Головинка

Golovinka is a rather large resort village lying on the Black Sea coast near the mouth of the Shakhe River. Golovinka is separated from the center of Sochi by about 40 km, and it is considered one of the microdistricts of the resort city. The village got its name in honor of the commander of the Separate Caucasus Corps, General Evgeny Alexandrovich Golovin. In addition to serving tourists, Golovinka supplies fresh water to most of the residents of Sochi, and on the right bank of the Shakha River grows excellent quality fruits and vegetables.

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Video: Golovinka

Contents

Highlights

During the summer tourist season, the resort village is in great demand among travelers. In Golovinka go for the warm sea, good pebble beaches and natural attractions – a huge tulip tree and picturesque waterfalls. In the vicinity of Golovinka is very clean air and a lot of greenery, because the southern spurs of the Main Caucasus Range come close to it. In addition, vacation here is much cheaper than in Tuapse or Sochi.

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To accommodate tourists in the resort village built several resorts, recreation centers and a military sanatorium. However, most travelers prefer to stay in the more budget private sector, spending their vacations in guest houses, mini-hotels or rooms. There are those who like to rest in camping sites equipped in the vicinity of Golovinka.

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The resort area occupies a hilly plain formed by the valley of the Shakhe River. And although almost all of Golovinka stretched along the coast, the main residential sector is located at an elevation of 30 meters above sea level, and from the beaches to the houses have to walk uphill. Rooms near the sea are 20-30% more expensive, but housing on the first line is in high demand, and it should be booked in advance.

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For the convenience of tourists in Golovinka open stores and a large supermarket, there is a branch of the Savings Bank, there are ATMs and cell phone payment points. Vacationers can always eat in cafes and canteens, as well as buy fresh fruits and vegetables, which are grown by local residents.

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History of the village of Golovinka

Adyghe-Shapsugs lived in the lower reaches of the valley of the Shakhe River since the XVII century. At that time their settlement was called Subashi. And until the middle of the XIX century the mountain river was considered the border separating the lands of two indigenous peoples – Shapsugs and Ubykhs.

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Subashi became famous during the protracted Caucasian War. In 1839, near the mouth of the Shakhe River landed a Russian landing under the command of General Nikolai Nikolayevich Raevsky Jr. This military operation was depicted by the talented artist I.K. Aivazovsky, who was on one of the ships of the Russian fleet at the time. Today the battle canvas “Landing at Subashi” is exhibited in the Samara Regional Art Museum.

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The Russian landing opened a new page in the history of the village. Near the mouth of the Shakhe, a military fort was established. Curiously, several Decembrists, who were transferred from Siberia to the Caucasus, took part in the construction of Golovinsky fortifications. The poet Alexander Ivanovich Odoevsky, the Kherson nobleman Nikolai Ivanovich Lorer, the Russian officer Mikhail Mikhailovich Naryshkin and other participants of the December 1825 uprising served in the fort.

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The coastal fort stood for 15 years, and in 1854 during the withdrawal of Russian troops was destroyed. When Golovinka was deserted, Circassians settled in it. In 1964 the Caucasian War ended with the victory of Russia, and almost all local residents were resettled on the territory of the Ottoman Empire. Only after 20 years the Circassians hiding in the mountains were allowed to return to the coast and occupy their ancestral lands.

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Golovinka was registered as a village in 1923, and in 1961 it was transferred to the resort Sochi. Today about 12 thousand people live here – Russians, Armenians and representatives of the indigenous nationality – Adygs. It should be noted that the Adygs occupy a certain part of the settlement and prefer to live as a community.

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Climatic features

Golovinka lies in the zone of Russian subtropics. The average annual temperature in the village is +13.4 °С. In July the thermometer rises to +28…+30 °С, and in January it stays at +6…+7 °С. For the year in Golovinka falls 1450 mm of precipitation, and most of them fall on the winter months.

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All Sochi resorts have humid air, and the local climate is not very good for those with heart and respiratory problems. But according to the reviews of tourists, Golovinka has a special microclimate. Due to the movement of air along the wide valley of the Shakhe River and constant sea breezes, breathing here is much easier. A high ridge of the Caucasus Mountains closes the coast from the cold winds blowing from the northeast.

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Golovinka beaches

In the area of Golovinka spreads a wide strip of fine-pebble beaches, which in some places there are areas of load sand. Equipped beach areas alternate with areas of “wild” beaches. There is enough space for everyone, and even at the height of the bathing season in the resort village is not crowded.

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The central beach of Golovinka stretches for 100 meters and reaches a width of 30-60 meters. You can get to it by passages equipped under the railroad bridge. There are breakwaters and a pier for small vessels on the shore. The entrance to the water is gentle throughout, and the seabed is free of potholes and holes. For safe children’s rest there are special swimming areas near the shore, inflatable slides and playgrounds. Thanks to this, Golovinsky beach is very much loved by couples with children.

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In addition to the central beach, resorts like the coastal strip near the sanatorium “Azure Coast”. It stretches for 350 meters and has a width of 10-30 meters. This beach is cleaned daily and lifeguards are constantly on duty.

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During the holiday season on all beaches of Golovinka you can take sun loungers and umbrellas from the sun, use changing rooms and showers, ride on hydro scooters, water skis and catamarans, fly a parachute behind the boat or do amateur diving. In the coastal zone there are small cafes, stores of goods for beach vacation and souvenir stores.

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Tulip Tree

On the right bank of the Shakha, not far from the mouth of the river stands a huge tree, noticeable from afar. Liriodendron from the magnolia family rises to a height of more than 30 meters and has a trunk diameter of 2.4 meters, so only a few people can girdle it. The tree is called “tulip tree” because its large flowers resemble tulips in shape. And it got the species name “liriodenron” because its leaves resemble a musical instrument, the lyre.

According to legend, the mighty tree was planted in 1840 by General N. N. Raevsky Jr. but many botanists argue that the natural giant is much older. Those who vacation in Golovinka come to the tree on foot, and resort visitors from other places on the Black Sea coast come to admire the liriodendron by cars, buses and electric trains. It is especially crowded near the tulip tree in late May – June, when the unusual flowers bloom.

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Several years ago, lightning struck the liriodendron, and the massive trunk cracked. To save the natural landmark, the trunk was fenced off with chains. Near the tulip tree is a memorial plaque dedicated to the Decembrists and several souvenir stands are open.

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Shakhe River Valley

Cascades of waterfalls on the tributaries of the Shakhe River are considered one of the assets of the Sochi National Park. There are a total of 33 waterfalls on the river, but tourists can see only 15 of them. The rest are located in remote, inaccessible places, where it is not easy to get without special equipment.

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To the waterfalls go as part of organized tours and get there on their own – by car up the valley of the Shakhe River. The waterfalls are located in the tract of Dzhegosh, 4 km northeast of the village of Bolshoi Kichmai. Before starting the hiking route, at the entrance to the tract there is a spacious paid parking lot, several souvenir shops, cafes and canteens. Here they sell delicious Caucasian honey and home-made wine.

A walk in the tract Dzhegosh is better to make in sports shoes. Waterfalls are very picturesque and have a height of 1 to 12 meters. Around them grows a relic forest of boxwood and yew, and for the convenience of travelers at the rocks are equipped with wooden bridges and railings. The gorge has wonderful fresh air, and tourists like to take a dip in the cool waters of the river on a hot day.

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Excursions

Many vacationers from Golovinka independently go to a large resort village Lazarevsky. It is not difficult to get there – just 15 minutes by bus. In Lazarevsky open two water parks – “Sea Star” and “Nautilus”, dolphinarium, oceanarium, penguinarium, amusement rides, nightclubs and discos. In this village there is an ethnographic museum, so it will not be difficult to find entertainment for every taste.

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From Golovinka it is not difficult to get to the tea houses, located between Dagomys and Loo. This is the place where the northernmost in our country tea plantations are spread. In addition, from Golovinka vacationers are taken on bus tours to the valley of the Ashe River, to waterfalls in the village of Anchor Slit, to Volkonsky dolmen, in Krasnaya Polyana, as well as resort attractions of Sochi and Abkhazia.

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How to get there

The federal highway A-147 “Dzhubga – Adler” passes through Golovinka, so it is easy to get here by car or intercity buses.

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On the territory of the village there are two railway stations – “Golovinka” and “Azure Coast”, however, long-distance trains do not stop at them. To get to Golovinka, tourists take tickets to the stations “Lazarevskaya” (24 km) or “Loo” (20 km), and then reach the place by cab, shuttle buses, buses or electric train.

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The nearest airport is located in Adler (Sochi), and from it people go to Golovinka by cab, buses or electric trains running towards Tuapse.

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