Dante's gorge in Goryachy Klyuch

What to Expect and Is It Worth Visiting

Dante's gorge – this is an equipped hiking trail between narrow cliffs with a length of about 100 meters, the main natural attraction in Goryachy Klyuch. It received its name in honor of Dante Alighieri, in whose work "The Divine Comedy" they saw the similarity of this place with the entrance to the afterlife.

The gorge is part of the so-called Medical Park, consisting of a network of trails and paths-terrenkur in the forest part of the resort. Originally, it was only a small trench in the rocks, washed over millions of years of water. But especially for the organization of the walking route in the middle of the XIX century, it was deepened, steps were carved on the ascents, stairs with railings and bridges were installed. On the way through it you will see a mini-waterfall and a stream, traces of work on the walls of rock, and "modern hieroglyphs" left on them by tourists.

In addition to the gorge itself, at the entrance to it you will see the chapel of the Iveron icon of the mother of God, a monument to the creators of the resort and living water, you can drink or collect natural mineral water from the ferruginous spring of St. Panteleimon. And not far from here on one of the trails there is a "tourist fake" - allegedly the fortress of Psyfabe. Many pseudo-guidebooks unknowingly pass off as the ruins of this ancient fortress the remains of an old kiln, but in fact the fortress was in another place, and there was nothing left of it except a pile of stones.