But now, of course, only low hills still remain on the place of 6-meter earthen shaft that once surrounded the fortification, but, nevertheless, people with vivid imagination can imagine a picture of the former battles distinctly. Quite close to the strengthening there is a building of the local school and right behind it is the hospital. Both buildings are located on a small hill, near to the center of the settlement. The whole panorama of Arhipka is well visible from here. It is necessary to say, that local residents jealously concern about the decoration of the settlement: beautiful rose bushes and agaves grow in every yard, and it gives a unique couleur to a place. It is especially beautifully here in June - the time of blossoming roses!
The golden domes of local Orthodox Church look extraordinary attractively on a background of violent southern vegetation It is a one of the best sights of Arhipo-Osipovka too. Its history totals more than 100 years. During the days of revolution of 1917 the church was plundered and closed, after that it was used as a storehouse and as a shop, but in the middle of 90th years of the last century its restoration has begun, this process is still not completed, but much is put in order already, the services are held regularly, the bell tower is restored too. All this is done on donations of parishioners and the enterprises of the settlement. Here it is a little enterprises, among them small woodworking shop, Joint-Stock Company "Arhipo-Osipovsky" (former well-known state farm "Arhipo-Osipovsky"), a juice shop, among which products a nut jam is very necessary to note. The technology of its preparation is rather complex: green walnuts soak in several solutions for a long time before preparation, but the result is worth of all the efforts: first - it is very unusual and tasty; second it is a storehouse of vitamins. A very pleasant surprise is waiting for judges of alcoholic drinks: wines of produced by a local wine shop. For example, "Golden domes" is a light golden wine with a delicate Muscat taste. We also advise you to try local domestic wines. Once, about 60 years ago, some cuttings of the American sort of grapes, called "Isabella" were brought here. This unpretentious sort has got accustomed here very well, unprepossessing from the first sight; nevertheless it differs by a unique taste. So, the local residents produce their wine from this "Isabella" and they have succeeded so much in that that the wine turns out to be not worse, than the famous Italian wines.
Speaking about the sights of Arhipka, it is also necessary to mention about "a small deer house". It is located on the right side of the road at the entrance to Arhipka, if you are coming from Gelendzhik direction. Imagine the simple two-storeyed house built from a wild stone. It is unique and famous for the sculptural images of the wild birds and animals that are everywhere: the deer have stiffened in disturbing expectation on the roof, the bat has spread its wings on a pediment of a house, and a bear standing on its back paws is at the gate. Who is not only presented here - hares, a wild boar, cranes, the fox and even the elephant! Hardly there is such a house somewhere in the world, at the Black Sea coast Б?there is not. This house was built in the 60th years of the last century by forest warden V.M.Sofronov. He has created about 50 sculptures. Unfortunately, not all of them remained, despite of the diligence of the successors. If you go from "a small deer house" down the road that leads to the sea along a chain of low mountains covered with a wood, in a 1,5-2 km you will find yourself near a Health Centre "Arhipo-Osipovka". This centre has started to build in 1916 under the recommendation of the well
During the times of the Soviet Union this Health Centre belonged to the Fourth Central Administrative Board at Ministry of Health of RSFSR. During those near times the Elite liked to have a rest here: art and cultural workers, cosmonauts, ministers and their assistants. Once even Prime Minister Ryzhkov N.I. had honoured this Health Centre by his presence, and as they say, has remained very pleased. To be sure! Comfortable de luxe suites, single and shared rooms with modern furniture, gyms with simulators, a cosy cinema and a concert hall, spacious halls with TV sets and board games, cabinets of massage, relaxation and acupuncture, a swimming pool and tennis courts. All 4 buildings of the Centre are connected among themselves by transitions, so during a bad weather it is not necessary at all to go outside to get, for example, to a swimming pool or to a library.
The park in which this Centre is situated deserves an individual story. It occupies about 10 hectares. Generations of gardeners worked at its creation. There are shady alleys formed by the huge trees, emerald-green lawns, convenient benches in secluded corners, bright flowers. More than 130 kinds of southern exotic plants grow in the park: the evergreen box or " an iron tree ", his wood sinks in water because of its high density, even not every axe can handle it; deodar with a spreading dark green crown; several kinds of juniper; a decorative banana, even with fruits, but they do not ripen because it is a tropical plant. In this kingdom of Flora it is possible to see blossoming agaves and Chinese wisterias with large clusters of gentle-lilac flowers, a Canadian poplar, a berry yew (beautiful red berries of which are not recommended to try - the yew is poisonous), a silk-tree, a cherry-laurel, a felt Paullinia. Even "the Chinese silvery apricot" - a relic Gingko tree which ancestors have appeared on the Earth before the dinosaurs grows here. The extracts of its fruit and leaves, possessing such survivability, are successfully used in the production of medical preparations, creams, masks and shampoos.
From park you can walk to a terrenkur - a medical path laid on a low Pine Mountain, protecting the Health Centre from the northwest winds. It is equipped with viewing platforms from which you can see the majestic views of the sea, a mouth of the river Vulan and the settlement. Here one can breathe the pure mountain air, saturated by aromas of pine needles, a juniper and mountain herbs. One of the routes of terrenkur leads to the sea. Following this route, you should certainly pass the suspension bridge thrown over the Vulan River. This bridge has been designed in the 30th years of the last century by students of the Moscow engineering institute, which spent their vacation here. Suspended on thick chains and ropes, it is absolutely safe, but it is scary and fun at the same time to walk on it - and goes out from under feet.
From the bridge the shady chestnut alley leads to the sea-front. It is another pride of Arhipo-Osipovka. Laid out with the beautiful paving slab, bordered with the stylish balustrade, lighted with modern lanterns, clean and spacious, the sea-front is very attractive. Here one can sit at numerous small restaurants and cafes, each of which is designed in its unique manner, listen to the music that does not cease here in the afternoon and at night, take some photos. Enterprising traders will offer you souvenirs for all tastes: shells from the far southern seas, hand-made articles from valuable grades of a tree, costume jewellery, T-shirts with logotypes of Arhipo-Osipovka, etc., all is difficult for listing. The big seaside market rustles a stone's throw away from the sea-front since early morning till late evening. Everything can be bought here, from sun glasses to the refined evening dress.
Grocery market is also rich and colourful: vegetables, fruit and different products, imported and local, only pay the money! Local fishermen sell fresh fish here: goat-fish, a flounder and a mullet. If you are lucky you will to try balyk from the Black Sea shark - katran. Only do not shudder when you hear a word "shark". These are absolutely safe, small (1 meter sized) fish. They do not attack people.