Vysotsky Glade (Sochi)

Vysotsky Glade is a small memorial site in Sochi, in the Agura Gorge of the Khostinsky District. The glade sits at the very start of the trail to the Agura Waterfalls, on the edge of a cliff above the Agura River, and is named after Vladimir Vysotsky, who spent time here with Marina Vlady.

History

Vladimir Vysotsky came to Sochi many times. His first visit was in 1957, with his student friend Igor Kokhanovsky. He grew fond of the city and kept coming back: on his own, with fellow actors from the Taganka Theatre, with friends and with his wife Marina Vlady.

In the 1970s Vysotsky and Marina Vlady travelled on a cruise liner on the Odessa to Batumi route, and stopped in Sochi on the way. They spent several hours on this glade with a few close friends, and in memory of that day the place became known as Vysotsky Glade.

In 2003 a memorial complex dedicated to the poet was opened here. Bard song festivals and evenings of Vysotsky's songs are held on the glade.

What to see

The centrepiece is the monument to Vysotsky, a copy of the bronze statue in Sochi's Primorsky Park near the Festivalny Concert Hall. The glade itself is a quiet spot on the edge of a cliff above the Agura. Most visitors stop here on the way to the Agura Waterfalls: the main trail to the cascade starts from the glade, so the two are easy to combine in one walk.

Legends and accounts

The story goes that on that visit Vysotsky sang for his friends right on the glade, impromptu, with no stage and no preparation. It is this story that gave the place its name and made it a destination for the poet's admirers.

Getting there

No public transport goes all the way to the glade. The nearest stop is Sputnik Health Complex (Ozdorovitelny Kompleks Sputnik), served by buses 2 and 48. From there, walk about a kilometre to Agurskoye Ushchelye Street and follow it up the gorge.

By car, set Agurskoye Ushchelye Street 1 (the Kavkazsky Aul restaurant) in your navigator. About 300 metres before the restaurant, a wooden sign reading Vysotsky Glade stands on the right.

Good to know

The glade itself is open to all, but a small fee may be charged for the trail to the Agura Waterfalls, which runs through Sochi National Park, so carry some cash. The glade is next to a cliff, so keep an eye on children.