Krepost Meot

Krepost Meot (the "Meot Fortress") is the abandoned ruins of a lime and alabaster kiln plant in the Maykopsky District of Adygea that, seen from a distance, look like a medieval castle with towers. The site stands on the road out of the stanitsa of Khadzhokh (Kamennomostsky) toward Dakhovskaya and the Lago-Naki plateau, between the Rufabgo waterfalls and the "Mishoko" extreme park, not far from the "Ubun" nature park. It is about 40 km from Maykop.

History

An artel was set up here in 1928, and in 1930 construction began on kilns for firing lime and alabaster. Raw material was brought from the opposite bank of the river, from the Khadzhokh quarry. Once the quarry's resources ran out, production stopped. The tall stone kiln chimneys, which from afar resemble fortress towers, have stood abandoned ever since — hence the nickname "Meot Fortress," even though the structure has nothing to do with an actual fortress.

Legends

According to one version told by local tour guides, these are the ruins of a medieval fortress called Meot, where knightly duels and tournaments once took place. Another legend claims lime was quarried here as far back as the time of Peter the Great. Neither story has documentary confirmation: the real history of the site is tied to a 20th-century industrial artel, not to the Middle Ages.

What to see

Next to the kiln ruins lies Lake Krasnoye, which formed in the old quarry pit after the plant closed, and an ancient human campsite. A large car park is set up for visitors. Nearby, around the stanitsa of Khadzhokh (Kamennomostsky), it is also worth visiting the Khadzhokh Gorge and the Rufabgo stream waterfalls — they are a few kilometers from the fortress and are usually combined with it in a single route.

Getting there

The easiest way is by car: about 40 km from Maykop, roughly a 40-minute drive. From the stanitsa of Khadzhokh (Kamennomostsky), head toward Dakhovskaya or the Lago-Naki plateau; from the "Dakhovskaya Sloboda" hotel the ruins are 15-20 minutes away. Regular minibuses also run from Maykop toward Dakhovskaya and Khadzhokh.