KRASNODAR (From Ekaterinodar to finish)
Those
“Master Rallye” participants who will manage not to loose all of
their powers and vehicles during the exhausting race along the
endless Russian spaces will be awarded with wonderful finish at
Black Sea shore, in the region of Krasnodar famous for its
picturesque views and healthy mineral waters. Russian “granary”
and “health-centre”, as this region is often called, is situated
in the same time zone as Moscow and on the same latitude as Northern
Italy and Southern France.
In
1793 the Cossacks built a new fortress in the place of an old one
and called it Ekaterinodar (gift of Catherine) after Russian Empress
Catherine 2. Nowadays, the whole region is called by the modern name
of the town - Krasnodar. Ekaterinodar was an administrative centre
of Black Sea Cossacks army, served as a military town and a fortress
for a long time. Military road was passing by the town walls and
Cossack cordons. It was used for transportation of banished
revolutionary-Decembrist Besstujev to the Caucasus, great Russian
poets and writers such as Pushkin and Lermontov have traveled there.
In
1920 Ekaterinodar was renamed to Krasnodar. The region of Krasnodar
is one of the most developed and densely populated regions of the
country, it has rich history closely connected with different
nations that inhabited its territory and multiple military battles.
The Emblem and the Flag of the region has a fortress and some
Cossack symbols not by chance. Region of Krasnodar is one of the
most multinational in Russia, great number of nations and religions
from all over the world are gathered here. This land is also a
historical one for the Cossacks, and nowadays 1/5 of its inhabitants
are the Cossacks.
Each
town has its own individual feature, some unique coloring. Towns in
the South of Russia have their own unique beauty and beneficial
climate, peculiar exactly to this region. Krasnodar deserves its
name of “a pearl of Kuban” by right.
Mild
climate, plenty of verdure, short winters and tender Southern sun
are very attractive for the guests of the town. Krasnodar has its
special charm thanks to chestnut avenues, that exhale enchanting
fragrance. There are a lot of recherche park zones with fountains of
amazing beauty, comfortable summer cafes under the canopy of
plane-trees inviting everyone to have a rest. The residents of
Krasnodar are known as very friendly and hospitable people, they
always give all guests a cordial and sincere welcome and a small
part of their Southern sun.
But
most of all the region of Krasnodar is famous for its wine. Main
place for vine-growing is situated in the region of Black Sea. In
the neighborhood of Novorossiisk there is a fairy-tale place -
Abrau-Durso. The greatness of the mountains with relic forests
harmonize there with amazing beauty of the fresh handmade lake Abrau,
that delights everyone without exception. Rivers, cold springs and
mountain streams give their waters to Abrau lake. This is the
biggest lake of North-West Caucasus (its square is 160 hectares). A
valley of vineyards is really wonderful and amazing, with its great
number of vineyards and river Abrau leading its cool and transparent
waters to Black Sea among the vineyards.
Northern
region of Black Sea is famous for its wine-making since the ancient
times. By the order of Emperor Alexander 2 in October, 1870 an
appanage estate “Abrau-Durso” was founded for the development of
vine-growing and wine-making. Its plenty climate is ideal for
vine-growing, and neither Burgundy and Provence, nor Crimea and
Kakhetia can be compared with it. In 1832 white and red wines of
Abrau-Durso were awarded with several medals and diplomas, and in
1890-95 deep underground tunnels were built there for storage of
champagne wines. At that very time several specialists from France
were invited, they worked there until October Revolution 1917, but
they did not open their secrets of champagne making to Russian
specialists of wine-making.
In
1920 the only champagne production in USSR was resumed after having
unriddled the secrets of its making. Russian champagne “Brut”
got the highest prize - “Grand-Prix” Cup - in 1970 at the
International wine-testing. The sorts of Krasnodar wines, such as
“Fanagoria” or “Abrau-Durso”, are the fame of Russian and
Kuban wine-making. Nowadays Abrau-Durso wine plant is widely known
and famous all over the world.
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