Loo
Loo is a large resort village, which has the status of a microdistrict of Greater Sochi. Mild climate, favorable location in a picturesque bay of the Black Sea, decent infrastructure attract many tourists from all over Russia to Loo. The beaches of the village are considered the cleanest in the region, and its picturesque surroundings are rich in historical and natural attractions.
Video: Loo
Contents- Highlights
- History of Loo
- Geography and climate
- Beaches
- Sights of Loo
Entertainment - Shopping
- Cafes and restaurants
- Where to stay
- Transportation
- How to get there
Highlights
Every year, rest in Loo is becoming more and more comfortable. Here open new buildings of boarding houses and hotels, there are entertainment centers, sanatoriums expand the range of their services. And although the peak season in the village falls in the summer, many large hotel complexes work year-round. Winter sports fans often stay here. From Loo to the nearest ski resort “Rosa Khutor” is only 100 km, but the prices for accommodation in the village is much more attractive.
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Resort life in Loo is very diverse. Here are wonderful conditions for a pleasant pastime for tourists of all age categories. In the village holidaymakers are waiting for a modern water park, centers of all kinds of water entertainment on the Central Beach, diving club, sea and horseback riding, excursions. Cafes and restaurants in Loo offer European, Russian, Caucasian, Asian cuisine. In many establishments, dinner is accompanied by a colorful show, disco, live music. In the summer season, a significant part of cafe-bars closes only at dawn.
.History of Loo
In early antique times, the region in which the village of Loo is located, was on the periphery of the Greek oikumene, and later – the Roman civilization. It was inhabited by the tribes of the Geniochs. Historians consider this people to be the ancestors of the Abkhazians, Abazins and Adygs. In the 60s of the last century artifacts were discovered in Loo, which entered the world treasury of archeology. During the digging of the excavation during the construction of one of the buildings of the sanatorium “Magadan” opened a rich grave. Among the remains of ancient people, specialists who arrived at the construction site, revealed an amber-colored vessel marked with Greek scripts. It contained exquisite gold female jewelry – pendants, brooches, a chain, a ring with a gemma in the Greek style, as well as fragments of silver utensils and other items. Two vaults of a stone building – possibly a temple or the house of a noble – were excavated 100 meters from the burial.
.During the Early Middle Ages in these lands established the influence of Byzantium, the first Christian churches appeared. In the immediate vicinity of the sanatorium “Magadan” is an important historical landmark Loo – the ruins of the temple, which belong to the group of Abkhazo-Alanian churches. Cult building epitomizes the West Caucasian direction of Byzantine temple architecture.
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Today the picturesque ruins are located on the territory of Sochi National Park, and in the XIX century they could only be seen by the guests of Count Sergei Sheremetev, who owned this land. Being not only a large landowner, but also a historian, the count dated the temple to the IV century, but his modern colleagues consider this statement erroneous. Most of them believe that the church was erected no earlier than the 10th century.
.At that time, the territory of the future Greater Sochi was under the control of the Abkhazian kingdom, which was formed in the VIII century and proclaimed independence from Byzantium. Its creator, who adopted Christianity, received the name Leon (Leo, Lev) at baptism. One of branches of a royal genealogical tree became Abazin princely sort Low or Lau (in Russian – Loovy, Levovy). The main residence of the feudal clan was the area in the valley of the river, which was named “Loo”. Local inhabitants began to be called Loovs. From the surname of the princes formed many toponyms and hydronyms of the area.
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In the XIV century in the region began to establish Ubykhs – a people related to the Adygs, Abazins and Abkhazians. According to some reports, around the middle of the XVI century Ubykh prince bought from a representative of the dynasty Loo lands, where today is located the village of Vardane (Sochi microdistrict). The Ubykhs were ruled by the Dzepsha clan, possibly connected with Loo by blood ties. A number of historians believe that there was an Ubykh aul in the valley of the Loo River, approximately on the site of the modern resort village. By the beginning of the Caucasian War it belonged to Ismail Barakai Dzepsh – one of the leaders of the fierce resistance of the Ubykhs to the army of the Russian Empire.
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At the end of hostilities in 1864, Ubykhs suspected of being unreliable were allowed to resettle in the Ottoman Empire. Vardane, where the Ubykh nobility lived, and at the end of the Caucasian War was the headquarters of one of Shamil’s naibs, was given as an estate to Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolayevich Romanov. Until 1884 he was viceroy of the Emperor in the Caucasus.
.At the end of the XIX century within the Black Sea province was formed Sochi district, in its composition was the territory of the modern Lazarevsky district, where today is located Loo. The official status of the resort village acquired already under the Soviet regime. Sanatoriums, resorts, recreation centers began to build here at a rapid pace in the 30s of the last century, and after the Great Patriotic War, construction continued. Many health resorts are thoroughly restored, modernized and are little inferior to newly built hotels.
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Geography and climate
On the map of the Black Sea coast of the Russian Federation, the settlement of Loo can be found in the southern part of the Krasnodar Territory. From the regional center, the village is separated by about 270 km. It is located in the west of Greater Sochi, in the Lazarevsky district of the resort capital of Russia. To the central, historical part of Sochi from here is about 20 km. Loo is located at the mouth of the river of the same name, flowing here into the Black Sea.
.The Seaside Valley is surrounded by mountain ranges. This picturesque area is a protected area, which is under the jurisdiction of the Caucasus State Natural Biosphere Reserve and Sochi National Park. Broad-leaved forests grow in the Loo River basin. Beech trees predominate in the upper reaches. Downstream beech trees are interspersed with oak, hornbeam, hazel, boxwood, chestnut and mimosa. The flower kingdom is represented by primroses, daffodils, cyclamen, and Caucasian frost.
The landscape of the village is hilly, with average heights of about 80 meters. The highest point is 380 meters above sea level. In Loo has about 30 streets, the central artery – Dekabristov Street, which is a section of the federal highway A-147. It is laid along the sea.
.Climate in Loo humid subtropical. The peak of the beach season falls on the middle of July – the end of August. This is the hottest time on the coast. During the day the air temperature is usually +26…+28 ° C, at night about +22…+25 ° C. The sea near the coast warms up to +25…+27 °С. Those who do not like sultry weather, it is better to come to Loo in June, when thermometer columns during the daytime show +21…+24 °С. Approximately the same indicators are characteristic of the water temperature.
.Rest in Loo is also pleasant in late May or September, when the beaches are not too crowded. At the end of spring you can sunbathe at +20 ° C, but the water in the sea is still cool: +18 … +19 ° C. September is very comfortable, with temperature +23…+25 °С. Only in the last week of the month the air cools down to +18…+20 °С. The sea in September remains warm: +25 °С in the beginning of the month and +21 °С in its last days.
.Velvet season in the village continues in October. The average daily temperature throughout most of the month is +18 °С. Closer to the beginning of November it gets colder to +13…+15 °С, and then to +10…+12 °С – such temperature is kept until the onset of winter.
.The coldest month in Loo is January, when thermometers show +5…+8 °С. In winter it often rains, it can snow, but it immediately melts. February on the coast can be abnormally warm. The temperature can rise up to +10…+12 °С, however, briefly. In the beginning of spring the weather is changeable, it often rains, the sea is stormy almost every day. Clear, warm weather, with temperatures above +15 ° C, is established in Loo in the second half of April.
.Beaches
Stretching for 6 km sea coast of Loo is a continuous beach, conventionally divided into several locations. 4 km of the coast is occupied by the Central Beach, covered with small pebbles with flecks of sand. Only in the western part there are large boulders. The beach is located in a bay that protects the coast from wind and waves. In summer the sea here is usually calm, shallow near the shore, children can swim without fear. The width of the Central Beach is from 40 to 90 meters. On the territory there are cabins where it is convenient to change clothes, take a shower with fresh water, there are toilets, a lifeguard observation tower. Entrance to the beach is free, but for the rental of umbrellas, sun beds, deck chairs, swings will need to pay. From the center of the beach, a 150-meter pier cuts into the sea, from where you can go on a boat trip. Nearby there are children’s attractions, sports equipment rentals, culinary establishments.
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The water amusement centers of the Central Beach offer scooters, catamarans, “bananas”, “pills”, parachute flights over the sea. On its territory there is also a place for beach volleyball courts, inflatable pools for kids, slides, trampolines, massage “rooms” under the thatch roof.
Those who wish can go to the beaches of Loo, belonging to hotel complexes, sanatoriums, located on the 1-shore line. Popular beaches are “Magadan”, “Mountain Air”, “Aqualoo”. On their territory tourists usually pass bypassing checkpoints, through the embankment adjacent to the beach area.
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Fans of secluded recreation can attract a wild beach, located about a kilometer from the Central. Corner on the edge of the village of Loo, behind the mountain slope, nudists have taken a fancy to nudists. This place is hidden from prying eyes behind dense thickets.
.Sights of Loo
Lovers of antiquities in Loo will be interested to see the ruins of a medieval temple, located on a wooded hill, about 1.5 km from the sea shore. It takes half an hour to walk up to this historical landmark, moving along Tallinskaya Street. It will take less time to walk along a steeper path that starts behind Astrakhanskaya Street. A signpost leads to the ruins. Officially for their inspection is required to pay 100 rubles, but often the authorized to accept money is absent on the spot, and tourists study the ancient ruins for free.
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Curious sights can be seen in the immediate vicinity of Loo. Among them is the waterfall “Paradise Delight”, located in the river valley, near the village of Upper Armenian Loo. Not far from it there is an open-air museum with an exposition showing the life of the Amshen Armenians, who have inhabited this area since the Middle Ages. During a group excursion to the village a picnic is usually organized.
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Near the waterfall “Paradise Delight” is located horse-tourist base of the same name. Here they offer horseback rides along the shore of the mysterious Lake Huko, to the sources of mountain rivers, to the Circassian Pass.
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Recently, diving and snorkeling have become increasingly popular in Loo. Diving is organized by the staff of the dive center Black Sea Diving College (Dekabristov Street, 20/6).
.There is in Loo and its own water park. It is located on the territory of the sanatorium-resort and entertainment complex “Aqualoo”. Having open and closed locations, this water park is the only center of water entertainment on the Black Sea coast of Russia, which welcomes guests all year round. Aqualoo” houses swimming pools with waterfalls, Jacuzzis, slides (extreme and children’s), play areas with attractions for children, saunas, cafes, bars. In the season there are “foam” discos. The ticket price is 700-1500 rubles, depending on the time of day.
.In the village there are billiard clubs with Russian and American pools. On the embankment for fans of this game arranged spacious billiard tents. On the promenade vacationers are also waiting for cafes, karaoke clubs, bars, many of which in the summer work until morning. At the pier of the Central Beach is a popular nightclub “Tornado” with a dance floor by the sea. From 22:00 to 05:00 the doors of the nightclub “Lost Paradise”, located on the second floor of the water park “Akvaloo”, are open. Incendiary parties with colorful shows are arranged and in the cafe-bar “Madagascar” (Azovskaya St., 8).
.Shopping
On Dekabristov Street there are grocery and hardware stores, including outlets of the large chain “Magnit”. There are also grocery and clothing markets. Souvenir shops are scattered throughout the village, but most of them are concentrated on the embankment, in the underground passage that leads to the Central Beach.
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Popular souvenirs from Loo – crafts made of clay and juniper, shells and products made of them: beads, bracelets, napkin holders. T-shirts, caps, towels, beach accessories with images of local attractions or logos of nearby resorts are in demand.
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As tasty gifts, vacationers buy Caucasian sweets, in particular churchkhela, honey. Local dry spices, ajika, sauces from feijoa, pomegranate are also good. Krasnodar tea is offered everywhere, but many tourists prefer to buy it during excursions, the program of which includes a visit to tea plantations.
.Cafes and restaurants
In Loo tourists can find cafes, restaurants, pizzerias, dumplings, khinkalnye, shashlychnye, ordinary canteens. Local fast food is represented by khachapuri Adjarski, Ossetian pies stuffed with cheese and herbs, and sweets from seasonal fruits. Traditional drinks include Sochi kvass, natural lemonades and ayran. You can find establishments with classic burgers, hot dogs, pizza. In cafes and canteens you can have a dense lunch for 800-1200 rubles. The closer the culinary institution to the sea, the higher the prices become. Popularly used canteen “Orange”, located on the embankment, “Aristocrat” (near the pier), “Canteen No. 1” (69 Dekabristov St.).
.One of the best restaurants in the village is called “Stary Loo”, which is on Dekabristov Street. Here perfectly cooked khinkali, kebabs, fish. The menu also has dumplings, soups, okroshka, khachapuri, desserts. The minimum cost of one dish is 200 rubles. Several good restaurants and cafe-bars are located on the territory of a large sanatorium-hotel complex “Aqualoo.”
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It is worth considering that many culinary institutions Loo tend to change their owners and name from season to season.
.Where to stay
Loo offers more than 400 accommodation options for every taste – from boarding houses and beach hotels to mini-hotels and private apartments.
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Comfortable rooms offers boarding house “Larimar” (ul. Luchezarnaya, 1). Vacationers expect a private beach on the beach. There is a children’s club, the kids are entertained by animators. Rent a room here can be for 3540-6637 rubles.
.In Club Lane, 5/2, is located MiLoo Hotel. The modern 6-story building has 41 rooms, from standard doubles to suites. Family apartments with 3-5 beds are offered. The hotel has a swimming pool, sauna and fitness center, a restaurant and a lounge bar. There is a spacious children’s playroom and babysitting is available. Balconies offer sea views and the beach is a 5-minute walk away. Nearby are a ranok, supermarket and railway station. The cost of accommodation – from 3500 rubles per day.
.Good reviews earned guests guest house “Southern Rhapsody” (Dekabristov Street, 214). At the disposal of auto tourists free parking, the parking lot is set charging station for electric car batteries. There is a swimming pool and a bar, and there is a rest area in the garden. Many rooms have kitchenettes with a refrigerator and microwave oven, electric kettle. The cost of accommodation is 820-4321 rubles.
.Inexpensive you can stay in the guest house “Coral Reef” (ul. Magnitogorskaya, 182). In the rooms there are balconies, air conditioners, refrigerators, TVs. Guests use a common kitchen, but there is also a dining room, where you can order breakfast or a full three meals a day. Tables are located indoors and on the summer terrace. There is an outdoor pool, sun loungers are installed under umbrellas. The road to the sea takes 15 minutes. Price range for daily accommodation – 1622-3540 rubles.
.At democratic prices are offered rooms in the guest house Villa Terraca, located on Astrakhanskaya Street, 1. The building is built on a hill, from here you can clearly see the sea and the surrounding area. Breakfasts and dinners are served on the panoramic terrace by the pool. The beach is 200 meters away. The cost of accommodation is 1255-3175 rubles.
.Transportation
There is a bus number 148 running through the village. The fare is 25 rubles. From Sochi through Loo resort shuttle buses № 149, 151 pass through Loo. Cabs are available, the car is most convenient to call by phone. Own taxi park has its own amusement park “Akvaloo”.
.How to get there
From 12:30 to 21:06 from the airport to Loo daily electric trains “Lastochka”, which make a stop in Loo. The interval of movement – 2 hours. The fare is 140 rubles. If the schedule is inconvenient for you, take an express bus from the airport or bus № 105 to Sochi. Suburban trains depart from the city railway station from 04:18. Most of them stop in Loo. The cost of a ticket is 70 rubles, it takes about half an hour to travel.
.Not far from the railway station is located bus station. Buses № 155 route Sochi – Loo run at intervals of 20 minutes, the ticket will cost 75 rubles.
.Another way to get to Loo from Moscow is to fly to Krasnodar (Paschkovsky Airport). From the regional center to the village can be reached by train or passing trains.
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