The park in Essentuki is one of the main attractions of the resort city, which has a great history that began in the mid-nineteenth century. This is a great place to relax and do sports. There are many comfortable cafes and restaurants that are guaranteed to make your stay enjoyable and carefree.
How it all began
If you are going to this park in Essentuki today, you just won’t believe that literally two centuries ago there was a marshy and bare place on this place. She did not dry out even in the summer and did not stand out at all. Nowadays, the Resort Park in Essentuki has become one of the main assets of the city, which attracts tourists and local residents, holidaymakers coming from all over the country.
Initially, its construction was conceived by Count Vorontsov in 1848. We started it a year later. In parallel with the construction of source gallery No. 17, trees began to be planted, drained swamps, and blooming gardens cultivated. As a result, the arrangement of the Resort Park in Essentuki lasted for several decades. The process has repeatedly slowed down due to funding problems and other difficulties. At the same time, the construction work did not stop. Over time, the park came closer to its modern look. Pavilions and galleries were built, the waters of healing springs were enclosed in pipes, bathrooms were equipped.
Then, in the park in the city of Essentuki, a theater with an iron extension appeared, which was bought at a fair in Nizhny Novgorod, decorative sculptures and several openwork arbors.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the park spread over an area of 35 acres. At the same time, it was conditionally divided into three parts - Upper with bathrooms and springs, Vorontsovsky, or Lower, and the new Panteleimonovsky park. So, the latter got its name thanks to the church of St. Panteleimon, located nearby.
Parts of the park
The Vorontsov Park in Essentuki is famous for its unique shady avenues, which have long turned into favorite places for leisurely walks of spa tourists and tourists. On the park alleys are located drinking pump-rooms in the antique style. They can now be seen in their places, but they already have an exclusively decorative function.
The youngest is Panteleimon Park, ideal for walking on summer evenings. It regularly organizes a variety of children's parties, dance evenings for adults, souvenirs, postcards and newspapers are sold in tents.
At the end of the XIX century, a church was built, later a parish school appeared at it, a reading room, a library and a post office opened. Together with the school and the temple, this park in Essentuki soon turned into the center of cultural life of the whole city.
Before the revolution, his visit was paid. The cost was 20 cents. It was possible to purchase a seasonal ticket for the entire course of treatment for three rubles. Separately, at that time it was required to buy a graduated individual glass, stored at the source.
Nowadays
During the years of Soviet power and in the modern period, the park in the city of Essentuki constantly developed with varying degrees of intensity. It is worth recognizing that its most active development was in the post-occupation period, when the Great Patriotic War ended.
At that time, the entrance to the park was decorated with cascading stairs with complexes of fountains, and a pond was excavated on the territory and several new medical buildings were equipped. At that time, the treatment park in Essentuki fully corresponded to its name.
He looks attractive and comfortable even today. Thanks to the diverse and rich vegetation, the air is filled with amazing healing aromas, and fountains, arbors and elegant decorative sculptures are placed along the park alleys. The sight of the spa guests is delighted with rose gardens and well-groomed flower beds.
How to get there
The address of the Resort Park in Essentuki is 13. Krasnoarmeyskaya Street, 13. It is located in the Stavropol Territory, in a place attractive for tourists from all over the Russian Federation.
Knowing the address of the park in Essentuki, you can easily reach it. Arriving at the city railway station, you can arrive at your destination by minibus or bus number 6, 9 or 21. You will need to go to the stop "Sanatorium" Kazakhstan ".
Main alley
On most photos of the park in Essentuki, you can definitely see its main alley. It begins on the central square of the city, goes past sources No. 4 and No. 17, the building of mechanotherapy, leading tourists to the mud baths in the resort part of the city.
There are elegant pump rooms, fancy fountains, sculptural buildings in the antique style and openwork arbors along the alley of the Resort Medical Park in Essentuki.
Experienced holidaymakers, who are not the first time to come to Essentuki, are advised to always have with them nuts or a handful of seeds. The fact is that on the way you will definitely meet many squirrels. People have tamed them for a long time, often feed them, so they willingly go down from the trees, they can even sit in the hands of a vacationer. If you turn off the main avenue, you will find yourself on specially marked paths intended for therapeutic walking. They are called terrenkur here.
entrance to the park
The entrance to the park is located on the corner of Internatsionalnaya Street, which used to be called Kursova. It is near Theater Square.
Almost all of the available entrances were built in 1955, like much in this park, they were also decorated in antique style. On the sides of the main entrance are the lower and upper terraces. Guests are greeted by two fountains - one more and one smaller. Behind the fountains is the theater-park building.
"Zero kilometer of love"
Here is one of the main attractions of the park in Essentuki called "Zero kilometer of love."
This is a sculptural composition, which is decorated in the shape of a circle made up of multi-colored paving stones. In the very center of this peculiar circle, two polished metal hearts are laid on a granite base.
Nearby directly on the ground, as if a gilded Cupid is dozing. Apparently, he fulfilled the plan for the distribution of amorous arrows, now enjoys a well-deserved rest. Not far from this composition is set a beautiful openwork metal bench.
Healing resort
In total, on the territory of Essentuki, as many as 23 mineral springs were discovered, in which unique healing water with a special composition. Sources No. 4 and No. 17 gained the greatest popularity not only in Russia, but also beyond its borders, from where spa people still come to improve their health.
For example, the water from the source number 17 back in 1823 was studied and described in detail by Professor Nelyubin. Although the healing properties were known even earlier, in 1810, when they were discovered by a Russian doctor with German roots Fedor Petrovich Haaz. It is believed that water from this source is especially useful for gastritis. It is divided into thermal and cold.
The gallery itself also looks remarkable, in the architecture of which Byzantine and English motifs are traced. The gallery project for source No. 17 was developed by the architect Upton, and was approved by Count Vorontsov himself. Construction was completed in 1852. However, due to damage received by the gallery during the earthquake, its discovery had to be postponed for four years.
The gallery was named after Upton, who was the main architect of the project. The south-oriented facade, he decided to decorate with arcades with Moorish motifs, which were extremely fashionable at that time.
In 1873, an openwork arbor was installed near this gallery, which from the side seems completely weightless and airy. Although in reality it is cast from cast iron. None of the cataclysms of the 20th century touched her, so she still stands behind the gallery almost in its original form.
Mineral baths
Another feature of this park is the amazing mineral baths. They are still considered an important attraction of the Essentuki. They are located in the Lower Park, while occupying a fairly impressive area.
This building opposite mineral spring No. 17 was erected in 1902. The author of this project was an architect from St. Petersburg Baykov.
In 1938, the building was completely redone. A porch appeared on the left side, the second floor, the main entrance was decorated with an impressive portico, which is still supported by monumental columns. During the Nazi occupation, the building was badly damaged, but in 1949 it was already restored.
At the same time, inhalation, which is considered the largest in Europe, resumed work. A hospital was equipped at its base, which was equipped in accordance with all the requirements of that time. There were 44 treatment cabins in it, each had a pair of locker rooms. The medical facility was equipped with a comfortable lobby of an impressive size, as well as special lounges and waiting rooms.
In the building of the Lower Baths, holiday-makers could take carbon dioxide-hydrogen sulfide and salt-alkaline baths. In addition, doctors arranged special gynecological procedures. The Lower Baths had their own hydrotherapy unit (male and female).
In 1939, a central inhalation was founded here.
Mechanotherapy
The building, known as "Mechanotherapy. Zander Institute of Orthopedics, Massage and Medical Gymnastics" is of great interest to all visitors to this park. It is made in fakhver style.
In the 19th century, the Swede Gustav Zander designed special simulators designed for passive and active classes. For this resort 64 such devices were immediately purchased. Zander devices have survived to the present day, becoming an important and attractive for many local attractions.
These views are familiar to many, since it was here that individual scenes of the cult Soviet comedy "Love and Pigeons" were shot.
Sculptures in the park
A large number of diverse cultural exhibits are located throughout the park. One of the most famous is called "The Man with the Pitcher." She depicts a male figure irrigating from a jug a garden spread out in front of her.
If you go straight along the main avenue, you can see the gazebo, known under the unofficial name of "Random Encounters." It is believed that this is one of the most common places for meeting holidaymakers who come to relax on the water.
Right under the gazebo, you can find a kind of floral calendar, which has long been loved by tourists. Almost everyone who has ever been to this place has photographs next to him.
On the upper terrace of the park you can see the main balneological center of the resort. Previously, it was called the Nikolaev bathrooms. The construction of this building was completed in 1899. It was built in a classic style, but with some improvements. Common mud baths were prepared in the courtyard, mixing mineral water with several buckets of healing mud. The steam-heated trolley rolled back into the cabin, where patients could already take a mud bath. From five to six thousand procedures were carried out here daily.
Impressions of holidaymakers
In reviews of Yessentuki, tourists must mention this park. They note that the architecture is amazing and beautiful.
But the desire to walk in the park in silence and tranquility is impossible. This is prevented by street singers and variegated merchants, who are located on most of the main avenue. If tourists try to get off the main road, then they immediately encounter uncomfortable passages, which are sometimes very problematic to get through.