Plane Tree Alley

Plane Tree Alley is a favourite walking route in Gelendzhik, extending inland along Ostrovsky Street from the Peddler sculpture. Mature plane trees with smooth bark and broad crowns provide shade; some are more than eighty years old and reach thirty-five metres. Fountains, benches, public art and animal sculptures line the way, while nearby buildings combine Stalinist classicism, Art Nouveau and modern façades. Playgrounds and shaded seating areas support recreation, and weekend fairs sell local products and souvenirs. The alley is easily reached on foot from the waterfront, by bicycle or scooter, or by car with nearby parking.

The Peddler sculpture recalls a legend that Turkish merchants once took shelter from a storm in Gelendzhik Bay and landed at a bright clearing where a fair was underway. They joined the local trade and remembered the welcoming place. The clearing later became known as Fairground, and the peddler figure now symbolises how local history survives in the city’s streets.