Sochi had one very famous resident in days gone by -- welcome to the house of Joseph Stalin.
At home with 'Uncle Joe' Stalin —
Sochi had one very famous resident in days gone by -- welcome to the house of Joseph Stalin.
Ben Wyatt/CNN
It is said Stalin enjoyed the fresh mountain air and Sochi's pleasant climate, especially when recovering from poor health in later life. He grew lemons in the grounds from which he made a medicinal drink, according to a dacha guide.
At home with 'Uncle Joe' Stalin —
It is said Stalin enjoyed the fresh mountain air and Sochi's pleasant climate, especially when recovering from poor health in later life. He grew lemons in the grounds from which he made a medicinal drink, according to a dacha guide.
Natalia KolesnikovaAFP/Getty Images/file
With its imposing all-green façade, Stalin's dacha was used by the former Soviet Union leader as a summer retreat from 1937 until 1945. The villa is located on the summit of the mountain range between the Matsesta Valley and the Agur Gorge, a few miles from Sochi's centre.
At home with 'Uncle Joe' Stalin —
With its imposing all-green façade, Stalin's dacha was used by the former Soviet Union leader as a summer retreat from 1937 until 1945. The villa is located on the summit of the mountain range between the Matsesta Valley and the Agur Gorge, a few miles from Sochi's centre.
Ben Wyatt/CNN
Born Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili in 1879, Stalin went on to become one of the most powerful men in history, presiding over the Soviet Union from the late 1920s to his death from a stroke in 1953. He was not a fan of portraits, however, meaning this painting -- which sits above the fireplace in the dining room -- was not hung until after his demise.
At home with 'Uncle Joe' Stalin —
Born Iosif Vissarionovich Dzhugashvili in 1879, Stalin went on to become one of the most powerful men in history, presiding over the Soviet Union from the late 1920s to his death from a stroke in 1953. He was not a fan of portraits, however, meaning this painting -- which sits above the fireplace in the dining room -- was not hung until after his demise.
Ben Wyatt/CNN
The dacha was designed by architect Miron Merzhanov. Stalin's only architectural demand was that there should be no fountains. Merzhanov had built a small pool in the middle courtyard which was quickly covered with sand and turned into a flowerbed. The house was painted green to camouflage it.
At home with 'Uncle Joe' Stalin —
The dacha was designed by architect Miron Merzhanov. Stalin's only architectural demand was that there should be no fountains. Merzhanov had built a small pool in the middle courtyard which was quickly covered with sand and turned into a flowerbed. The house was painted green to camouflage it.
Ben Wyatt/CNN
Paneled with beech wood throughout the interiors are, in keeping with Communist sentiment, without ostentation. In Stalin's time the floors were also kept bare of carpet so he could hear the footsteps of those approaching on the parquet flooring.<br />
At home with 'Uncle Joe' Stalin —
Paneled with beech wood throughout the interiors are, in keeping with Communist sentiment, without ostentation. In Stalin's time the floors were also kept bare of carpet so he could hear the footsteps of those approaching on the parquet flooring.
Ben Wyatt/CNN
With views of the Black Sea from the breakfast balcony, surrounded by cypress conifer woodland and benefiting from the Causucus mountains' fresh air, the location was seen as providing the perfect environment for recuperation away from the stress of Moscow life.
At home with 'Uncle Joe' Stalin —
With views of the Black Sea from the breakfast balcony, surrounded by cypress conifer woodland and benefiting from the Causucus mountains' fresh air, the location was seen as providing the perfect environment for recuperation away from the stress of Moscow life.
Ben Wyatt/CNN
The dacha's swimming pool is very modest -- and for good reason. Stalin could not swim, but he did like to walk in the pool on his own with water up to his shoulders. He was also particular about the water he would walk in, which meant seawater would be transported to the villa to fill the pool.
At home with 'Uncle Joe' Stalin —
The dacha's swimming pool is very modest -- and for good reason. Stalin could not swim, but he did like to walk in the pool on his own with water up to his shoulders. He was also particular about the water he would walk in, which meant seawater would be transported to the villa to fill the pool.
Ben Wyatt/CNN
Anything Madame Tussauds can do ... Meet the dacha's Stalin waxwork.
At home with 'Uncle Joe' Stalin —
Anything Madame Tussauds can do ... Meet the dacha's Stalin waxwork.
Natalia KolesnikovaAFP/Getty Images/file
Step inside the dacha's cinema room, where the waxwork sits — Stalin was a huge Charlie Chaplin fan. This room is now filled with memorabilia from his time as leader. A copy of Pravda sits on the table, next to pictures of his family, while the waxwork effigy looks on, waiting for another visitor photo opportunity.
At home with 'Uncle Joe' Stalin —
Step inside the dacha's cinema room, where the waxwork sits — Stalin was a huge Charlie Chaplin fan. This room is now filled with memorabilia from his time as leader. A copy of Pravda sits on the table, next to pictures of his family, while the waxwork effigy looks on, waiting for another visitor photo opportunity.
Ben Wyatt/CNN
The autocratic ruler of the U.S.S.R enjoyed playing chess, smoking his pipe and watching movies. But our tour guide says his favorite hobby was playing billiards. These balls are replicas of those that were made of ivory and that Stalin played with.<br />
At home with 'Uncle Joe' Stalin —
The autocratic ruler of the U.S.S.R enjoyed playing chess, smoking his pipe and watching movies. But our tour guide says his favorite hobby was playing billiards. These balls are replicas of those that were made of ivory and that Stalin played with.
Ben Wyatt/CNN
Surprisingly visitors are allowed to shoot a few balls with Stalin's original cue. Rest assured the black was potted and the baize was left in perfect condition. The table is a Russian billiards table with much smaller pockets than those in Europe or America. Stalin would only play those among his staff that he was sure to beat, according to our guide, as he was such a sore loser.
At home with 'Uncle Joe' Stalin —
Surprisingly visitors are allowed to shoot a few balls with Stalin's original cue. Rest assured the black was potted and the baize was left in perfect condition. The table is a Russian billiards table with much smaller pockets than those in Europe or America. Stalin would only play those among his staff that he was sure to beat, according to our guide, as he was such a sore loser.
Ben Wyatt/CNN