27 Essentuki attractions that are worth visiting

The entire almost two-century history of Essentuki is inextricably linked with healing mineral waters - considered, along with the excellent climate and amazing nature, the main wealth of the North Caucasus. The city owes its appearance to the discovery of Narzan springs in the picturesque valley of the Podkumok River. By order of the pacifier of the Caucasus, General A.P. Ermolov, 235 Cossack families arrived here in 1825 and became the founders of the village of Essentukovskaya. After 13 years, the first bathhouse, built by settlers from logs, appeared in the village, and another decade later, construction began on a full-fledged gallery for taking medicinal baths. Subsequently, Essentuki, which officially received the status of a city in the winter of 1925, purposefully developed as a balneological resort. Today the policy is one of the TOP-5 health resorts not only in the Stavropol Territory, but also in the entire KMS cluster. The city is visited annually by hundreds of thousands of vacationers who want to improve their health in the resort’s numerous sanatoriums or simply relax while enjoying the stunning nature and sights of Essentuki, photos and descriptions of which are presented below.

Sights of the surroundings of Essentuki

Rio de Caucasus

Located on the outskirts of the city. The temple complex received its name because of the huge sculpture of Christ located on a hill. So the analogy with Brazil immediately suggests itself.

This place is something between a recreation area and a church ensemble. Temples and chapels (all recently built) are located next to picturesque nature and good recreational infrastructure. A very popular location for family holidays.

Address: Borgustanskoe highway, 30, Essentuki, Stavropol region

Honey Falls

More than 30 km from Essentuki there are famous waterfalls. More precisely, these are 5 waterfalls on the Alikonovka and Echki-Bash rivers. You can get to the waterfalls through the gorge, along a path with stone steps.

Ecotourists value these places for their picturesque rocks, almost untouched nature and a fairly simple route.

Address: Kislovodsk, Stavropol region

Entrance: for adults - 60 rubles.

Ring Mountain

A natural monument that appeared as a result of soil weathering and rock erosion. Ring Mountain is located 20 km from Essentuki (closer to Kislovodsk). It is a through cave, similar to a ring hanging on the edge of a cliff.

According to legend, you can attract good luck if you stand “inside” the ring. But this is quite risky - there are often rockfalls here.

Address: Stavropol region, southern spur of the Borgustan ridge

Mount Mashuk

Mount Mashuk is located 25 km from the city. This is some kind of universal attraction. It has gentle slopes, making it suitable for simple mountain hikes. From the observation platforms of the mountain there are magnificent mountain views of Beshtau, and sometimes of Elbrus.

And finally, this is a rare case when a natural monument is known to all literary connoisseurs. It was on the slope of this mountain that Lermontov fought with Martynov.

Address: Mount Mashuk, Pyatigorsk, Stavropol Territory

St. George's Convent

A convent rises 8 km from the city center. This is a relatively new attraction. The monastery was opened in 2006. And the construction of the monastery complex continues to this day.

The Church of St. George the Victorious, lined with white marble, with magnificent paintings inside, deserves special attention.

Address: Kislovodsky Lane, Essentuki, Stavropol Territory

Opening hours: daily from 8:00 to 16:00

Mud bath

Many thousands of tourists come to the resort town of Essentuki to visit the Semashko mud baths. The building was erected in 1915 under the leadership of the young architect E.F. Schrötter.

Initially, the hospital was named in honor of the son of Emperor Nicholas II - Alexei. The building was distinguished by elegant, expensive decoration. It itself was built from stone mined in the vicinity of Essentuki. During the Civil War, the mud bath was seriously damaged and ceased to function. She received a second life thanks to the People's Commissar of Health Semashko, after whom she is named to this day.

Currently, tourists visit the mud baths for two purposes - taking therapeutic mud baths and studying amazing sculptures and bas-reliefs. Look at the video and photos. As an example, we can cite 2 sculptures of the ancient Greek Gods located at the entrance - Hygeia and Aesculapius. The interior decoration of the hospital also deserves close attention from vacationers.

Essentuki Mud Bath

Essentuki Mud Baths photo

Mud bath

stone lion

In the vicinity of Kislovodsk in the friendly republic of Karachay-Cherkessia, you can look at the Honey Falls, which amaze with their scale.

main entrance

Mud bath entrance with columns

Mud bath photo

panorama of the mud baths

entrance to the bathrooms

Where to go in Essentuki and what else to see

Gazebo "Oreanda"

The observation deck, surrounded by a colonnade, is located deep in the Resort Park. This copy of the Crimean site was installed in 1903.

In theory, from here one could admire Elbrus, Beshtau and the general panorama of the Caucasus Mountains. But now the park trees have grown so large that they completely blocked the view.

Address: Krasnoarmeyskaya street, 13, Essentuki, Stavropol region

Weeping Grotto

The Weeping Grottoes are a natural attraction, only slightly ennobled by man. In small niches (grottoes) you can see mineral water seeping through the ground and dripping into a small lake. In fact, this is the birth of a source of healing water.

There are two similar grottoes in the Resort Park - “Ladies’ Tears” near the Oreandra gazebo and the “Men’s Tears” grotto near the gallery of source No. 4.

Address: Address: Krasnoarmeyskaya street, 13, Essentuki, Stavropol region

Balneological and mud bath named after. Semashko

The most famous architectural structure of the resort. It was built during the First World War (from 1913 to 1915) as a mud bath. The hospital is still in operation, and its buildings have survived to this day in excellent condition.

The complex consists of several buildings whose architecture imitates ancient Roman baths. In front of the hospital there are sculptures of Aesculapius and Hygiene, and the access road is decorated with huge stone lions. Here tourists take the obligatory selfies, and newlyweds arrange entire photo sessions.

Address: Semashko street, 10, Essentuki, Stavropol region

Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 13:30

Entrance: for adults - 150 rubles, for children - 100 rubles, children under 7 years old - free

Museum of History and Local Lore

The museum opened its doors to visitors in 1963. At first it worked as a people's museum, and since 1978 as a state museum. The small exhibition is housed in a very beautiful two-story mansion from the late 19th century.

The exhibits tell about the history of the region, the life of prehistoric people, flora and fauna, the founding of the Cossack village and, finally, the founding of the city.

Address: Kislovodskaya street, 5, Essentuki, Stavropol region

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00; Monday - closed

Entrance: for adults - 100 rubles, for children - 50 rubles, children under 16 years old - free

Official website: https://esmus.kulturu.ru/

Theater Park

In the Resort Park you can visit the Park Theater building. It was created in 1902 for performances, concerts or just walks in bad weather. The airy building with panoramic windows operated as a theater until the 80s of the 20th century.

In 2007, the establishment was thoroughly restored. Now it houses hotels, a coffee shop, a restaurant with a banquet hall.

Address: Kurortny Park, 1, Essentuki, Stavropol Territory

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 23:00

Tsanderovsky Mechanotherapeutic Institute

One of the most original buildings in Essentuki. It can be found by going deep into the Resort Park along the Lower Alley. The institute assembles the devices of Dr. Zander, the father of mechanotherapy. In fact, these are prototypes of modern simulators.

In addition, the structure of the institute is interesting for its architecture. It was built in 1902 in the half-timbered style. They say that this style was chosen because there was very little time, and houses based on half-timbered frames could be built quickly and relatively inexpensively.

Address: Kurortny Park, 4, Essentuki, Stavropol Territory

Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 16:00; Sunday is a day off

Bath building of Emperor Nicholas II

Another attraction on the territory of the Resort Park. A special establishment for taking healing baths began to be built in the last years of the 19th century. Its visitors were supposed to be the aristocratic circles of the empire.

The bath building is one-story with elements of the architectural styles of classicism and baroque. In the interiors, traces of former luxury are visible - Italian marble baths, decoration of the waiting room, copies of antique sculptures in the courtyards.

Address: Upper Alley, Resort Park, Essentuki, Stavropol Territory

Opening hours: daily from 8:00 to 13:00; Sunday is a day off

Entrance: for adults - 70 rubles, for children - 65 rubles.

Source Pavilion No. 4

The gallery was created in 1967 - the old buildings became too cramped. The building is located on the Lower Alley of the Resort Park. The gallery was created in the style of Soviet modernism - simple forms, laconic decor.

There are always a lot of people here (although the building is very spacious). Some drink water before lunch, others look nostalgically at the interiors of the Soviet era.

Address: Kurortny Park, 8, Essentuki, Stavropol Territory

Opening hours: daily from 07:00 to 09:30, from 11:30 to 14:30, from 16:30 to 19:00

Church of St. Panteleimon

Not far from the Eagle's Nest dacha, on a hill, there is the Church of Panteleimon. The fate of the building is not easy: the temple was erected in 1896 with voluntary donations from the townspeople. After the revolution it was closed, used as a warehouse and finally blown up in 1935.

Almost 60 years later, the church building was rebuilt. But it must be said that the current appearance of the temple is very different from the historical one.

Address: Andzhievskogo street, 2, Essentuki, Stavropol region

Opening hours: daily from 8:00 to 16:00

Official website: https://essentuki-3.cerkov.ru/

Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker

Quite far from the center, in a quiet area, there is a wooden St. Nicholas Church. This is one of the oldest buildings in the city, the year of creation is 1826. According to legend, the building was created without nails.

The church stands out with its hipped roof (an unusual solution for an Orthodox church) and the rich azure color of the walls. Interestingly, this is the only church in Essentuki that has never been closed. Even under Soviet rule, services were held here.

Address: Oboronnaya street 43, Essentuki, Stavropol region

Opening hours: daily from 8:00 to 16:00

Official website: https://essentuki-1.cerkov.ru/

A little about the city

The city of Essentuki was founded in 1825 on the site of a former Cossack redoubt. It is believed that the name of the city comes from the name of Khan Yessentuga, who owned this area . The city is located in the south of the Stavropol Territory and is part of the Caucasian Mineral Waters resort group. The city is located at an altitude of 640 meters above sea level on the northern slopes of the Caucasus Range in the valley of the Podkumok River.

This is one of the youngest resorts in this region.

The city is relatively small, with an area of 50 square kilometers and a population of only 107,104 people. Yessentuki received city status only recently - only in 1917 . The close location to the foothills of the Caucasus Range contributes to the fact that it combines mountain and steppe climate.

Summers are hot and dry; daytime temperatures can reach 37°C, although the average temperature in July is around 24.5°C. Winter is rarely cold; the average temperature in January is 4.2 °C . However, since the city is located in the foothills of the Caucasus, sometimes the temperature can drop to -33 °C, but this does not happen often. Spring is usually short, with an average temperature of +15 °C, and autumn is long and warm, the air warms up to +11 °C.

Sights of Essentuki in one day

Resort Park

In the heart of the city there is a Resort or Medical Park. It began to be created in the mid-19th century. In essence, this is a “green” area around drinking galleries, to which spacious alleys lead. Half of the city's attractions are concentrated here - gazebos, baths, medical institutions, even a temple.

People come here to drink mineral water, and then calmly stroll along the “health path,” feed the squirrels, and listen to music.

Address: between Andzhievskogo, Frunze and International streets

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 21:00

Drinking gallery "Fivethousander"

The largest drinking gallery in Europe operates on the territory of the Victoria sanatorium. Unofficially, it is called “Five-thousander”, since it can accommodate about 5 thousand people. The establishment opened relatively recently - in 1990.

Visitors are offered different types of Essentuki mineral water (No. 4, 17, “Essentuki-Novaya.”). And completely free. Exhibitions are held on the 2nd floor of the building, and there is also a greenhouse there.

Address: Pushkin street, 22, Essentuki, Stavropol region

Opening hours: daily from 7:00 to 19:00

Dacha "Eagle's Nest"

Not far from the station you can see the bailiff Zimin’s dacha, which is often called “Eagle’s Nest”. This building is considered one of the most beautiful in Essentuki. Built at the beginning of the 20th century in the then fashionable Art Nouveau style.

This is a three-story massive brick building with semicircular windows. Above the western facade with the main entrance there is a sculpture of three eagles, because of which the dacha received its nickname. Nowadays the Central Resort Library is located here.

Address: Andzhievskogo street, 7, Essentuki, Stavropol region

Victory Park

Opposite the Five Thousand Gallery is Victory Park. This place is more reminiscent of a forest, in which paths have been laid and benches have been placed. In the middle of the park, on its central square, there is a memorial stele, near it the Eternal Flame burns.

Although the park is literally surrounded by sanatoriums, compared to the Resort Park, there are many times fewer tourists here. People often come here with children to leisurely wander along the paths and ride the Ferris wheel.

Address: Pushkin street, Essentuki, Stavropol region

Fountain on Central Square

The fountain on Teatralnaya (Central) Square has been delighting guests and residents of Essentuki since 2007. This is a “pedestrian” type fountain - water jets shoot directly from the holes in the sidewalk. After the water is turned off, the pavement quickly becomes dry (moisture goes into an underground reservoir).

With the arrival of twilight, the multi-colored illumination of the water lights up and music plays. The fountain operates only in spring and summer. And swimming (or rather, running under its streams) has already become a tradition.

Address: Teatralnaya Square, Essentuki, Stavropol Territory

"Zero kilometer of love"

A funny and romantic attraction of 2011 is located near Theater Square. The monument looks like a milepost with a cupid on top. At the foot of the pillar lies a slab with the image of two hearts.

Lovers are invited to count the “distance of love” from here, that is, to make dates. A popular place for couples to take selfies.

Address: Internationalnaya street, Essentuki, Stavropol region

theatre square

Main city square. Located between Sovetskaya and Kislovodskaya streets. One side is adjacent to the Resort Park, and on the other side of the square there is a concert hall named after Chaliapin.

Venue for celebrations, rallies, fairs. From here it is convenient to start a walk around the city, at the same time you can cool off under the streams of the “Singing Fountain”.

Address: Theater Square, Essentuki, Stavropol Territory

Source Gallery No. 17

This is the first stone building in Essentuki, built in 1853 on the territory of the Resort Park. As the name implies, here you can drink cold or heated mineral water No. 17.

The building is interesting for its Moorish architecture. Oriental motifs are especially clearly visible in the design of the windows and turrets on the sides of the gallery.

Address: Kurortny Park, 1, Essentuki, Stavropol Territory

Opening hours: daily from 07:00 to 09:30, from 11:30 to 14:30, from 16:30 to 19:00

Summer garden

A park was built near the Five Thousand Gallery a couple of years ago. There are no shady trees here yet, but neat flower beds, pedestrian paths, fountains and gazebos please the eye. There are usually few people here, you can calmly walk around after a glass of mineral water.

The Summer Garden is decorated with interesting sculptures and compositions. They say that in good weather, Elbrus is visible from here.

Address: Pushkin street, Essentuki, Stavropol region

Content

1. Mud bath
2. Baths of Emperor Nicholas II
3. Narzan spring No. 17
4. Chaliapin Concert Hall in Essentuki
5. Sanatoriums
6. Video

city panorama

Essentuki Mud Bath

FAQ

What to see in Essentuki on your own? Monument to the Cossacks, Musical Gazebo "Rococo", Gazebo "Random Encounters", Weeping Grotto, Dacha "Eagle's Nest", Theater Square.

Where can you go with children in Essentuki? Museum of History and Local Lore, Theater Park, Summer Garden, Fountain on Central Square, Victory Park.

The main attractions of Essentuki? Gazebo "Oreanda", Balneological and mud baths named after. Semashko, Pavilion of the source No. 4, Resort Park, Drinking gallery “Pyatysyachnik”, Gallery of the source No. 17.

Essentuki for children

Coming to Essentuki with children, you can have a great time in the Resort Park, Victory Park, where there are a large number of attractions, and also visit the zooexotarium . Children will be interested in meeting tropical animals, water inhabitants and insects.

Address: st. Krasnoarmeyskaya 4, 2nd floor
Opening hours: from 11:00 to 19:00
Ticket prices range from 50 to 240 rubles

If a child loves animals, you can visit the Cossack equestrian club , where you can not only ride in a circle, but go through a whole picturesque route. The club area is green and well-groomed. The children will be delighted.

Address: st. Friedrich Engels, 62
Opening hours: from 06:15 to 20:00

It is also recommended to go on an excursion to the Essentuki Museum of Local Lore , where you can get acquainted not only with the history of the region, but also visit various temporary exhibitions from decorative and applied arts to toys.

Best hotels in Essentuki

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