Alpine village of Pskhu in Abkhazia
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1255/img_4709.jpg)
In the highland village of Pskhu in Abkhazia there are only about two hundred inhabitants, largely the descendants of Russian peasants who settled here in the middle of the 19th century.
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1256/img_4707-1.jpg)
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1257/img_4763-1.jpg)
Pskhu is located between the Main Caucasian and Bzyb ranges, at an altitude of 760 meters above sea level.
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1258/img_4759.jpg)
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1259/img_4679.jpg)
During the Second World War, this village was one of the goals of the German army; indeed, it managed to capture the village for a short time in September 1942. From here, several strategically important passes were controlled.
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1260/вид-из-самолета.jpg)
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1261/img_4668.jpg)
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1262/img_4698.jpg)
In winter, it can be difficult to get here, as a result of which locals have problems with food and medicine.
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1263/img_4782.jpg)
To arrive at another time of the year - there are two options:
It can be reached partly by car, partly by horse. This takes about eight hours.
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1264/диспетчерская-рядом-с-взлетной-площадкой.jpg)
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1265/img_4736.jpg)
Or you can fly on a 12-seater corn-picker, in 30 minutes - and for 28 thousand rubles [about $450]. Tourists say that it’s not expensive, but for local people the amount is enormous.
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1266/площадка-для-взлета.jpg)
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1267/img_4653.jpg)
Locals live mainly on what they get from selling their produce and other goods: cheese, honey, wine, chacha, fruits and vegetables. The local administration helps them in this process
Mobile phones do not work here. But satellite communications and therefore the Internet and TV work.
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1268/img_4701.jpg)
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1269/img_4696.jpg)
There is a small hotel in the village that costs 500 rubles [about $8] per night. Local residents also rent rooms for tourists, for 250-300 rubles [about $ 5] per night per person.
There is also a school, about 30 children study there. There are two to three students in each class, and only three to four teachers for the entire school.
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1270/школа-1.jpg)
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1271/местная-гостиница-1.jpg)
Three years ago, the church of John the Baptist was built in the village. A liturgy is held here every Sunday.
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1272/img_4570.jpg)
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1273/img_4613.jpg)
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1274/img_4522.jpg)
Near the temple, on the site of the mass grave, there is a restored monument to fallen soldiers during the Second World War. And here is a monument to the Muhajirs, which was installed in July 2014 [Muhajirs - Abkhazians / Circassians, who in the 19th and early 20th centuries were forced to relocate to Turkey after the conquest of these territories by the Russian Empire - JAMnews].
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1275/img_4713-1.jpg)
The village has one store and has its own bakery. The bakery has another purpose - it cooks all the food on wedding days.
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1276/img_4729.jpg)
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1277/img_4721-1.jpg)
Among the residential buildings is the old abandoned Holy Trinity Church, tucked away. Locals say that a priest bought it many years ago. He made a small extension for the altar and built an iconostasis inside.
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1278/заброшенный-храм.jpg)
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1279/img_4662.jpg)
And the main attraction of Pskhu is a narrow river running right through the main long street.
![](http://jam-news.net/app/uploads/slider1280/img_4680.jpg)