«This is one of the most charming corners I have ever seen; only the best places in Italy and Switzerland can bear comparison with it. Here is everything that can give a happy combination in one landscape of the blue sea, wild rocky mountains and southern vegetation», — so wrote after another business trip about the future Professors’ Corner one of its founders, the outstanding scientist N.A. Golovkinsky, and later he decided to stay there forever.
Professors’ Corner is the western district of Alushta, located in a picturesque area at the foot of Mount Kastel, rising above sea level by almost 500 meters. In this amphitheater drowned in greenery, also called the valley of Cholmekchi and Baar-Dere («Spring Gorge»), you can see the former summer houses and estates of many famous figures of science and art.
One of the first in the 30-ies of the XIX century, this paradise place was favored by the author of the first guidebook to the Crimea M.A. Sosnogorova-Slavich. After Maria Alexandrovna’s death, N.A. Golovkinsky continued her work and was the first to purchase a plot of land at the foot of Mount Kastel in 1872.
Gradually, the entire Russian intelligentsia and scientific elite of the 19th century began to flock to the green valley near the sea coast. Inspiring landscapes, clean and fragrant air, magnificent beaches, mild climate and like-minded neighbors, representatives of science and art — all this attracted to the Professors’ Corner, named so for obvious reasons, very prominent personalities.
Professors A.E. Golubev, D.I. Tikhomirov, A.I. Kirpichnikov, N.A. Golovkinsky, the first woman doctor N.P. Suslova, writers S.I. Sergeyev-Tsensky, I.S. Shmelev, architect A.N. Beketov and his father — scientist N.N. Beketov, as well as many other outstanding minds worked, rested and lived in the Professors’ Corner. Today, the fact that once all these people lived here is reminded by the memorial museums opened in the Professor’s Corner, which can be visited by anyone: literaturno-memorialnyj-muzej-sergeev-Tsenskogo, house-museum of academician of architecture A.N. Beketov, museum of I.S. Shmelev and others.
But not only big names made Professors’ Corner famous. Well-appointed beach, wide and spacious, as well as a modern water park «Almond Grove» make Professors’ Corner one of the best resort areas of the Crimea. This calm and quiet, remote from the city, but at the same time, modern and interesting place attracts tourists who want to swim in crystal clear water and bask under the warm and gentle rays of the sun.
For everyone who is planning a vacation in Crimea, Professor’s Corner can be a great place to stay. Here you can see the sights of Alushta, and have fun in aquapark «Almond Grove», and improve your health in one of the many resorts. N.A. Golovkinsky is absolutely right — there is everything here, which is the most «happy combination».