This North Caucasian spa town draws visitors to its mineral springs and health resorts. Russian celebrities own private villas along the slopes of the Caucasus Mountains.
Kislovodsk, a spa city in Russia's North Caucasus region, draws visitors to its naturally carbonated springs and 5,000-hectare urban park. You can drink three types of mineral water at the historic Narzan Gallery, hike to the Small Saddle mountain viewpoint, or explore the preserved 19th-century studio of painter Nikolai Yaroshenko. The city's 300 sunny days per year make it ideal for both outdoor healing treatments and mountain excursions.
Mineral Springs and Water Treatment
Seven springs in Kislovodsk produce narzan, a naturally carbonated water containing calcium and magnesium. More than 40 sanatoriums use this water for treatments throughout the year. Visit the Narzan Gallery in the lower national park to taste three mineral water varieties: common narzan, sulfate narzan, and dolomite narzan. When you check into a sanatorium, medical staff will create your personal water-drinking schedule, specifying exact times and temperatures for maximum health benefits.
Kislovodsk National Park
The park stretches 5 kilometers from downtown to the Dzhinal Ridge, reaching 1,541 meters above sea level. Start at the lower section's rose gardens and wide promenades, then continue to the middle section with its exercise stations and memorial gardens. Upper section trails lead you to observation decks overlooking Mount Elbrus and the Caucasus range. You'll walk through groves of pine and beech trees in the higher elevations, and past hornbeam and maple trees in the lower areas.
Museums and Literature
Step into the 19th century at the Yaroshenko House-Museum, where you can see the painter's original works and preserved art studio. The museum contains his personal belongings and art collection. Nobel laureate Alexander Solzhenitsyn was born in Kislovodsk, and his childhood home will become a museum. Writer Mikhail Lermontov set key scenes of his 1840 novel "A Hero of Our Time" in the city's valleys and mountains.
Mountain Excursions
Take a three-hour bus ride from Kislovodsk's central station to reach the Dombai ski area, or travel four hours to the Mount Elbrus region. Within the national park, ride the cable car to reach the highest observation points. The clear weather - typical for 300 days each year - lets you see the Caucasus mountain range from multiple spots along the Dzhinal Ridge.
