In the resort town of Gelendzhik, there is an amazing park, which contains architectural wonders from all over the world. It is located on a plot of more than a hectare, which has become home to thematic architectural creations from different cultural eras.
author
The creator of the Old Park is Alexander Alekseev. Initially, engaged only in journalistic and literary activities, he abruptly changed his life, starting to study architecture and sculpture. Initially, he created a simple bust of Walter, then Homer and Dante, after which he came up with an ingenious idea to create a gallery that would include the architecture of various civilizations and times. The essence of his concept is simple - to recreate, in a relatively small area, something that would be historically and culturally contradictory. For example, ancient Egypt and Classical Europe, Western civilization and Eastern civilization.
This person does not have a specialized architectural education, but he has an artistic vision and philosophical thought that can be combined with a sculpture or a building. This symbiosis of thought and creation has created a unique park that can be safely called one of the best creations in the vastness of Russia.
Architectural compositions of the park
The park contains more than 20 buildings and the same number of territories, due to the type and theme.
- Classicism - in the very first section, the place was given to an ancient temple. This plot boasts a sense of tranquility and harmony. There is also a rotunda gazebo, which serves as a symbol and a key figure in many public spaces.
- Gothic - a zone of complex structures, pointed arches, rib vaults, and protruding buttresses. One can feel mysticism in all its forms, which is shrouded in mystery and darkness. There is a Gothic park, as well as a sculptural group consisting of images of saints: Paul, George, Peter and Mephistopheles.
- Egypt - part is devoted to the Egyptian theme. Reduced copies of the sphinxes, the Cheops pyramids, as well as various symbols of ancient Egypt. The central entrance to the park is also made in massive columns and arches-pylons of the Egyptian style.
- Aqueduct is an arched structure that was used by the Romans as a drainage channel.
- Gallery of Modern Art - designed in the modern style. There is a permanent exhibition of 6 Russian artists who paint their paintings in different styles and with different messages.
- The House of the Caucasus is a unique architectural structure that tells about many historical moments of the Caucasian people.
- Middle Ages - in this area there is a pond and a gazebo for two in the middle.
- Antiquity - an antique pavilion is located here, which erected Greek civilization for their gods. It houses Greek portraits on stone, statues of the gods, and a bust of Homer.
- Japan - this corner of Japan is home to a lily pond, a Shinto chapel and a sculpture of the god Ebis.
- The architect's house is a tall building with two open areas, in which the currents of Classicism, Art Nouveau and Gothic elements can be traced.
- The House of the East is a classical mosque with white stone minarets. Similar architecture is common in Islamic countries.
- The Orthodox Chapel is a Russian Orthodox chapel that demonstrates Byzantine techniques for the execution and construction of structures.
Ticket prices to the Old Park Kabardinka 2020
Entrance fees:
- Adults - 500 rubles,
- Children from 6 to 13 years old - 200 rubles,
- Children under 6 years old - free.
Guided tours are free.
Picture gallery: for adults - 50 rubles, for children - 30 rubles.
House of the Caucasus: for adults - 50 rubles, for children - 30 rubles.
Free admission for VO participants.
Opening hours of the Old Park in Kabardinka
Cultural Center " old park»Open to visitors every day, opening hours are seasonal.
From June to September, the park is available for excursions from 8:00 to 22:00.
Working hours in low season, from October to May: from 9:00 to 18:00.
How to get to the Old Park in Kabardinka from Gelendzhik
The distance from the center of Gelendzhik to the Old Park is about 16 km. A trip by car will take about 25-30 minutes, you can drive along Lunacharsky Street, then along M4-Don. Old Park address: st. Chernomorskaya, 55 (area of the "Olymp" stadium in Kabardinka).
A trip by public transport is also possible: buses No. 32, 103, 199 run from the bus station on Lenin to Kabardinka and back. route taxi No. 31. Taking into account all the stops, the journey will take approximately 50 minutes. From the bus station Kabardinka on foot to the Old Park - about 1 km: along Mira Street, after the Olympus stadium, turn onto Aprikosovaya, then along Chernomorskaya straight to the park.
Taxi - YandexTaxi, Uber, Gett.
Entrance to the Old Park in Kabardinka - Google Maps panorama
Virtual walk through the Old Park of Kabardinka
Video, overview of the park area
Updated 12.05. Views 1943 Comments 0
I went to the Old Park in Kabardinka, like to Mini Siam in Thailand, if anyone knows, or to Mini City in Turkey, that is, to a park with copies of famous buildings. But the Old Park, although it is a thematic and architectural park, does not contain a copy. All the buildings in it are by themselves (not copies), rather the theme is simply observed, be it Japanese, Greek, or Caucasian.
The price is high, but in Kabardinka there is not so much that you can still see. And in general, there is nothing similar either in the nearest cities or on the entire coast.
old park
The Old Park is one of the main attractions of Kabardinka. This is a thematic architectural park with an area of half a hectare, where the architecture created by the author reflects different cultural eras and styles from Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece to the heritage of the peoples of the Caucasus. This is a mini-encyclopedia of architecture, a very compact journey through time and space. The creator of the park, Alexander Alekseev, graduated from Rostov University in 1983, studied the history of culture and art for many years. Its park embodies not only the historical elements of architecture and decor, but also the author's philosophical ideas.
The territory of the park is very small and therefore, during the peak season, it may not be crowded there. I was at the beginning of October and it was difficult to take photographs, I had to wait until they moved away from the place I needed. Each building has its own theme. They stand quite close to each other, they are separated by paths and a lawn. Everything is very well maintained. As far as I understand, there is only one architect here - Alexander Alekseev. A writer who changed his profession as an architect and sculptor. He created the old park from scratch; earlier there was just a wasteland. That is, all buildings, although they reflect some era, are a remake, you should not expect antiquity here. Only in the house of the East is there a collection of old weapons and armor. Alexander has his own architectural studio, and this park, one might say, business card... Not bad, thought up! One more part of the park will open soon, we bought another piece of land nearby. How everything looks in real life, a photo will tell for me better.
Almost Taj Mahal, only this is the House of the East 
Separately, I drew attention to the design of one electrical panel. Amazing! From a distance, some kind of milling, or a picture looks. But if you come closer and see ... That face is a piece of an ordinary plastic tablecloth, around old earrings and stems of plants.
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Information to visit
The ticket price is 500 rubles per adult, 200 rubles per child (6-13), children under 6 are free. The price includes a 30-minute sightseeing tour that runs almost every hour (at 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 hours). The Caucasus Museum and the gallery of paintings are paid separately - 50 rubles.
Opening hours from 8 to 22 (June-September), from 9 to 18 (October-May). You can stay in the park all day. Works every day.
There is a toilet, mini-cafe on the territory.
Map and how to get there
There is a fairly large parking lot near the park. Most likely during the peak season it will be busy, but the rest of the time you can find a place. But in general, the Old Park is located in the center of the village of Kabardinka. You can park in another place (near the embankment, for example) and walk. Well, vacationers in Kabardinka should initially go on foot, if they don't live right off the edge.
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"Old Park" in Kabardinka
Utah Arbatskaya, Konstantin Vikhlyaev
Every real artist, in contact with the outside world through the study of history, geography, literature, philosophy, tries to realize his own sense of the unity of the world through the art forms available to him. Sometimes it works out, and then we, the descendants, admire the true masterpieces of human creativity. Sometimes it does not work, but this does not diminish the greatness of the idea that everything around is interconnected and interdependent in time and space. One of the necessary conditions for the emergence of a real work of art is the master's own spiritual development. Figuratively speaking, the brighter the light of the soul of a creative person, the further into the Universe his gaze penetrates. The uniqueness of each creator, his individuality is realized through a sensory form, through which he conveys to us, viewers and listeners, his vision of the Universe.
In November 2016, the authors of this article were lucky enough to get acquainted with the work of such a Master. His name is Alexander Ivanovich Alekseev. He lives in resort village Kabardinka, which is located on the Black Sea coast between Novorossiysk and Gelendzhik. This man managed to create a park in a small area, where the principle of the unity of historical cultures is embodied. The grandiose ensemble includes architectural symbols of different eras and states - from ancient Egyptian civilization to a gallery of modern art. By and large, this is an architectural and landscape park that harmoniously combines natural and artificial in the context of the development of human civilization. And what is most surprising - this is the only PRIVATE park on the Black Sea coast, that is, built at the expense of the owner and maintained at his expense! Little of. Almost everything that is in the park - fountains, buildings, museums, temples, sculptures, frescoes - was made by the hands of one Master - Alexander Ivanovich Alekseev!
A.I. Alekseev at work
The idea of embodying the principle of the unity of the world by means of landscape gardening art is not new. Since the times of Ancient Rome and Ancient China, the organizers of their own gardens and parks have tried to allegorically project the image of the universe on earth by means of a special selection and grouping of trees and plants, arrangement of water compositions, arrangement of small architectural forms and other landscape techniques. The idea of a park or garden as a universal artistic image of the unity of the world gained universal recognition in the twentieth century. The authors of this article have visited many similar parks in different countries the world, and even wrote detailed articles about some of them. These include landscape on French Riviera in France, in Paris, on Jeju Island in South Korea, Chinese in Hong Kong and others. In Crimea, there are two such parks: the old and modern park "Paradise" in Aivazovsky. The latter was created by the efforts of the landscape architect Anatoly Annenkov, where he united in a single space with the help of compositional gardens of culture different nations that left their mark on the history of Crimea (Greeks, Turks, Armenians, Huns, Slavs, etc.).
We ourselves have tried many times to implement the idea of creating such a garden, but with the help of historical roses created in different times in various countries of the world. Alas, the constant lack of finances and complete misunderstanding on the part of the authorities (both old and new) do not allow us to bring our plans to life.
Against the background of these reflections, the enthusiasm and fantastic tenacity of the creator of the "Old Park" in Kabardinka are amazing.
It makes no sense to describe the park in detail - anyone can visit it personally, or at least get acquainted with its structure on the Internet. The park administration is actively promoting this tourist site in the vastness of social networks, and caring bloggers draw in detail the landscape paintings and architectural objects that struck them. Therefore, we will focus only on some fragments.
First, about the history of the park. We were so fascinated by what we saw that naturally, questions naturally arose: who is Alekseev, what is his inner world, who helps him, where does he get the money for all this? We were not able to personally meet Alexander Ivanovich, therefore we use information from the Internet, citing some quotes from his interviews with correspondents of various newspapers.
From childhood, Alexander saw himself as a writer, he wrote from the age of 10. I read a lot, mainly adventure literature. He graduated from vocational school with a degree in universal turner, worked as a driver. The craving for painting, and especially for sculpture, manifested itself in the army: "When this everyday life began to choke, I pestered the political officer to get me a piece of granite, and I would carve out of it some figure of a soldier-defender."
Demobilized, Alekseev was looking for an opportunity to continue his education, but there was no literary institute nearby. The nearest university was Rostov University, where Alekseev entered the Faculty of Journalism. During his studies, he was carried away by scientific and philosophical literature, but most of all for the formation of a worldview was given by foreign classical literature - from antiquity and the Middle Ages to modern times. Even then, he realized that history can and should be studied not by scientific treatises, but by the classics of foreign prose, such as Balzac, Dickens, Maupassant, Zola. From their individual novels, like bricks, the vision of the whole was formed.
After graduating from the university with a journalist diploma, having worked for some time (5-7 years) in his chosen profession, he very quickly became disillusioned with it. At first, the profession of a journalist seemed to him romantic, it was respected, but then there was no yellow press. But one day, having received an assignment from a Donbass newspaper to go to the plant and write a report about the primary party cells (which, in principle, were not there, they existed only in reports on paper) and their impact on labor productivity, he realized that he could not cheat soul.
Then there was a period of various covens in Donetsk, work in different newspapers. He made country fireplaces, built houses, repaired the roof. In parallel, I read a lot of literature on history and philosophy. He never left his writing work - he wrote stories, stories. Then, when I realized that they no longer read books, and literature in cultural life people began to occupy a very small niche, then he began to look for other types of activity, one of which was architecture. Here is what the artist himself says: “Architecture, in my opinion, is an art form that has always influenced a person. Architecture creates the environment in which a person grows up. And the environment forms consciousness. And architecture will form consciousness when it is high and when it carries a certain content. Such an idea to create a kind of architectural world, to merge it with living nature and fill architectural structures with some kind of content, was born already somewhere in the two thousandth year. "
But first there was perestroika and general devastation. In the village of Kabardinka, Alexander Ivanovich's parents lived, who found themselves in a difficult economic situation, and Alekseev, like his older brother, was forced to move to them. The family began farming. The farm had fifty dairy cows, many other livestock, for which the brothers mowed the mountain slopes from Gelendzhik to Novorossiysk. Alexander Ivanovich, together with other family members, carried out the entire production cycle - from the preparation of feed to the manufacture of dairy products. This helped not only to survive, but also instilled in him, as he himself said, "the habit of constantly working."
Gradually, Alekseev was more and more inclined to the idea of creating a series of architectural structures on the territory of the family courtyard, but first there was a sculpture. Back in 1994, Alexander Ivanovich, using the simplest tools, carved a bust of Voltaire from a piece of marble, then Dante, Homer, Shakespeare ... Then he took up a smaller copy of the Cheops pyramid.
“I originally had a rather modest plan. Sculpt several architectural structures, line them up and call it the "Alley of Civilizations", gradually filling them with content. Naturally, I started from Ancient Egypt - ancient culture... In those years I had to immerse myself thoroughly in the study of Egyptology. It was not an easy question. At the beginning of the 2000s, literature on Egypt began to appear quite a lot, but mostly it was superficial literature, illustrative, or even mystifying, and it was necessary to filter, select the necessary, really valuable. I had to thoroughly immerse myself in the study of Egyptology. "
Gradually, the "Museum of the Caucasus", "House of the East", the Orthodox Church, "Temple of Zeus", a medieval castle, a Japanese Shinto temple, and a Roman aqueduct appeared. Alexander started with three enthusiasts. Now fifty people are working on a common cause. In 2012, father and sons joined the business. The eldest, also Alexander, graduated from the St. Petersburg University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. Wife Tatyana is engaged in plant filling of the park. The territory of the park is expanding due to the purchase of neighboring plots. There is an architectural and floristic workshop at the "Old Park", there is a shop of souvenirs and books. The guides are happy to conduct excursions in the park, as well as in museums. The park was officially opened in 2006, although construction began in 1996. This year the park celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Not only the park is unique, but also the material from which the sculptures are made. Alexander Alekseev invented colored concrete. This artificial composition is similar to a chameleon and can replace natural travertine, marble and sandstone. Walking around Kabardinka, we noticed that sculptures and architectural structures of Alekseev can be seen at every step - on the embankment, in sanatoriums and boarding houses, on the streets and squares. Recently in Novorossiysk, after a long reconstruction, the "East Park" was opened, in the design of which AI Alekseev also actively participated. In the photo he stands with a letter of thanks from the founders.
A.I. Alekseev at the opening of the park in Novorossiysk
Thus, the "Old Park" from the initial series of busts has turned into a real cultural center not only of Kabardinka, but also of Gelendzhik. The artist comments on his idea as follows: “The idea of showing the culture of the whole world is not new. And versatile. Because there is no one isolated culture. When you start to study the culture of different nations, you understand that we all left the same cradle. And to talk about one culture, purely Russian, Slavic, Armenian or Greek, is to emasculate this national culture itself. Because we have intertwined to such an extent over these millennia, culturally assimilated, that it is impossible to tear one away from the other, this is a whole. "
Now, having examined the sources and motivation of the author of the "Old Park", we will proceed to a short retelling of the content of this amazing place... The whole space is replete with symbols.
The guards of the park are stationed at the entrance. The very first guard sits on a stone - this is an owl, a symbol of wisdom. Only the wise discover the innermost secrets of places and symbols. On the back of the stone is a quote by A.P. Chekhov: "If every person on his piece of land did everything he can, then how beautiful our land would be." We considered it deeply symbolic that the inhabitants of Yalta, the last refuge of the great writer, begin their inspection of the park from Chekhov.
The central entrance is guarded by two more wise guards - the ancient Egyptian sphinxes. Among the Egyptians, the sphinxes, the lords of secrets, stood at the entrance to the sanctuaries, guarding their secrets and warning those entering that they should not reveal the higher knowledge to the uninitiated. They symbolized rulers and overlords who, like the gods, were hidden from the eyes of the people. Bull sides mean corporeal matter, the wings of an eagle mean life force, the head of a person means an immaterial spirit, the legs and limbs of a lion mean all-devouring fire, active force and uniting energy. Ancient wisdom borrowed from the Sphinx four basic rules of human behavior: to know - thanks to reason; to desire - with the power of a lion; to dare - that is, to soar bravely on powerful eagle wings: to be silent - with the unshakable strength and composure of a bull.
In addition to the sphinxes, there are other guards outside the park. These are sculptural images of St. Paul, St. George, St. Peter and Mephistopheles, installed in a Gothic fountain. The architect named each figure with an appropriate epithet: Pacifying (Saint Paul), Smashing (Saint George), Keeping (Saint Peter) and Omnipresent (Mephistopheles).
The lower part of the gothic fountain
Based on the ideas of the Middle Ages, the fountain symbolizes the Source of life. Water itself represents life. The place of the ascension of the righteous to heaven was seen in the form of a hill, at the foot of which the so-called Source of Life beat. A painting by the 15th century Dutch artist Dirk Bouts depicts just such a source. It is an architectural structure in the classical Gothic style. The Gothic fountain in the Old Park echoes to some extent exactly this picture.
Dirk Bouts. Paradise. Ascension of the elect. 1470 Fragment
At the entrance to the park we were greeted by a smaller copy of the Cheops pyramid with a sphinx. Inside the pyramid, which can be accessed through a specially made entrance, the frescoes depict the spheres of activity of the Egyptians. In the center - the scales on which after death the gods weigh the soul of a person: if it is lighter than a feather, then it goes to heaven.
The pavilion of antiquity is a stylized temple of Zeus, built according to ancient canons and recreating the appearance of classical Greece. Sculptures of Aphrodite and Galatea adorn the parapets of the granite steps.
The central place in the upper part of the park is occupied by a classic fountain, the choice of which is quite justified. Classicism as an architectural style was formed in the era of the European Enlightenment. Together with him, the first European parks took shape, which gained popularity among the nobility. In parallel with the emergence of parks, their main attributes were formed - fountains, gazebos, benches, flowerpots, park sculpture and spectacular exotic landscaping. The smoothness of the lawns and the geometry of the shrubs, the mowing of trees and flower beds - everything took on aesthetic forms.
The classicism of the Enlightenment is most vividly expressed by such an element as the colonnade, built here for the sake of two philosophical phrases:
“At the moment when the word was carved on the stone, History began” - this saying can be considered a prologue to the beginning of the avenue of civilizations.
The second inscription consists of two independent catch phrases:
“Even the gods cannot change the past” and “History repeats itself”.
A little further off there are two rotundas.
The era of the Middle Ages is represented by a majestic composition, the center of which is a stone watch tower with a stone bridge. The watchtower can be accessed by a stone spiral staircase.
The tower is surrounded by a pond, which should resemble a moat around a medieval castle.
The fence of the pond in the corner of the Middle Ages is a real work of blacksmithing art with its own idea and the author's embodiment of the theme of the Last Judgment by the master of artistic forging Igor Klyuchnikov.
Just behind the medieval pavilion is the House for Two, a medieval town house that refers to the legend of Abelard and Eloise. The city teacher, who fell in love with his student, the daughter of a respectable burgher, at 35 at the time was probably already an old man. Otherwise, their wedding and love would not have become a secret that angered Eloise's relatives. Neither the marriage itself nor the child born did not deter them from revenge. Abelard was severely beaten, but miraculously survived and, settling in the abbey, kept in touch with his beloved through letters. Eloise herself also went to the monastery and until the end of her life she answered all the letters of her beloved.
Pierre Abelard lived for 63 years and left a great legacy in the history of philosophy. He was one of the first in theological disputes to speak about human problems. And in his letters to Eloise, the fact is traced that love, even with the cessation of physical life, does not die, but passes into a higher connection, into Spiritual Unity.
The Orthodox chapel, located at the very beginning of the Alley of Civilizations, is a functioning church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Consecrated on February 20, 2011 by Metropolitan Isidor of Kuban and Yekaterinodar.
Opposite the chapel is the "House of the Caucasus". Three types of architecture are presented in one building - a spiritual Caucasian Orthodox chapel, a military tower and a civil house, which houses a small museum of the history of Caucasian peoples.
For us personally, it was the strangest architectural object - both in form and in content. Perhaps because we have never seen with our own eyes the Caucasian temples in their original form, but only stylization.
There is a military tower on the right side of the building. Through its upper windows, a view of the dome of the Caucasian Orthodox chapel, located in the other wing of the same building, opens.
In the central part of the building there is an exposition representing various objects and works of art related to the history of the Caucasus and reflecting the culture of the peoples of the Caucasus. What is there not here! Weapons, clothing, household items, archaeological and paleontological finds, minerals, gems, paintings, dishes, ancient women's jewelry, sculptural miniatures. There are so many objects that my eyes run up. Their placement in one, albeit a large room, creates the effect of disorder, eclecticism, and congestion. The museum obviously does not contain all the exhibits - either a new room is required, or it is necessary to decide on the theme of the changing exhibitions. In addition, as we found out, employees “stew in their own juice” without leaving the museum and not sharing experience with other museums. The scientific department has not published a single catalog, and there is also no periodic newsletter informing fans of the history of the Caucasus with new acquisitions.
Museum work is very painstaking, often ungrateful and invisible to prying eyes. But it is she who makes the museum a museum, and not a warehouse of antiquities.
Between the Orthodox chapel and the House of the Caucasus, there is an interesting exhibit - the Stone of Eternity or the Stone of Oaths.
According to the legend of the mountaineers, the most powerful oath is the oath on the stone, it is inviolable. If you want to confirm the strength of your word, put your hand on a stone and mentally or aloud say your promise. For many peoples of the world, the stone is a symbol of constancy and firmness of spirit, therefore, the most serious vows of love, fidelity, blood feud are pronounced at this Stone. The oath stone is located on a pedestal, a through hole has been made in the stone itself, and palm prints to the right and left of it. The inscription on the stone reads: "The stone of eternity hears you and keeps what was said."
Shinto - traditional religion Japan, is based on the deification of natural forces and phenomena and their worship. It is believed that everything on earth is animated to one degree or another. Each thing has its own spirit, deity - kami. Most of the sanctuaries are dedicated certain kami and are located in scenic spots... The chapel in the park is dedicated to one of the "seven gods of happiness" - Ebisu .. Inside the chapel is kept the "shintai" body of the kami - an object that is believed to be infused with the spirit of the kami. It is always hidden and not displayed.
Ebisu is the god of happiness, hard work, trade and crafts, the protector of the hearth and small children. He is the only one of the seven to be of Japanese origin. By ancient legend he was the patron saint of fishermen, guiding fish into their nets. In his hands is the fish Tai. Over time, Ebisu became the patron saint of all trade. It brings good luck to those who are honest in trade, and the fish Tai is a symbol of the reward for inner purity and skill. Ebisu helps to find a gold mine in business and bestows business flair. The firstborn of the main gods Izanagi and Izanami was born without bones. Before his third birthday, he was carried out to sea on a reed boat, which after long wanderings was thrown onto the coast of Hokkaido. There he was picked up by a fisherman. Overcoming many difficulties, he grew his arms and legs. At the age of three, he turned into the god Ebisu. Due to the fact that all healings happened to him at a young age, one of his hypostases is the patron saint of children. All marine life has made Ebisu the god of fishing and hard work. He helps only those who are trying to achieve everything with their work. Ebisu is considered semi-deaf from birth, so he always smiles. V flora The symbol of Ebisu is bamboo. You can turn to Ebisu with the help of the Ema tablet or orally, by stroking him on the head and drinking the pure spring water that flows from the mouth of the Tai fish.
To the left of Ebisu is the "Black Samurai" - a stone found in the Caucasus Mountains. After rain, it really turns black. A whole expedition was carried out to find him, as a result of which the "Black Samurai" took his place of honor. According to the Japanese, stone and water create harmony, and specially selected plants add coziness and a mood of worldview to the image.
"Black Samurai"
The main principle of Shinto is life in harmony with nature and people. The deification of nature lies at the heart of the centuries-old passion of the Japanese for stones, special reverence for mountains, rocks, and bizarre debris. There is a legend about famous artist, who refused to bow to officials, but weighed deep bows to handsome stones. Yes, and today's masters speak of a stone as a living person. The famous stones have their own biography, they believe that they are charged with a special vital energy. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the central place in the Japanese corner is occupied by the huge Black Samurai stone.
The Alley of Civilizations continues with an Indian architectural ensemble. The main building is the "House of the East". Outwardly, it vaguely resembles the Taj Mahal.
"House of the East" is a synthesis of Islamic and Oriental diversity. The facade marks the majesty of the palace, the minarets symbolize the Islamic mosque, the golden dome bears the character of Persian and Indian tombs - mausoleums. Inside, the "House of the East" is no less beautiful than the outside: fine carvings, openwork vaults, in the center of the hall there is a bowl with a spring. Today, the interior space is filled with items of Eastern antiquity and is gradually turning into a museum, like the House of the Caucasus.
The ensemble is complemented by the Indian Ratha, which is traditionally dedicated to the deities and heroes of Indian legends. This building serves the technical needs of the park. Inside is the extraction and purification of water required for the needs of the park.
Indian Radha
Finally, another element of the eastern ensemble is the Indian fountain. Four elephants with their trunks raised high look to the four cardinal directions and hold a bowl with flowing water and a traditional Indian turret.
There is an aqueduct in the far part of the park. It is an architectural structure in the form of arches and serves central part the entire water system of the park, since it contains a supply of water for the needs of the park, as well as for creating moisture in the lower part of the park, so that tropical plants feel great. In the center you can see a small and beautiful waterfall... And in the evenings, the backlight turns on, which creates the illusion of an underwater kingdom.
In summer, the aqueduct looks like this:
Undoubtedly, without the vegetation content, the "Old Park" would not have the charm, thanks to which up to 3 thousand tourists come here every day. Of the arboreal trees, we noticed here gingko, sakura, magnolia, albicia, camellia, trachycarpus, hamerops. It is clear that there are many conifers, and there is even a birch of deciduous trees. Ornamental shrubs are represented by Syrian hibiscus, rhododendrons, oleanders. But roses are not held in high esteem here. And in vain. The scent of blooming roses in the kingdom of architecture would not be superfluous.
We haven’t talked about many things yet - about dolmens, stones, compositions, the “museum of the USSR”, an art gallery, an architect’s house, and floristry.
In fact, the park is developing, a new exposition is being built. The ancient theater promises to be especially interesting, where, according to the Master's plan, concerts of classical music will be held. The acoustics of the theater, according to experts, are ideal for such performers. We also learned that a greenhouse is under construction. Here is what A.I. Alekseev himself says in an interview:
“The park is not finished, only the capital construction of the first stage has been completed. Our guides are trained to talk about the culture of certain eras, peoples, in order to talk with visitors. And this conversation is very important. In dictionaries, encyclopedias there are definitions of culture - these are huge articles, I have condensed them to one phrase: "culture is knowledge and reverence." Here in the park there are a few more phrases carved in stone that remain from my writing. They carry deep meaning and make you think. "
“Our cultural center, which is the“ Old Park ”, contains several objects, which by themselves, individually, are not profitable. But, being in the cultural center, these all non-profitable objects suddenly become profitable. And they allow you to develop further, to help the same artists, even the artist's widow to calculate her pension. This is what we have been proving for the past ten years. And now we want to spread our experience in the construction, maintenance, and development of such cultural centers to other territories. They are needed there like air. There should be a cultural center not only in every city, but in every village. Everywhere there are squares, parks that are practically abandoned, or there is no funding, or it is not profitable to deal with them. But there are people around who do not know where to gather. At best, mummies with strollers walk there. And there are people who know the history of their small homeland, want to tell about it, but they have nowhere to do it. In this regard, it is not difficult for me to assemble a team that would work in this cultural center, you just need to arrange all this. And, of course, the support of the administration, its understanding plays a big role in this matter.
I will say more, now this is the industrial development of mankind, its information content, the power and speed of technology development, and against this background, a deep lag in culture leads to a serious crisis. We pay less and less attention to culture. And this can lead to a redistribution, to war as a result. Necessarily, with a low cultural level, everything will end in a big fight. And studying history now, I am more and more convinced of this. When it all just started in Ukraine a year ago, I turned off the TV and stopped being interested in what was happening in the world. I suddenly realized that the TV just takes a part of my life. I was worried when I looked at something that I cannot influence in any way. And if I spend energy, time on something that I am not able to change, then this is a waste of myself.
It is important to understand that everything has a deep, universal meaning, which is addressed to each person individually, to his specific problem, and the problem is in himself: "Everything flows out of you." Only a cultured person can understand this. A person of low culture will always demand. For some reason, we believe that the state is obliged to us, that the head of the city owes us something, sprinkle the path with sand, mow the grass near the house, fix the roof, paint the fence. I come across this every day, and therefore I show by my example that your territory, enclosed by a fence, does not end with this fence. It goes out into the street, continues down the street, goes further into the village, into the city. And this is all your territory, you are responsible for it. For example, I equally spend money on landscaping the park inside and outside. We put paving slabs there, put up lampposts, keep it in working order, clean, so that a person approaching the “Old Park” from afar can see how the atmosphere is changing, and under the influence of what he sees, something changes in him, he opens up, and then he is already ready to get in touch with art. "
Fragment of the frieze of the theater under construction
This lengthy quote from Alekseev's interview could have ended the story, but we also want to draw some conclusions.
What this person does is worthy of the widest publicity and dissemination. Alas, we think that all Alekseev's calls to enthusiasts will remain a voice crying in the wilderness, since, as practice shows, any good deed rests on the personality of the author of this case. With the departure of a person, the matter goes away. Perhaps not immediately, over time. A great deed is held by the fire of the Master's soul. God grant that we are wrong, and the park outlived our great-grandchildren.
The arrangement of the Summer Garden in St. Petersburg by Peter the Great comes to mind, who set the enlightenment of society as the primary goal. This is especially clearly seen now, when the Summer Garden was reconstructed and the garden acquired its original appearance, as it was during the time of Peter I. Alekseev is engaged in the same educational activity through architecture. He tries to reach our hearts, reminding us that man does not live by bread alone.
Of course, we try on the Master's deeds on ourselves, on our life experience: what can we do? While at Staryi Park, we met with the park administrator, trying to explain that our approaches are in many ways similar. Our plans to build the Imperial Rosary, that is, to create a rose garden as a picture of the unity of the world, carried exactly the same message - to familiarize the population with the culture of civilizations. We have written about this more than once in our books and articles. But we were not so lucky with the leadership of Yalta as Alekseev was with the administration of Kabardinka. It is a rare success when the mayor's office supports enthusiasts who want prosperity for their small homeland. Perhaps we can still work together. Why don't our ideas be embodied in the "Old Park"?
There is one of the most interesting sights of the region, which is definitely worth a visit - "Old Park". Architect Alexander Alekseev, created on a small plot of land theme park, which amazes with its beauty and fabulousness. Every piece of land here has turned into a real work of art. Without exaggeration, the founder of the park and his assistants have worked and continue to work on every centimeter of the land. 
The village of Kabardinka is located 11 kilometers from the city of Gelendzhik. Less than 10 thousand people live here, and in the summer season the population increases several times thanks to tourists. Kabardinka, like Novorossiysk, is located on the shore of the Tsemesskaya Bay in picturesque valley... From winds and storms from the south-west, the village is protected by Cape Doob with a low Tuapkhat ridge, and from the north-east - by the spurs of the Markotkh ridge. 
How to get to Kabardinka
Kabardinka is located on the M4 Don highway between Gelendzhik and Novorossiysk. You can get to the village by taxi or by public transport:
- taxi from 500 rubles from Gelendzhik and from 600 rubles from Novorossiysk,
- bus number 103 from 25 rubles from Gelendzhik,
- intercity bus from Novorossiysk from 50 rubles,
- excursion from Gelendzhik or Novorossiysk from 500 rubles.
Address, ticket price and opening hours of the "Old Park"
- "Old Park" is located on Chernomorskaya street, 55.
- Work schedule - daily,
- in the summer season June / September from 8-00 to 22-00,
- in the winter season October / May from 9-00 to 18-00.
- The entrance to the "Old Park" is paid:
- adult - 500 rubles,
- children - 200 rubles (children under 6 have free rest).
What's interesting in the "Old Park"
Crossing the threshold of the "Old Park" you find yourself in another reality. The "Old Park" is divided into thematic zones that every visitor to the park can easily guess. And from the doorway we find ourselves in the zone of "Antiquity", where Zeus meets us in the temple on the throne. To the left of the temple, located egyptian pyramid, there is also a rotunda and a beautiful fountain. 
Behind the fountain there is a small corner of the Soviet era, from which every adult visitor will have their own memories.
Infinite attention has been paid to the detailing of the park, and besides the exotic plants that grow on its territory, there are also funny little figurines, forged creatures and stone sculptures under a bush and on a branch. 
There is also a thematic zone "Middle Ages" in the park, where the visitor will find a real Gothic castle with a tower and a moat, though without crocodiles, but with turtles. A spiral staircase leads to the top of the tower, from where a view of the surroundings of the park opens. Separately, we can note the work of a blacksmith, without whose forged sculptures the castle would not have looked so medieval. 
There is also an Orthodox chapel in the Old Park in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. 
There is also the "House of the East", similar to the Indian Taj Mahal. In the "House of the East" there is a permanent exhibition of valuable things that were provided to the museum by private collectors. Its pearl is a beautiful carpet woven of gold, which, thanks to the light pouring through the hole in the ceiling, shimmers in the sun with all colors. 
To the right of the "House of the East" on the central alley of the park is installed big fountain with elephants, holding a bowl on their mighty backs. 
The "House of the Caucasus" also fits in the park. There is an exposition inside, for which you will have to pay extra: an adult ticket - 50 rubles, a child ticket - 30 rubles. Here are collected household items and weapons, jewelry and works of painters. 
At the end of the central alley of the park there is a beautiful aqueduct, in the architecture of which Celtic, Slavic, Germanic and other motives of the peoples who worshiped the God of Light are mixed. The aqueduct is equipped with a spectacular waterfall and beautiful underwater lighting. 
"Old Park" in Kabardinka is a very popular place among tourists on vacation in Gelendzhik. If you get tired of a beach holiday and want new experiences, and climb the hills in search of nice looking or the waterfall is hard, then you can go to the "Old Park". Located 11 kilometers from Gelendzhik, the theme park together with the Kabardinka embankment will make an enviable duet for a must visit.
Video: Old park in Kabardinka
Video from a visit to a small private park called the Old Park, it is located in Kabardinka, not far from Gelendzhik.
Old Park is a unique theme park on the Black Sea. Having visited Kabardinka, one cannot but visit the "Old Park". The half-hectare park, representing one large green space, includes objects from different eras: Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt, the era of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The cultures of the peoples of the Caucasus, Orthodox and Eastern cultures are also embodied here. A kind of gallery of civilizations contains the concept of placing what has always contradicted each other in history: east and west, Ancient Egypt and Classical Antiquity.
The inscription on the stone:
If every person
on your piece of land
did everything he could,
how beautiful
was our land ...
A. Chekhov 
The central entrance is in Egyptian style. Ancient Egypt in the Old Park is also personified by a small copy of the Pyramid of Cheops and two Sphinxes. The stylized temple of Zeus, the sculpture of Aphrodite and Galatea, relief panels with an illustration of Homeric's "Iliad" transfer to the world of antiquity and the flourishing of Greek civilization.
A pond decorated with a wild stone with a bridge and a picturesque lookout tower in a wooded part of the park personifies medieval civilization. The path around this pond, which is 70 meters around the perimeter, is half juniper and cypress. This alley is a luxurious attribute of the green part of the park. In the style of the Middle Ages, the Palace Gazebo was also made, in which there are sculptures of deadly sins, which were so much talked about during the dark Middle Ages.
In the Old Park there is also an art gallery of modern painting, built in the classical Art Nouveau style of the late 19th - early 20th century. Here you can enjoy viewing paintings by contemporary Russian artists of different directions. The Gothic style of the 12th century also took its place in this park. An eye-catching fountain in this style has found its place in front of the main entrance. Here is a whole sculptural group of images of St. Paul, St. George, St. Peter and Mephistopheles.
Of particular interest is the House of the Architect, which is made in various styles: classicism, modern, and there are also elements of gothic. In the lower park you can get into the atmosphere of various civilizations, such as Asia, Europe, India and Japan. The Japanese Corner has a Shinto chapel and a sculpture of the god Ebisu. A spring flows from the fish Tai held by Ebis pure water... The fountain with four elephants represents Indian civilization.
A special place in the Old Park is occupied by the House of the Caucasus, which combines spiritual, civil and military architecture. There are two millstones on the way to the building. In the millstones of the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Persian, British and Russian history the character of the Caucasian peoples was forged. Therefore, a fragment of a millstone is imprinted as a symbol on the pediment of the House of the Caucasus.
Here the poetic lines of Valery Bryusov are appropriate: "Centuries have passed. And as from an avid mouth we pulled the past out of the earth." They characterize as well as possible
the asceticism of the rare enthusiast Alexander Alekseev, who spares no effort to create a man-made miracle that captures human history.
The author of the project is the architect Alexandra Alekseev, a resident of the village of Kabardinka.
