It was from Pyatigorsk that the Caucasian Mineral Waters began to flourish as a resort zone - in the 1860s, after the discovery of dozens of thermal springs, the first balneological society appeared here. The city is even called a mineral museum because of the wide variety of medicinal waters and the undeniable value of this area for health.
Pyatigorsk will appeal to lovers of nature, picturesque landscape parks and southern provincial architecture. While walking through the old quarters, one gets the impression that nothing has changed here since the 19th century: the noble public still strolls along the boulevards, secular evenings are arranged in the salons, and Mikhail Yuryevich gazes thoughtfully at the Elizabethan Gallery, thinking over the plot for his next masterpiece.
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What to see and where to go in Pyatigorsk?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walking. Photos and a short description.
Eagle sculpture
It is a tradition that each KMV town has its own eagle - a symbol of the region. Pyatigorsk was no exception, where the bird sculpture is located on the top of Goryachaya Gora. This is the same "king of the Caucasus Mountains" in whose paws a dying snake wriggles. The first Eagle appeared in 1901, but in the 20th century it was destroyed twice - either seeing in the guise of a bird a symbol of royal power, then seeing the emblem of the Third Reich. The last statue was hoisted on the mountain in 1975.
Lake Proval
A cave in the form of a funnel on the slope of Mashuk, at the bottom of which there is an underground lake of karst origin, filled with mineral water. Its waters have a clear blue color, which is largely due to the special chemical composition. In the 19th century, the cave was consecrated and an icon was hung on one of its walls. The entrance to the tunnel leading to Proval is guarded by sculptures of lions, and there is also a monument to Ostap Bender.
Arbor "Aeolian Harp"
A gazebo with a romantic name is located on Mount Mashuk. It is made in the form of a classic rotunda with a domed roof. The place for its installation was not chosen by chance - it offers a panoramic view of the surroundings. The structure is located on the edge of a cliff with a paved path leading to it. "Aeolian Harp" became famous for the fact that M. Yu. Lermontov repeatedly visited it. The writer mentioned the building in his work "Princess Mary".
"Chinese gazebo"
The gazebo is located on the territory of the Goryachaya Gora park. It is made in a whimsical oriental style, which is why it is called "Chinese": the shape of the curved roof resembles a Buddhist pagoda, the forged decorations placed along the edges are similar to the traditional lanterns of the Celestial Empire. The building was built in 1976 on the site of the "Colored Gazebo", which was destroyed after the Revolution.
Monument to Lermontov
The fate of M. Lermontov was inextricably linked with Pyatigorsk - here he repeatedly visited, lived during exile and accepted his death from the bullet of N. S. Martynov. The main city attractions are "Lermontov places". Among them, the monument to the writer, erected in 1889, stands out. The monument is a sculpture of Mikhail Yuryevich, sitting in thoughtfulness on a pedestal in the shape of a rock.
Place of Lermontov's duel
A glade on one of the slopes of Mashuk, where in 1841 M. Obelisk died in a duel and the fence marking the landmark were installed at the beginning of the 20th century. The pyramidal pylon is made of the local mineral dolomite, with a bronze bust of the writer in its center. Vulture sculptures are placed along the edges of the stone fence. The obelisk is part of the M. Lermontov Museum-Reserve.
Spassky Cathedral
The first church on the site of the modern Spassky Cathedral was erected in the 19th century. The initiator of its construction was Nicholas I. In the 1930s, the building was demolished, and a cafe was built on the vacant lot, and a little later a city square was organized. In the 1990s, the authorities of Pyatigorsk decided to restore the temple. After a long 20-year construction, the new cathedral was solemnly consecrated by Patriarch Kirill.
Lermontov gallery
An unusual construction made of colored glass and steel, brought to Pyatigorsk from the Nizhny Novgorod exhibition at the end of the 19th century. The building is a pavilion, in the appearance of which the Gothic style and the Art Nouveau style are mixed. It looks very light and airy, resembling a fairytale palace from afar. Nowadays, a concert and exhibition complex is located inside the gallery.
Academic gallery
The gallery was built over a drinking spring by the order of Prince M. Vorontsov. The famous architect of the time, S. I. Upton, worked on the project and created a building that resembles an Italian Renaissance palazzo. The gallery was named after Empress Elizabeth; in Soviet times it was renamed Academic. In the 1930s, a staircase and an observation deck were added to the complex.
Stavropol Operetta Theater
The opera stage was founded in 1939, it was located in the building of the early XX century, built according to the project of A.I. Kuznetsov. This building was known as the People's House, it was here that the establishment of Soviet power in the city was announced. During the Second World War, the building was set on fire by German soldiers, but later it was restored. Until 1997, the stage was called the Pyatigorsk Theater of Musical Comedy.
Pyatigorsk Museum of Local Lore
The museum was founded in 1903 and is the oldest exhibition center on the KMV. The collection is located in the building of the former Mikhailov hotel - the first Pyatigorsk sanatorium. Over the long history of its existence, the museum has accumulated more than 130 thousand exhibits: rare books, documents, photographs, objects of decorative and applied art, ethnographic and archaeological artifacts.
M. Lermontov Museum-Reserve
The most important of the Lermontov places is a building from the first half of the 19th century, located in the old city quarter. In this house, the writer spent the last years of his life and created some of the most outstanding works. The museum was founded in 1912. Today, in addition to the estate, it includes several more branches. Among them - "Lermontov's house", where the personal belongings of Mikhail Yuryevich are exhibited and the original furnishings are preserved.
House-Museum of A. A. Alyabyev
The object is part of the M. Lermontov Museum-Reserve. It is located in one of the historical quarters of Pyatigorsk. The building is an example of a city structure from the first half of the 19th century - a wooden second floor on a stone plinth. Before nationalization in 1920, it changed several owners. A department of the museum was housed on the site in the 1980s. The exposition is dedicated to the composer A. Alyabyev.
Diana's grotto
An artificial cave on the slope of Goryachaya Gora, created in the 1930s. The grotto was built as a monument in honor of the first ascent of Elbrus, which took place in 1829. The building was designed by the Bernadazzi brothers. Given the history of the site, it is strange that it was named after the goddess Diana, but that was the will of the head of the expedition, General G. Emmanuel.
Lermontov's grotto
Unlike Diana's grotto, Lermontovsky grotto is a natural cave, slightly refined for the convenience of visiting. It was discovered during the creation of the Emmanuele Park. The place was originally named after the beautiful nymph Calypso. M. Lermontov often liked to be here - he could stand for a long time near the cave, admiring the views and observing people walking by the Elizabethan Gallery.
Fountain "Fairy Tale"
The sculptural composition of the fountain adorns Cathedral Square.It is a fabulous mountain with grottoes, from where the owners of the underground, the gnomes, appear. Jets of water are pouring around, enveloping the stone statues in a mystical haze and giving the picture a completely unrealistic look. The name of the fountain was chosen very well, it seems as if it is a portal to another dimension: to the world of magic, magic, untold treasures and amazing creatures.
Park "Flower garden"
The park stretches on the slopes of the Mashuk and Goryachaya mountains; the Bernadazzi brothers worked on its improvement in the 19th century. The most famous architectural sights of Pyatigorsk and mineral springs are located on its territory. Here you can walk along cobbled paths among picturesque flower beds, admire the surroundings from observation platforms, relax on benches and gazebos, visit grottoes and pavilions.
Cable car
The cable car leads to the top of Mashuk. Probably, this is one of the most classic routes in the city, which tourists choose to get acquainted with the surroundings. The length of the path is about 1 km. The road was built in the 1970s; since then, the trailers regularly carry passengers. While driving, a panorama of the city unfolds before your eyes and a magnificent view of the surrounding mountain range Pyatigorsk.
Pyatigorsk necropolis
The oldest cemetery in the North Caucasus, where soldiers, doctors, artists and statesmen were buried. It was founded in 1824. The necropolis is interesting for its tombstones and monuments, many of which can be considered valuable architectural objects. After the death of M. Lermontov, he was buried here, but then the body was transported to the family estate of the writer in the Penza province.
Mount Mashuk
Natural monument in the city limits of Pyatigorsk. Mineral springs flow in the depths of the mountain, tourist objects are located on its slopes, a view of the ranges of the Caucasus Mountains and Elbrus opens from the top. It is believed that all routes will certainly lead to Mashuk - the mountain is simply impossible to pass by visiting local attractions. You can climb up on foot along one of the many trails or by cable car.
