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🌼 An Autumn Fairy Tale on the Don: Thousands of Chrysanthemums and an Incredible Explosion of Color

Friends, today we are traveling to southern Russia, to Rostov Oblast. Here, in the small hamlet of Starosolotovsky, hundreds of lush chrysanthemum bushes transform into a huge blooming garden every autumn.

It is not simply a flower bed, but an entire field of blossoms, carefully laid out so that visitors can experience the colors of autumn on the Don.

Welcome to the Starosolotovsky Ethno-Khutor and its famous “Chrysanthemum Ball.”

🌸 The Chrysanthemum Ball: A Celebration of Color

The “Chrysanthemum Ball” is an autumn tradition that has been maintained here for several years. Thousands of chrysanthemums in a wide variety of shades bloom simultaneously on a specially landscaped area.

The large flowers form a colorful carpet, behind which the vast landscape of the Don stretches out.

The chrysanthemum was not chosen by chance. Its name comes from Greek and essentially means “golden flower”—a fitting connection to Starosolotovsky, whose name also evokes gold.

The chrysanthemum also holds special significance in other cultures. In Japan, it is closely associated with the Imperial House and is regarded as a symbol of longevity. In Europe, however, its symbolism varies: in some countries, it is primarily a flower of mourning, while in others it represents joy and happiness.

🏡 A Khutor That Became a Museum

Starosolotovsky was founded in 1685 and for a long time differed little from many other small settlements on the Don.

The place became known, among other things, through the filming of Mikhail Sholokhov’s novel “The Quiet Don,” directed by Sergei Ursulyak. Some of the film sets—Cossack houses and farmsteads—were preserved here to recreate the atmosphere of the fictional Sholokhov village of Tatarsky.

Today, the open-air ethnographic museum “The Quiet Don” is one of the area’s main attractions.

Several Cossack houses stand here, showing different living conditions: the Astakhovs’ house, with a thatched roof and earthen floor; the Melekhovs’ farmstead; and the more prosperous Korshunovs’ house, with a metal roof and wooden floors.

Inside, much looks as though the residents have only just left the house: clothes hang on the walls, shoes stand ready, and household items lie on the tables. Alongside props from the filming, visitors can also see historical objects and reconstructions of everyday Cossack life.

In 2019, Starosolotovsky became the first place in Rostov Oblast to be included in the association “The Most Beautiful Villages and Small Towns of Russia.”

🌿 Not Just Chrysanthemums

The khutor changes its appearance with the seasons. In summer, a lavender field covering around three hectares blooms here; in autumn, the chrysanthemums take center stage.

There is also a rose garden, a lilac garden, and vineyards. Of particular interest is the old Don grape variety Krasnostop Zolotovsky, one of Russia’s best-known indigenous grape varieties.

Thus, Starosolotovsky brings together several stories: the culture of the Don Cossacks, the world of “The Quiet Don,” ancient winemaking traditions—and a sea of flowers that completely transforms the small khutor every autumn for several weeks.


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📍 The coordinates of the location are available here

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