Caucasian Mineral Waters. Mount Mashuk. At the top of Mount Mashuk From Mount Mashuk there is a view of

The history of Pyatigorsk began in 1803, with the signing by Emperor Alexander I of the decree “On recognition of the national significance of the Caucasian Mineral Waters and the need for their construction.” The federal resort of Pyatigorsk opened the history of domestic balneology at the moment when the first balneological center was created here in 1863. City in Stavropol region- truly a real oasis of health: more than 40 healing springs, a climatic zone with a therapeutic effect, all this is known far beyond the Caucasus. However, like cultural values, events in the life of the city, captured in its architecture, natural monuments, chronicles and legends. The places glorified in Lermontov’s works are a tempting place for both admirers of the great poet’s talent and just amateurs to take a stroll. beautiful scenery. There are also special places here that are worth noting in advance on your personal travel map. Let's talk about the sacred corners of Pyatigorsk in a little more detail.

Mount Mashuk

An iconic place for Pyatigorsk is Mount Mashuk, 994 meters above sea level. From its top there is a panoramic view of the city; in clear weather you can enjoy views of Elbrus and the Main Caucasus Range. Memorable photographs from the top of Mount Mashuk will be a worthy reward from a walk through a beautiful natural site.

Getting to the top of the mountain is not difficult. For lovers hiking You can climb to the top via a path, the route will be about 5 kilometers with a height gain of just over 200 meters. Or you can use a “lazy”, but so comfortable way - using cable car. The Pyatigorsk cable car is located at Gagarin Boulevard, 2. The price of a ticket for an adult one way is 210 rubles, round trip is 360 rubles, children under 5 years old are free. Opening hours on weekdays from 10:00 to 19:00, on weekends from 10:00 to 20:00. It wouldn’t hurt to learn the beautiful legends associated with Mount Mashuk and other locallite mountains. You can rent an audio guide at the cable car ticket office.

Lake Proval

Another iconic place for those who once visited Pyatigorsk - a walk to Lake Proval and buying a ticket from Ostap Bender “so that Proval does not fail.” Lake water has an amazing blue color and a specific smell, which can be explained quite simply. Get an answer about the color of the water, and at the same time have the opportunity to admire the underground cave will be a well-deserved bonus for those who get here. The attraction is located at the end of Gagarin Boulevard; you can get to Proval by bus No. 1.

Interesting information sounds from repeaters located at the entrance to the Proval. The horizontal entrance to the cave was cut in 1858, and until that moment, brave and inquisitive citizens were lowered to the lake from above in a special basket. Height karst cave 41 meters, and the natural entrance can be seen at the top if you raise your head. The lake itself and the cave were explored much earlier; this was done by the German scientist Peter Simon Pallas in 1793. Currently, Lake Proval is of a demonstration nature, so access to it is limited by a fence.

Shameless baths

Swimming in shameless baths, buying a ticket to the lake from Ostap Bender, throwing a coin into the hat of the unforgettable Kisa Vorobyaninov and walking through the “Gate of Love” are on the “list” of mandatory attributes for a walk around Pyatigorsk. This SPA is under open air They are also called folk baths. Since the source of hydrogen sulfide baths has not been officially identified, it is periodically closed. And society periodically returns to “public use” a year-round source of pleasure. Winter bathing in hot baths brings special bliss. But the healing effect that visitors to such baths want to achieve is greatly questioned by the lack of control and prescriptions from doctors. Here, each bather is his own doctor and independently regulates the degree of immersion and bathing time.

To be sure of therapeutic effect procedures, it is better to visit the Pirogovskie baths, located on Gagarin Boulevard, 4. The building was erected in three months in 1914 and was originally named after the director of the resort - Tilicheev, after the revolution it was already the Provalskie baths, and they became Pirogovskie in the mid-twentieth century, renamed was timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great doctor Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov. The baths are still in operation today; water for the procedures is taken from the same sulfur spring from which the people’s baths are filled behind the building of the Pirogov Baths.

Gazebo "Eolian Harp"

The gazebo, supported on eight white stone columns, located on a high mountain cliff, was built according to the design of the Italian architect Joseph Karlovich Bernardazzi in 1831. For more than 30 years, “wind music” has been sounded here thanks to a special aeolian harp that responds to air movement. The gazebo got its name in honor of her. She is mentioned in “Hero of Our Time” by Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov. Today there is a modern musical arrangement, independent of the wind. But the views and beauty opening from the site where the Aeolian Harp gazebo is located have been preserved in their original state.

Lermontov's Grotto

Lermontov's theme for Pyatigorsk is the main leitmotif for everyone excursion programs, walks of citizens and guests of the city. One of the most beautiful natural grottoes with the name Calypso and ennobled by the creators of the Aeolian Harp gazebo, the Bernardazzi brothers, fell in love with the Lermontovs. He loved to retire to contemplate the magnificent views, and who knows, maybe it was here that the scenes from the dramatic poem “Mtsyri” originated?

Park "Flower Garden"

The Tsvetnik park is especially symbolic for the city. From this place, a resort town developed, and the first drinking pump room was opened here. Initially, the park was named in honor of the then reigning Tsar Nikolaevsky. The area landscaped in place of the swamps was planted with flowers, and later with exotic trees. The park has become one of business cards city, at its entrance, vacationers are greeted by a sculptural image of Kisa Vorobyaninov, who, according to the plot of the comedy, informed park visitors that he had not eaten for 6 days.

Noteworthy is the delicately executed structure of Alexander Gukasov’s coffee shop. The Art Nouveau building was built in 1909, the tradition of the coffee shop has been preserved, and vacationers can still drink coffee today on the second floor at 23 Kirova Avenue.

Lermontov Gallery

A walk through the Tsvetnik park, if you follow its main alley, will lead to an openwork building made of glass and metal. The Lermontov Gallery, a building built at the turn of the century in the Art Nouveau style with Gothic and Romantic elements, today remains a venue for concerts and exhibitions. Officially it has the status of a philharmonic society. It is curious that the ballerina Isadora Duncan danced here in 1923, dedicating her composition to the memory of Lermontov. Within the walls of the Lermontov Gallery the voices of famous opera singers Fyodor Chaliapin and Leonid Sobinov. The great actress Maria Nikolaevna Ermolova performed here.

Diana's Grotto

The rock grotto, named after the ancient Greek goddess Diana, is associated with several historical events, and quite positive. This natural grotto was decorated and fortified with columns in honor of the first ascent of Elbrus. Later it was given a different name - Diana's Grotto, a name that has survived to this day. Another historical fact, which makes us perceive this place somewhat differently, is associated with Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov. Here he was the organizer of a ball for ladies exactly a week before tragic death. Apparently this life contrast - the ball and the duel makes us especially perceive it amazing place, from where you can admire the views of nature and think about the vicissitudes of fate, such an unusually short step separating life and death, fun and duel.

Chinese gazebo

The gazebos in Pyatigorsk seem to specifically emphasize the status resort town- as a place designated for leisurely walks, admiring the scenery, visiting pump rooms and reflecting on the richness of the culture of Pyatigorsk’s past. One of these places is the Chinese gazebo. If you look at it, it becomes clear why it was called that. The whimsical metal openwork ornament, created according to the design of the sculptor Shakhovskaya in 1974, will not allow you to make a mistake. Previously, there were other gazebos and other themes for their design in this place, in accordance with the trends of the time. In 1862, there was a musical rotunda here, from which music was played for vacationers. Later, at the beginning of the 20th century, according to the design of the sculptor Klepinin, a wooden gazebo in the style of a Chinese pagoda was built; it was then called “Tsvetnoy”. During the Soviet period, in accordance with the spirit of the times, the gazebo received the name “Freedom”. In its modern version, it was created already in 1976. And unchanged for anyone historical period one thing remains - the beauty of the panoramic views opening from it, the spirit of freedom and space. All that makes up the feeling of the uniqueness of the Caucasus.

Pump rooms of Pyatigorsk

The pump room for Pyatigorsk means the same thing as the tea ceremony in Beijing. This is a symbol of the city. Have a drink healing water at the Caucasian resort you can use several pump rooms. Each place has unique characteristics, both the mineral-rich water itself and the history of the discovery and design of the source. The tradition that has developed over almost two centuries makes itself felt. Drinking mineral water in the pump room is a whole ceremony. Pyatigorsk Narzan, which is used for drinking treatment, is bottled in pump rooms. In most cases, carbonated water from a well is heated by special automatic devices in the pump room, so you can see signs next to the taps - cold, warm or hot narzan. There is a special sulfate narzan in Pyatigorsk, which differs from other types by the rich smell of hydrogen sulfide or, as people say, the smell of rotten eggs. Drinking a glass of such narzan will not be pleasant, but it is this type that has the greatest healing effect.

In general, it makes sense to visit each of the pump rooms and combine the medicinal benefits of taking one of the types medicinal water with the process of enriching their knowledge from familiarization with the treasures of Pyatigorsk culture. This will become a kind of tasting tour that cannot be found anywhere else in Russia.

Pyatigorsk is called the natural museum of mineral waters. It is not for nothing that at the time of the emergence of a settlement in the North Caucasus this place was called Hot Waters. Pyatigorsk is associated with the name of the great Russian poet Lermontov, who praised the city as a place of amazing natural power, in which there will be resources not only for physical, but also mental recovery. The sights of Pyatigorsk create an aura of amazingness for it. historical city, it should definitely be on the travel map of a self-respecting cultural connoisseur.
A visit to the Lermontov Museum and the place of the poet’s duel in Pyatigorsk is described.

The Caucasus Mountains are shrouded in legends; these silent witnesses remember everything - from antiquity to modern times. The vegetation on their slopes gradually changed, only fragments of household items remained from the first settlers, and now thousands of travelers climb the trails in order to take stunning photos as a souvenir. One of the "tourist magnets" is Mount Mashuk, on the slopes of which the resort is located Pyatigorsk.
The symbol of the city was formed as a result of volcanic processes; its height is 994 meters. The observation deck of the mountain gives tourists a unique opportunity to admire the surroundings of the city and see Mount Beshtau. IN good weather, when the fog does not envelop the peaks of the massifs, you can see the Caucasus Range and Elbrus, part of the plains of the Stavropol Territory.
Even travelers unprepared for heights can climb to the top along the gentle slopes. During the walk, deciduous forests give way to small clearings where southern grasses grow. Along the way you can look into a small grotto or cave. Mountain has the shape of a cone with a truncated peak, surrounded by the Kazachka and Goryachaya mountains, the Mikhailovsky spur, and nearby is the Britaya hill with the famous Proval.

Mineral springs

The unofficial name of Mashuka is “the giver of healing streams”; it was from this mountain that the local health resorts began their history. Initially, approximately 40 mineral springs(radon, carbon dioxide, hot thermal were encountered). The waters from them were actively used for taking health baths and as an additive to the daily diet. In the 19th century, drinking galleries and small baths were equipped for the “elite” segments of the population; people with low incomes could not afford to visit them. The problem was solved with the advent of inexpensive Soldier Baths. They did not function for long, they were demolished, and later a new place, carved into the mountainside - the “shameless baths” - became popular. The non-trivial name is due to the lack of separation of areas for men and women; everyone swam in thermal water at the same time. The authorities, in an attempt to preserve the chastity of society, filled up the pits with thermal springs, new ones quickly appeared in their place. At the beginning of the 20th century, the People's Baths were opened, entry to which was free.

The Legend of Mashuk

Local residents have been passing on a beautiful and dramatic legend from mouth to mouth for many years, shedding light on the origin of the name. Been there for a long time Caucasus Mountains there were endless fertile plains where wise and fearless Narts lived, led by Prince Elbrus. He had a son, Beshtau, who chose the beautiful Mashuko as his wife. The pompous wedding was a sad event only for the prince, who himself fell madly in love with his son’s chosen one.
He sent his son on a princely campaign, and soon after this a rumor spread throughout the Caucasian lands about his death. He took Mashuko as his wife and imprisoned her in high tower, forcing the wedding ring onto her finger. When Beshtau returned home and found out what had happened, he stole his beloved. The fugitives did not manage to get far, the prince's retinue caught up with them and in an unequal battle all the young guy's friends died. The son managed to cut his father's head into two equal parts, but the dying prince gathered all his remaining strength and cut him into five parts. The girl, distraught with grief, grabbed a sharp dagger and stabbed it into her heart, and then threw it far away from her.
From universal grief, which nature could not bear, everything around was petrified, all the fallen warriors turned into mountains. This is how Elbrus appeared with two peaks, the five-peaked Beshtau, not far from which is Mashuk with a deep Failure - a wound in the heart of a beauty from a dagger.

Ways to the top

The most popular mountain trail starts from the Resort Exhibition on Gagarin Boulevard, starting from Proval and going down to the Academic Gallery. The 3 km long zigzag road can be covered at a leisurely pace in about 45 minutes.
Climbing the southern slope is much more difficult; tourists often choose the path from the northern side of Perkalskaya Polyana - one of the most scenic spots. On its territory there is a dendrological nursery in which grows a large number of subtropical plants, including the relict tree - Ginkgo biloba. In summer you can see magnolia trees blooming.
A narrow road with a length of approximately 10 km wraps around the mountain in a spiral. You need to move with transport with caution; the route is also a health path (the treatment method of the same name is practiced, consisting of dosed physical activity) for vacationers in numerous sanatoriums in Pyatigorsk.
The most popular method of getting to the top of the laccolith is the legendary cable car. The plying aerial tram is completely glazed so that the traveler is protected from wind and rain (the “cable car” operates in any weather). You can get to the top in a few minutes, having time to do unique photos opening panorama. Opening hours: daily from 10.00 to 18.00, boarding is carried out at the lower station near Radon Baths (from the railway station the bus is coming No. 1). Cost of ascent/descent: adult 360 rubles, children 100 rubles.
There is a separate track on the slopes for those who engage in mountain biking (a type of mountain bike tourism). Here, every year, masters of freeride (descending from natural hills) and downhill (bicycle racing) hone their skills.

Attractions located on Mount Mashuk

TV tower

The pride of the city, the creation of which was completed in 1959. From a distance it looks like an arrow, giving the impression that the mountain is rushing upward. The metal structure is of an openwork type, reminiscent of the Parisian landmark "Tour Eiffel". Pyatigorsk residents call it “our Eiffel Tower”; the similarity is especially visible when the TV tower is shrouded in evening twilight. Illumination by powerful spotlights creates an ephemeral aura woven from lilac-golden and white-blue rays. In winter, the metal patterns are covered with an ice crust and shimmer with all the colors of the rainbow.
The TV tower is a kind of beacon; it is visible within a radius of more than 40 km from Pyatigorsk. The height of the structure is 113 m, together with the mountain (596 m) it is more than 1000 m above sea level. Compared to this symbol, the Eiffel (325 m) and Ostankino (540 m) health resorts towers are inferior, at least in height.

Lake Proval

How to get there: walk from the Lermontov Grotto and the Academic Gallery, bus No. 1 (exit at the final stop).
This is a 41 m deep cave that was discovered at the end of the 18th century on the southern slope of the mountain. At its bottom there is a karst lake with bright blue water, but not everyone would want to swim in it. The shade is due to the presence huge amount bacteria and hydrogen sulfide, so the smell inside the cave is, to put it mildly, unpleasant. Spending more than a few minutes there is very difficult for the human body.
In the middle of the 9th century, at the behest of Prince Golitsyn, a 58 m long tunnel was made, the descent to the lake was landscaped, and the entrance was lined with stone. Later, a niche was made in the stone wall and an icon of the Mother of God was placed in it. Now in its place is the face of the Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon.
An entire chapter in the immortal novel by Ilf and Petrov “The Twelve Chairs” is dedicated to the famous Failure. It was for its repair that Ostap Bender organized a fundraiser. At the entrance there is a sculpture of the Great Schemer; you can take a picture of yourself against its background or sit down to rest on a chair.

Sculpture "Eagle"

The monument is located on one of the spurs of Mashuk - Mount Hot. The sculpture was installed in 1901; it became a symbol not only of this area, but of the entire KavMinVod region. Was originally embodied in stone urban legend about an eagle receiving a fatal snake bite. On the mountain, he drank healing water from one source and was cured. In the claws of a huge bird there is a snake - a symbol of victory for the Caucasians.
The first viewers of the monument gave him different assessments; to some, the figure seemed too ugly (the first “eagle” with an open beak and a huge wingspan looked predatorily and mercilessly at the snake with its left eye, its head turned to the right). Already in the evening, a red sparkler was lit near the sculpture. Later it was planned to create illumination, but the lion's share of the city budget went to maintaining the colorful image of the Tsvetnik park.
During civil war the bird's head disappeared and its wings became smaller, and after restoration the head turned to the left. During the Second World War, the authorities saw in the monument a resemblance to the winged symbol of the Third Reich and almost completely destroyed it. After the fighting, the bird acquired a modern appearance - a closed beak, reduced wings with moderate plumage, the head lowered down and looking at the snake in its claws.

Definitely worth a look:

- Diana's Grotto - a cave located on the northern slope of Goryachaya, an artificial type, was opened in 1831. The name is given in honor of the hunter goddess, who loved to relax in the midday heat in the shade of the grottoes.
- Monument to military topographer A.V. Pastukhov , his grave is also located here (the will indicated the wish that the remains rest at the top).
- Aeolian harp - a place for romantics and pragmatists to walk on the Mikhailovsky Spur. This is a classic gazebo with white stone columns. According to legend, at this place the wind used to play on the weightless strings of harps, creating wonderful music. Even now, in windy weather, you can hear unusual sounds amplified by acoustics.
- Academic gallery - decorates the white stone miracle at the top of the Flower Garden park. In the 19th century, there was an Elizabethan Gallery on this site. The architecture of the building is the work of the Bernardazzi brothers. Initially it was a modest building made of wood, the walls of which were covered with fabric. It was later demolished and a beautiful stone building was built on the site. The mineral spring inside has No. 16.
- Metal panel - located on one of the retaining walls in the forest. Depicts a Red Army soldier, the sun, a beautiful star with a hammer and sickle inside. The wall around is covered with various inscriptions, however, it is not recommended for a particularly impressionable person to read some of them in order to avoid culture shock.
- Gate of the Sun (Love) - are located on one of the sites on the Mashuk slope, a 15-minute walk from the Kanatka cafe. A stone and concrete structure in the form of an arch welcomes wedding processions; according to legend, the groom must lead his bride through them several times so that the family ties are strong and the marriage long and happy. Before City Day in September, stone boulders are covered with gray paint due to the constantly appearing inscriptions, which does not at all prevent, just a few days later, modern lovers from spray-painting themselves into history again.
- Lenin Rocks - got their name after on the southwestern slope in 1925 by artist N.K. Shuklin created a portrait of Lenin. The rock art was dedicated to the first gathering of Terek Cossack women. The image was restored in 1960. Nearby is the Lenin Rocks sanatorium, a young health resort that accepts adults and children for treatment all year round.
- Place of Lermontov's duel - a clearing on the northwestern slope, marked by an obelisk, where the great poet and prose writer died on July 15, 1841. At first he was buried not far from the site of the duel with Major Martynov, later the remains were reburied in the village of Tarkhanovo next to his mother’s grave.

Mount Mashuk is one of most interesting mountains Kavmivod district, is the best panoramic point in the immediate vicinity of Pyatigorsk.
The Caucasus is covered in legends about the origin of this or that mountain, gorge or mineral water.

One of the legends about King Elbrus, Prince Beshtau and their beloved beauty Mashuka.
In ancient times, when in place mountain ranges Fertile plains stretched across the Caucasus, where the legendary Nart-heroes lived. Their leader was the mighty Prince Elbrus. He had a son, a fearless horseman and warrior Beshtau. Beshtau's life passed carefreely in raids on foreign tribes and among cheerful feasts with friends. He understood the language of animals, and always on his hikes through the valleys and forests he was accompanied by the dexterous, silent Snake, the hardy Camel, the strong Bull, and the ferocious Lion.

But one day Beshtau saw the beautiful Mashuka in a neighboring village, and fiery love flared up between them. He came to his father and asked permission for the wedding. The sledges walked on it for three days and three nights. But Elbrus became gloomier and gloomier, in whose heart a belated, all-incinerating love for young Mashuka crept in. And he conceived a dirty deed, called his son and ordered him to go on a long raid against the ferocious tribe of Emegens, eaters of people.

He did not dare to disobey Father Beshtau, gathered his young horsemen and went to distant lands. He did not return for a long time, and Elbrus spread a rumor about the death of Beshtau and forced Mashuka to become his wife. He put a massive one on her Golden ring on a finger, sharpened in a sakla.

But Beshtau did not die, and with rich booty, late in the evening he returned with his comrades to his native village. The first to meet him were the Snake, Lion, Camel and Bull, and told him about his father’s treachery. Beshtau crept up to the sakla where Mashuka was and saw her crying and sad. And they decided to flee to distant lands. In the dead of night, accompanied by faithful friends, they set off to the north, where deep forests stretched. On the way, Mashuka threw off Elbrus’s hated wedding ring.

The next morning, Elbrus discovered the absence of Mashuka, gathered his soldiers and rushed in pursuit of the fugitives. And it was here, where the volcano mountains now rise, that the battle broke out between fathers and sons. The young horsemen fought bravely, with the help of the Lion, the Snake, the Camel and the Bull. But the strength was on the side of mature warriors. Beshtau's friends died, and father and son came face to face. Beshtau raised his sword and cut Elbrus's head into two parts. But the hero gathered all his strength, knocked the iron helmet off Beshtau’s head and cut his son into five pieces. The horseman fell dead, the crying Mashuka bent over him, grabbed a dagger from her beloved’s belt and stabbed herself in the heart, and then threw it aside.

The earth trembled from such a monstrous duel, the old sledges were petrified from horror, turned into the snowy mountains of the Caucasus, led by double-peaked Elbrus. And here, in the north, volcano mountains appeared, where the young, hot blood of young horsemen still continues to beat. Around Beshtau there are his faithful companions Lion, Camel, Bull, Snake, Mount Dagger stands apart, and on the way to the mountains Mount Ring rises.

She fell at the feet of her beloved Mashuk, the mortal wound in her chest darkened like a hole, from where her blood was drawn out with healing springs.
Years passed after years, centuries after centuries. The bodies of the giants turned to stone. And lonely Mashka lies, and five parts of the crushed Prince Beshtau lie. And not far away, the mighty Elbrus stands with a dissected head, covered with a centuries-old cap of snow.

IN within the city limits of Pyatigorsk there is a mountain Mashuk(993.7 m, with a 112-meter television relay tower installed on it).
Since January 19, 2010 it has been the center of the North Caucasus federal district.

Mount Mashuk is an environmental shield for Pyatigorsk. The surface of the mountain is connected through fracture zones with the formation horizons of medicinal mineral waters, which determines its water protection significance. The forest and meadows covering the mountain are the guardians of the purity of mineral waters and the most valuable gene pool of the forest-steppe zone of the Ciscaucasia, purify the air, soften and improve the climate of the resort.

Mount Mashuk is an integral part of a health resort of federal significance of the resort and balneological type, creates favorable landscape and climatic conditions,

Mashuk is and historical place. IN different years he was visited by A.S. Pushkin, L.N. Tolstoy, A.S. Griboedov, A.P. Chekhov, M.A. Bulgakov, S.A. Yesenin, A.I. Solzhenitsyn and many others. On its slopes is the site of M.Yu’s duel. Lermontov, grave of topographer A.V. Pastukhov, and the “Failure” described in the novel “The Twelve Chairs” became worldwide famous place. There is also even permafrost here.

Mountainis an edge complex (landscape)natural monument.

You can also take the cable car or walk to the top Mashuka. The view is wonderful; if the weather is clear, you can clearly see the Caucasus Mountain Range.
Pyatigorsk cable car "" Mashuk"". Characteristics: Travel speed - 8 m/sec., one-way travel time - 2.5-3 minutes, capacity 20 people, dead weight of the car - 1032 kg, payload - 2000 kg, number of cars on the track - 2, length of the road along the supporting rope - 964m, excess top station above the lower one is 368.8m, the height of Mount Mashuk is 993m.

PYATIGORSK - RESORT CITY

"My city is Pyatigorsk, my friendly city,
He stretched out his arms to the sun, hugging the Caucasus...
And it’s not for nothing that they say: you are both near and dear
To everyone who has seen you at least once."

S.V. Mikhalkov "Song about Pyatigorsk".

About beautiful sunny city Everyone heard Pyatigorsk. Thanks to Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov, back in school we learned about majestic mountains, proud and beautiful people, about the healing climate, about mineral water that works wonders. The region of five mountains in the Caucasus has been inhabited for a long time.

In 1334, Arab travelers mentioned this area. In Russia, the study of the benefits of mineral waters began under Peter I. Russian scientists first described the springs of Pyatigorye in 1773. 20 years later, in 1793, chemical analyzes of all mineral water sources were carried out. The news that in the Caucasus there are springs of water gushing directly from the ground, which cures many diseases, quickly spread to the most remote places Russian Empire. And patients from all over the country flocked to the hot sulfur waters.

In 1779, the Konstantinogorsk fortress was built at the foot of the Beshtovy Mountains. The fortress was located near Mount Mashuk on the banks of the Zolotukha River. Gradually, around the fortress arose small settlement in two streets, which became known as Konstantinogorsk. The first patients stayed here and, with the hope of a cure, ventured to the Caucasus. By the end of the 18th century, the first wooden baths were built on the slope of Mount Goryachiy.

The founding date of the resort of Pyatigorsk is considered to be 1780, and the official history of the resort city begins with the signing of the emperor’s personal letter in 1803. The document was called: “On the recognition of the national importance of the Caucasian Mineral Waters and the need for their construction.” The construction of the Hot Waters proceeded at a rapid pace. A hotel, the building of the Nikolaevsky baths, the House of Officers, the Sabaneevsky and Soldier baths were built. Mineral springs were conveniently equipped, the Kazenny, Elizarovsky gardens, Nikolaev flower garden. At the same time, the famous gazebo “Aeolian Harp” and Diana’s grotto appeared.

Every year the construction commission sent reports to the capital on the work performed. Thanks to such strict control resort village Hot waters resembled a German town more than a Russian province.

In 1830, after the development plan for the town was approved, a new name appeared on the map of Russia - the city of Pyatigorsk.
By 1842, 2,324 people lived permanently in Pyatigorsk.
The town took on a life of its own. The townspeople's main income came from renting out apartments to visiting holidaymakers. A huge benefit for the city was the construction of a railway line from the Mineralnye Vody station.
In 1894, the number of people wishing to improve their health on the waters of Pyatigorsk increased sharply. The city began to grow westward. At this time, stone private houses began to be built.
The number of hotels in the city has increased. But, as often happens, after rapid development there comes a time when it turns out that government spending on the development of the resort does not bring the expected results. A new period is beginning for the resorts of Pyatigorsk - the period of private initiative. Water management was leased to the actual state councilor N.A. Novoselsky, and he, in turn, appointed the famous doctor S.A. as director of the KMS. Smirnova.
In the history of Pyatigorsk resorts, Smirnov played a huge role.
Under him, the first Russian Balneological Society arose, and the Institute of Balneology successfully operates on its basis to this day. Since 1917, a new era began for the city of Pyatigorsk, as well as for the whole country. After the establishment of Soviet power in the Caucasus, all buildings and structures were nationalized and transferred to the resort industry. This is how the former private dachas on Provali began to be called sanatoriums.
The city of Pyatigorsk was the district center of the North Caucasus region until 1934.
And since 1934 Pyatigorsk - administrative center North Caucasus region. The city expanded and was built. But plans for the development and construction of the city were interrupted by the Great Patriotic War. In Pyatigorsk, hospitals were opened in all sanatoriums and boarding houses, and weapons manufacturing workshops appeared in the laboratory of the Balneological Institute.
From August 1942 to January 1943, the resort town was occupied by the Germans. When leaving, the Nazis blew up some of the buildings, plundered everything they could, causing enormous damage to the city. But the city rose from the ruins. After liberation, restoration work began.
The city has been transformed again. Sanatoriums, plants and factories began to operate. In the 60s, sanatoriums, rest homes, mineral springs, clinics, mud lakes. The resorts of Pyatigorsk were a huge success.
Getting a ticket to such a health resort was a guarantee of successful health improvement.

For each of us, this is a special place where our destinies intersect, where hopes and dreams become reality, where rich story, culture, traditions of the past and present.
Pyatigorsk occupies a special place among resort cities.
He - a real gem Caucasus.

This is a city in which cultural and cultural heritage is carefully preserved and enhanced. historical heritage, important events in the economic and social life of the region take place.
Today, the capital of the North Caucasus Federal District generously gives health and good mood to visitors from all over the world, increases economic potential, and reconstructs housing, roads, and social facilities.
In its rapid development, Pyatigorsk sets an example for many other Russian cities.
The increasing pace of socio-economic development of the city is evidenced by the high results that you and I, dear residents of Pyatigorsk, have achieved together.

Mount Mashuk is one of the iconic landmarks of the city of Pyatigorsk; it offers a dizzying view of the city and other mountains, for example, Beshtau, in clear weather you can even see Elbrus.

The height of Mount Mashuk is almost 994 meters.

Several mineral springs have been discovered on the slopes, and sanatoriums are located nearby, which makes the place popular for vacationers who want to improve their health. For treatment, health paths are also practiced - health-improving walks along Mount Mashuk. To cope with the climb to the top, you don’t have to be an athlete; almost anyone can walk along the asphalt road and trails. Moderate exercise stress together with the beauty of nature, stunning views and local attractions, it has a strong effect on many tourists.

The Legend of Mount Mashuk

People tend to wax poetic about beautiful places, and a beautiful and sad legend is associated with the origin of Mashuk. A long time ago, on the site of the Caucasus Mountains there were vast plains inhabited by Narts. They were led by Prince Elbrus, who had a son, Beshtau, a strong and brave warrior. One day Beshtau met the beautiful Mashuko, fell in love with her with all his heart and soon married her. Only the father was not very happy about this event - after all, he himself liked Mashuko. Wanting to achieve it, Elbrus resorted to a trick - he sent his son on a campaign to distant lands, and a little later he himself provoked rumors about the death of Beshtau. Mashuko was inconsolable, Elbrus forcibly put the ring on her finger, but she did not want to be his wife. To break her resistance, he imprisoned her in a tower.

Returning Beshtau, having learned about this, stole his beloved and ran away with her. However, the cruel Elbrus set off in pursuit and overtook the fugitives. In the ensuing battle, both warriors fell - Beshtau managed to cut his father’s head in half, and he cut him into five pieces. Unable to live without her lover, Mashuko pierced her chest with a dagger. The witness to the events - nature - was so amazed by what happened that everything around was petrified with grief. And now Mount Mashuk with Lake Proval (symbol of a wound in the heart), Beshtau with five peaks and Elbrus with two remind us of this.

Attractions

Besides beautiful nature and its feathered inhabitants, there are many attractions along the way to the top. Near some there are tablets with information; for a complete picture of the mountain, its places and legends, you can rent an audio guide at the lower cable car station, its cost is 50 rubles.

You should definitely visit Lake Proval, located in an underground cave. It was discovered thanks to a collapsed vault. Particularly attractive is the unusual blue color of the lake, which is due to the presence of sulfur and special bacteria in it. Near the lake there is a monument to Ostap Bender, the enterprising hero of the work “12 Chairs”, who made money by selling tickets to the lake viewing site. Not far from the lake there are the so-called People's Baths.

Interesting and Observation deck— gazebo “Eolian Harp”, previously there were harps here, which, under the influence of the wind, produced beautiful music. Now there is musical equipment installed in this place; the melody can be enjoyed in any weather, regardless of the wind.

Perhaps the most romantic place— The Gate of the Sun or, as they are also called, the Gate of Love. This arch, made of stone blocks, especially attracts newlyweds; there is even a tradition - the groom must carry the bride under it three times, then a happy family life awaits them. There is also an observation deck next to the gate.

The city of Pyatigorsk is associated with the name of the famous Russian writer - M. Yu. Lermontov; a duel took place on the slope of Mount Mashuk, which claimed his life. An obelisk was installed at this place, which can be found during the ascent. Another place associated with the poet is Lermontov’s grotto.

Other interesting sights are the rock portrait of Lenin, the Academic Gallery, the Perkal Arboretum, a cascade fountain, and a majestic eagle sculpture.

At the top of the mountain, in addition to viewing stunning views, you can admire the high TV tower and see signs with the names of cities and the distance from them to Pyatigorsk. Many tourists enjoy finding signs with their hometowns.

How to get to Mount Mashuk

You can get to the top of Mashuk by hiking or cycling, or by cable car. Tourists come here not only during the season; even in winter there are visitors, because the snow-covered landscapes are no less beautiful.

The road to Mount Mashuk on foot and by bike

Ascent and descent on foot can require a lot of time and effort, so many spend the whole day exploring the mountain and its attractions. An asphalt ring road encircles the mountain, walking along which you can see the main interesting places. To get to the top, you need to turn off the road onto one of the many paths, any of them will lead to the top. There are many routes that go to the top of the mountain. The climb to Mashuk takes on average 1.5-2 hours, but it all depends on the chosen path and level of physical fitness.

Many vacationers prefer to get to the cable car by minibus No. 1, going from the Railway Station. You need to get off at the Lenin Rocks stop. You can also get to the place by car or taxi using the following applications: Yandex. Taxi, Gett and others.

Then you can walk to the Gate of the Sun and continue along the serpentine road to the top. This road is also convenient for cycling. Walking along the serpentine, you can also turn onto paths, they open up more scenic views, but at the same time they are more difficult to climb.

Cable car to Mount Mashuk

If you don’t have the time or desire to climb on foot, you can use the cable car. The carriages travel to the top in about 3 minutes, during which time you can appreciate the views and beauty of the landscapes.

Price for using the cable car:

for children from 5 to 8 years old - 50 rubles. (one way), 100 rub. (both)
for adults - 210 rub. (one way), 360 rub. (both)
children under 5 years old travel free of charge.

You can have a snack like fast food at the lower station of the cable car; at the top you can have lunch in a cafe with panoramic views.

Video about Mount Mashuk

The history of Pyatigorsk began in 1803, with the signing by Emperor Alexander I of the decree “On recognition of the national significance of the Caucasian Mineral Waters and the need for their construction.” The federal resort of Pyatigorsk opened the history of domestic balneology at the moment when the first balneological center was created here in 1863. The city in the Stavropol Territory is truly a real oasis of health: more than 40 healing springs, a climatic zone with a therapeutic effect, all this is known far beyond the Caucasus. However, like cultural values, events in the life of the city, captured in its architecture, natural monuments, chronicles and legends. Both admirers of the great poet’s talent and simply lovers of beautiful landscapes are drawn to take a stroll through the places glorified in Lermontov’s works. There are also special places here that are worth noting in advance on your personal travel map. Let's talk about the sacred corners of Pyatigorsk in a little more detail.

Mount Mashuk

Getting to the top of the mountain is not difficult. Fans of hiking can climb to the top via a path; the route will be about 5 kilometers with an elevation gain of just over 200 meters. Or you can use the “lazy”, but so comfortable way - using a cable car. The Pyatigorsk cable car is located at Gagarin Boulevard, 2. The price of a ticket for an adult one way is 210 rubles, round trip is 360 rubles, children under 5 years old are free. Opening hours on weekdays from 10:00 to 19:00, on weekends from 10:00 to 20:00. It wouldn’t hurt to learn the beautiful legends associated with Mount Mashuk and other locallite mountains. You can rent an audio guide at the cable car ticket office.

Lake Proval

Another iconic place for those who once visited Pyatigorsk is a walk to Lake Proval and buying a ticket from Ostap Bender “so that Proval doesn’t fail.” Lake water has an amazing blue color and a specific smell, which can be explained quite simply. Getting an answer about the color of the water, and at the same time the opportunity to admire the underground cave, will be a well-deserved bonus for those who get here. The attraction is located at the end of Gagarin Boulevard; you can get to Proval by bus No. 1.

Interesting information comes from repeaters located at the entrance to the Proval. The horizontal entrance to the cave was cut in 1858, and until that moment, brave and inquisitive citizens were lowered to the lake from above in a special basket. The height of the karst cave is 41 meters, and the natural entrance can be seen at the top if you raise your head. The lake itself and the cave were explored much earlier; this was done by the German scientist Peter Simon Pallas in 1793. Currently, Lake Proval is of a demonstration nature, so access to it is limited by a fence.

Shameless baths

Swimming in shameless baths, buying a ticket to the lake from Ostap Bender, throwing a coin into the hat of the unforgettable Kisa Vorobyaninov and walking through the “Gate of Love” are on the “list” of mandatory attributes for a walk around Pyatigorsk. This open-air spa is also called folk baths. Since the source of hydrogen sulfide baths has not been officially identified, it is periodically closed. And society periodically returns to “public use” a year-round source of pleasure. Winter bathing in hot baths brings special bliss. But the healing effect that visitors to such baths want to achieve is greatly questioned by the lack of control and prescriptions from doctors. Here, each bather is his own doctor and independently regulates the degree of immersion and bathing time.

To be sure of the therapeutic effect of the procedure, it is better to visit the Pirogovskie baths, located on Gagarin Boulevard, 4. The building was erected in three months in 1914 and was originally named after the director of the resort - Tilicheev, after the revolution it was already the Provalskie baths, and they became Pirogovskie in the middle of the twentieth century, the renaming was timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great doctor Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov. The baths are still in operation today; water for the procedures is taken from the same sulfur spring from which the people’s baths are filled behind the building of the Pirogov Baths.

Gazebo "Eolian Harp"

Lermontov's Grotto

Lermontov's theme for Pyatigorsk is the main leitmotif for all excursion programs, walks of citizens and guests of the city. One of the most beautiful natural grottoes with the name Calypso and ennobled by the creators of the Aeolian Harp gazebo, the Bernardazzi brothers, fell in love with the Lermontovs. He loved to retire to contemplate the magnificent views, and who knows, maybe it was here that the scenes from the dramatic poem “Mtsyri” originated?

Park "Flower Garden"

The Tsvetnik park is especially symbolic for the city. From this place, a resort town developed, and the first drinking pump room was opened here. Initially, the park was named in honor of the then reigning Tsar Nikolaevsky. The area landscaped in place of the swamps was planted with flowers, and later with exotic trees. The park has become one of the calling cards of the city; at its entrance, vacationers are greeted by a sculptural image of Kisa Vorobyaninov, who, according to the plot of the comedy, informed park visitors that he had not eaten for 6 days.

Lermontov Gallery

A walk through the Tsvetnik park, if you follow its main alley, will lead to an openwork building made of glass and metal. The Lermontov Gallery, a building built at the turn of the century in the Art Nouveau style with Gothic and Romantic elements, today remains a venue for concerts and exhibitions. Officially it has the status of a philharmonic society. It is curious that the ballerina Isadora Duncan danced here in 1923, dedicating her composition to the memory of Lermontov. Within the walls of the Lermontov Gallery the voices of famous opera singers Fyodor Chaliapin and Leonid Sobinov sounded. The great actress Maria Nikolaevna Ermolova performed here.

Diana's Grotto

The rock grotto, named after the ancient Greek goddess Diana, is associated with several historical events, and quite positive ones at that. This natural grotto was decorated and fortified with columns in honor of the first ascent of Elbrus. Later it was given a different name - Diana's Grotto, a name that has survived to this day. Another historical fact that makes us perceive this place somewhat differently is associated with Mikhail Yuryevich Lermontov. Here he was the organizer of a ball for ladies exactly a week before his tragic death. Apparently this life contrast - the ball and the duel makes us especially perceive this amazing place, from where you can admire the views of nature and think about the vicissitudes of fate, such an unusually short step separating life and death, fun and duel.

Chinese gazebo

The gazebos in Pyatigorsk seem to specifically emphasize the status of a resort city - as a place designated for leisurely walks, admiring the scenery, visiting pump rooms and reflecting on the richness of the culture of Pyatigorsk’s past. One of these places is the Chinese gazebo. If you look at it, it becomes clear why it was called that. The whimsical metal openwork ornament, created according to the design of the sculptor Shakhovskaya in 1974, will not allow you to make a mistake. Previously, there were other gazebos and other themes for their design in this place, in accordance with the trends of the time. In 1862, there was a musical rotunda here, from which music was played for vacationers. Later, at the beginning of the 20th century, according to the design of the sculptor Klepinin, a wooden gazebo in the style of a Chinese pagoda was built; it was then called “Tsvetnoy”. During the Soviet period, in accordance with the spirit of the times, the gazebo received the name “Freedom”. In its modern version, it was created already in 1976. And one thing remains unchanged for any historical period - the beauty of the panoramic views opening from it, the spirit of freedom and space. All that makes up the feeling of the uniqueness of the Caucasus.

Pump rooms of Pyatigorsk

The pump room for Pyatigorsk means the same thing as the tea ceremony in Beijing. This is a symbol of the city. You can drink healing water at the Caucasian resort in several pump rooms. Each place has unique characteristics, both the mineral-rich water itself and the history of the discovery and design of the source. The tradition that has developed over almost two centuries makes itself felt. Drinking mineral water in the pump room is a whole ceremony. Pyatigorsk Narzan, which is used for drinking treatment, is bottled in pump rooms. In most cases, carbonated water from a well is heated by special automatic devices in the pump room, so you can see signs next to the taps - cold, warm or hot narzan. There is a special sulfate narzan in Pyatigorsk, which differs from other types by the rich smell of hydrogen sulfide or, as people say, the smell of rotten eggs. Drinking a glass of such narzan will not be pleasant, but it is this type that has the greatest healing effect.

In general, it makes sense to visit each of the pump rooms and combine the medicinal benefits of taking one of the types of medicinal water with the process of enriching your knowledge from familiarizing yourself with the treasures of Pyatigorsk culture. This will become a kind of tasting tour that cannot be found anywhere else in Russia.

Pyatigorsk is called the natural museum of mineral waters. It is not for nothing that at the time of the emergence of a settlement in the North Caucasus this place was called Hot Waters. Pyatigorsk is associated with the name of the great Russian poet Lermontov, who praised the city as a place of amazing natural power, in which there will be resources not only for physical, but also mental recovery. The sights of Pyatigorsk give it the aura of an amazing historical city; it should definitely be on the travel map of a self-respecting cultural connoisseur.
A visit to the Lermontov Museum and the place of the poet’s duel in Pyatigorsk is described.