Lookout tower Ahun in Sochi: description, history and interesting facts

There is a mountain in the nature of Big Akhun, which is one of the main tourist attractions of the city of Sochi. At its top is a magnificent observation deck, from where you can view the delicious natural landscapes of the Caucasian Range and its environs.

It is an amazingly beautiful place - a tower on Mount Akhun in Sochi and its surroundings.

Short description of the mountain

This peak of the Caucasian ridge has a height of 663 m (above sea level) and runs along the Black Sea coast. It has a length of about 5 kilometers. On the western side of the mountain lies the canyon of the river. Agury, on the east - r. Hosta, on the north - the tributary of Agura with a touching name Agurchik. The south-eastern slope of Ahuna is occupied by the famous Tiso-boxwood grove (the territory of the Sochi reserve).

More than 30 caves (large and small) are found on mountain slopes, the largest of which is Bolshaya Akhunskaya, located on the northern side of the summit. Its length is 384 meters, and the height reaches 20 meters. There are also no less interesting slopes in these places: Malykh Akhun peak with a slightly lower height (501 m) and 380-meter Eagle Rocks.

On the origin of the name of the top

The exact version of the origin of the name of the mountain on which the tower Ahun is located, no. There are some assumptions, one of which, the mountain owes its name to the Ubykh god, the patron saint of the pastoralists Akhin. According to another version, the word "ahun" in the translation from the Abkhaz language means "hill" or "hill".

Whatever it was, all the assumptions are suitable for this majestic structure, which contains in itself some of the centuries-old history of these places.

Tower Ahun: the history of origin

In the beginning of the 20th century, a large reconstruction of the famous resort of Sochi was carried out. Attention was also paid to Akhun's grief. In 1935, an 11-kilometer highway was laid to its summit, and in 1936 a unique lookout tower was built at its top point. And the height of the tower was designed in such a way that the view from its site is not obscured by the trees. Thus, all the amazing natural landscapes in the perimeter of 70 kilometers are visible both in the palm of your hand.

It all began with the order of Joseph Stalin, after the leader visited the city of Big Akhun. A white limestone tower was built, which was mined during the construction of the Achunsky Highway. It was built all this for 10 months, but the leader of the country for some reason could not again visit this wonderful place. The architect S. Vorobyov, who worked for a long time in the city of Sochi, designed the tower.

Description

The majestic observation tower Ahun is located on the highest point of the Khosta district. This is quite an interesting architectural solution. It looks unusual and original: the limestone is roughly processed, the style is Romanesque.

Reminiscent of this architectural work is the knight's castle of the Middle Ages. Its height is 30 meters. But the main attraction in the design of the staircase, which is built outside the tower, and therefore every turn on it represents a fascinating landscape. The highest effect is achieved by the fact that at the very end of the ascent to the tower the structure is provided with a closed area, after exiting from which every tourist feels ecstasy, a shock from the indescribable surrounding magnificence.

In total, at an altitude of 700 meters tower towers Big Ahun. It presents the view of tourists from the south side with a magnificent view of the Black Sea, capturing the landscapes of the shores of Abkhazia. On the east side you can see not less beautiful surroundings of Adler, from the west - the city of Sochi, and from the north - stately Caucasus mountains and green meadows stretching along the shores of the Black Sea.

This tower refers to the wonders of Russia. Outwardly it resembles the original buildings of the Genoese. There are many similar structures on the Black Sea coast of the Crimea and the Caucasus. Most importantly, the tower on Mount Akhun offers amazing views of the nature of the area.

The road to it runs through fantastic relic groves, containing more than 200 species of various plants, of which 30 are listed in the Russian Red Book. Not far from these places are the Agur waterfalls, the same gorge and the Eagle Mountains.

Excursions

Most of the guides insist that in the clearest days from this place you can see even the Turkish coast. Of course, this is not a very reliable fact. But it is precisely known, that from this place the Black Sea coast from Dagomys to Pitsunda is perfectly visible.

Inside the tower itself there is a museum where you can get acquainted with the numerous representatives of the rich Caucasian flora and fauna. You can ride a pony or a horse here. Wedding tuples are often observed, as this is the favorite place for newlyweds.

For tourists in these places all the conditions for making walks in the open air with subsequent rest are created. Café, where you can order hot dishes and shish kebab, as well as souvenir shops are located exactly where the majestic tower of Akhun stands.

How to get there?

You can take a taxi by taxi to the stop "Agura" and then walk along the right bank of the river towards the restaurant called "Caucasian aul". After overcoming about 900 meters, you need to go to the opposite side of the Agura through the bridge. The road ends at the restaurant itself, then follows a rather well-maintained trail that rises up. Also on the way you can see the Agur waterfalls that dry out in the most arid years. At the junction of the Agura River with its tributary Agurchik, the road begins a steeper ascent, after which a flat part of the road appears, ending with a high stone tower. On the way to it there is a spring with drinking water, which has the tower of Big Akhun.

Most of the travel agencies provide bus excursions. Automobile travel passes in the direction of Sochi-Adler, but you should just follow the sign to Ahun. The road represents a total of 20 steep turns and a fairly long climb. All the way from the turn to the tower is 11 kilometers.

Conclusion

Beautiful 30-meter tower Ahun is simply gorgeous. Feeling that it was built several centuries ago. The observation tower has, as noted above, a rather original feature of the structure. The sight of tourists, both during the ascent and during the descent, is always opened by charming landscapes: a surprisingly beautiful city, a fabulous panorama of the sea, snowy majestic peaks of the mountains and the delightful natural landscapes of the mountain covered with a dense green forest.

Views of the surrounding area are fascinating and attracted by its beauty and mystery. To imagine and experience all this, you should make an excursion to these amazing and tempting places.