"Old Park" in Kabardinka. Old park in Kabardinka - photos and how to get there Kabardinka museum old park

In the resort city 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 cultures new eras.

Author

The creator of the Old Park is Alexander Alekseev. Initially, engaged only in journalistic and literary activities, he dramatically changed his life, starting to engage in architecture and sculpture. Initially, he created a simple bust of Walter, then Homer and Dante, then he came up with the brilliant idea of creating a gallery that included the architecture of various civilizations and times. The essence of his concept is simple - to recreate in a relatively small area something that would contradict the historical and culturally. 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 a philosophical thought that can be combined with a sculpture or building. This symbiosis of thought and creation has created a unique park, which can safely be called one of 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, depending on the type and theme.

Classicism - on the very first site, the place was given to an ancient temple. This area boasts a feeling of calm and harmony. There is also a rotunda gazebo, which serves as a symbol and a key figure in many public areas.
Gothic is a zone of complex structures, pointed arches, rib vaults, and buttresses protruding outward. You can feel mysticism in all its manifestations, which is covered in mystery and darkness. There is a Gothic park here, as well as sculptural group, consisting of images of saints: Paul, George, Peter and Mephistopheles.
Egypt - part given Egyptian theme. Small copies of sphinxes, the pyramids of Cheops, as well as various symbols of ancient Egypt. The central entrance to the park is also made of massive columns and pylon arches of the Egyptian style.
An aqueduct is an arched structure that was used by the Romans as a drainage channel.
Gallery of contemporary art - made in the Art Nouveau 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 - here is an ancient pavilion that was built by the Greek civilization for its gods. It contains Greek portraits on stone, statues of gods, and a bust of Homer.
Japan - This Japanese corner is home to a lily pond, a Shinto chapel and a sculpture of the god Ebisa.
Architect's house - tall buildings with two open areas, in which the currents of classicism, modernism and Gothic elements can be traced.
The House of the East is a classic mosque with white stone minarets. Similar architecture is common in Islamic countries.
The Orthodox Chapel is a Russian Orthodox chapel demonstrating Byzantine techniques of execution and construction of structures.

Prices for tickets to the Old Park of Kabardinka 2020

Entrance fees:

Adults - 500 rubles,
Children from 6 to 13 years old - 200 rubles,
Children under 6 years old are free.

Excursions are free of charge.

Picture gallery: for adults - 50 rubles, for children - 30 rubles.

House of the Caucasus: for adults - 50 rubles, for children - 30 rubles.

Free entry for VO participants.

Opening hours of the Old Park in Kabardinka

Cultural Center " old park» is open to visitors every day, opening hours are seasonal.

From June to September the park is open for tours from 8:00 to 22:00.

Opening hours during 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. The trip by car will take approximately 25-30 minutes, you can drive along Lunacharsky Street, then along M4-Don. Old Park address: st. Chernomorskaya, 55 (area of the Olimp stadium in Kabardinka).

Trip to public transport is also possible: buses No. 32, 103, 199 run from the bus station on Lenin to Kabardinka and back, minibus No. 31. Taking into account all the stops, the journey will take approximately 50 minutes. From the Kabardinka bus station, walk to the Old Park - about 1 km: along Mira Street, after the Olimp stadium, turn onto Apricotovaya, then along Chernomorskaya straight to the park.

Taxi - YandexTaxi, Uber, Gett.

Entrance to the Old Park in Kabardinka - Google panorama Maps

Virtual walk through the Old Park of Kabardinka

Video, overview of the park area

One of the most interesting attractions of the region is located, which is definitely worth a visit - “Old Park”. Architect Alexander Alekseev, on a small plot of land created 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 worked and continue to work on every centimeter of 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 Tsemes Bay in a picturesque valley. The village is protected from winds and storms from the southwest by Cape Doob with the low Tuaphat ridge, and from the northeast 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 public transport:

taxi from 500 rubles from Gelendzhik and from 600 rubles from Novorossiysk,
bus No. 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,
during the summer season June/September from 8-00 to 22-00,
during the winter season October/May from 9-00 to 18-00.
Entrance to the “Old Park” is paid:
adult - 500 rubles,
for children - 200 rubles (children under 6 years old stay free).

What's interesting in the "Old Park"

Crossing the threshold of the “Old Park” you find yourself in a different reality. The “Old Park” is divided into thematic zones, which every park visitor can easily guess. And from the threshold we find ourselves in the “Antiquity” zone, where Zeus meets us on the throne in the temple. To the left of the temple, there is an 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.
Boundless attention was paid to the detailing of the park, and in addition to the exotic plants that grow on its territory, there are funny little figurines, forged creatures and stone sculptures both under a bush and on a branch.

There is also a thematic zone “Middle Ages” in the park, where a real gothic castle with a tower and a moat, although without crocodiles, but with turtles. A spiral staircase leads to the top of the tower, offering views of the surrounding park. Separately, we can note the work of the 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 a “House of the East”, similar to the Indian Taj Mahal. The House of the East houses a permanent exhibition of valuable items donated to the museum by private collectors. Its pearl is a beautiful carpet woven from gold, which, thanks to the light pouring through the hole in the ceiling, shimmers in the sun with all its colors.

To the right of the “House of the East” on the central alley of the park there is big fountain with elephants holding a bowl on their mighty backs.

The “House of the Caucasus” also fits into the park. There is an exhibition inside, for which you will have to pay extra: an adult ticket - 50 rubles, a child ticket - 30 rubles. Household items and weapons, jewelry and works of painters are collected here.

At the end of the central alley of the park there is a beautiful aqueduct, the architecture of which mixed Celtic, Slavic, Germanic and other motifs of the peoples who worshiped the God of Light. The aqueduct is equipped with a spectacular waterfall and beautiful underwater lighting.

"Old Park" in Kabardinka is very popular place among vacationing tourists in Gelendzhik. If you feel tired from beach holiday and wanted new impressions, and climb the hills in search of beautiful view 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 duo for a must visit.

Video: Old park in Kabardinka

Video from a visit to a small private park called Old Park, located in Kabardinka, not far from Gelendzhik.

"Old Park" in Kabardinka

Utah Arbatskaya, Konstantin Vikhlyaev

Every true 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 artistic forms available to him. Sometimes this works out, and then we, descendants, admire the true masterpieces of human creativity. Sometimes it doesn’t work out, but this in no way detracts from 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 improvement. Figuratively speaking, the brighter the light of the soul of a creative person, the further into the Universe her gaze penetrates. The uniqueness of each creator, his individuality is realized through a sensual 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 unity is embodied historical cultures. 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 the natural and artificial in the context of development human civilization. And what's most amazing is that this is the only one on Black Sea coast PRIVATE park, 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 world unity through gardening art is not new. From the time of Ancient Rome And Ancient China the organizers of their own gardens and parks tried to allegorically project the image of the universe on earth using a special selection and grouping of trees and plants, the arrangement of water compositions, the 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 visited many similar parks in different countries world, and even wrote detailed articles about some of them. These include landscape Cote d'Azur in France, in Paris, on Jeju Island in South Korea, Chinese in Hong Kong and others. There are two such parks in Crimea: the ancient and modern Paradise Park in Aivazovsky. The latter was created through the efforts of landscape architect Anatoly Annenkov, where he united in a single space, with the help of compositional gardens, the cultures of different peoples who left their mark on the history of Crimea (Greeks, Turks, Armenians, Huns, Slavs, etc.).

We ourselves have tried many times to realize 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 amazes the imagination.

It makes no sense to describe the park in detail - anyone can visit it in person, or, as a last resort, get acquainted with its structure on the Internet. The park administration is actively promoting this tourist site in the open spaces social networks, and caring bloggers draw in detail the landscape paintings and architectural objects that amazed them. Therefore, we will focus on only some fragments.

First, about the history of the park. We were so fascinated by what we saw that naturally questions arose: who is Alekseev, what is his inner world like, who helps him, where does he get the money for all this? We were not able to personally meet Alexander Ivanovich, so we use information from the Internet, citing some quotes from his interviews with correspondents of various newspapers.

Since childhood, Alexander saw himself as a writer; he wrote from the age of 10. I read a lot, mostly adventure literature. He graduated from a vocational school with a degree in universal turner and worked as a driver. A craving for painting, and especially for sculpture, manifested itself in the army: “When this everyday life began to choke, I pestered the political officer so that he would get me a piece of granite, and I would carve out of it some figure of a soldier-defender.”

Having been demobilized, Alekseev looked 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 my studies, I became interested in scientific and philosophical literature, but most of all, foreign classical literature - from antiquity and the Middle Ages to modern times - gave me the most to form my worldview. Even then he realized that history can and should be studied not from scientific treatises, but from the classics of foreign prose, such as Balzac, Dickens, Maupassant, Zola. From their individual novels, like bricks, a vision of the whole was formed.

Having graduated from the university with a diploma in journalism, 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 romantic to him; it was respected, and there was no yellow press at that time. But one day, having received an assignment from a Donbass newspaper to go to a factory and write a report about the primary party cells (which, in principle, were not there, they existed only in reports on paper) and about their influence on labor productivity, he realized that he could not lie soul.

Then there was a period of various affairs in Donetsk, work in various newspapers. He made country fireplaces, built houses, and re-roofed them. At the same time, I read a lot of literature on history and philosophy. He never gave up writing - he wrote novels and short stories. Then, when I realized that people no longer read books, and literature 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 a type of art that has always influenced people. Architecture creates the environment in which a person grows up. And the environment shapes consciousness. And architecture will shape consciousness when it is high and when it carries a certain content. This idea of creating a kind of architectural world, merging it with living nature and filling architectural structures with some kind of content, was born somewhere in the year 2000.”

But first there was perestroika and general devastation. In the village of Kabardinka, Alexander Ivanovich had parents who found themselves in a difficult economic situation, and Alekseev, like his older brother, was forced to move in with them. The family began farming. The farm had fifty dairy cows and many other livestock for which the brothers mowed mountain slopes from Gelendzhik to Novorossiysk. Alexander Ivanovich, together with other family members, carried out the entire production cycle - from preparing feed to manufacturing dairy products. This helped not only to survive, but also instilled in him, as he himself said, “the habit of constantly working.”

Gradually, Alekseev became more and more inclined to the idea of creating a series of architectural structures on the territory of the family farmstead, but first there was 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 on a smaller copy of the Cheops pyramid.

“I initially 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 with Ancient Egypt- the most ancient culture. In those years I had to immerse myself thoroughly in the study of Egyptology. This was not an easy question. At the beginning of the 2000s, quite a lot of literature on Egypt began to appear, but mostly it was superficial literature, illustrative, or generally mystifying, and it was necessary to filter, select what was necessary, what was really valuable. I had to really immerse myself in the study of Egyptology.”

Gradually, the “Museum of the Caucasus”, “House of the East”, the Orthodox Church, “Temple of Zeus” appeared, medieval castle, Japanese Shinto temple, Roman aqueduct. Alexander started with three enthusiasts. Now fifty people are working for the 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. His wife Tatyana is engaged in planting the park. The park's territory is expanding through the purchase of neighboring plots. At the Old Park there is an architectural and floristic workshop, and there is a souvenir and book store. Guides are happy to give tours of the park, as well as museums. The official opening of the park took place 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 like a chameleon and can replace natural travertine, marble and sandstone. Walking around Kabardinka, we noticed that Alekseev’s sculptures and architectural structures can be seen at every step - on the embankment, in sanatoriums and boarding houses, on the streets and squares. Recently opened in Novorossiysk after a long reconstruction " East Park", in the design of which A.I. Alekseev also actively took part. In the photo he stands with a letter of gratitude from the founders.

A.I. Alekseev at the opening of the park in Novorossiysk

Thus, the “Old Park” from the original series of busts turned into a real cultural center not only of Kabardinka, but also of Gelendzhik. The artist comments on his plan as follows: “The idea of showing the culture of the whole world is not new. And universal. Because there is no one isolated culture. When you start studying the culture of different peoples, you realize that we all came from the same cradle. And to talk about one culture, purely Russian, Slavic, Armenian or Greek, means to emasculate this national culture itself. Because over these millennia we have become intertwined and culturally assimilated to such an extent that we cannot separate one from the other, it is a whole.”

Now, having examined the sources and motivation of the author of “Old Park,” let’s proceed to brief retelling about the contents of this amazing place. The whole space is replete with symbols.

Park guards were stationed at the entrance. The very first guard sits on a stone - it is an owl, a symbol of wisdom. Only the wise reveal the hidden secrets of places and symbols. On the back of the stone is a quote from A.P. Chekhov: “If every person on his own piece of land did everything he could, then how beautiful our land would be.” We considered it deeply symbolic that the residents of Yalta - final resting place great writer - they begin their exploration of the park with Chekhov.

The central entrance is guarded by two more wise guards - ancient Egyptian sphinxes. Among the Egyptians, sphinxes, lords of secrets, stood at the entrance to sanctuaries, guarding their secrets and warning those entering that they should not reveal higher knowledge to the uninitiated. They symbolized rulers and rulers who, like the gods, were hidden from the eyes of the people. The sides of the bull signify corporeal matter, the wings of the eagle signify the vital force, the head of a man signify the immaterial spirit, the paws and limbs of the lion signify consuming fire, active force and unifying energy. Ancient wisdom borrowed from the Sphinx four basic rules of human behavior: to know - thanks to reason; to wish - with the strength of a lion; to dare - that is, to soar bravely on powerful eagle wings; to remain 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 a corresponding epithet: the Pacifying (St. Paul), the Slaying (St. George), the Preserving (St. Peter) and the Omnipresent (Mephistopheles).

Bottom of a 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 righteous man’s ascension to heaven was seen in the form of a hill, at the foot of which flowed the so-called Source of Life. The 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 of the “Old Park” to some extent echoes this particular picture.

Dirk Bouts. Paradise. Ascension of the Chosen. 1470 Fragment

At the entrance to the park we were greeted by a small copy of the Cheops pyramid with a sphinx. Inside the pyramid, which can be reached through a specially made entrance, the frescoes depict the areas of activity of the Egyptians. In the center there are scales on which, after death, the gods weigh a person’s soul: 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 during the era of the European Enlightenment. Together with him, the first European parks took shape, gaining 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 lawns and the geometry of shrubs, pruning of trees and flower beds - everything took on aesthetic forms.

The classicism of the Enlightenment is most clearly expressed by such an element as the colonnade, built here for the sake of two philosophical phrases:
“The moment the word was carved on the stone, History began” - this saying can be considered a prologue to the beginning of the alley of civilizations.
The second inscription consists of two independent catchphrases:
“Even the gods cannot change the past” and “History repeats itself.”

A little further away there are two rotundas.

The Middle Ages is represented by a majestic composition, the center of which is the lookout stone tower with a stone bridge. You can climb the watchtower via a stone spiral staircase.

The tower is surrounded by a pond, which is meant to resemble a moat around a medieval castle.

The fencing of the pond in the corner of the Middle Ages is a real work of blacksmith art with its own design and the author’s embodiment of the theme of the Last Judgment by the master of artistic forging Igor Klyuchnikov.

Just behind the medieval gazebo is the "House for Two" - a medieval town house that references the legend of Abelard and Heloise. The city teacher, who fell in love with his student, the daughter of a respectable burgher, at the age of 35 at that time was probably already an old man. Otherwise, their wedding and love would not have become a secret that outraged Eloise’s relatives. Neither the marriage itself nor the child born kept them from revenge. Abelard was severely beaten, but miraculously survived and, settling in the abbey, maintained contact with his beloved through letters. Eloise herself also went to a monastery and answered all her beloved’s letters until the end of her life.

Pierre Abelard lived 63 years and left a great legacy in the history of philosophy. He was one of the first to speak about human problems in theological debates. And in his letters to Eloise, one can trace the fact 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 temple of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. Consecrated on February 20, 2011 by Metropolitan Isidor of Kuban and Ekaterinodar.

Opposite the chapel is the “House of the Caucasus”. Three types of architecture are represented in one building - a spiritual Caucasian Orthodox chapel, a military tower and a civilian house, which houses a small museum of the history of the Caucasian peoples.

For us personally, it was the strangest architectural object - both in form and content. Perhaps because we have never seen with our own eyes the Caucasian temples in their original form, but only a stylization.

On the right side of the building is a military tower. Through its upper windows there is a view of the dome of the Caucasian Orthodox chapel, located in another wing of the same building.

In the central part of the building there is an exhibition presenting various objects and works of art related to the history of the Caucasus and reflecting the culture of the peoples of the Caucasus. What's missing here! And weapons, and clothing, and household items, archaeological and paleontological finds, minerals, gems, paintings, dishes, ancient women's jewelry, sculptural miniatures. There are so many objects that your eyes run wild. Placing them in one, albeit large, room creates the effect of disorder, eclecticism, and overload. The museum clearly does not accommodate all the exhibits - either a new room is required, or it is necessary to decide on the themes of the rotating exhibitions. In addition, as we found out, employees “stew in their own juice” without traveling outside the museum and without exchanging experience with other museums. The scientific department has not published a single catalogue, nor is there a periodic newsletter informing lovers of the history of the Caucasus with new acquisitions.

Museum work is very painstaking, often thankless and invisible to prying eyes. But it is precisely this that makes a 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 legends of the mountaineers, the strongest oath is the oath on a stone; it is unbreakable. If you want to confirm the strength of your word, place your hand on the stone and mentally or out loud say your promise. For many peoples of the world, the stone is a symbol of constancy and fortitude, therefore the most serious oaths of love, fidelity, and blood feud are pronounced at this Stone. The oath stone is located on a pedestal; a through hole is made in the stone itself and there are handprints to the right and left of it. The inscription on the stone reads: “The Stone of Eternity hears you and keeps what is said.”

Shintoism is the traditional religion of Japan, based on the deification and worship of natural forces and phenomena. It is believed that everything on earth is animate to one degree or another. Each thing has its own spirit, a deity - kami. Most shrines are dedicated certain kami and are located in picturesque places. 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 inhabited by the spirit of the kami. It is always hidden and not shown.

Ebisu is the god of happiness, hard work, trade and crafts, protector of the hearth and small children. He is the only one of the seven of Japanese descent. By ancient legend he was the patron saint of fishermen, guiding the fish into their nets. He holds the Tai fish in his hands. Over time, Ebisu became the patron of all trade. It brings good luck to those who are honest in trading matters, and the Tai fish is a symbol of reward for inner purity and skill. Ebisu helps to find a gold mine in business and gives business sense. 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, washed up on the shores 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 the healings happened to him at a young age, one of his incarnations is the patron saint of children. All sea life made Ebisu the god of fishing and hard work. He helps only those who try to achieve everything through their work. Ebisu is considered half-deaf from birth, so he always smiles. IN flora Ebisu's symbol is bamboo. You can contact Ebisu using the Ema tablet or orally, stroking his head and drinking 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 actually turns black. An entire expedition was carried out to search for him, as a result of which the “Black Samurai” took its 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 to live in harmony with nature and people. The deification of nature underlies the centuries-old Japanese fascination with stones, a special reverence for mountains, rocks, and bizarre debris. There is a legend about a famous artist who refused to bow to officials, but instead made deep bows to handsome stones. And today's masters talk about stone as if it were a living person. Famous stones have their own biography; they are believed to be charged with special vital energy. Therefore it is no coincidence central place in the Japanese corner is occupied by a huge stone “Black Samurai”.

The Avenue of Civilizations continues with 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 Eastern diversity. The façade signifies the majesty of the palace, the minarets symbolize an Islamic mosque, and the golden dome bears the character of Persian and Indian tombs - mausoleums. The inside of the “House of the East” is no less beautiful than the outside: fine carvings, openwork vaults, and a bowl with a spring in the center of the hall. Today, the interior space is filled with objects of oriental antiquity and is gradually turning into a museum, just 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, water is extracted and purified for the needs of the park.

Indian Radha

Finally, another element of the oriental ensemble is the Indian fountain. Four elephants with their trunks raised high look at the four cardinal directions and hold a bowl with flowing water and a traditional Indian tower.

There is an aqueduct in the far part of the park. It is an architectural structure in the form of arches and serves as the central part of the entire water system of the park, since it contains a supply of water for the needs of the park, as well as to create humidity 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 lights turn on, which creates the illusion of an underwater kingdom.

In summer the aqueduct looks like this:

Undoubtedly, without the plant content, the “Old Park” would not have that charm, thanks to which up to 3 thousand tourists come here every day. Among the trees we noticed here were gingkos, sakura, magnolias, albizia, camellias, trachycarpus, and chamerops. It is clear that there are many coniferous trees, and even birch among deciduous trees. Ornamental shrubs are represented by Syrian hibiscus, rhododendrons, and oleanders. But roses are not held in high esteem here. But in vain. The aroma of blooming roses in the kingdom of architecture would not be out of place.

We haven’t talked about much yet - about dolmens, stones, compositions, the “museum of the USSR”, an art gallery, an architect’s house, floristry.

In fact, the park is developing, a new exhibition is being built. The antique theater promises to be especially interesting, where, according to the Master’s plan, concerts will be held classical music. The acoustics of the theater, according to experts, are ideal for such performers. We also learned that a greenhouse was being built. This 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 and peoples in order to talk with visitors. And this conversation is very important. In dictionaries and encyclopedias there are definitions of culture - these are huge articles, I compressed them into 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 career. They carry deep meaning and make you think.”

“Our cultural center, which is the “Old Park”, houses several objects that in themselves, individually, are not profitable. But, being in cultural center All these unprofitable objects suddenly become profitable. And they allow us to develop further, to help the same artists, even the artist’s widow, to pay a pension. This is exactly what we have been proving for the last 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. Not only every city, but every village should have its own cultural center. Everywhere there are squares and parks that are practically abandoned, either there is no funding or it is not profitable to deal with them. But there are people living around who don’t know where to gather. At best, mothers with strollers walk there. And there are people who know the history of their small homeland and 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, I just need to get it all organized. And of course, the support of the administration and its understanding plays a big role in this issue.
I will say more, now this industrial development of humanity, its information content, power and speed of technology development, and against this background, the deep lag of culture is leading to a serious crisis. We pay less and less attention to culture. And this could ultimately lead to redistribution, to war. Surely, 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 this 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 TV was simply taking away part of my life. I was worried when I looked at something that I had no control over. And if I spend energy and time on something that I cannot 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 with low culture will always demand. For some reason, we believe that the state owes us, that the head of the city owes us something, to sprinkle the path with sand, mow the grass near the house, fix the roof, paint the fence. I deal with 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 along the street, goes further into the village, into the city. And this is all your territory, you are responsible for it. For example, I spend the same money on improving the park inside and outside. We lay 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 something in him, under the influence of what he sees, changes, he opens up, and then he is already ready to come into contact with art.”

Fragment of the frieze of the theater under construction

This lengthy quote from Alekseev’s interview could end the story, but we also want to draw some conclusions.

What this man 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 deed. When a person leaves, so does the business. Perhaps not immediately, over time. A great cause is maintained by the fire of the Master’s soul. God grant that we are mistaken and the park survives our great-grandchildren.

The establishment of the Summer Garden in St. Petersburg by Peter the Great, who set the primary goal of educating society, comes to mind. This is especially clear now when Summer Garden reconstruction was carried out and the garden acquired its original appearance, as it was in the time of Peter I. Alekseev is also engaged in exactly the same educational activities 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 actions on ourselves, on our life experience: what can we do? While in the Old Park, we met with the park administrator, trying to explain that our approaches were largely similar. Our plans for building the Imperial Rose Garden, that is, creating a rose garden as a picture of the unity of the world, carried exactly the same message - introducing the population to the culture of civilizations. We have written about this more than once in our books and articles. But we were not as lucky with the leadership of Yalta as Alekseev was with the administration of Kabardinka. It’s a rare success when the mayor’s office supports enthusiasts who want prosperity small homeland. Perhaps we will be able to work together again. Why shouldn’t our ideas be embodied in the “Old Park”?

Cultural center "Old Park" is the first thematic architectural park on the Black Sea coast of Russia in Kabardinka, created local resident at your own expense. “Old Park” in Kabardinka is an open-air museum. “Old Park” is registered at the address: Kabardinka, Chernomorskaya street, 55. “Old Park” is stylized as images of different cultures of Civilization horizontal plane

half a hectare.

The cultural center “Old Park” was created with his own hands by the extraordinary architect and sculptor Alexander Ivanovich Alekseev, on a plot of land belonging to his family, according to his own design, more than 15 years ago. With his talent, Alexander Alekseev in Kabardinka abolished boundaries and time! Stone of Eternity, unhewn watchtowers of the Middle Ages, lacy web of Eastern palaces, grandeur Egyptian pyramids

, the rhythms of the Caucasus - everything coexists in one park area among the summer greenery. In the Orthodox churches of the “Old Park” you want to raise your thoughts to heaven, and the Caucasian Chapel provides a path to purification. In the “Old Park”, gray waterfalls flow onto the rocky wet bottom near the grottoes.

“Old Park” is not just an architectural copy; each of them carries the author’s thought. “Old Park” embodies two main ideas: educational and cultural. The central summer gate of the park forms a common ensemble with the administrative building and is impeccably made in the Art Nouveau style. The winter entrance is designed in Egyptian style with a pylon arch on majestic columns, near which stand two sphinxes - the watchful guardians of this. The central entrance of the “Old Park” in Kabardinka is decorated with the “Architect’s House” with elements of Art Nouveau and Gothic, but the main part of the facade is occupied by the classicism style with two open areas for viewing. A single composition with it is formed by a spectacular Gothic fountain, into the rectangular bowl of which water flows from the mouths of gargoyles. A Gothic fountain consists of soaring spiers, elegant sculptural compositions of Saints, pointed arches on protruding columns. The Gothic fountain represents the “Source of Life” in the park.

The territory of the “Old Park” is divided into several thematic zones. U Central entrance on the left is the Antiquity zone. In the “Temple of Zeus”, tourists are greeted by the Supreme God of ancient Greek mythology, Zeus, seated on a throne, as on the top of Mount Olympus.

To the left of the “Temple of Zeus” part of the “Old Park” of Kabardinka belongs to the civilization of Egypt with a copy of the Pyramid of Cheops, an Obelisk, a Sphinx, a Rotunda Gazebo, a Colonnade and a Classic Fountain.

House covered Picture Gallery stands apart and complements this part of the “Old Park”.

The middle part of the “Old Park” is images of the Old City of Medieval European architecture. A pond-ditch with a stone-paved bridge and a Watchtower to protect fortress-cities are the dominant features of this style. The middle of the pond is decorated with the Palace Gazebo of Deadly Sins. Tourists reach the top of the Watchtower via stonework spiral staircase and can view the entire panorama of the “Old Park” from its height.

From the Central Entrance to the right, the Alley of Civilizations leads tourists to the theme of the East. Here the idea of the “Old Park” somewhat intersects with the idea of the Temple of All Religions in Kazan. The lower part of the “Old Park” surprises with the Japanese Corner, the House of the East, the House of the Caucasus, the Orthodox Chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Indian fountain and the Aqueduct.

Let's take a look at the “House of the East” with its Arabic script, Moorish, Turkish, Indian, Islamic, Persian motifs and images. Let's admire its interior, ornaments and decorative items! The House of the East is the main building, which architecturally combines a Palace, a Mosque and a Mausoleum.

The facade of the building is designed in the form of a Palace with columns at the entrance, openwork elements of the front arches and rows of intertwined scallops along the perimeter of the roof. The skeleton of the House of the East is a stylization of tall towers minarets of an Islamic mosque. The tower with a golden central dome represents the architectural idea of a tomb - a mausoleum.

Chapel of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - the architecture of the cathedrals of the Russian Orthodox Church. Its five domes symbolize Jesus Christ and the 4 apostles-evangelists: Matthew, Luke, Mark, John.

The main fountain of the “Old Park” is a composition of elephants that hold the flat Earth on their mighty backs. Indian fountain in summer heat gives travelers moisture near the House of the East.

The House of the Caucasus is a museum that tells through exhibits about the history of the peoples of the Caucasus, life, weapons and Caucasian culture.

The aqueduct completes the Eastern theme of the Park with a spectacular waterfall, staircase and underwater lighting in the pool. “Old Park” is a Kabardian miracle. There is even a corner with exhibits from the USSR era, which makes the hearts of our contemporaries beat faster.

The writer and journalist Alekseev, with another talent as an architect, at the turn of the century created a unique landmark in Kabardinka - the “Old Park”. In the “Old Park” there are many philosophical sayings left on the stones. The most important inscription: “Love people!” The park is decorated with plants and information signs for them. The creator put work, ideas and boundless love for art into every centimeter of the park territory. Alekseev invented and patented a special brand of concrete mixture that is used in park architectural masterpieces. Today, a whole team of like-minded people works in his architectural studio. The thematic “Old Park” in Kabardinka develops the main philosophical idea: “Humanity has one nature, but culture appears in all its diversity as a single Human community.” “Old Park” in Kabardinka is a park, an exhibition of architectural objects and a good playground. Tourists make a comprehensive photo report about their “Round the World Trip”.

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