• 1 day trip
• Bus-trip
• Karachaevo-Cherkessia
• North Caucasus
• Russia
• Еxcursions

Departure from Nalchik at 06:00 in the morning from city center.

About Arkhyz one has only to mention the most ancient Christian churches in Nizhny Arkhyz, built in the Byzantine style, the miraculous face of Christ discovered in the recent past, which is 1300 years old, many ancient burial places, menhirs, ruins of buildings and fortresses in the mountains, the remains of an irrigation system, traces of agriculture are visible in some places.

It is here that the first Byzantine churches in Russia are located. In a single complex there are Byzantine churches dating back to the 9th-10th centuries, rock paintings of Jesus Christ, as well as an ancient observatory. This unique building of the 9th-10th centuries amazes contemporaries with its grandeur to this day.

As the analysis showed, the icon has a multi-layered structure and is painted on the rock with white, dark red and brown paints. The icon is painted with ancient tempera paints. Tempera — paints made from dry powder natural pigments. Judging by historical data, in particular, based on the age of neighboring churches, the icon can be dated to the 7th-11th centuries AD.

The northern branch of the Great Silk Road passed through these places, through the accessible passes of the Main Caucasian Range. In the village of Arkhyz, for the first time in Europe, the Alans who lived here built avalanche protection structures more than a thousand years ago.
So, the sightseers are waited for:

Taking the bus to Mount Pastukhov (2100 meters above sea level), viewing the panorama of the Arkhyz mountains, subalpine meadows, visiting the Main Astrophysical Observatory of our country. Here, tourists climb the Upper Scientific Platform of the observatory, inspect the largest optical telescope in Eurasia with a mirror diameter of 6 meters. From here, the whole valley of the Big Zelenchuk and the mountain ranges of Arkhyz are very well visible.

Lower Arkhyz settlement, Alano-Byzantine temples of the 10th century.
The source of sparkling water (Holy spring) and the ancient observatory of the Alans.
In a walking tour of the Arkhyz settlement, tourists visit the Ilyinsky and St. George churches restored after restoration work.

Ascent to the rock with the Face of Christ (Arkhyzsky Face — Savior Not Made by Hands). Excursion rise to the rock icon of the Savior Not Made by Hands, which is a copy of the Shroud of Turin.

Rest on the banks of the Bolshoy Zelenchuk River: lunch (package, or national cuisine of local cafes). During the tour there is an opportunity to purchase the famous Arkhyz mushrooms and berries, mountain honey.

Romantik village is located 10 km west of Arkhyz village, at an altitude of 1658 meters above sea level. Romantik is a tourist complex with several hotels, restaurants, a service center, a cable car and ski rental in winter, bicycles and segways in summer.

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