Sights of Zheleznovodsk and what to see

In Zheleznovodsk there are no prominent historical, cultural or natural attractions for which it is worth going here specifically. But if you are here on vacation or treatment, there are plenty of places that will help diversify your stay. The most important attraction and place where guests of the city spend most of their time is the resort park, decorated with statues and fountains, and in it there are Pump Rooms of mineral healing water, etc. From the park originate three routes of therapeutic trails-terrenkur, which lead to the top of Mount Zheleznaya, and to two caves. In the resort area there are two museums and several architectural monuments.

When you get acquainted with all the sights of the city, you can go on excursions. Group tours are sold in hotels and sanatoriums, and at distributors on the streets, mainly in the resort park near the pump rooms with mineral water. With them, you can go to the vicinity of Zheleznovodsk, to the neighboring resorts of the Stavropol Territory, and even to the neighboring republics of Karachay-Cherkessia (Dombay, Arkhyz), Kabardino-Balkaria (Elbrus region), Chechnya. The cost of excursions starts from 500 rubles per person, discounts for children.

However, we advise you to use a more modern and reliable way to buy excursions – online. You can pick up and book an excursion in Zheleznovodsk online on these trusted sites:

• 📷 search for excursions in Zheleznovodsk on Tripster.ru
• 📷 search for excursions in Zheleznovodsk on Sputnik8.com
• 📷 excursions in Zheleznovodsk from the tour operator TEZ Tour

Also, the neighboring resorts of KMV can be visited during the day by yourself by bus, train, or car. See also:

• Sights Of Kislovodsk
• Sights Of Pyatigorsk
• Sights Of Zheleznovodsk

As for entertainment, they are not here. In the resort park in the high season, tents with simple attractions like a shooting gallery, rental children's cars, gyroscuters, etc.are exhibited, and that's all. Some more simple entertainment can be found around the resort (decorative) Lake, and there to swim and sunbathe. In the evening, except for walks in the park, there is absolutely nothing to do, except on certain days according to the schedule in the Pushkin gallery to attend a performance or concert. Also with excursions or on your own you can go to the Dolphinarium in Kislovodsk.

And now a list of all the attractions of Zheleznovodsk, indicating the opening hours, costs and ways to get to them:

Resort Park

This is the main attraction, and a place to relax, and, perhaps, the main entertainment for those who stayed in Zheleznovodsk or are being treated in one of the local sanatoriums. The park has long been abandoned by the authorities, but since 2018, renovation work has been carried out here. It has become an attractive and convenient place for vacationers, but keep in mind that this is not a place for picnics and entertainment, it is still a park of a slightly different purpose.

There are several hiking trails in the park, called "terrenkurs" here, as well as a trail to the top of Zheleznaya mountain. If you will be treated in a sanatorium, then experts will recommend you suitable for daily walks. You can also walk on any of the tracks yourself depending on your fitness. On them, among other things, you can walk to two famous caves: the cave of permafrost and primitive man. Learn more about the resort park here.

Cascading stairs

The Cascade staircase is located in the resort park of Zheleznovodsk, and is its main decoration. It appeared during the reconstruction of the park at the beginning of the last century, and since then it has been rebuilt many times. In particular, its reconstruction is taking place now, and it is planned that it will be completed by the end of 2019.

On it and along it there are fountains, statues, pools, and at the very top, where it leads, there is a Smirnovsky source of mineral water and a huge fountain. Learn more about the Cascade staircase here.

Smirnov source

This is one of the two sources of healing mineral water in Zheleznovodsk, opened in the early XIX century, and along with the Slavyanov spring served as the reason for the appearance of the resort. The water of the spring is known for its healing properties throughout Russia and in the former USSR countries since the founding of the resort here in the pre-revolutionary period. Anyone can drink water here, no documents, payment, and sanitary books are not asked. But if you decide to self-medicate, or just visit the source for the sake of interest, keep in mind that you can not drink a lot of Smirnov water, otherwise you will only harm yourself. Inside the pump room on the stands there is information on how and how much to drink it, and it is better to adhere to at least these recommendations. Read more about Smirnov source here.

Slavyanov source

One of the two sources of healing mineral water in Zheleznovodsk, which became the reason for the emergence of a medical resort in the early XIX century. Therapeutic Slavyanov water normalizes excretory and secretory functions, enhances metabolism and activates regeneration processes, improves the work of the gastrointestinal tract and biliary tract, helps to remove sand from the urinary system, normalizes the functions of the liver and pancreas. Anyone can drink water in the Slavyanov source, no documents, payment, and sanitary books are asked. But if you decide to self-medicate, or just visit the source for the sake of interest, keep in mind that you can not drink a lot of medicinal water, otherwise you will only harm yourself. Inside the pump room on the stands there is information on how and how much to drink it, and it is better to adhere to at least these recommendations. Read more about the Slavyanov source here.

Mud Baths Of Zheleznovodsk

This is the largest medical and wellness complex in Zheleznovodsk. It offers a large number of medical procedures, which can be used on the instructions of specialists when they are in one of the sanatoriums for treatment, or independently at will. You can simply come from the side to the mud Clinic, get advice from a full-time doctor and a prescription for procedures. At the entrance there is a price list with prices. Also in the mud clinic there is a number of rooms, and you can live there and undergo treatment.

The list of procedures is huge: inhalation, ultrasound, light therapy, magnetotherapy, radon baths, mud baths, peloidotherapy, leech treatment, ozone therapy, massage, mechanotherapy, etc. The level of medical procedures here is at a height, but the organization is still lame. Some vacationers compare the service and attitude to customers in the mud clinic with the Times of the USSR, noting the rudeness of the staff, the unsatisfactory condition of the offices, long queues.

Palace Of Emir Of Bukhara

This is the main architectural and historical landmark of the city. The palace, made in the Oriental architectural style, appeared here at the beginning of the last century (construction from 1907 to 1912) as the residence of the Emir of Bukhara Abdul-Ahadkhan. Unfortunately, as of 2019, the palace can only be viewed from the outside, since it is under restoration. By 2020, it is planned to open the hotel, after which it can be viewed inside, but whether the interior will repeat the original, and whether the opening will take place at all, we do not know. Learn more about the Palace of the Emir of Bukhara here.

Museum in Stagecoach Station

The historical building of the former stagecoach station today houses the Museum of Leo Tolstoy. The building itself has its own history: in 1840 L. Tolstoy and other poets and writers stayed here. Here you can get acquainted with the period of L. Tolstoy's life in the Caucasus (1851-1854), and with the history of the stagecoach station. You can visit the museum yourself, or join the excursions, which are held daily at 15:00.

Museum of local lore of Zheleznovodsk

This is a small and not particularly modern museum, rather the opposite. But to visit it during the rest in Zheleznovodsk is worth it. Here you can get information about the ancient history of the region, the formation of the resort, the exploits of the inhabitants of the city during the Great Patriotic War. Learn more about the Local History Museum of Zheleznovodsk here.

Pushkin Gallery

This is another architectural and historical building in Zheleznovodsk, it is almost 120 years old. The construction of the gallery was completed in 1902, and for that time it was a real miracle of engineering and architectural thought. A cultural and entertainment center for vacationers was opened here: a place for dances, performances, concerts.

The gallery looks very elegant and is a real decoration of the resort park. In one wing there is a gallery of local artists, in the other - a concert hall, and in front of it there is a stage for street performances. Learn more about Pushkin gallery here.

Iron Mountain

The mountain got its name not from the fact that there is iron ore and it was once mined here, but because of mineral springs with a high iron content. Yes, all the mineral healing springs of Zheleznovodsk, including the famous Slavyanov and Smirnovsky, come from the bowels of this mountain. For tourists, it is interesting because a health trail leads to its top-terrencourt, and those who overcome it will receive not only a charge of cheerfulness and health, but also good views of the city and the surrounding area. At the top there is an undeveloped stone platform, where the view is blocked by trees, but good ones are opened along the way. Learn more about Iron Mountain here.

Cave of Primitive Man

Despite the loud name, in the cave you will not see any traces of the presence of ancient people, but you will find many traces of modern man, including garbage and waste. But Once Upon a time a human site of the IV-III century BC (bronze age) was really discovered here, archaeological excavations were carried out, and many of the artifacts found became museum exhibits. At the entrance there is an information plate with a description.

Today, the cave is visited by tourists during a walk on terrencourt. Unfortunately, no one cares for the cave, which is why it is overgrown with piles of garbage. Here you can climb saltpeter rocks to a platform with views.

Cave or grotto of permafrost

The cave and the permafrost Grotto are located on the slopes of Razvalka mountain. Due to the special structure of this mountain (it is composed of fossilized magma with wide cracks), water accumulates in its crevices in summer, which freezes in winter and does not have time to melt again. This phenomenon can be felt in many places on the slopes of the mountain, even just in small depressions of stones and under mosses, but especially well the cold is felt in the grotto and cave. In the very depths of the stones, the air temperature is slightly above zero degrees even in the height of summer. The cave is of natural origin, but artificially deepened in the form of an adit. Inside you can pass through the blockage for about 150 meters, but you need a flashlight.

Also in Mount Razvalka there are other tunnels, trails along the slopes to the top, from where you can enjoy views of Mount Zheleznaya and Beshtau.

The stone that fell from the mountain

This stone broke off from the Iron Mountain in 1892 during an earthquake, and rolled into the resort park. Only part of it is visible above the ground, the rest is hidden under the ground and the sidewalk, but it is said to weigh more than 16 tons. On the stone is a tablet with the history of its appearance. Of course, it does not represent anything special without its history, but during a walk in the park, tourists necessarily walk to it, taking photos next to it or even climbing up. Learn more about the stone here.

Sculpture Zodiac Signs

This is one of the most bizarre sculptures in Zheleznovodsk. It is modern, appeared only in 2000, but the legend has already been born that visiting the sculpture brings good luck and fulfills the desire. But to do this, you need to make a huge egg-shaped stone rotate around its axis in the center of the sculpture. Learn more about the sculpture zodiac signs here.