Glade of Fairy Tales, Open-air folklore museum in Yalta, Republic of Crimea.
This museum in the forested foothills displays over 300 carved wooden sculptures integrated throughout its grounds, depicting characters from folk narratives. The figures are arranged among trees on the natural slope, creating an open-air gallery across the landscape.
An artist founded this space in 1960 after settling in the area and started carving wooden figures as a personal artistic endeavor. The initial project gradually expanded into the collection that exists today on the woodland slopes.
The wooden figures portray characters deeply rooted in local storytelling traditions, such as Baba Yaga and Svyatogor. They shape how the space feels today and reveal which tales have mattered to people across generations in this region.
The grounds are best explored on foot using natural paths winding between the trees on the sloped terrain. Sturdy footwear is advisable since the ground is uneven and the hillside can be steep in places.
A waterfall cascades nearby on the mountainside, and certain sculptures are positioned so visitors can view the falling water from specific vantage points. This integration of artwork with natural features creates unexpected perspectives throughout the walk.
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