Free attractions in Pyatigorsk - where to go and what to see

Friends, we have compiled for you a selection of the most interesting free places where you can go or go during your vacation in Pyatigorsk. For each attraction there is a working time and a detailed description of how to get there yourself:

Tsvetnik Park

This is the oldest park in the city, one of the main tourist attractions of Pyatigorsk and a place for walks for vacationers and tourists. Although the park is small, in addition to beautiful flower beds and alleys, there are several other attractions in the park: Diana's grotto, Lermontov Gallery, Gukasov's coffee shop, Bronze Eagle statue, Ermolov and Lermontov baths, drinking gallery with mineral waters, fountain.

The park "Flower Garden" was laid out in the late 1820s on the site of a swamp from a hydrogen sulfide source. The authors of the project arrangement were Swiss architects brothers Bernardazzi. Learn more about the Flower Garden Park here.

Lake Failure

This is perhaps the most famous and visited attraction of the resort. The film "The Twelve Chairs" brought fame to this place: remember, Ostap Bender sold tickets for admission to this attraction. As for the lake itself, it is a rather interesting natural formation. It is located at the bottom of a deep karst crater, and a cave 58 meters long leads to it. The lake is filled with healing blue water saturated with hydrogen sulfide, i.e. you will feel here the typical smell of this gas – rotten eggs. Learn more about Lake Failure here.

Lermontov Gallery

This is one of the most famous and iconic architectural landmarks of the city. A unique building made of glass and metal appeared here in 1901 on July 15, the anniversary of M.Y. Lermontov's death. It was commissioned on the initiative of the director of the Caucasian resorts to develop the resort potential of the city, namely, to hold concerts, exhibitions and performances for vacationers here. The peculiarity of the building is that it was designed and cast entirely from metal at the factory, and then delivered to the site for assembly and installation. Today, the gallery building is decorated with the most beautiful floral part of the park Flower Garden, and inside there is a concert and exhibition complex. Read more about the Lermontov Gallery here.

Lake Tambukan

This is a large salt lake, known for its therapeutic sulfide-silt mud. They are actively used for medical and cosmetic procedures in the sanatoriums of Caucasian Mineral Waters, with their addition, soap and cosmetics are made for sale. In general, Tambukan mud, along with mineral waters, is a kind of business card of KMV resorts. In branded stores at resorts, you can buy the dirt itself in packages, and products made from it. But for tourists it will be interesting that you can visit the lake, swim, and, if you wish, do mud treatments yourself, which, however, is not recommended. The depth of the lake is small, so it is great for bathing children. Although, again, as experts say, you can not swim for a long time, because it is saturated with active minerals. Learn more about Lake Tambukan here.

Mount Mashuk, signposts and viewing platforms

Mount Mashuk rises near the city to a height of about 470 meters, and its peak is located at an altitude of 993 meters above sea level. There are several hiking trails, a car road and a cable car leading up.

This is one of the iconic places in the city, where all vacationers and tourists are trying to get to. Upstairs there is a famous group of wooden signs, several observation decks and a cafe. Learn more about Mount Mashuk here.

Mount Beshtau

This is the highest of the 17 mountains around Pyatigorsk, its height is 1400 meters. Climbing the mountain is one of the most popular one–day hiking routes for tourists and vacationers who prefer active recreation in Pyatigorsk and other resorts of the KMV. Climbing does not require climbing skills, it is possible even for children and the elderly in good physical shape, the main thing is to choose the right route, because they differ in complexity. You need to take water with you at the rate of at least one and a half liters per person, something to eat, good hiking shoes, a hat, and preferably trekking poles. Learn more about Beshtau and how to climb it here.

Museum of the History of the Pyatigorsk militia

This is a departmental museum, operating with the support of the local police department (formerly the militia). The exhibition, though specific, is interesting, especially for children. After all, weapons, uniforms, photographs are presented here, and some exhibits can even be touched with the permission of a museum employee. Also in the collection are documents, an archive, a memory corner for employees who died in the line of duty. The museum has a tour guide, an honored veteran of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, who is happy to conduct a tour.

Drinking pump rooms of mineral water

Public pump rooms in Pyatigorsk are made in the form of separate buildings. They have no names, but are simply numbered: №19, №24, №7, №4, №1. Anyone can visit them, the use of therapeutic mineral water is not limited, no prescriptions and sanitary books are required. Ie, you can just come to any of the galleries during working hours and have a drink fresh mineral water. However, it is still recommended to carry out treatment with mineral waters only by prescription and under the supervision of a specialist, since water from springs is much more active than table mineral water, which is sold in bottles in the supermarket. Learn more about pump rooms here.

Shameless baths

These are the sources of healing radon, hydrogen sulfide and mineral water for bathing, located right in the open air in the pools equipped on the rocks on the slope of Mount Goryachaya in the center of the tourist district of Pyatigorsk. There is almost no infrastructure and amenities here, the sources are not equipped at all, that's why they are called "people's". The water flows from one bath to another, gradually cooling down, which is why they have different temperatures: very hot, medium, and so on. There are always a lot of people who want to swim for free here, especially during the high tourist season, so it's better to come here late at night or even at night. In general, there are at least five sources here at once, although one of them has already dried up or forcibly blocked, we don't know. But there are four working ones left. All of them differ in water composition and temperature. Read more about shameless baths here.

The place of Lermontov's duel

There are many places in Pyatigorsk connected with the poet's life, because he got acquainted with the city as a child, and here his life was tragically cut short. His last deadly duel took place on the northwestern slope of Mount Mashuk in 1841. A small park was equipped at this place and an obelisk was installed. Pay attention to the fence of the monument, it is made of stone pillars in the form of cartridges. Read more about the place of Lermontov's duel here.

Lermontov's grave and the old cemetery

On July 17, 1841, M.Y. Lermontov was buried at the local cemetery in his far region. But in April of the following year, the coffin with the body was transported and buried in the village of Tarkhany, Penza region, where the writer spent his childhood. Today, a monument has been erected at the burial site, to which creative lovers or simply curious tourists come to honor the poet's memory. By the way, the cemetery itself (Pyatigorsk necropolis) is an architectural monument, and is protected by the state. Read more about Lermontov's grave and the cemetery here.

The Gate of Love

The Gate of Love or the Gate of the Sun is a modern sculptural composition. It is located on an observation deck at the foot of Mount Mashuk, and in good weather you can even see the top of Mount Elbrus from here. Places have become popular with lovers and newlyweds as a place for a photo shoot. It is believed that the groom must carry his beloved through the gate three times, and then their wishes will come true, and love will be strong.

Gazebo "Aeolian Harp"

This is one of the architectural and historical symbols of the city, an architectural monument, and almost a must-visit place in Pyatigorsk. It is usually visited together with the Lermontov grotto, which is located just below the gazebo on the stairs. From here you can enjoy some of the best views of the resort part of the city, and the gazebo itself is musical, you can sit and listen to the bells chime. Its author was one of the Bernardazzi brothers, a Swiss architect who designed together with his brother most of the resort in the XIX century. An automatic musical instrument called "Aeolian Harp" was installed in the gazebo, very modern for that time (1831), so that vacationers could enjoy the views and music. Read more about the Aeolian Harp here.

Chinese gazebo

This is another of the most beautiful viewing points in the tourist area of Pyatigorsk, located on Goryachaya Mountain and next to the Flower Garden park, from where a staircase and a path lead to it. It is notable not only for its appearance and history, but also for the fact that it offers wonderful views of the city of Pyatigorsk, the Mashuk and Beshtau mountains, and in good weather you can even see the two peaks of Elbrus. Read more about the Chinese gazebo here.

Lermontov Grotto

This is one of the iconic historical sights of Pyatigorsk, although, frankly speaking, it is very difficult to call it interesting and spectacular. The grotto was equipped in 1829 by the Swiss architects Bernardazzi brothers as part of Emanuel Park. A small natural grotto was deepened on the slope of Mount Mashuk, the entrance was strengthened, and an observation deck was built. Initially, it was named Calypso, but later it was renamed Lermontovsky, because the writer liked to watch the life of the resort's vacationers from the observation deck. Read more about the Lermontov grotto here.

Pirogov baths

This is a historical landmark and a functioning medical facility where you can take hot radon baths. But even if you do not plan to improve your health in natural radon springs, you should pay attention to this historic building, because it is already more than 100 years old. It was built in 1914 in the Art Nouveau style, the facade at the entrance is decorated with panels depicting swimmers. If you wish, you can undergo medical procedures here. Read more about Pirogov baths here.

Academic Gallery

It is a historical monument and one of the iconic architectural landmarks of the city. Her image is emblazoned on postcards and tourist souvenirs, but, unfortunately, as of 2019, she is under restoration, the estimated completion date is the end of 2019. Previously, the insect museum was located here (moved to another place), and now only the cafe is open. From the platform in front of the gallery there is a view of Emanuelevsky Park. Learn more about the Academic Gallery here.

Fountain "Grandfathers" or "Gnomes"

This is a historic place. The fountain appeared in 1910, and the author was the Russian sculptor of flat origin L. K. Shodky. He worked on the improvement of the resort, and he had the idea to make an eagle with a snake a symbol of the resorts of the KMV.

According to the architect, the composition of the fountain consists of ancient Germanic mythological creatures Mascarons-gnomes –guardians of underground ore and water resources. It turned out to be a rather controversial and even a little scary composition, but now it is an integral part of the architectural history of Pyatigorsk. Read more about the fountain "Grandfathers" or "Gnomes" here.

Spassky Cathedral

This is the most important, largest, and most beautiful temple of Pyatigorsk. The site for the temple was personally chosen by Emperor Nicholas I in 1837, but due to construction errors, the work was completed only in 1868. During the years of Soviet power, the building was demolished, and a cafe was built on a wasteland, and a little later a city park was organized. Restoration of the cathedral began only in 1992, and the restoration is still partially ongoing.

Lazarevsky temple

Lazarevsky temple is the oldest in Pyatigorsk. Its full name is the temple in honor of the Lord Jesus Christ, who raises Lazarus the Four-Day-old from the dead. It makes sense for tourists to visit it only together with Lermontov's grave and the ancient cemetery, but not necessarily separately. Read more about Lazarevsky temple here.

Kirov Culture and Recreation Park

This is the main place in the city for family entertainment. There are attractions in the park (Ferris wheel, various carousels and swings, slides, shooting ranges, climbing wall, etc.). But do not expect too much, there are no modern and extreme attractions here, everything is mainly for small children. There is also a lake with turtles and ducks, where you can go boating, and a small zoo "Berendeevo". Learn more about Kirov Park here.