The Left Chapter: Soviet Sochi 1972

We took a look at a postcard folder of Sochi in the Soviet era on The Left Chapter before in the post Sochi 1978 -- A Postcard Visit to a Soviet Resort City. The 1972 folder featured in this post is a larger one with 30 views of buildings and attractions around what was a Soviet resort town.

In 1972 the greater city had a population of around 250,000 though this would rise considerably during the summer when it was seen as a major tourist destination -- especially within the Russian SFSR -- due to its various beaches on the Black Sea and its attractions.

There are many interesting shots here including of the funicular railroad at the Voroshilov Sanatorium, the atmospheric night photos of the Lazurnyi Restaurant and the Primorskaya Hotel, the lovely Black Sea sunset and others. As one would expect there are a number of hotel and beach cards.

The postcards were meant for a domestic audience as they were only in Russian. I have translated the backs and provided the descriptions.

(Click on images to enlarge)

The folder's cover which is a photo of the Sochi Seaport

The Sochi Circus

All major Soviet cities had them.

To see a postcard post about the Soviet circus go to:

A Postcard Trip to a Soviet Circus

The Lazurnyi Restaurant

The International Tourist Camp Sputnik

The Primorskaya Hotel

The Stadium

Railway Station

The Voroshilov Sanatorium

(Named for the Soviet General and one time People's Commissar for Defense)

Note the funicular railway which allowed direct access to the sea for visitors.

On the way to Matsesta

Hotel Leningrad

Caucuses Hotel

The Seagull Hotel

View of the resort of Hosta

Paddle Boats on the Black Sea

Sunset

The Metallurgy Sanatorium

Supermarket

Entrance to the Arboretum

Boat Trip on the Black Sea

Main Post Office

Bus Station

Resort Prospect

Dendrarium Park

This is "the largest subtropical park in Russia founded in 1892, with the most comprehensive collection of subtropical flora in Russia, including 76 species of pine, 80 species of oak, and 24 species of palm."