Essentuki is a world-famous natural he alth resort. Dozens of diseases are treated with mineral waters from natural sources. Tourists from all over the country and from abroad come here to rest. Vacationers are faced with the question of where to go in Essentuki in their free time from medical procedures. The city has many places to visit for all tastes and ages.
Historical background
Essentuki is a small provincial resort town. Despite its modest size and short history, it is known far beyond the borders of the country. Dozens of mineral water springs have been discovered on the territory of the city and in its immediate vicinity. Each of them has a unique composition and its own medical purpose. Scientists from different countries have been studying the properties and characteristics of mineral waters for more than a century.
The history of the city began with the discovery of the first springs. Scientific expeditions were organizedproved the value of mineral raw materials. By decree of the emperor in 1825, the Cossack villages were resettled here, which guarded the deposits and equipped the life. Churches, libraries, schools and other cultural institutions appeared. And in 1845, Essentuki received the status of a city and was declared a resort place.
At that time, the governor of the town was Prince Mikhail Vorontsov. Thanks to his irrepressible energy and love for this land, Essentuki has turned from a village into a world-class resort. He bought land, improved and decorated the city.
Under Soviet rule, the city turned into an all-Union he alth resort. Spacious and modern sanatoriums, cinemas and other establishments have grown like mushrooms. Vacationers knew where to go and what to see in Essentuki. An artificial lake with beaches and a boat station was built on the outskirts. On hot days, citizens and visitors enjoyed relaxing on the sandy shore.
City Today
Today, despite the provinciality of the city and its established way of life, there are many places where you can go in Essentuki. Most visitors are elderly people or families with children. Vacationers visit the sights of the city and entertainment venues. But young people will also find entertainment to their liking here.
The city has beautiful parks, museums, a theater, cinemas, a zoo, a dolphinarium, and many attractions. Restaurants, cafes, nightclubs are open.
Resort Park
One of the main attractions wherego to Essentuki - Resort Park. It was laid out under Count Vorontsov at the end of the 19th century on the site of a swamp, which did not dry out even in the summer heat. Now the area of the park is 60 hectares, it is divided into Upper and Lower. It has walking paths for the promenade, mineral baths and a drinking gallery, an inhalation room for healing the lungs, a mechanotherapy department for training on simulators, and an aerosolarium. Fans of outdoor activities can play tennis, go dancing. A pavilion is open for chess lovers.
The park is very beautiful and bright due to the abundance of trees and flowers. Every year, landscape designers create new compositions for decoration. The panorama is complemented by gazebos, fountains, stairs. Visitors are attracted by the singing fountain, whose jets rise up to the enchanting sounds of music. The park is home to various birds and squirrels that bring joy to the sedate beauty of nature.
Crying grottoes are of particular interest to visitors. These are natural caves where you can see how mineral waters are formed. From the vault of the grotto, water drips like tears into a small lake. These springs are located at different depths and have different chemical compositions.
Victory Park
Victory Park is another place to visit in Essentuki. Here the Eternal Flame burns inextinguishably in memory of those who gave their lives on the fronts of the Great Patriotic and Civil Wars. There are numerous attractions for visitors to the park.
Attractions
There are also a lot of places to visit in Essentuki. Many historical buildings are active hospitals. So, one of the most beautiful buildings is the Upper Mineral Baths, located in the city park. The building in the Russian Empire style attracts attention with the grace of architecture and decorating statues.
Another famous attraction is the Zander Institute. The graceful pink building with turrets and domes and wooden carvings looks like a tower from a fairy tale. The building exhibits historical simulators for performing therapeutic exercises, developed at the beginning of the last century by the Swedish doctor Gustav Zander. Most of the simulators are still in working condition and anyone can work out on them. This is a working he alth resort, but you can also come here for a tour. By the way, it was here that the heroes of the legendary film Love and Doves met.
Alekseevskaya mud bath was opened in 1915 at the height of the war. Her first patients were soldiers and officers wounded in battle. Today, the mud bath continues to operate. The building is an architectural monument.
There are many pavilions built in different historical periods in the city. So, at the beginning of the last century, the Rococo musical pavilion was erected, in which musicians regularly performed before the revolution. Now the music is playing again. And in the pre-revolutionary times, there was a real telescope in Oreanda, and anyone could admire the stars and planets. Today there is no telescope, but the viewopening from the gazebo, fascinates no less than space.
There are old churches and temples in the city.
Museums
Those who prefer to combine treatment with visiting museums also have something to see in Essentuki. The local history museum will tell about the history of the city and the region. A significant part of the exposition is dedicated to the war years. Many exhibits found during archaeological excavations. Photographs, documents, household items and other exhibits make up the main funds of the museum. There are five main exhibitions in total. Traveling or thematic exhibitions are regularly held.
Many famous people built dachas in Essentuki. Now they house museums. Thus, the dachas of the outstanding surgeon Razumovsky, the famous opera singer F. Chaliapin and the itinerant artist N. Yaroshenko are very popular.
Night clubs and cinemas
Despite the fact that the city is provincial and quiet, in Essentuki there are places to go in the evening. There are several cinemas where you can see new releases or old favorites.
Lovers of noisy discos can look into popular nightclubs. Here you can have fun on the dance floor, sing karaoke or relax with a hookah.
Gourmets can go for dinner in restaurants and cafes, which are many in the city. They offer gourmet food, varied menu.
Fun for kids
Many people come to this resort with children. Many boarding houses and sanatoriums offer holidays for families. At the service of vacationersequipped playgrounds, game rooms, animators, children's pools and a special menu.
Families who come to the resort invariably face the question of where to go with a child in Essentuki. In addition to walking in the parks, where children can admire the beauties of nature, run along the alleys and play on the playgrounds, you can go to the amusement park in the Victory Park. There are no extreme entertainment here, most of the carousels are designed for kids. The whole family can take a ride on the Ferris Wheel and see the stunning beauty of the surroundings of the city from a bird's eye view.
You can go to entertainment complexes where kids can climb and overcome obstacles, swim in a pool filled with balls, play slot machines and board games.
There are two equestrian clubs in Essentuki where you can not only ride horses, but also get professional riding lessons.
You can take your child to the zooexatarium. In three halls you can see different animals and insects. Some of them can be held in hands or photographed.
You can go to the beach on the lake to soak up the rays of the gentle southern sun. It is equipped and comfortable.
Where to go in Essentuki depends on the preferences of vacationers. There is enough entertainment in the city for every taste.
