The architecture and planning of the resort town was greatly influenced by Italy, which did not prevent Pyatigorsk from gaining its unique look. Numerous tourists note the special homely atmosphere that prevails on its territory. The sights of Pyatigorsk do not differ in European gloss, but the city has what is called a living soul. Local cuisine is a mix of traditional Caucasian, Cossack, Ukrainian, Jewish, German, Polish dishes. Clean air, silence, the majesty of the mountains, the beauty of the surrounding nature set the mood for relaxation. Yes, the infrastructure of health-improving institutions, sanatoriums and hospitals still needs to be improved. The city has prospects to become a health resort of the European, world level. Residents have a chance of success precisely because they managed to preserve the main thing: love for their small homeland.

Lake Proval

Mystics consider the natural well on the slope of Mount Mashuk to be a place of power. The cave of the same name, at the bottom of which there is a turquoise lake 11 meters deep, resembles a funnel in its shape. A 50-meter artificial tunnel leads to it. Near the cave there is an observation deck, a spring with healing drinking water, cafes and souvenir shops. The amazing cave was once visited by Alexander Pushkin, Mikhail Lermontov, Leo Tolstoy.

The monuments next to it were erected at different times. Chief among them: the lions and Ostap Bender. Many believe that touching the sculpture of the “great strategist” will bring wealth. The icons in the cave are modern copies of miraculous images. Tourists admit that after visiting Proval, it is easier to make important decisions. There is a completely logical explanation for this phenomenon: in a minimal amount, natural sulfur, when it enters the body, activates the brain.

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Aeolian harp

The famous gazebo is closely associated with the Mikhailovsky spur of Mount Mashuk. It attracts romantics, lovers and everyone who wants to admire Pyatigorsk, its environs, the top of Elbrus. The observation deck was built 200 years ago and has been popular with guests and residents of the city ever since.

The devices of pre-revolutionary and Soviet aeolian harps, on which the wind made melodic sounds, have not been preserved. They were replaced by acoustic equipment. The structure was regularly reconstructed, which allowed it to keep its appearance as close as possible to the original. The gazebo resembles a small antique temple; in the dark, the lights turn it into a fantastic jewel.

Grotto of Lermontov

The grotto is located in the eastern part on Mount Mashuk, a stone path leads to it. The landmark appeared on the map of the city in the first half of the 19th century. Initially, there was a natural grotto at this place. It was enlarged and named after the nymph Calypso, whose cult in ancient times was associated with life and death, and not just the legends about the adventures of the traveler Odysseus.

After 30 years, the picturesque cave was renamed in memory of the Russian writer. Local residents, guides say: Mikhail Lermontov often visited her in search of inspiration or… amorous adventures, because the grotto is romantic. Near the cave there is a small observation deck, which offers a magnificent view of the city and its surroundings.

Place of the duel M.Yu. Lermontov

Mikhail Lermontov was not famous for his angelic behavior: he was distinguished by insane courage, was a gambler, red tape, an inveterate duelist, and a caustic interlocutor. There are legends: he knew the day and hour of his death, so he was in a hurry to try everything in life. One thing is known for certain: the St. Petersburg fortune-teller Charlotte Kirchhoff predicted to the poet that the trip to the Caucasus would be the last and named the signs of the second duelist. Lermontov refused to believe, but Frau was not mistaken.

The fatal glade eventually entered the city. Temporary monuments were erected several times on this section of Mount Mashuk. Today there is an obelisk in which a bust of Lermontov is placed. The monument looks impressive. Each of its elements, including the figures of vultures and heavy metal chains, are reminiscent of eternity and unsolved mysteries associated with the death of the 26-year-old poet.

Lermontov Gallery

The concert and exhibition complex is located on the territory of the Tsvetnik park. The opening of the gallery at the beginning of the last century was timed to coincide with the memory of Mikhail Lermontov. The main materials for the building were metal and glass. The gallery is interesting because it harmoniously combines elements of Victorian architecture and various styles: Romanesque, Gothic, Art Nouveau.

When looking at the building, there is a feeling of lightness, flight. Light colors dominate in its interior and exterior. The history of the gallery is closely connected with the names of Vladimir Mayakovsky, Fyodor Chaliapin and other famous people who contributed to the development of Russian and Soviet culture. The exhibition complex is recognized as one of the visiting cards of the city.

Park “Flower Garden”

The park is a place of attraction for tourists and citizens. Its full name was “Nikolaev flower garden”. In Soviet times, they got rid of the first word so that it would not remind of Emperor Nicholas I, during whose reign swamps were drained in Pyatigorsk and a park was laid. The history of the attraction is also connected with the name of Alexander Pushkin, who walked along the alleys here.

Today, most of the attractions are located in the park, including: the Lermontov Gallery concert and exhibition complex, A.A. Gukasov, mud treatment complexes “Ermolovsky baths” and “Lermontov baths”, Diana's grotto, a bronze sculpture of an eagle, a monument to Kise Vorobyaninov. This location allows you to get acquainted with the unique corners of nature and buildings, admire the fountains, luxurious flower beds, majestic trees in a couple of hours of walking.

Grotto of Diana

The name of the artificial cave is reminiscent of the beautiful ancient goddess of the Moon and hunting, who did not favor men (and anyone who dared to disturb her peace after bathing). It was in this grotto that Mikhail Lermontov visited a duel shortly before his death. Initially, the cave was built in honor of the first conquest of Elbrus by climbers in the 19th century. In memory of the event, cast-iron plates with descriptions of the exploits of the expedition were also made.

When the grotto was completely built, it became clear: the name “Elbrus” does not suit him. Near the cave there was a section where women took healing baths, which led to the idea of the goddess. To this day, the grotto has been preserved almost in its original form. Locals believe that he is in a place of power. After visiting the cave, even skeptics notice how their mood and well-being improve, their vitality is understood.

cable car

The cable car to Mount Mashuk was opened in the 70s of the last century. It works daily, two cabins move along its route. Capacity of each of them: 20 people. The design belongs to the category of pendulum structures, whose construction is considered very difficult, because it provides for the presence of only two supports.

The length of the cable car route: a little less than a kilometer. The one-way trip lasts 3 minutes, but this time is enough to admire the mountains and the city from a bird's eye view. For the convenience of travelers, the infrastructure of the cable car includes a hamburger bar located at the lower station (on Gagarin Boulevard).

academic gallery

In place of the white majestic building, to which the stairs lead, there were originally wooden galleries. Earlier (at the beginning of the 19th century), a healing spring was discovered on this territory, whose value was officially recognized by medicine. The gallery got its name in honor of the wife of Emperor Alexander I. Mikhail Lermontov contributed to the popularity of the building: he, without knowing it, promoted the gallery in the novel A Hero of Our Time.

The structure was erected to provide a comfortable stay for the privileged public. The model for the gallery was the Italian houses of the late Renaissance. Against the backdrop of the Mashuk and Goryachaya mountains, it looks like an outlandish cloud. Its purpose changed several times, and then the healing source disappeared. Today, this building houses a museum dedicated to insects. The gallery serves mainly as an observation deck and a favorite place for tourists to take a selfie.

Gate of the Sun

The second name of the unique building: “Gate of Love”. This stone arch is not a monument of antiquity. It appeared on the map in the 90s of the last century. In a difficult time for Russia, when everything was collapsing, the arch became a symbol of faith in family values and hope for a change for the better.

It is here that the newlyweds demonstrate the strength of their feelings, the grooms carry the brides in their arms. Those who have not found a soul mate strive to pass under the arch in the hope of meeting love soon. Externally, the building looks modest, does not differ in fancy decor. The arch consists entirely of stones and seems to be the work of mother nature, and not the people who created such a miracle.

Chinese gazebo

The graceful building resembles an ancient Buddhist temple or a strange exotic flower. It seems to be the embodiment of lightness and something unearthly. The history of the attraction is very sad… The first gazebo was completely destroyed in the last century (after the revolution). Supporters of the new government smashed colored stained-glass windows, destroyed the building, whose beauty can be judged today by memoirs and old photographs stored in museums and private collections.

In the 70s, a new one was built on the foundation of the pre-revolutionary pavilion. It immediately became one of the popular places for romantic encounters. Basically, this observation deck is chosen for visiting by those who know how to appreciate the beauty of nature, enjoy heights, immerse themselves in a state of contemplation, harmony with the world. However, the vandals with their “wise thoughts” got here, they are actively “decorating” the monument with autographs in the style “Vasya was here.” All attempts to stop the appearance of inscriptions on the gazebo have so far been unsuccessful.

Fountain “Fairy Tale”

The fountain has several more names “Giants”, “Gnomes”, “Grandfathers”. All of them are connected with the fairy-tale world, because we are talking about guardian grandfathers, who (according to the beliefs of different peoples) protect natural wealth, underground treasures and the people themselves from various misfortunes. The dates of the construction of the fountain vary due to the fact that the first decades of its existence were accompanied by reconstructions and adjustments to the water supply system. It is noteworthy: the “karma of a hydraulic structure” remains so to this day!

From the images of grandfathers breathes special magic. The faces of fairy-tale characters are strict and kind at the same time. When it gets dark and the backlight turns on, they seem absolutely real. There is always a pleasant atmosphere around the fountain. The murmur of water sounds peaceful. You can spend hours next to the amazing fountain: dreaming, relaxing from the hustle and bustle, setting yourself up for positive.

Pyatigorsk Museum of Local Lore

One of the oldest museums in Stavropol has its history since the beginning of the last century. Today, its funds and expositions are located in the pre-revolutionary building of the former Mikhailov Hotel. The museum houses over 135,000 antiques. It has its own collections, which allow organizing dozens of unique thematic exhibitions every year.

In the halls of the museum you can see cold and firearms (the oldest samples date back to the 17th century), coins, jewelry, furniture, dishes, clothes. A special place in its collections is occupied by collections of rare books, postcards, photographs. “Keepers of eternity” bit by bit restore rarities associated with the life of the Cossacks and mountain peoples. The local history museum is famous for its library and art gallery. Art connoisseurs from all over the world come to Pyatigorsk to see the paintings of Russian and foreign artists of the 18th-20th centuries, original modern masters.

State Museum-Reserve M.Yu. Lermontov

The museum began to work in 1912. Its heart is a whitewashed hut – a small house with a reed roof. In it, the poet rented 2 rooms. It was here that he lived before his last duel and created immortal poems. Nowadays, the museum (its collection is 58,000 items) occupies a quarter. The buildings located next to the hut became part of the memorial complex.

In old houses, the atmosphere of the time when the poet lived in Pyatigorsk is carefully recreated. The main value of the museum's collections: they consist of genuine things that belonged to the genius of Russian literature. On the territory of the memorial there are permanent expositions where you can see Lermontov's manuscripts, portraits and sculptures of the legendary personality, collections of illustrations for the poet's works, listen to music written on his poems.

Insect Museum

Located in the premises of the Academic Gallery. Its main collection includes about a thousand butterflies and insects. The first live in a specially equipped greenhouse, where exotic flowers grow. The museum was opened in the 90s of the last century, it was created by the famous entomologist Valentin Tikhonov. He is the owner of the exhibits presented in the building, including living spiders, cockroaches, scorpions, tropical beetles, lizards, frogs, snakes.

The museum is open daily. Its expositions are designed for an audience of different ages. The real favorites of visitors are African imperial and Caucasian motley scorpions, the Asian snake Eva Braun, who eats three rats in one sitting, and the blue-tongued skink. A visit to the museum helps to get rid of fears of snakes and insects, because not all of them are dangerous to humans.

Planetarium

The building was opened in the 60s of the last century in the park of culture and recreation named after Kirov. After 40 years, the building was closed for reconstruction and opened to visitors only in the new century. Today the planetarium plays the role of an educational center, whose main goal is to popularize the achievements of domestic cosmonautics. The state institution is unique in the sense that it is also a small scientific museum where you can see a photo collection with images of solar eclipses.

Innovative equipment makes it possible to create three-dimensional images of stars, planets, galaxies in the main hall. Sessions in the planetarium are designed for an audience of different ages. They cover a wide range of topics: from the origin of the universe, the Mayan astronomical calendar, to Vedic literature about the cosmos, the mysteries of ancient terrestrial civilizations and possible futures where dinosaurs rule the world.

Sculpture “Eagle”

The figure of a bird, the most recognizable symbol of the city, is located on the territory of the famous Flower Garden park. The plot of the sculptural composition is symbolic and simple: an eagle has seized a poisonous snake and is tormenting it with its claws. The monument was often attributed to political overtones, because of which he constantly suffered from vandals.

The sculpture on the observation deck, which offers stunning views of the mountains and the resort town, was created at the beginning of the last century. She survived numerous destructions, restorations and has remained to this day the main talisman of the city. The eagle symbolizes strength, wisdom, courage, bravery, health. It is natural that those who want to acquire such important qualities seek to be photographed next to him.

Gukasov's coffee house

Externally, the building, located in the Flower Garden park, resembles an outlandish ship that sails to a magical land. Initially, the coffee house was intended for vacationing aristocrats and merchants, but ironically, after the revolution, it served as a dining room for workers. The institution of the famous Baku confectioner Arshak Gukasov opened its doors to visitors in 1909 and did not flourish for long.

The owner of the coffee shop was repressed and died in Siberia. New visitors destroyed the unique interiors of the building, arguing that all these were symbols of tsarism. The original exterior of the coffee house miraculously survived. Its current owners are doing everything possible to bring a pre-revolutionary entourage into the interior and return the institution to its former glory. Here, as in Gukasov's time, excellent coffee is brewed and delicious muffins are baked.

singing fountain

There are two buildings with this name in the city: near the Tsvetnik park and on Lenin Square. Each of the fountains is interesting in its own way. The first one has been operating since the 1970s. In the 90s, he was threatened with the fate of turning into… a huge trash can. In 2015, the Armenian National Community invested in its reconstruction. Significant changes were made to the design of the sides and the operation of the structure. Thus, patrons and new technologies returned the fountain to its worthy appearance.

The building on Lenin Square looks larger; previously there was a fountain in its place. He “sang” and “danced” after the reconstruction. Fans of the show prefer to come to this attraction in the evenings. The spectacle is bright, impressive. Fountain nozzles move to the beat of the music, the backlight shines with multi-colored lights. The show takes place on weekends during the warm season. Each performance lasts 10 minutes, followed by a half-hour break.

Spassky Cathedral

The main city temple and the square around it are not ancient monuments. This building is an exact copy of the cathedral that was blown up in Pyatigorsk in the 30s of the last century. The construction of the first temple is associated with the royal dynasty of the Romanovs, Nicholas I expressed the wish that the cathedral had five domes and corresponded to the canons of the Byzantine style.

When looking at the new building, one gets the feeling that it is the “younger brother” of the Moscow Cathedral of Christ the Savior. So was the old cathedral, whose construction caused a scandal and a 13-year trial. The temple collapsed literally before our eyes, and it had to be rebuilt immediately. The current cathedral amazes with grandeur, rich interior decoration. One of the main relics of the temple: a stone cross. It was in the foundation of an old building and survived the explosion in the 1930s.

Kirov Park

Residents of the city call the park the most comfortable and picturesque in the Stavropol Territory. It is mainly chosen for family holidays. The park has a pond with swans, a zoo, kiosks with sweets, a cafe and a restaurant, a fortress town, an autodrome, a mirror maze, a climbing wall, two Ferris wheels – small and large.

Some attractions operate only in the warm season, others – all the time. In winter, a skating rink is open here, where children and adults enjoy spending their leisure time. The park was officially opened in the 50s of the last century. Many elements of the Stalinist Empire style can be found in its design. However, the history of the recreation area began much earlier: at the beginning of the 19th century, there was a State Garden on this site. The buildings that belonged to him have not been preserved, and some of the trees have survived.

Pirogov baths

The medical complex was built at the beginning of the last century in 3 months. The architecture of the one-story building corresponds to the canons of neoclassicism and resembles an ancient temple. On the facade of the building you can see a mosaic panel. Similar decorative elements in ancient Rome decorated the baths. The building is designed so that more than 20 people can take health baths in its premises at the same time.

A special mechanism was created for supplying and heating water (it was collected from the Aleksandrovsky spring). Later, communications were laid to the People's Spring and Varvatsievskaya well. The internal layout of the building, its exterior has been repeatedly changed. Near the entrance to the complex in Soviet times, a bust of Nikolai Pirogov and a memorial plaque were installed. The outstanding surgeon often visited Pyatigorsk, promoted wound healing methods with the help of mineral water, and made a significant contribution to the development of the resort.

Komsomolsky park

The park was founded in the 60s of the last century. The large-scale development of the Belaya Romashka microdistrict led to the fact that residents of multi-storey buildings faced a problem: there was nowhere to walk with children. The park was landscaped literally by the whole world. Sculptures for him were created by a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, the famous Stavropol self-taught sculptor G.M. Minkin. Someone will consider the park too ideological, but it was a reflection of its time, people's faith in the bright future of the largest state on the planet.

A visit to the unique complex gives you the opportunity to touch the Soviet period in the life of the country. The park has modern facilities, including children's playgrounds, a tennis court, and a cinema. However, its patriotic component is incomparably more important. The park keeps the memory of the first local Komsomol members, heroes of the Great Patriotic War, liquidators of the consequences of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.

Square them. L.N. Tolstoy

The city square is located in the center. It's nice to get away from the hustle and bustle here. The flowerbed with a calendar of fresh flowers, known far beyond the Stavropol Territory, is located here. The square can hardly be called classic – rather, its landscape design solutions gravitate towards eclecticism. From spring to autumn, you can admire fresh flowers of all shades of the rainbow.

The square is a favorite place for selfies of tourists and locals. It is also picturesque in winter. Its decoration adds a “zest” artificial spruce, decorated with tangerines. The miracle tree is a kind of standard for modern garden decor. The austere bust of the Russian classic installed in the square only emphasizes the joyful light atmosphere of a picturesque corner of the city.

Folk baths

Natural recesses filled with water have another name: “Shameless baths.” In Pyatigorsk and its environs there are many hydrogen sulfide sources, where those who care about health prefer to swim, rather than developed infrastructure and the benefits of civilization. Before the revolution in the North Caucasus, access to paid baths was open to a privileged, wealthy public. Petty officials, merchants, philistines, servants, workers could not afford to visit such establishments. Bathing in places where outsiders could see a naked person was considered the height of shamelessness.

The threat to reputation did not stop the supporters of folk baths. The appearance in everyday life of baths for poor citizens, where you could stay for free for up to 2 hours in one visit, did not change the situation. Nowadays, the demand for natural baths is due to cost savings. The most famous folk baths are located near Proval Lake, next to the Skazki Vostoka cafe. Healers, healers, specialists in the field of hydrotherapy believe that healing procedures in natural conditions are much more effective than those performed in buildings and enclosed spaces.