Cheese Stone (Sochi)

The Cheese Stone is a large sandstone boulder with a porous surface resembling a wheel of cheese, on the eastern slope of Mount Bytkha above the Shakaliny Rocks in the Khostinsky District of Sochi, Russia. The stone lies within the "Stone Chaos" tract, one of the most striking natural landmarks in the central part of the city.

History and legends

According to scientists, these rock formations took shape about 80,000 years ago, when an earthquake split the rock of Bytkha's eastern slope and created giant stone megaliths. Mount Bytkha itself rises 301 m above sea level and forms a ridge running from northwest to southeast between the valleys of the Bzugu and Matsesta rivers (per Wikipedia).

The Ubykhs, an ancient people who lived in the Sochi area before relocating to Turkey in the 19th century, considered this place sacred and worshipped their goddess Bytkha here: according to legend, the winged goddess's grotto stood by the stone.

What to see

• The Cheese Stone itself — a sandstone block with bizarre weathering forms resembling holes in cheese; trees grow on the stone fragments around it.
• Atop the stone, a linden and an oak grow intertwined with each other; one of the trees has been broken by the elements.
• Nearby, on a high cliff, stands the well-known "gallows oak".
• The tract also has dolmens, ancient structures 4,000-6,000 years old.
• The stones are covered with green moss and Colchis vegetation.

Getting there

On foot, from the final stop of bus 98: at the fork of three roads, turn right and walk about 1.5 km one way. By car, drive to Kraevsko-Grecheskaya Street, 22/30a. The path passes Sochi's well-known residential garages and a construction site, then enters the forest along a trail paved with tiles from the 1930s, with steps going up and down; several side trails branch off to the left straight to the stone. You can also start by climbing to the top of Mount Bytkha — from there a trail to the left leads to a viewing spot on a cliff edge, at the top of the Shakaliny Rocks, from where the Cheese Stone itself is visible. There are no trail markers, but every path eventually leads to the stone if you keep heading east.

Good to know

The one-way walk takes 2-3 hours — bring water, a snack, and sturdy shoes for walking on uneven terrain.