Must-see attractions in Mineral Water Spas

  • View of the Rose Valley in the evening in Kurortny Park in Kislovodsk.

    Kurortny Park

    Mineral Water Spas

    Founded in 1823 and covering 1340 hectares, this hillside park is among the largest in Europe. It's riddled with walking trails past rivers, ponds,…

  • Mt Mashuk

    Mineral Water Spas

    There's a fantastic view of Pyatigorsk, and all the way to Mt Elbrus on good weather days, from the 993m summit of Mt Mashuk. You can reach here either by…

  • Lermontov Museum

    Mineral Water Spas

    Many Pyatigorsk attractions revolve around larger-than-life writer, poet, painter, cavalry soldier, society beau and duellist Mikhail Lermontov. Chief…

  • Narzan Gallery

    Mineral Water Spas

    This graceful, well-preserved 1850s building recalls the spa town of Bath in England. Inside, the rich, carbonic Narzan Spring bubbles up inside a glass…

  • Park Tsvetnik

    Mineral Water Spas

    This lovely wooded park with many architectural and monumental features forms a 1km-long arc around the eastern end of pr Kirova on the lower slopes of Mt…

  • Yaroshenko Museum

    Mineral Water Spas

    The highlight of this museum, which is based in three attractive wooden houses in lovely gardens, is the 'White Villa' (Belaya Villa), housing a small but…

  • Alikonovka Gorge

    Mineral Water Spas

    Around 8km west of Kislovodsk is this rugged gorge. It's an attractive spot that trades on a legend about a boy who leapt from the nearby cliffs out of…

  • Lermontov Duel Site

    Mineral Water Spas

    In a clearing on the forested western flank of Mt Mashuk is a monument marking the Lermontov duel site. The exact spot is unknown, but it is thought to be…

  • Ring Rock

    Mineral Water Spas

    This naturally formed archway, in a limestone cliff 10km north of central Kislovodsk, is an intriguing sight, despite the abundance of graffiti. At the…

  • Chaliapin Dacha Literary Museum

    Mineral Water Spas

    The legendary Fyodor Chaliapin (1873–1938) lived in this palatial wood and stained-glass villa in 1917. Now a museum, it features paintings and photos of…

  • Proval

    Mineral Water Spas

    On the south slope of Mt Mashuk, the Proval natural spring lies hidden inside a cavern. There is a religious icon on the wall inside. Outside, a bronze…

  • Narzan Baths

    Mineral Water Spas

    The Moorish exterior of the Narzan Baths, dating from 1904, is looking very handsome after a recent restoration. Unfortunately, the building has been…

  • St Nicholas Cathedral

    Mineral Water Spas

    With five gold domes, this is a 1999 reconstruction of the original 19th-century orthodox cathedral destroyed during Soviet times in 1936. The interior…

  • Valley of Roses

    Mineral Water Spas

    A highlight of Kurortny Park is this formal planting of roses. A long avenue of pines trees frame a huge ground design in the shape of a single rose –…

  • Mt Beshtau

    Mineral Water Spas

    Ask locals about hiking routes up and around this 1400m, five-peaked mountain that gives Pyatigorsk it's name. It's located a couple of kilometres…

  • Cascade Stairs

    Mineral Water Spas

    These broad steps, planted with flower beds, lead up into Kurortny Park. The colonnade at the top provides a frame for vistas across central Kislovodsk.

  • Drinking Gallery

    Mineral Water Spas

    You can sample the local mineral water (small/large cups R2/5) here. It tastes rather sulphurous, but the best reasons for dropping in are the wonderful…

  • Fountain

    Mineral Water Spas

    An Italian company designed this circular fountain that performs a dramatic music and lights show (with even the occasional burst of fire!) every evening…

  • Insect Museum

    Mineral Water Spas

    This small museum houses a small collection of critters (spiders, snakes, frogs) as well as a lovely butterfly collection from around the globe.

  • Academic Gallery

    Mineral Water Spas

    This attractive classical building is perched above the eastern terminus of pr Kirova. It was built in 1851 to house one of Pyatigorsk’s best-known…

  • Lermontov Monument

    Mineral Water Spas

    Near the Colonnade entrance to Kurortny Park is this multilevel monument to 19th-century writer Mikhail Lermontov. Caged in a grotto at ground level is an…

  • Spa Research Institute

    Mineral Water Spas

    The striking, classical-style Spa Research Institute, built in 1828 and rebuilt in 1955, was once Restoratsiya, the town’s first hotel and scene of the…

  • Colonnade

    Mineral Water Spas

    Marking the southern entrance to Kurortny Park is this broad white-washed colonnade. Next to it, when the weather is good, local artists and craftspeople…

  • Red Sun Hill

    Mineral Water Spas

    On a clear day, there are great panoramas of the yawning valleys and green plateaus of the pretty surrounding countryside from this 1065m viewpoint within…

  • University

    Mineral Water Spas

    Adjacent to the drinking gallery is the university, which has some expressive gargoyles and bas-reliefs on its upper facade.

  • Bronze Eagle

    Mineral Water Spas

    A network of paths in Park Tsvetnik leads to this much-photographed bronze eagle sculpture at the top of a hill.

  • Lermontov & Yerrmelov Baths

    Mineral Water Spas

    The baths were built in 1831 and 1810, respectively. The latter is now a treatment centre.

  • Diana's Grotto

    Mineral Water Spas

    This is a favourite viewing and strolling spot for locals.

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