Shalyapin Grotto

Shalyapin Grotto, also known as Golitsyn Grotto, is a cave in the limestone mountain of Koba-Kaya in the southeast of Crimea, near the village of Novy Svet in the Feodosia district of the Republic of Crimea. The grotto lies on the Golitsyn Trail and is one of the main landmarks of Novy Svet.

Nature

Koba-Kaya is built of layered limestone from an ancient Jurassic reef, and the layering is clearly visible right at the cave entrance. Inside, the grotto is divided into several chambers: the Organ Hall with stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the Music Hall, the Chapel Hall and the Kremlin Hall. Underground lakes and small streams can be found in the cave, which is also home to bats and, according to local accounts, unusual insects.

History

According to one version, in ancient times the grotto sheltered primitive tribes, and a few centuries ago it held a Christian shrine. In the early 20th century, around 1912, the grotto belonged to Countess Alexandra Golitsyna: on her orders a stage for performances and a wine cellar were built here, leaving rows of arched niches cut into the rock for storing bottles that are still visible on the walls today. During the Soviet period the cave served as a shelter for partisans. In 1927 the grotto was damaged by an earthquake, and in 1993 a storm destroyed the stone wall that had closed off the entrance facing the sea.

Legends and accounts

Several legends are tied to the grotto. According to one story, in 1902 the opera singer Feodor Shalyapin visited the cave, and his extraordinarily powerful high note was said to have shattered a glass of champagne — which gave the cave one of its names. Another version holds that Nicholas II, after tasting local wine here, exclaimed, "I see the world in a new light!", supposedly giving the village of Novy Svet its name. It is also said that Turkish pirates once hid their treasure in the grotto, though no evidence of this has survived.

Getting there

Bus No. 5 runs from Sudak to the village of Novy Svet. From the Novy Svet seafront, the grotto is a 10-15 minute walk along the Golitsyn Trail.

Good to know

Classical music concerts by candlelight are sometimes held in the grotto today — the acoustics of the old wine cellar amplify the sound.