The famous Massandra winery. When people talk about Crimean wines, they usually mean the products of this particular plant. Which is not surprising, who else can boast such an extensive collection of delicious and aromatic wines?
Did you know that this is one of the few enterprises in our country that has retained its original appearance since its construction? Yes, and the Great Patriotic War did not touch it, and time did not cripple its monumental walls. It is precisely in the form in which it was built that we see this plant now.
But more on that later.
Tasting complex of Massandra winery
The village of Massandra itself, at first glance, evokes despondency and melancholy. Dilapidated houses at the entrance, shabby high-rise dorms mixed with garages, among which lurked a lonely small children's playground. The only thing there is are views. The views of the mountains from the village are of course gorgeous. From the factory entrance you can get to the village itself by bus or up the 150-step staircase.
View of the mountains from the village of Massandra 
Children's playground in the village 
The village of Massandra near the plant History of the plant
The Massandra winery was started by the famous philanthropist and wine connoisseur Prince Lev Golitsyn. Claiming that “there is evil in drinking vodka, but only noble wine saturates the body and soul with blessing,” the winemaker chose a place and laid out the construction of the main cellar. This happened back in 1894. Despite the huge number of more picturesque and convenient areas for building a winery, Massandra had a unique quality: it was here that the purest stream flowed, and good water for wine is the main thing!
Memorial plaque at the entrance to the old plant building This is how the Massandra winery was born, now located in the village of the same name, which is part of the borders Big Yalta. Official name enterprises are much longer: Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Production and Agricultural Association “Massandra”. Today the plant includes 8 primary organizations and 3 independent ones. In addition to wine, the company produces fruits, grapes and industrial tobacco.
Monument to Golitsyn The land of the warmest corner of the peninsula, reliably protected from the Nordic cold by the spurs of the Nikitskaya yayla, gratefully accepted the vine ordered by Prince Vorontsov in Portugal and Spain, and after 4 years the first wine splashed in the barrels exclusively High Quality. Nicholas II himself not only enjoyed tasting the wine of his favorite brainchild, but also preferred it to all other brands, although the specific department spent more than a million rubles on the construction of cellars!
Old factory building The difficulty of construction was the need to maintain low temperatures in the summer heat. Heated mountain slopes, soil instability and many other problems were successfully avoided thanks to the skill and knowledge of the winemakers. For the main basement, deep long corridor-type adits were dug, each of which was 5 meters wide and 150 meters long. The underground location made it possible to achieve the maintenance necessary for wine ripening temperature regime and even at the hottest time in the basements of Massandra it is only +10+15 degrees.
Plant construction Massandra went through different times, but even in the harshest years, the winery workers defended their products by hook or by crook. Interesting fact: There is a special “visitor book” in Massandra, where people leave their impressions of their visit. It was there that Maxim Gorky’s note was preserved: “I drank and admired, but left relatively sober due to lack of time...”. Later, the signature was engraved on a tablet and decorated with the classic’s statement in the main cellar of the winery.
Follow the signs and you won't go wrong The quality of the wines is maintained from the very beginning of production. Despite the enormity of the basements, they most years are overflowing with barrels of wine. Here, only wines from their own vineyards are aged and bottled, and the solar drink is produced exclusively in bottles. The quality of the contents is emphasized by the state emblem for “Livadia” and “Oreanda” (the favorite wines of the Empress, wife of Nicholas II); for wines from all other estates of the specific department, the labels are stamped.
Wine storage workshop. These are the huge barrels where future wine is stored. As I wrote above, the plant has retained its original appearance. A little later, already in the 20th century, the second building of the plant was built. According to the architect's idea, the modern building is a complete copy of the old plant. On a huge square there are two twin brothers: the old and new factory buildings.
Each barrel is labeled with the wine and year of release. While visiting the Massandra Winery, many people ask why the enterprise needs such a huge area. At first glance it seems empty and completely unused. But that's not true. The thing is that under the square there are enterprise storage facilities. Huge halls in which the wine produced at the plant “ripens”, waiting in the wings.
Vineyards of the Massandra winery Crimean winemaking is no less famous than the beaches, so the most famous enterprises in this industry have long been turned into excursion sites, they are no worse than museums and architectural monuments. Yalta can boast of a similar attraction. The Massandra winery is one of the most famous wine-making organizations in Russia; its products have long been deservedly glorified throughout the world.
Where is the winery located in Yalta?
"Massandra" on the map of Crimea
Winery "Massandra": created by the labor of princes and stonemasons
It was Count Vorontsov who first took up winemaking. However, the creation of the enterprise is associated with the name of another legendary Crimean - Prince L.S. Golitsyn. He decided to build a factory here with tunnels for aging wine (the first in Russia), when in 1890 he was appointed chief winemaker of the Specific Department.
Hundreds of workers punched cavities in solid monolithic rock by hand, but the prince achieved the desired effect - they constantly maintained the same temperature and humidity, which is very important for the proper maturation of wines. The Golitsyn tunnels are still used in the same form as in bygone times. Leo is also considered with good reason to be the founder of the Wine Museum at the plant.
From the very beginning, the Massandra Wine Factory in Yalta operated on an extremely solid scientific basis. Grape varieties grown on specific soils and in specific conditions were carefully selected. In Soviet times, this tradition was continued by the Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking, created not far from Massandra, in the Magarach tract - it is known by this name.
His developments were put into practice at the plant. The results are encouraging - Massandra wines have repeatedly become winners and prize-winners of prestigious international competitions. The glorious traditions of our ancestors are also supported by today’s employees of the Massandra Vintage Wine Factory.
Legends of Massandra Winery
Like everything else in Crimea, the Massandra winery has already acquired legends. Some of them have a solid basis in facts. So, the fairy tale about the wines walled up in the mountain is true.
During the Great Patriotic War, Yalta winemakers actually concreted and camouflaged the tunnels where the most valuable collection samples were stored, preserving the collection from plunder by the Nazis. And the residents of Yalta preferred to simply pour out ordinary and less valuable varieties of the drink, but not let the invaders drink them. The Red River flowed into the Black Sea, but the Nazis did not get a sip of Massandra.
It has its own legends and modern production. So, now persistent rumors are circulating in Crimea that a great admirer of Massandra’s “Red Alushta” is not just anyone, but V.V. Putin. When he happens to come to Crimea, this is the wine that is served at his table.
Excursion to the Massandra Wine Factory
For quite some time now, tourists have been given the opportunity to visit the Massandra winery. 
The excursion includes an acquaintance with the museum exhibition telling about the formation of production, and a visit to underground tunnels, including those containing the rarest, unique wines: the oldest bottle here dates back to 1775.
The rules of conduct are strict - the guides warn that even a sudden movement simply towards the shelves with bottles (there are more than one million of them in the Massandra cellars) can trigger an alarm. The precautions are clear - any “alarm” can disrupt the wine aging process. Guests are also brought to the enoteca, that is, to the storage room where samples of the company’s products have been collected since the day of its foundation.
Tastings of varietal, aged wines are also held for tourists. In this case, the sample is immediately preceded by a serious scientific lecture on the rules for drinking the noble drink and the characteristics of a particular variety. Reviews from travelers indicate that without this event, a visit to this unique event cannot be considered complete.
There is a company store at the plant. True, prices there have recently not been too different from retail ones, but there is more choice. You can also agree here to purchase aged collection wine for a special price. Enlightened holidaymakers who have visited dream of a “dirtier bottle” - they already know that the dustiness of the bottle is an important indicator of the quality of the drink.
How to get to the winery?
On public transport It’s not difficult to get to the Massandra Vintage Wine Factory from Yalta. By bus No. 3 you will need to go to the “Stakhanovskaya” stop, and then walk in a northerly direction for about 250 m. By minibus No. 14, trolleybus No. 2 or bus No. 100 or No. 29, you need to get to the “Winzavod” stop, then proceed about 750 m to the east.
It is also easy to get to Massandra from the center of Yalta by car; on the map the route looks like this:
Note to tourists
- Address: Vinodel Egorova street, 9, Massandra village, Yalta, Crimea, Russia.
- Coordinates: 44°31′1″N (44.517029), 34°11′13″E (34.186915).
- Phone: +7-978-972-66-17.
- Official website: http://massandra.su/
- Opening hours: from 11:00 to 19:00.
- Prices for visiting: excursion – 300 ₽, tasting – 300 ₽.
Alcohol becomes a bad habit only when used incorrectly. Indeed, good wines will not harm a person - this has been successfully proven by the Massandra Winery in Yalta for many years. An excursion to this enterprise will also help travelers learn the rules of aristocratic drinking and turn the consumption of an intoxicating drink into an elegant holiday!
Most Southern City peninsula, Yalta is the pearl of Crimea, has a huge number of attractions and architectural buildings. There are several palaces here that attract thousands of tourists.
Massandra Palace is no exception, although it has not yet reached the peak of its popularity. Its architecture is quite unusual, because Count Vorontsov began the construction, and Emperor Nicholas II completed it. The official name is the Palace of Alexander III.
The Palace Museum can be visited at the address: Yalta, town. Massandra, Simferopol highway, 13. It is located in the Yalta mountains against the backdrop of gray stone cliffs and a green ancient forest. The palace museum is hidden from human eyes, only the high sharp spiers of the roofs are visible among the dense thicket of trees.
How to get to the palace
The Palace of Alexander III or Massandra Palace is located on the highway towards Simferopol a little above the bus station. And the question “how to get there” in the 21st century is no longer an issue; just go to the Internet or use a navigator. The only advice: at the height of the tourist season in Crimea from May to October, it is better to avoid excursions by personal car.
The road on the peninsula is quite difficult - serpentine roads, mountains, narrow streets. In addition, trolleybuses occupy the entire lane, so the phenomenon of traffic jams has not been canceled.
There are no traffic lights in Yalta itself and this is only a plus.
IN tourist city Drivers are quite understanding, because guests walk everywhere and there are many pedestrian crossings. The so-called automobile courtesy is very developed here, when drivers allow pedestrians to pass without a traffic light.
By car
If, however, the excursion is planned by car, then the coordinates to be entered into the navigator are: N 44.517222 E 34.202778.
By public transport
The easiest way to get to the palace is by trolleybus No. 3. Trolleybus No. 41 or No. 42 is also suitable if you travel from Yalta. You need to go to the “Massandra Palace” stop and walk a little from the highway towards the mountains, seeing and enjoying the gorgeous nature and landscape. If you walk down from the highway towards the sea, you can get to the famous Massandra Park.
You can also get there by shuttle buses No. 3, 100, 106, 110, 29, 29a, 38 from Yalta. Trolleybus No. 53 comes from Alushta, or trolleybus No. 52.55 coming from Simferopol. Trolleybuses No. 52, 55 travel from Simferopol, or you can use a minibus.
Story
The Massandra Palace (Yalta is rich in historical secrets and extraordinary events) attracts with its mysterious origin. The history of the Palace is very unusual, even a little mystical. Two owners wanted to build a country residence among rocks and ancient trees so that the whole family could have cozy place for relaxation in summer time.
Count Vorontsov wanted to build a small palace, which, as conceived by the talented Bouchard, would resemble a French castle in the Renaissance. But, unfortunately, the dreams were not destined to come true.
In the 19th century
Initially, when Massandra came into the possession of the Vorontsovs in 1830, the count ordered the construction of a house in this beautiful picturesque place. A two-story mansion was built with gazebos around it, with paths into the adjacent forests for walks of the royal family. 
The house stood untouched for many more years; no one dared to change the usual way of life. Perhaps the world would never have known about the existence of a modern palace, because in fact, it did not yet exist.
If not the strongest storm of 1878, which caused enormous damage to the estate, and almost completely destroyed it, a new palace would never have been built.
And at the moment when something had to be done, it was decided not to restore the old mansion, but to build a completely new building, a palace that would look like knight's castle.
Its appearance was supposed to be restrained, strict, with high spiers and towers.
For this complex project, several famous architects were invited to present their vision of the future palace. Based on the results of the presentation, the famous architect of the time, Etienne Bouchard, was chosen to take on the project.
After various approvals of the project, construction itself began in 1881, the palace was almost completed. A garden was laid out around the palace and paths were laid out into the forest for walking.
And in the same year, on November 30, the architect Bouchard unexpectedly died without completing the work. A year later, in 1882, the death of Vorontsov himself shocked everyone. Against the backdrop of these tragic events, construction was frozen for 10 long years.
Count Vorontsov bequeathed the unfinished palace to his family, who were not particularly interested in it. His wife went abroad and subsequently sold him to the imperial family.
Massandra, together with the unfinished palace, came into the power of Alexander III in 1889. The Imperial family loved Crimea very much, so they decide to finish the job started by Vorontsov and Bouchard, but for their own needs.
Alexander III hired one of the best and most famous architects of the time, Maximilian Messmacher. And in 1892, construction resumed. The new architect decided to add some details to the existing palace that would make the palace look like a castle.
Massandra Palace designed by Messmacher (Yalta) But Alexander III also failed to complete the palace. He also died suddenly. And his son Nicholas II decided to finish the construction and keep the name in honor of his father. This is the tragic beginning of the palace.
Palace in the 20th century
The heir of Alexander III did not particularly like to visit Massandra. He stayed in the palace extremely rarely, mainly only after the hunt, in order to rest a little. According to historical data, the family of Nicholas II never stayed overnight in the Massandra apartments.
As a result, the Massandra Palace remained uninhabited. The emperor preferred his personal palace in Livadia, decorated in white style.
Palaces during the Soviet era were initially used with the aim of erasing the memory of their past. Massandrovsky in Yalta was no exception. It was used as a sanatorium for seriously ill patients with tuberculosis.
For 12 years they were engaged in healing and recovery from a dangerous disease. Coniferous forests and ancient trees helped a lot with this. After the Great Patriotic War, the Magarach Viticulture Research Institute was created in the palace. Here they studied grape varieties and developed new ones.
Then they decided to use it as a residence for the top leadership of the USSR. For this purpose, the top floor was equipped for a comfortable stay. At one time, Stalin, Khrushchev and Brezhnev stayed in the palace. Naturally, at this time the palace was closed to visitors and tourists.
After the collapse of the USSR, in 1992, the palace of Alexander III was nationalized and opened to tourists as a museum. There are many items from the Romanov era left here in very good condition, many original paintings. This is what attracts tourists to the palace at any time of the year. 
After the return of Crimea to the Russian Federation The palace, as a cultural and historical monument, came under the jurisdiction of the Administrative Department of the President of the Russian Federation.
Architect and architecture
The first architect of the extraordinary palace was Bouchard. According to Count Vorontsov, the first owner of the palace, he was supposed to become warlike and strict. Two round towers and one square, peaked roofs, attics and a semicircular staircase on the outside gave the building an extraordinary romanticism.
Messmacher decided not to break or remove anything, but on the contrary, he added various Baroque details to the palace. To begin with, it was decided to cover all the outer walls of the palace with yellow Metlakh tiles to add brightness and freshness to their dull gray color.
Messmacher added several outdoor terraces, balconies and galleries. The yellow walls began to go well with the gilded vases near the main staircase, the double-headed eagle and the grilles on the south tower. 
All this beauty is also complemented by stone carved details:
- cornices;
- capitals;
- platbands;
- sculptural decorations.
The pointed roof was covered with scaly slate and unique chimneys were created.
In the exterior, Messmacher used decorative vases and sculptures that depicted ancient Greek creatures:
- gods;
- sphinxes;
- chimeras;
- satyrs
Behind the palace, on its eastern side, a retaining wall was built to protect the mansion from landslides and huge streams of water rushing from the mountains during heavy rains and melting snow. Yalta is famous for the construction of such walls, because this is a fairly common phenomenon in mountainous areas. In this way, roads and buildings are strengthened, preventing their destruction.
But Messmacher was a true professional in his field. He decorated the retaining wall with fountains, statues, tall columns, vases and niches. Thus, it became another decoration of the palace itself and its integral part, and none of the guests could guess its true purpose.
Interior
The interior of the palace is designed in the same style and resembles a fairy-tale castle. The rooms are small but very cozy, royal family I was going to relax here, not hold receptions. It should be noted that Alexander loved everything Russian and wanted the decoration of the palace to resemble a Russian hut. 
That is why you can see here in abundance:
- wooden panels covered with elaborate carvings;
- tiles;
- stained glass;
- modeling;
- marble fireplaces;
- wood burning with tinting.
All this made the palace of Alexander III unique.
For that period, the prevailing fashion in architecture was mixing different styles. Therefore, each room is designed in a special style. Here you can see classicism and baroque, rococo and empire, and several other trends in architectural art that were fashionable at that time.
Discreet rooms in a classic style transform into luxurious apartments with elaborate decorations on walls and ceilings. The sculptures throughout the palace added even more pomp.
Description of the palace rooms
The Massandra Palace (Yalta is rich in luxurious palaces), unlike others, is known for its compactness, but all the rooms are very warm and harmonious - the ceilings are made of unique stucco, carved wood and marble, there is red copper around the fireplaces, the glass is artistic stained glass.
Operating mode
Massandra Palace (Yalta shows guests its attractions seven days a week during the high season) is open to visitors every day and welcomes everyone from 9:00 to 19:00, only on Saturday the opening hours are 1 hour longer, from 9:00 to 20:00.
Please note that the box office stops selling tickets 45 minutes in advance. until the end of the palace.
Visiting rules
Massandra Palace can be visited any day during business hours. If the excursion is carried out as part of a group, you must register in advance.
The palace is a famous cultural and historical heritage. Yalta is a resort city, so vacationers should not forget that visiting such places in swimsuits or with a bare torso is prohibited. You are also not allowed to enter the building with food or drinks.
No more than one group of tourists is allowed inside the palace museum at a time.
Ticket prices
| Exhibition name | Adults | Children 16-18 years old, Students, pensioners |
| Visit to Massandra Palace 1, 2nd floor. | 350 rub. | 200 rub. |
| Visit to the art gallery 3rd floor | 200 rub. | 100 rub. |
| Single ticket: Visit to all floors of the palace | 550 rub. | 280 rub. |
| Excursion walk through the palace grounds: architecture, sculpture, flora | 100 rub. | 100 rub. |
Preferential categories of citizens and children under 16 years of age visit the Palace for free. It is also possible to conduct group excursions by appointment. There can be up to 15 people in a group, the cost is 4,500 rubles.
Excursions around the palace: routes, prices
Tourists and everyone can visit the palace in Yalta not only on their own, but also as part of an excursion. Experienced guides will tell you mysterious story creation of the palace, they will show all the sights of the palace territory, the interior and exterior of the masterpiece of architecture itself.
This will help you immerse yourself in the era of the Romanov rule, as well as take a lot of photographs as a souvenir. Due to the fact that no one ever lived in the palace of Alexander III, all the exhibits, pieces of furniture, etc. were better preserved than in other palaces of Crimea. Tours of the Massandra Palace are divided into several parts.
Everyone can visit separately:
- 1st, 2nd floors, where the bedrooms, offices, reception rooms, hall and dining room of the last emperor of Great Rus' are located;
- 3rd floor with a chic art gallery;
- palace grounds with an interesting story from the guide.
Tourists can also purchase a “Single Ticket” and visit all areas of the palace at once. Prices for services from 100 rub. up to 550 rubles, depending on which part of the palace you need to visit.
Events in the palace
Massandra Palace (Yalta keeps the secrets of many events of the distant past) is one of the most mystical and mysterious palaces in Crimea. Initially it was planned as a cozy home nest. The whole family of Count Vorontsov was supposed to rest here in the summer.
The palace was completed by Emperors Alexander III and Nicholas II. And they also wanted to make it a home residence. And indeed, in the entire history of the palace, not a single working reception was held in it.
And during the times of the USSR, the palace was completely hidden from human eyes behind seven locks and was carefully guarded. Only after the collapse of the Union did people actually learn about such a palace, because it was opened as a museum.
The Massandra Palace itself is a rather mysterious place.
Many tourists come to Massandra just to visit the legendary Massandra winery in Yalta. Today this enterprise, which produces legendary wines under the Massandra brand, is the pride of Crimea. Besides rich history and various brands of this drink, you will be delighted by the beautiful architecture of the winery itself, and you will feel like you are in the Middle Ages. In addition to the factory building with a beautiful facade, on the territory of the Massandra enterprise there are wine cellars and cellars that are amazing in their structure, in which legendary vintage wines are stored.
During a tour of the factory, Massandra visitors will be shown how wine is made at all stages and will be offered to personally taste the factory’s vintage wines to appreciate their exquisite taste.
Where is the Massandra Winery located in Yalta?
The enterprise complex is located in the village of Massandra, just a couple of kilometers from Yalta. A visitable site near the Massandra winery is the Massandra Palace, which previously belonged to the Russian Emperor Alexander III. Another place where curious vacationers try to get to is Massandra Park.
The history of the formation and reputation of a well-deserved drink worthy of a royal table
begins at the end of the 19th century. The main winemaker in those days was Prince L. Golitsyn, it was he who built the wine cellars that have survived to this day. This is confirmed by his bust located at the entrance to the cellars. By order of Nicholas I, the very first winery in the Russian Empire This happened after his trip to Crimea, where he was delighted with the local wine.
By the standards of Tsarist Russia, the scale of the basements was impressive in size: 7 long underground tunnels, where a constant temperature was maintained in the range of 10-12 degrees Celsius.
The main wine cellar building is unique monument The architecture is reminiscent of a knight's castle in style, which is what attracts tourists. On main tower There is an old mechanical clock installed that strikes every hour.
Wine Vault
In the first half of the 20th century, construction of the second building of the winery began. It is located on the same territory as the old one, and is located directly opposite the first one. The area in the factory courtyard is not a venue for events, but the roof of the wine cellars. When you walk around the territory, you are literally trampling on collection wines. The area is divided in half by a visible line - a kind of border between the 19th and 20th centuries in the history of this plant. The administration of the plant meets in the old building, and everything necessary for storing wines is located in the historical building.
More than 400,000 bottles of 60 different varieties are stored in the cellars of the Massandra winery. Here are collected wines from 8 wineries of the plant, which are scattered along the coast from Simeiz to Feodosia. It is noteworthy that in the central plant, where tourists come, located in Massandra, they do not produce wine, but only store and age it.
What can you learn and see during the excursion?
Tourists arriving on an excursion to the Massandra plant will get acquainted with the rich assortment of Crimean wines produced at the plant. Enoteca (wine collection) Massandra is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest in the world. After historical information Guests are offered a tasting where they can taste the most famous wines. Snacks in the form of cheese and nuts are often served with wine.
Legends of Massandra Winery
During its existence, the winery has acquired myths and legends. For the most part, they have real confirmation in the form of facts. For example, a true incident in the fairy tale about wines walled up in a mountain. Legend says that in war time Crimean winemakers were forced to concrete and wall up the tunnels in order to hide valuable and rare collection wines. This is how they saved the samples from being looted by the Nazis. And the winemakers decided to pour ordinary and less valuable varieties of the drink onto the road, but not leave them to the Nazis. Red wine rivers flowed straight into the sea, but the invaders did not get a single sip of Massandra.
Today, modern legends continue to be born. Recently, there are rumors that a big fan of the Massandra wine “Red Alushta” is V.V. Putin himself. If he comes to Crimea, then he is served only this type of wine.
Tasting room
Tasting
The excursion involves not only studying the production and history of the plant, but also demonstrating the full range of Massandra products. An entire hall is dedicated to tasting Massandra wines, where at oak tables visitors will be offered a taste of 9 varieties of collection Massandra wines.
Tasting is permitted only to people over 18 years of age; access to minors is prohibited. The cost of tasting is 450 rubles.
Factory store
What is useful to know before visiting?
Visitors to the excursion should remember to wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Almost all operators work on the territory of the plant mobile communications. However, the signal may be lost in basements.
Nearby is the no less beautiful and well-known Massandra Palace, which is also worth a visit.
Everyone Have a good day, Dear friends! If you are planning to travel to Crimea this summer, be sure to visit the Massandra Palace. Today I will try to show you all the charm of this place. Go!
How to get there
The palace opens at 9 am and closes at 5 pm, which creates certain difficulties: from 5 to 8 pm there are a lot of traffic jams. If you want to get there quickly enough, plan your trip for late morning or lunch.
By car
Especially for car enthusiasts, I marked the location of the palace on the map (you can plot the route directly on it):
Coordinates for navigators: N 44°31.030, E 34°12.150.
By public transport
If you are traveling without personal transport, then you will have a little more difficult time: you cannot get directly to the palace by public transport; from the nearest stop “Verkhniy Massandra Park” you will have to travel about 1.8 km.
From Yalta
From the “Center” stop, which is located in the center of Yalta, there are several flights at once:
- buses No. 100 and 29,
- minibus №14,
- trolleybus No. 2.
In addition, you can take advantage of intercity flights that fly from Yalta towards Gurzuf:
From Alupka
You can get to the palace from Alupka by intercity bus, which follows the route Simeiz - Simferopol. The total travel time from Alupka to the Massandra Palace is 1 hour.
From Alushta
To get to the desired stop, you can use the intercity bus that runs from Alushta to Yalta:
From Sevastopol
There is no direct connection between Sevastopol and Massandra, so you will first have to get to Yalta. Sevastopol-Yalta buses run every 20 minutes, travel time is 1.5-2 hours depending on the route. Afterwards you will need to get to the palace from Yalta.
Or you can buy a bus ticket to Gurzuf and get off at the desired stop.
From Simferopol
Any transport that goes from Simferopol to Yalta is suitable:
You can also use intercity trolleybuses 52 and 55.
From Gurzuf
You need to take any intercity bus that goes to Yalta.
Bus 106 also goes on this route.
From Gaspra
From Livadia
Despite the short distance between the points, you will have to travel with transfers.
- At the Livadia stop we catch bus No. 47a.
- At the Spartak Cinema stop, we change to minibus 18a and take it to the Yalta station.
Or you can go directly to the bus station by minibus 11: it departs from the stop. "Livadia Palace". Travel time to Massandra Palace is 1-1.5 hours.
From Partenite
There is only one bus number 106 from the village: the route departs from the stop. “Market” and in half an hour brings you to the desired stop.
If you don’t want to waste time on public transport, you can simply order a taxi: from locals or cheaper online.
general information
Massandra Palace is located in Yalta and is one of the most visited attractions Southern Crimea. It was built at the beginning of the 20th century under the leadership of Alexander III, who bought the unfinished building after the death of the prince-owner.
Schedule
Now an exhibition and exposition are organized on the territory of the complex.
The palace's opening hours are from 09:00 to 17:00 (on Saturdays until 20:00).
It is better to look at the official website for detailed information, as the operating procedure may vary depending on the season. There is also the opportunity to book an individual excursion.
The cost of tickets to visit various excursions ranges from 50 to 750 rubles - see more details here.
You will have to pay separately for photo and video shooting. A child ticket costs exactly half as much as an adult ticket.
Why is it worth visiting the Massandra Palace?
One of the characteristic features of the complex is its architecture: there are elements of medieval decoration, interspersed with elaborate baroque arches.
You can walk along the spiral staircases of the façade, explore the long shady galleries, carved chimneys and fireplaces. The rooms, which at first glance seem small, are enlarged before our eyes due to the huge mirrors. The main exhibits reflect the life and characters of people who lived in the 18th century.
You will be able to see with your own eyes things that once belonged to the Emperor and his family. In addition, the attic offers a beautiful view of the sea.
In addition to visiting the buildings themselves, tourists are allowed to walk around the surrounding area. There is a fountain in the middle of the lush park; nearby you can see fancy statues of dragons and sphinxes.
Roses bloom in the garden, the beds are decorated with huge vases, and around them there are impressive columns connected by arches.
From the adjacent wall, lions look at visitors, the heads of which are decorated with fountains.
I won’t tell you all the secrets of the palace: visit the complex and see them with your own eyes!
Massandra Palace - French Versailles in Yalta
The history of Yalta dates back to the 5th century BC. In the 19th century, being part of the Russian Empire, Yalta acquired the status of a city. This happened in 1838. The city began to develop rapidly and turned into a popular resort destination. Most of the buildings of that time are real masterpieces. One of these architectural monuments is the Massandra Palace. Some tourists compare it to the French Versailles.
Massandra Palace - excursion into history
In 1881, in the suburb of Yalta in Massandra, just five kilometers from the city, construction of a palace ensemble began. Its project was created by the architect Etienne Bouchard, and the initiative and financing came from Semyon Mikhailovich Vorontsov, the son of a famous builder. Literally a year later, Count Vorontsov died suddenly. The construction of the architectural structure was mothballed. Seven years later unfinished palace ensemble purchased for Emperor Alexander III, who also did not live to see the completion of the project. After another three years, construction of the Massandra Palace resumed under the leadership of architect Oscar Wegener. It changes the decorative finish of the composition, but maintains the overall style.
The palace of the Massandra ensemble became suitable for living at the very beginning of the 20th century and was named Alexandrovsky. The new owner Nicholas II liked it, but for unknown reasons the tsar never lived in it.
During Soviet times, the palace was used as the Proletarian Health sanatorium. Before the Great Patriotic War, children diagnosed with tuberculosis were treated here. With the outbreak of war with Nazi Germany, the sanatorium turned into a hospital, but not for long, it was evacuated. After the victory, for three years, a research institute operated in the palace building, whose activities lay in the field of viticulture. Then the Massandra Palace was used as a summer house for government officials; Stalin, Khrushchev, and later Brezhnev rested here.
Near the Massandra Palace there is a beautiful park, which in the 90s of the 20th century became a branch of the Alupka Museum-Reserve of Palace and Park Art. At the same time, the museum of the royal house of the Romanovs began operating in the premises itself.
Until 2014, the residence was state museum Ukraine, now it is a Russian museum, subordinate to one of the presidential departments.
Exhibits in the Romanov Museum
Upon entering the museum, you immediately get the feeling that you are in a French castle of the 17th century, since the hall is decorated in the appropriate interior. The Romanesque style is striking.
A further journey through the museum halls of the palace is the billiard room, made in the classic British style, diluted with Gothic components. Here you can look at paintings and carved oak panels for a long time.
You should definitely look into the Empress's reception room, which is one of the most magnificent parts of the Massandra composition. The decoration of the room is in the Rococo style, using amazing stucco.
The Tsar's reception room differs significantly from the Empress's reception room; the Jacob style reigns here mainly. The interior is striking in its severity, one might even say severity.
The Empire style is also used in the palace, the front imperial office looks solemn, with gilded stucco everywhere.
The Romanov Museum contains a collection of paintings and sculptures, and many personal items that belonged to the royal dynasty. This collection is one of the most extensive in the world.
The palace still displays attributes reflecting Soviet times.
After looking at the luxurious design of the palace halls, you can move to the park, considered the best in Europe. The gardening design is in English style. Here exotic fruit bushes alternate with grandiose coniferous trees. Park alleys and paths are decorated with flower beds.
Residence location
Delightful Massandrovsky, royal palace located near Black Sea coast, among a lovely park area. Its address: Russia, Crimea peninsula, urban village Massandra, Naberezhnaya street, building 2. The museum building is on the balance sheet of the local municipality.
How to get to Massandra Palace
The best route is to get to the Massandra Palace from Yalta. You can implement your plans in different ways - by bus, trolleybus, minibus.
If you decide to get to Massandra by regular bus, then number 29 or other buses heading towards Alushta, Gurzuf or Simferopol will do. All flights depart from the bus station located in the center of Yalta. The fare will be 15 – 20 rubles.
If you choose a trolleybus, then take any flight. The most frequently used route is number two. The duration of the trip will take only fifteen minutes, and the ticket will cost ten rubles.
During the holiday season, flights to the village of Massandra are also carried out by minibus number 74.
Regardless of the chosen public vehicle, do not forget that the place of arrival is the “Upper Massandra Park” stop, from there to the residence it is about a thirty-minute walk at a calm pace. Due to this circumstance, some tourists resort to private taxi services.
There is an option to get to the museum-reserve from Alushta. A regular bus or trolleybus running on the route Alushta - Simferopol is suitable for this. By trolleybus, the travel time will be just over an hour, and by bus – about forty minutes. The price of a ticket for a trolleybus is twenty rubles, and for a bus it is more expensive - fifty rubles.
You can change the arrival point in the route, take the Yalta regular bus number 3, 100, or 44 to the stop on Stakhanovskaya Street, and then take a walk through the forest. A well-trodden forest path will lead directly to the residence.
The bus takes twenty minutes to the destination, the ticket costs 15 rubles. The trip is cheap and takes little time.
Cost of visiting the Massandra Palace in Yalta
The price of visiting the Massandra Ensemble is quite low and will not damage even a modest budget.
Opening hours of the Massandra Palace in Yalta
It is advisable to devote the whole day to sightseeing at the Massandra residence. Only during this time can you study the palace building in detail and it is quite interesting story, see all the premises, or rather their decoration, interior and decoration, admire the exhibitions of the family life of the royal dynasty, take a leisurely walk through the unique park part of the museum-reserve.
The doors of the museum are open to visitors every day, but according to a certain schedule. The palace can be visited from Monday to Friday inclusive, from nine in the morning to six in the evening. On Saturday and Sunday the museum closes two hours later than usual. There are no days off or lunch breaks in the work schedule.
Massandra Palace
- Sights and highlights interesting places Russia
- Sights of Crimea
- Massandra Palace - photo, park, how to get there
Massandra Palace one of many on south coast Crimea. It is located just a few kilometers from Yalta on the border of the village of Massandra.
The palace itself is quite small, three stories high. Bright yellow, with small turrets, huge balconies and openwork grilles, it looks more like some kind of fairy-tale house than a palace of the imperial family. The Massandra Palace was not intended for holding balls and receptions, so the rooms here are small and rather modest. Because of this, a tour of the palace itself may not be very exciting.
Massandra Palace. Crimea.
Massandra Park near the palace is very small, but very beautiful and well-groomed. The upper part of the park is a real rose garden, ideally complementing fairy tale image main building. A huge number of varieties of roses are collected here, near each bush there is a sign with the name of the variety and description. There is also a small pool with fish.
The main attraction of Massandra Park are two giant sequoiadendrons. These are relatively young trees, they are only 130 years old, but if you get closer to them, their name immediately becomes clear. They are truly gigantic.
Various Crimean herbs are planted in the lower part of the park. The main part of the garden is occupied by lavender, but there are also many other medicinal herbs such as honeysuckle, lemongrass, sage, etc. The mixture of smells here is mind-blowing.
Massandra Park
Ticket office from 9.00 to 18.15, exhibitions until 19.00,
Ticket office from 9.00 to 17.15
The park is free,
Palace: children's 150 rub., adults 300 rub.
Single ticket for all exhibitions: children 190 rubles, adults 380 rubles.
Massandra Palace, how to get there?
As you might guess, the palace is located not far from Massandra, and Massandra, in turn, is located a little east of Yalta.
From the Yuzhnoberezhnoe highway you need to turn onto the Simferopol highway. However, there is a normal turn onto it only if you go towards Yalta. If you are coming from Yalta, you need to turn in advance. Turn right into Massandra on the street. Mira, right at the turn there is a large inscription “Massandra”, turn coordinates Latitude 44°30′33″N (44.509076), Longitude 34°11′11″E (34.186397) From the street. Mira, at the first fork you need to turn left onto the street. Sovkhoznaya and moving along it get onto the Tourist Highway. You need to drive along it under the Yuzhnoberezhnoe Highway, and immediately after exiting it, turn onto the Simferopol Highway. If you suddenly pass this turn, you can drive another couple of kilometers and turn onto the Simferopol highway at the next turn.
Sequoiadendrons in the park.
Then we go to the sign “Massandra Palace”. As usual, spontaneous paid parking is organized near it, the cost in the summer of 2016 is 200 rubles. no time limit. You don’t have to pay, but there is a chance that something will happen to the car, and not without the help of parking attendants.
From the parking lot to the park you need to walk uphill for about half a kilometer.
By public transport.
Trolleybus 2 from Yalta to the “Verkhniy Massandra Park” stop.
Any intercity trolleybus to Simferopol. You need to ask the driver to stop at the bus stop, because... The trolleybus may not stop here.
From the stop you need to follow the direction of the trolleybus to the big left turn onto Simferopolskoye Highway, follow it to the parking lot and turn left following the signs to the palace.
History of Massandra Palace
The Massandra Palace was erected by order of Semyon Mikhailovich Vorontsov. Construction was completed in 1882. Then it was a house in the style of a knight's castle. The French architect Etienne Bouchard worked on the project.
8 years after the death of the owner, the house was bought by Alexander III. The emperor initiated the reconstruction of the house. The German architect Maximilian Messmacher drew the drawings according to which the house acquired a third floor, and its façade is truly a royal robe. Work began in 1892 and was completed 10 years later.
Alexander III could not wait for the renovation to be completed; the finished house went to Emperor Nicholas II. Although the palace was equipped according last word both electricity and hot water, it was not to the taste of the Romanovs. The family preferred to relax in the Livadia Palace.
In Soviet times, the royal dacha was used for 12 years as a boarding house “Proletarian Health” for patients with tuberculosis.
When World War II ended, the Magarach Institute of Winemaking moved to the palace. But less than three years had passed when Joseph Stalin ordered the building to be somewhat improved. After conversion, it served as a government dacha for more than half a century.
After the collapse of the USSR, the palace received the title of a state Ukrainian museum and is open to everyone. After the inclusion of Crimea into the territory of Russia, the palace became a Russian museum.
Massandra Palace
Massandra Palace in Crimea is a local landmark, visited by thousands of tourists every year. This is a work of art, shrouded in history. That is why history buffs and others love him. There are special excursions here. The palace itself is located not far from Yalta, so getting to it is not difficult. The area around the building is quite picturesque. There is a small forest belt around, and behind it there is beautiful park, spread over a large area. More than 1,000 plants and shrubs grow there, which is of genuine interest to botanists.
Brief history of Massandra Palace
This building owes its appearance to Count Semyon Mikhailovich Vorontsov. It was he who ordered the construction of this palace in 1881. The main architect was the Frenchman Etienne Bouchard. It was he who drew up the design of this grandiose building, where everything necessary was provided. Unfortunately, construction was suddenly frozen in 1882 as a result of the sudden death of the Count.
In 1892, construction continued according to the existing drawings. Only then did the state become the owner of the palace. Oscar Wegener was appointed chief architect. He kept the base of the palace, which was compiled by Bouchard, but made several changes to it that made the structure even more beautiful.
It is interesting that Alexander III was not destined to see the architect’s creation due to his death. After his death, the construction plan was changed once again. Nicholas II, who ascended the throne, personally approved several changes that affected only extensions. On March 22, 1902, the palace was put into operation and became the imperial dacha in Crimea. Nicholas II was pleased with the work, however, despite the status assigned to the palace, members of the imperial family never visited it. They preferred another palace, also located not far from Yalta.
At the very beginning of the formation of Soviet power, the Massandra Palace was damaged as a result of strong tremors. However, it was restored in 1928 and a medical and preventive institution was created in it as part of the implementation of the All-Union health resort program. It was here that children with pulmonary tuberculosis were treated for a long time. The sea and mountain air of Crimea favorably promotes recovery, and under the control of experienced doctors this process was much faster.
During the Great Patriotic War, staff and patients were evacuated, and after its completion, a research institute was based in the palace, which was involved in the development of winemaking in the USSR. However, the research institute did not last long here. In 1948, the leader of the people Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin made it his dacha. It was here that he loved to relax while in Crimea. After his death, other leaders of the CPSU also rested here: Brezhnev, Khrushchev, Andropov and others.
Today this structure is on the balance sheet of the Alupka Museum-Reserve. A beautiful park was laid out around it, and inside there is an exhibition of the Romanov house. It is considered one of the largest due to the large number of exhibits. At the same time, oddly enough, not a single member of the Romanov dynasty has ever been here.
Excursions and exhibitions
Massandra Palace invites you to take slow walks in a calm atmosphere. Locals and tourists can visit this place from 9.00 to 18.00 on weekdays and until 20.00 on Saturdays. The money collected goes to maintaining the palace and its grounds in proper condition.
There are several excursions here, namely:
- Dedicated to Alexander III. It happens all the time. On the ground floor you can see how the emperor lived and how everything was thought out in his habitat. At the same time, there is no special luxury: everything is within reason. Not only household items of the imperial family are presented here, but also various paintings. The price of such an exhibition for adults is 300 rubles and 150 rubles for children.
- “How We Lived...The Ideal of the Past” takes place on the third floor of the palace. Paintings by Soviet artists are exhibited here, showing the life and everyday life of Soviet people. Sculptures and other exhibitions are also exhibited here. This exhibition allows you to plunge into the past for only 50 rubles (25 rubles per child). It is of particular interest to those who experienced life in the USSR, but history buffs will also be interested in seeing how their relatives lived.
- A tour of the palace grounds is no less fascinating, but is only available for groups of 15 people or more. The ticket price is the same for everyone and is 380 rubles. Here everyone can walk through the royal park and enjoy its beauty. Indeed, a large number of bushes, flowers, fountains and sculptures make this place unusually beautiful.
- Another tour takes place around the palace grounds and is tied to the life of Stalin. He made the palace his summer home and lived and worked here since 1948. Tourists and local residents they pass through the places where the leader of the people lived.
There are various cafes and souvenir shops on the territory, so everyone can buy something for themselves to take home as a souvenir of their visit to the excursion.
How to get to the palace
It is located in an urban village of the same name, but is separated from it by a small forest belt. You can get there from Yalta in just 30 minutes using public transport. You will need to take bus 29 or other routes that go to Gurzuf, Simferopol or Alushta. From Alushta you can take public transport that goes to Simferopol. You need to get off at the “Upper Massandra Park” stop.
Next you need to walk. The road is asphalted. Along the way you will come across a statue of an eagle, next to which there is a turn that you need. Passing by residential buildings, you can get to the checkpoint to the palace. This is where tickets for excursions are sold. If you do not purchase them here, you will have to go to the palace itself to purchase them.
