The calm green resort does not boast of Lermontov's places, like Pyatigorsk, and does not suffer from crowds of tourists, like Kislovodsk. Essentuki is a paradise for lovers of beautiful nature and resort architecture. The picturesque town in the valley of the Podkumok River has a comfortable flat relief, wonderful parks and is famous for its excellent quality mineral water. Find out what to see in the city and where to go from Essentuki.
What to see in 1 day
Start your acquaintance with Essentuki from the park, where there is a monument to the Cossacks - the founders of the city. It is located at the intersection of Pervomaiskaya and Oboronnaya streets. Walk past the blue and blue St. Nicholas Church and the beautiful Old Believer Church of the Intercession. Kislovodskaya street will lead you to the local history museum. It is located in a building that was built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Most of the sights can be seen in the central, Kurortny district of Essentuki. Immediately behind the museum is the Theater Square with a spectacular "singing" fountain. Behind the unusual monument "Kilometer Zero of Love" you will see the entrance to the large Kurortny Park. The central alley will lead you to the oldest building in the city - to the gallery of the spring number 17. Take a rest under the shady trees and drink healthy mineral water!
There are many sculptures, fountains and architectural monuments in the park. You will discover the Lower and Upper mineral baths, gazebos "Oreanda" and "Rococo", man-made grottoes and the building of the N. A. Semashko mud baths. It is convenient to finish your walk around Essentuki near the Church of St. Panteleimon.
Now let's find out a little more about the main attractions of Essentuki.
Theatre square
The visiting card of the city and the place to which all tourists rush to see is located in the very heart of the resort - between the Kurortny Park and the Shalyapin Concert Hall. The theater square is completely devoted to pedestrians, so there are always a lot of people here. People come to admire the "singing" fountains, buy souvenirs, sit in a cafe and make a wish near the Zero Kilometer of Love monument.
Drinking gallery "Five-thousander"
If you are looking for a place to try different types of "Essentuki" for free, go to the largest drinking gallery in Europe. The spacious building can accommodate 5 thousand people! The gallery is open to all comers and is located on the territory of the Victoria boarding house, on the street. Pushkinskaya, 22. Water for tasting is brought from different sources and served hot and cold. Drink as much as you like!
Find out about the treatment in the sanatoriums of Essentuki.
Museum of local lore
To learn more about the sights of Essentuki, take a look at the city local history museum. Particularly impressive is the Old Essentuki section of the exposition, where rare photos, newspapers, postcards, books, resort souvenirs and century-old household items are exhibited. The museum is located in Kurortnaya district, on Kislovodskaya street, 5. Entrance costs 100 rubles.
Temples of Essentuki
The city traces its history from a Cossack settlement, so today there are 6 churches in Essentuki. Of the old churches, the Old Believers' Pokrovsky Church on the street is of great interest. Furmanova, 22. The building with a beautiful brick pattern was built at the end of the 19th century. Fans of temple architecture like the multi-domed church of St. Panteleimon (Andzhievsky St., 2), the Cossack St. Nicholas Church (Oboronnaya St., 43) and the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Glory St., 6).
Learn about rest and treatment in Essentuki.
"Eagle's Nest"
On Andzhievskogo Street, 7, next to the Rodina restaurant, an unusual three-storey building rises. The Art Nouveau dacha was built at the beginning of the last century for the police officer I. G. Zimin. The facade of the building is decorated with a sculpture with three eagles, arched windows and original crenellated towers.
Spa park
If you want to look at the greenest part of Essentuki and feed the squirrels, go to the Kurortny or Healing Park. The history of the park zone began in the middle of the 19th century, when the governor of the Caucasus, Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov, ordered to plant trees in a new resort on the waters. Saplings for Essentuki were brought from nurseries and botanical gardens in Warsaw and Tbilisi, and the first trees were planted by soldiers.
The spa park is like a jewelry box. New surprises await you at every turn. Walking along the old alleys is a lot of fun. Tourists are delighted with the picturesque fountains, rose gardens, ancient buildings, gazebos, shady grottoes and pump rooms with mineral water.
Musical gazebo "Rococo"
Another decoration of Essentuki is a wrought-iron gazebo in the city's Kurortny Park. The openwork fence, roof and cornices are finished with graceful cast iron ornaments. At the beginning of the last century, classical music was played in the gazebo, and they began to call it "Musical". Recently, a good tradition has been revived, so you can get to the performances of artists.
Victory Park
The picturesque landscape park on Pushkin Street is called "English" for its free layout. They began to equip the green zone back in 1903. Now, on the territory of 40 hectares, many trees grow, walking paths and medical paths - terrenkurs have been laid. As in the Spa Park, there are many squirrels here, so don't forget to take your seeds or nuts with you!
Gazebo "Oreanda"
The iconic landmark of Essentuki is beautiful at any time of the year. An elevated semicircular colonnade surrounds the observation deck. Come admire the Main Caucasian ridge, the two-headed Elbrus and the surroundings of the resort!
What to see in the vicinity of Essentuki
Big lake
If you are planning to visit Essentuki in the summer, go for a swim on the lake near the White Coal station. There is a cafe on the shore of the reservoir, there is a comfortable beach, a boat station, sun loungers and umbrellas for rent.
Rio de Caucasus
The original temple complex, which is interesting to see in the vicinity of Essentuki, includes a 20 m high statue of Christ, churches and chapels. The well-groomed area houses a Sunday school, an exhibition of old cars, a playground, a pond with turtles and a small zoo. In good weather, an excellent view of Elbrus opens from the observation deck. Rio de Caucasus is located 3 km from the center of the resort, on the Borgustan highway. Minibuses No. 4 and 10 go there from Essentuki.
St. George nunnery
The Orthodox monastery at 35 km of the Mineralnye Vody - Kislovodsk highway is interesting not only for believers, but also for lovers of temple architecture and viewing platforms. A beautiful monastery stands on Mount Dubrovka and from it Elbrus, Beshtau, Mashuk and other peaks of the Caucasus Mountains are perfectly visible. Nearby there is a baptismal font, which is used for swimming both in summer and in winter. On weekends, a special bus runs from the center of Essentuki to the monastery, and at other times you can get to the monastery by taxi.
Suvorov sources
Thermal springs of mineral water in the village of Suvorovskaya are popular with tourists who rest in Kislovodsk, Pyatigorsk and Essentuki. Healing hot waters were discovered in the middle of the 20th century. Today guests are greeted by pools with warm water, modern showers, changing rooms and cafes. The outdoor pool with a water temperature of + 38 ° C is open both in summer and winter. Bathing in the springs costs 350 rubles per hour. From the railway station Yessentuki to Suvorovskaya every 10 minutes there is a fixed-route taxi number 101e.
Learn about relaxation at the sources of Dzhily-Su.
Tersk stud farm
40 km from Essentuki, in the village of Novotersky, there is a stud farm for breeding horses. You will see a spectacular horse show and ride a thoroughbred horse.It is convenient to get from Essentuki to the famous stud farm with a guided tour, taxi or rented car.
Outbound excursions from Essentuki:
- Chegem waterfalls and nature of Kabardino-Balkaria - 1500 ₽ / person
- Group excursion to the sources of Dzhily-Su - 2000 ₽ / person.
- Jeep trip to Bermamyt - 8000 ₽ for 1-6 persons.
- Car excursion to the Teberda Gorge - 12950 ₽ for 1-5 persons.
