waterfalls in the surrounding gorges are located on the territory of the Sochi National Park.
Induk Rock is located 30 kilometers north of Tuapse. The height of its rocky peak reaches 859 meters. This rock is one of the most popular hiking destinations in the vicinity of Tuapse. From its top there is a beautiful view of the Great Caucasian Ridge. The rocky slopes of Turkey Mountain are dotted with holes, so there are always a lot of climbing enthusiasts here.
The main attractions of “Big” Tuapse are numerous resort villages that are located between Gelendzhik and Sochi. The small resort of Dzhubga is located 70 kilometers east of Tuapse. A popular resort area of Dzhubga is the Blue Bay, as well as Inal Bay. There are beautiful waterfalls near Dzhubga. Gebius waterfalls are located next to the road, so you can visit them in 1 hour. It is better to plan a whole day to visit the Colonel`s Waterfalls.
The resort villages of Lermontovo, Novomikhailovskoye, Olginka, Nebug, Agoi are located to the west of Tuapse, and Shepsi, Dederkoi, Ashe are to the east of Tuapse. People come there for a budget holiday in small hotels. However, you should remember that in these villages the railway runs right along the seashore. To the east of Tuapse, you can visit numerous gorges that are located in river valleys. The most famous are Mammadovo Gorge, Svir Gorge, Crab Gorge and many others.
History of Tuapse
The city of Tuapse is a major industrial and port center on the Black Sea coast. There is no resort infrastructure in the city itself, as the cargo port is located in the center of the city, and an oil refinery is located next to it. The same industrial and port infrastructure is located in Novorossiysk. These two cities cannot be called resorts, but they are interesting for a day trip.
The Velyaminovsky fort was built on the site of the city of Tuapse in 1838. It became an important stronghold during the Caucasian War with the highlanders supported by Turkey. It lost the Caucasian coast after the capture of the Turkish fortress Anapa by Russian troops in 1828 and the signing of the Peace of Adrianople. For several decades Turkey tried to return to the Caucasian coast and actively supported the struggle of the highlanders in the Caucasian War.
The port of Tuapse has a convenient location on the river bank. Cargo is delivered to Tuapse through the low Shahumyan pass. The second passage through the Great Caucasian Ridge is only in the Daryal Gorge, but there the road serpentine passes through the high mountains.
During the WWII, in 1942, fierce battles were fought in Tuapse. After unsuccessful attempts to storm the high-altitude Caucasian passes, the Germans attacked Tuapse with large forces. The height of the Shahumyan pass, which leads from Maykop to Tuapse, is only 512 meters, so the Germans attacked here using tanks. During the assault on Tuapse, the city was almost completely destroyed.
