The Black Sea coast of the Western Caucasus is literally dotted with dolmens, reminiscent of the ancient peoples who inhabited these lands, their culture, traditions and beliefs. Among them there is one that is unique even by world standards. This is the monolithic Volkonsky dolmen, which reached its contemporaries in almost perfect condition. Even in Europe, where stone buildings began to be protected from vandalism and destruction back in the 18th century, there are simply no analogues to it. What is striking is not only its size, but also the titanic efforts that the nameless architects spent on the construction of the mystical structure.
A little about dolmens
Historians cannot say exactly where dolmens first began to be built. It is believed that this could be the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands or Sardinia. It is believed that these were ritual and religious buildings that served as spiritual centers for ancient people. Located in centers of geo- and electromagnetic activity, they have certain paranormal properties. Being near them for a long time has been proven by doctors to affect a person. For example, cell division or platelet formation and glucose release accelerate, blood pressure rises and migraines occur, which adversely affects the body.
In the western part of the Caucasus Mountains, about 3 thousand structures of the late “megalithic” period were discovered, which can be divided into two types: composite and monolithic. The first are built from several stones or rock slabs, as if made up of parts, the second are hollowed out in solid pieces of rock. Most of them have been destroyed by time or man, but some are well preserved, reaching our time in almost pristine condition.
Description
The Volkonsky dolmen belongs to the monolithic group and is the only completed and surviving representative of this type. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that even the roof of the building is part of the “native” rock, and not a stone partition placed on top over time. It is carved inside a huge piece of stone (about 17-18 meters long and about 8 meters wide), and it is difficult to imagine how they could do this more than 4,000 years ago.
Externally, the dolmen looks exactly like its tiled “brothers”, with a furnished facade and a round entrance-hole. Behind it lies a fairly large dome-shaped interior space, with a ceiling height of up to 1.5 meters, where several adults can easily fit. The main cavity was created by removing softer rocks and sand, but the walls still bear marks from the chisel used to widen the chamber.
The floor of the interior is also stone and flat, processed by man, and has a recess near the entrance. Some scientists believe that it serves to collect moisture in one place. Others suspect “black archaeologists” who were looking for anything valuable inside.
At the back of the rock in which the dolmen is carved, there is a second bowl-shaped recess, which causes controversy among experts. Some are sure that this is the first place where ancient builders tried to break into the stone. The second suggests that this is a religious recess that was used for ritual purposes.
In addition to all the mystical properties inherent in stone structures, the Volkonsky dolmen constantly emits a “hum” at low frequencies, inaudible to the human ear. This has been proven by scientists and measuring instruments. Thus, it indirectly confirms the hypothesis, which is fantastic for most, that the structures could be used as “relays”, providing “cellular” communications between various tribes and villages of ancient people.
Where is the Volkonsky dolmen and how to get there
Geographically, the dolmen is located near the village Volkonka, 60 kilometers north of the center of Greater Sochi, in the valley of the mountain river Godlich. The settlement is part of the Lazarevsky district of the resort city, located on the A-147 highway, the only one running along the entire Black Sea coast. From the village itself to the Volkonsky Gorge there are about 600 equipped meters in one direction, so a visit to the dolmen can be called a “weekend” excursion, accessible even to small tourists.
To visit the Volkonsky dolmen, just get to Volkonka using personal or public transport, where the walking part of the route begins. Please note that the megalith is located on the right side of the highway (towards the sea), when looking in the direction Sochi .
What else to see in the gorge
Behind the Volkonsky dolmen there is a hydrogen sulfide mineral spring, the water into which comes directly from a geological fault. Under no circumstances should you drink it, but it has beneficial properties when used externally (washing, pouring or rubbing).
A trail starts from the spring and runs along the river along the bottom of the gorge. It is well maintained, not difficult, and in the right places is equipped with railings and bridges. The path leads to another attraction of Volkonka and Lazarevsky– rock “Two Brothers”. This rock formation consists of two rock blocks that form an irregular arch, under which the Godlich flows. Rocks overgrown with moss and vegetation and streams of water running out with murmurs create a stunning impression worthy of a short trip to them.
It becomes especially interesting after becoming acquainted with the legend, according to which the stone giants are siblings, and the river is the lover of one of them. Local residents say that a long time ago a young man named Aslan lived in these places. He was from a rich and noble family, but he fell in love with the commoner Godlich, whose marriage with whom all his relatives protested. Especially her brother, Khadzhimuk, who demanded never to meet with her again.
The young man could not give up his love, preferring to turn into stone, and his brother, realizing what he had done, also became a rock, remaining nearby forever, atonement for his guilt. This conversation and the transformation of her beloved into stone was seen by Godlich, who also did not want to part with Aslan, and became a mountain river, washing the bases of the rocks with its eternal flow. They say that on special days, if you listen closely, you can make out the names of the brothers and the would-be bride in the murmur of water.
The Volkonsky dolmen is the only ancient monolithic structure preserved in the Caucasus, assembled not from slabs, but entirely carved into the rock.
A similar building is located in the Krasnodar region, in the suburbs of Tuapse. It is called the Prosperity dolmen and is considered the largest ancient structure in the entire region. It is also carved into the rock, but not as a solid monolith, but with a roof covered with a stone slab.
Unusual type of building
The Volkonsky dolmen, the photo of which is presented in the article, was created from a single piece of rock. Inside it was carved through a small external hole. Scientists date such structures to the 2nd millennium BC. However, there is evidence that this ancient monolith was built 5-7 thousand years ago.
How was it possible to create such a dolmen in those days with primitive tools? Experts are only making guesses on this matter. It is this quality of the dolmen that attracts a large number of tourists and vacationers.
There are more than a hundred such buildings in Sochi, but they are all tiled. The Volkonsky building is the only one of its kind, which was created without component parts.
The structure itself is an archaeological monument and is located in the Lazarevsky district, near the village of Volkonka, not far from the Godlikh River.
The purpose of the monolith
According to some research scientists, such buildings served as a kind of sanctuary for ancient people; special rituals and meditations were carried out in them. The Volkonsky dolmen is no exception. Legend says that it received its name from Princess Volkonskaya, whose estate was located nearby. She loved to spend a lot of time near the dolmen in spiritual reflection.
Next to the building there is a mineral spring, and a little further along the path rises the “Two Brothers” rock.
Volkonsky dolmen - how to get there?
This ancient place is very easy to get to. You need to drive along the Lazarevskoye-Sochi road to the village of Soloniki. Then drive another two kilometers, and there will be a parking lot. Here you should leave your vehicle and follow the path towards the sea. After 300-400 meters it will lead right to the dolmen. The path is created in the form of a staircase.
It is prohibited to go down into the gorge where the ancient structure is located by car, and the road here is very bad for cars. In addition, a short hike through the forest will only be beneficial and joyful.
The gorge and dolmen, along with other attractions, are available for a fee to visit.
Volkonsky dolmen: reviews
Judging by the reviews of tourists and people who visited the ancient structure, what strikes them most is the antiquity of the building and the way in which it was carved from a piece of rock. Some experts believe that it is the only one of its kind not only in Russia, but throughout the world.
The structure itself is large in size: its length is 17 meters, its width is just over 8 meters. The entrance to the dolmen is made in the form of a slab.
Inside there is a large shelter, the height of which is 1.5 meters. Several people can comfortably fit here.
The Volkonsky dolmen monolith has a flat floor. At the entrance there is a round funnel, presumably for draining water or some other liquid.
The structure is designed in such a way that it creates a strong echo. Thus, all words spoken into the dolmen’s hole come back without distortion.
External attractions of the building
This sacred place has some special attraction. This is often emphasized by both visitors and residents of Sochi. The Volkonsky dolmen has special holes on the top and back, which are considered to be ritual bowls.
A bowl located at the top collects rainwater. Many people believe that it has medicinal properties. However, it is not recommended to drink it. And we will return to this a little later.
What is a dolmen?
These buildings are studied by archeologists and physicists, as well as many people outside the official scientific community. Each of them finds something valuable in these ancient buildings. Some say that dolmens are burial chambers, others are sacrificial places, and still others are rooms for solitary meditation and initiation into various cults. As many people study these ancient structures, there are so many opinions.
Although some statements are probably worth listening to. So, many children begin to have headaches near the dolmen, which has been noticed by many scientists.
Experts conducting research into the influence of ancient buildings on the human condition noticed that staying near the dolmen for a long time (4 hours) increases the level of platelets in the blood, and this is not good for health and affects the glucose level in the blood, which is dangerous for those with diabetes. In this case, the pressure rises to the maximum permissible values.
Many doctors have come to the conclusion that a long stay near an ancient building greatly affects the nervous system.
Versions of scientists
Experts believe that most of the anomalies are due to the fact that dolmens are built along fault lines in the earth’s crust, which creates an electromagnetic field that affects both natural processes and human health.
Thus, the Volkonsky dolmen, according to scientists, emits low-frequency “sound” in the range of 2.8 Hz, which is not perceived by our hearing aid.
Also, many studies and experiments have shown that food and drink should not be “charged” in these ancient buildings. A liquid that sits in a dolmen for a day, entering the human body, stimulates the process of cell division, which can lead to cancer.
There are many secrets of these buildings. It is impossible to solve them all. The main secret that excites ordinary visitors to dolmens and famous scientists: “How were they built? How were the huge slabs transported and how were they installed?” There is a version that dolmens were cast in parts, as concrete structures are made in our time.
Cost of visit
Entrance to the gorge, where the Volkonsky dolmen is also located, costs 100 rubles.
Children under ten years of age, participants of the Great Patriotic War and hostilities, disabled people of groups 1 and 2 and other socially protected segments of the population have free admission.
Experts' opinions
Ancient people, including our ancestors, did not possess modern construction technologies, but they could build and had such an opportunity, masterpieces of architecture that stand not only for centuries, but also for millennia. For example, Egyptian pyramids, British Stonehenge and, of course, dolmens.
The fact that modern technology cannot repeat the construction of the ancients tells us that the ancient people were not so primitive, but possessed knowledge that their descendants never dreamed of.
Therefore, scientists, researchers and various kinds of specialists only shrug their shoulders when it comes to ancient structures. The only thing that scientists agree on is that almost all such buildings that have survived to our times were intended for performing religious rituals and ceremonies.
Legends of the Volkon Gorge
There is a beautiful story associated with the dolmen, which guides tell tourists. One rich and noble young man fell in love with a poor but beautiful girl. The young man's elder brother, having learned about this, forbade him to marry her. The lover then exclaimed that he would rather turn into stone than live without his beloved, and immediately the gods fulfilled his request. The elder, seeing this, repented and asked heaven for the same fate that befell his brother. This is how two rocks appeared in the gorge, called “Two Brothers”. And the girl could not exist without her lover and was transformed into the purest stream that flows nearby.
Here is such a wonderful legend that explains the toponymy of this wondrous and mysterious place.
Conclusion
The Volkonsky dolmen is not only a monument of archeology, but also of history. Many lovers of “places of power”, alternativeists and ordinary tourists come here to touch thousand-year-old antiquity, visit a beautiful place called the Volkon Gorge and enjoy the amazing view and clean air.
Those who see in the domain not just a historical structure from the Stone or Bronze Age, but a sacred ritual place, should keep in mind that conducting experiments on your psyche without proper preparation and the necessary knowledge is extremely dangerous. Just as already mentioned, none of the products should be “charged”. After all, apart from the definition that a dolmen is a “place of power,” no one really knows what rituals were performed here, maybe they also made some sacrifices.
But in any case, everyone who approaches this ancient place feels some kind of solemnity, mystery and great antiquity. In the end, it is our history that we must know and respect. Moreover, there is significant evidence that our ancestors did not “come out of the trees” when the first Europeans came to them, but, on the contrary, already possessed ancient and megalithic structures, knowledge and a highly developed culture. And the described dolmen is an example of this.
Volkonsky dolmen
The unique Volkonsky dolmen is located 200-300 meters from the Novorossiysk-Sochi highway in the gorge of the Godpik River.
In the vicinity of Sochi there are tiled, composite monolithic, cruciform and well-shaped dolmens. A remarkable example of a megalithic dolmen is the Volkonsky dolmen.
A flat platform was carved out of a huge piece of sandstone rock at a height of 4 meters. Overhanging it is a façade wall with a hole through which the main horseshoe-shaped chamber with a spherical ceiling is “hollowed out.” On the roof of this dolmen there is a round depression, up to 60 cm in diameter and depth. There is only one convenient stepped approach to it from the platform in front of the facade along the end of the wall.
During construction, a cut was made in the monolith and part of the monolith with the dolmen was deployed with the dolmen's façade oriented toward the summer solstice. When studying the dolmen, it was found that the megalith is located in a zone of seismic activity, which is a generator of acoustic waves with frequencies that resonate in the dolmen chamber.
Dolmens are acoustic devices that generate at different frequencies. A kind of information portals into subtle worlds. All dolmens “hum” and the Volkonsky dolmen incl.
According to some scientists, this is (exactly like others) an ancient sanctuary of our ancestors, who used it for ritual ceremonies, for communication with the subtle worlds, with deities, with spirits, with ancestors, as well as for the transition to information fields (to the concept " death" in those days was treated somewhat differently than now).
The dolmen received its name in honor of Princess Volkonskaya, who spent a lot of time in spiritual communication with the dolmen. It is approximately 9.5 thousand years old (!). In a number of cases, the placement of dolmens near springs has been noted, and the dolmen on the Godpik River is located next to a mineral spring. The technique of constructing and processing dolmen-monoliths required knowledge of certain techniques, possibly related to the use of skills to control sound waves or something else.
Not a single excursion here is complete without a story about two brothers and the beautiful bride of one of them. A young man from a noble and wealthy family, who fell in love with a poor, rootless girl, was forbidden by his elder brother to even think about his chosen one, ordering him not to disgrace the family.
And then the unfortunate lover exclaimed in his hearts that it was better to turn into stone than to live without his beloved. Heaven immediately fulfilled the request made to them. The repentant older brother, unable to bear the loss, decided to share the fate of the younger one. This is how the second stone statue appeared here. It is clear that the beauty could not stay in this world without her beloved, and she became a beautiful small river with clear, cool water.
Exact location of the dolmen: along the section of the Lazarevskoye-Sochi highway, passing the village of Soloniki, after about 2 km on the right of the road you will see a parking lot. The road goes into the forest, towards the sea and after 300 meters leads to a dolmen. Nearby there is a mineral weak hydrogen sulfide spring. If you follow the path behind the dolmen, you can see the picturesque rock “Two Brothers”.
Unfortunately, recently some tourists have brought here the not very good custom of tying scraps of fabric and polyethylene on the trees around the dolmen. This not only spoils the view, but also destroys trees.
After all, there are up to 300 people a day here during the season. Imagine what the nature around you will turn into if everyone becomes “infected” with such a hobby.
How to get to the Volkonsky dolmen (Instructions for use)
In the village of Volkonka there is one of the largest, daytime, mysterious structures - the Volkonsky dolmen.The Volkonsky dolmen is the only monolith dolmen in the Caucasus that is perfectly preserved.The Volkonsky dolmen belongs territorially to the Sochi National Park and is protected by the Lazarevsky forestry.According to their purpose, dolmens most likely belong to burial grounds or sanctuaries. Such conclusions were drawn from the discovery of remains and a stone altar in one of the dolmens. Read more about the origin, purpose and classifications of dolmens
April 11, 2015 and we went to get acquainted with the Volkonsky dolmen in the village of Volkonka. This is what our article talks about. We, as usual, write how to get to the Volkonsky dolmen, and what you can see there besides the dolmen! And there is something to see!
So, getting to the Volkonsky dolmen is very easy by train. We looked at the Lastochka schedule and took the first flight from Olympic Park to Tuapse.
ELECTRIC TRAIN SCHEDULE SWALLOW to the Volkonsky dolmen can be found on the website (for some reason the Yandex schedule does not display the Volkonskaya station).
It is best to get off at Volkonskaya station, and not on the BBC (as we did). After getting off at this station, you need to walk 50 meters in the opposite direction and you will see the stairs to the top and then the road. The road is asphalted and level. The climb is not steep, and you can leisurely walk to the Volkonsky dolmen in 20 minutes. The road will go past the private sector of the village. Volkonka. Basically, the entire route is laid along Olkhovaya Street, starting from houses 3, 5, 7, 9 and continuing its path straight without turning anywhere to house No. 18.
You will see signs on the road (white hand-made signs hidden on the left). After you have gone in this direction, we go to the red sign for the Volkonsky dolmen. The main road will go even higher, but you need to go to the right, down. You will need to cross the suspension bridge over the Godpik River and further into the forest towards the Dolmen. 
Approaching the Volkonsky dolmen, you will cross the river several times. Godpeak across the bridges.At the entrance there is a cashier's hut, and apparently in the summer there is a cashier sitting here who charges a fee for visiting. A visit to the Volkonsky dolmen will cost you 80 rubles. per person, and since we went in the off-season, there was no one to pay. To the left of the ticket office there is an incorrect diagram of the Godpin Gorge and the route itself. It is incorrect because the location of the highway is indicated incorrectly (Map with a yellow background).
Even standing at the Cashier's Office, you can already see the dolmen itself from afar. At the entrance you will be greeted by wooden animals.
The dolmen itself is carved from a single monolithic stone. Handsome, isn't he?
It is located somewhere 1-1.5 meters from the ground, standing on huge boulders. There is no plug at the Volkonsky dolmen, apparently it was lost. Therefore, when you climb up, you can look inside and feel the special aura of the dolmen. 
By going around the back of the dolmen, you can approach the hydrogen sulfide spring, the source is small, the water runs in a small stream straight from the rock, you can taste it (although the smell and taste are very peculiar), you can come here with an empty bottle to get healthy water and take it with you .
And also tie a ribbon on the tree and make a wish. There are a lot of ribbons here!
Even further from the Volkonsky dolmen there is an equipped trail through the forest, along the Godpik River to the famous “Two Brothers” rock.
The Volkonsky dolmen was named after Princess Volkonskaya, who spent a lot of time near it. And the age of the Volkonsky dolmen is approximately nine and a half thousand years.
A beautiful legend is also associated with the Volkonsky dolmen: one young man from a very rich and noble family fell in love with a poor but very beautiful girl. But his brother, having learned about his feelings, forbade him to marry the girl, calling this marriage a disgrace for the whole family. The young man, hearing such words from his brother, exclaimed in an outburst that it would be better for him to turn into a rock than to live without his beloved. Heaven heard the young man's request...and seeing what was happening, the brother repented of what he had said and wanted to share his brother's fate. Thus, behind the Volkonsky dolmen two rocks “Two Brothers” were formed. The girl, having learned about what had happened, did not want to live without her beloved and turned into a clean, small, mountain river...
With this sad legend, I will sum up our mini-trip.
We advise everyone to go to this ancient natural monument. You will not remain indifferent.In terms of time, the journey by train will take on average 2 hours there, 2 hours there. It's better to go in the morning. The walking time around the territory of the Volkonsky dolmen will be from 40 minutes or more, according to your desire.
The cost of Swallow one way for 1 person is 119 rubles. Admission during the summer period is 80 rubles. We recommend taking a thermos of hot tea or coffee + sandwiches with you. There are equipped trails and convenient rest and snack areas. 
Total costs without provisions: 318 rubles per person. (road + entrance fee).You can go to the Volkonsky dolmen either independently or in the company of K2KLUBA.
More photos about the Volkonsky dolmen in our VKontakte group
The Volkonsky dolmen is one of the amazing attractions of the Lazarevsky district. A unique architectural monument protected by the state. It is located near the village of Volkonka, not far from the federal highway Sochi-Novorossiys in the gorge of the Godlik River.
These ancient megaliths are more than one thousand years old. They are considered the same age as the Egyptian pyramids. According to scientists, dolmens once served as religious buildings, possibly burial places, where various kinds of ceremonies and rituals were held.
The word dolmen is translated from ancient British as “stone table”. Where did this name come from? The fact is that dolmens, as a rule, were built according to one model: four stone walls or pillars and a massive table-like stone lid on top. In different countries, dolmens look different. For example, Irish dolmens look more like stone tables, while our Caucasian ones look more like the houses of some fairy-tale creatures. The entrance to the dolmen is a small round hole with a diameter of about 50 cm, into which a child can easily crawl. Perhaps that is why the Circassians called dolmens with the word “ispun”, which means “houses of dwarfs”.
Dolmens are monolithic, trough-shaped, composite, tiled and well-shaped. Most of the dolmens in the Caucasus are composite and only one, Volkonsky, is monolithic. The chamber of this dolmen was carved into a large block of irregularly shaped stone. The rock is officially considered sandstone, but contains many inclusions of quartz. Quartz is not usually found in sandstone, but there was unexpectedly much of it in this rock. The inside of the chamber is dome-shaped. The walls are not sanded, which may indicate that the construction process is incomplete. The ceiling height is about 1.5 m. The dolmen is 16 m long and about 8 m wide. Not far from the entrance there is a funnel-shaped depression in the floor. Perhaps it was intended to drain water or had some kind of ritual purpose. On the back side of the dolmen wall there is another round hole, which was also probably used during rituals. The round entrance hole is well preserved, but the plug, like most dolmens, has been lost. To look inside the dolmen, you need to climb to the platform, which is located at a height of 4 meters above the ground. An interesting fact is that the front wall of the dolmen is hollowed out in such a way that it seems as if it is attached, like in the case of composite type dolmens. To the right of the entrance, something like a seat is hollowed out from the outside, and there is also a small hole in the stone immediately before the entrance to the dolmen. Nowadays, one can only guess what the meaning of all these numerous bowls and recesses is.
According to some data, the age of the Volkonsky dolmen is 7-8 thousand years.
The dolmen was named Volkonsky in honor of Princess Volkonskaya, who often visited it and loved to be in these places. Nowadays, thousands of tourists come to see this wonder. Many people consider dolmens to be places of power and visit them for the purpose of healing from illnesses or fulfilling desires. Others like to touch the ancient secret, because until now scientists have not been able to determine exactly who and why these stone structures were built. In any case, visiting a dolmen is an encounter with the unknown. In addition, dolmens are always located in very picturesque places. This also applies to the Volkonsky dolmen. If you go a little further behind the dolmen along an equipped forest path, you can admire the “Two Brothers” rock and swim in a spring with mineral sulfur-hydrogen water.
How to get to the Volkonsky dolmen
Getting to the dolmen is not difficult. Option one - by car. If you drive from Tuapse, then 2 (two) km after the village of Soloniki you will see a parking lot on the right of the road. A road goes down from it, which after 200 (two hundred) m will lead you to the dolmen. If you drive from the direction of Sochi, then 3 (three) km after the village of Volkonka there will be the same sign and parking on the left.
Option two: take regular bus No. 155 “Sochi-Lazarevskoye” to the “Volkonsky Dolmen” stop.
Third option: by train Adler-Tuapse. You need to get to the Volkonka station. Once on the platform, go to the opposite side of the train and go up the stairs. You will be taken to the village of Volkonka. You need to go through the village, reach the Godlik River and climb along it to the entrance to the dolmen, where there is a ticket office and a barrier. You can get from Volkonka by route bus No. 147 Lazarevskoye-Bolshoy Kichmay to the Glinishche stop. From the stop 15 (fifteen) minutes. walking along the road down to the dolmen.
The facility is located on the territory of the Sochi National Park. Entrance to the dolmen is paid. As of 2016, the cost is 100 (one hundred) rubles per person for an adult ticket. All federal benefits apply.
