For the Russian people it is impossible to overestimate the importance of water and steam. Those days when a public bath was just a real necessity due to the lack of bathtubs and showers in apartments, most of them have sunk into oblivion.
Now baths are also a necessity, but of a different kind - now they serve mainly for spiritual relaxation. And how could they have disappeared from the traditions of the people to whom, in ancient times, the tribes captured were paid tribute by
birch brooms?Always filled with visitors
The Izmailovo baths are not among the oldest in the capital, although they were built in the Stalin district (it was then called Izmailovo, which was annexed to Moscow before the war) in 1956. At the same time, in the same 1956, in the same area, the Ibragimov baths were built, named in the same way as the street on which they were until 1965.
And now only the street remains. Izmailovo baths (photo attached) are relatively young and did not have time to acquire legends and acquire their own ghosts, but they are very loved by Muscovites and you can get there only by appointment.
The only ones in a large area
Such popularity and demand, can be explained by the relatively small size of this public washing - it has only two halls of the first and second categories, designed for 20 and 36 seats, respectively. There are no other public institutions of this type in Izmailovo; there are several VIP saunas available to far from all. The area where the baths are located is very interesting - Izmailovsky Island is located nearby and there are many parks and gardens everywhere. Due to the many tall trees, one cannot immediately notice the baths, the three-story building of which is difficult to see due to the abundance of greenery.
Another "Stalinist" building
Izmailovsky bathhouse (Moscow) is quite spacious and occupies all three floors of the erected building specially for it. A solid entrance is framed by two pairs of pilasters (false columns).
Behind the massive doors is a huge lobby with high ceilings, with numerous schedules and price lists. In the lobby there is a dressing room with numbers (like in a theater) and an administrator booth. All this together resembles the "Stalinist" times.
First impression is positive.
The larger hall of the two, which has the Izmailovsky baths, designed for 36 seats and located on the second floor, is made in the Russian style. The right staircase rising from the entrance lobby leads exactly here. In front of the bathhouse itself, there is a bar with a spacious hall that can accommodate up to 30 visitors, which can accommodate at several tables, and a kitchen. They are prepared here without any frills, but soundly and efficiently. In addition to salads and slices, there are also hot dishes. The left staircase leads here from the first floor. Behind the bar room there is a spacious lounge, in which there are 6 locker rooms. Everything is trimmed with wood and makes a good impression of the same quality factor.
Not very annoying flaws
However, some visitors who are sympathetic to this establishment still have not quite pleasant sensations of being in a reserved seat car - it’s scary to step on the floor without slippers and there’s no particular desire to touch the walls. However, Izmailovsky baths have very positive reviews. , and by all accounts there are not only clean and tidy toilets. A rest room is followed by a washing room, which makes a pleasant impression both in decoration, cleanliness, and the availability of all bath accessories in abundance. The benches in the washroom are good - they are easily washed off, as they have a marble coating and keep heat for a long time. The gripe, and the general one, is the pool of this room. Given the fact that the water in it is exactly knee-deep, it can be assumed that he was conceived as a reserve tank with water, from which you can scoop it with a basin and rinse. True, the steps leading into it are present. So, still a pool?
There are several points that displease visitors to this room, designed for 36 seats and located on the second floor. Firstly, in the locker room, the floor in most cases is covered with water. And secondly, here often, especially in men's days, you can stumble upon riotous and noisy companies.
Steam room atone for all the flaws
Behind the washing room there is a steam room, the area of which is 30 square meters. This room leaves the most positive impression. It has a beautiful stone stove from floor to ceiling (3.5 meters). Inside, it has cast-iron cast-iron blanks burning with gas, and next to the stove are basins with hot water and a large iron mug. Visitors praise the shops of the steam room - just in moderation, not narrow, not wide.
The capacity of the second floor steam room is designed for a maximum of 36 seats. On September 26 of the past year, this part of the bathhouse burned down. 6 crews who managed to localize the fire and prevented the transfer of fire to other premises of the complex fought the fire. There were no casualties.
Small Hall
Izmailovsky baths are famous throughout the capital for their steam rooms, about which there is not a single negative review. The prestigious small hall, into which the left staircase leads from the entrance hall, does not cause discontent.
This room located on the 3rd floor is divided by partitions and is a room with a cabinet layout with one room for 10 seats and two for 5 seats. This department is designed for fewer people, peace and peace reign here, there is a steam room, a lounge and a buffet - all the same as on the second floor, only of better quality.
VIP sauna
In the 90s, when everything, including baths, was transferred to an independent balance, for survival, washing complexes had to either lease their premises or open VIP facilities. So did the Izmailovsky baths. Sauna appeared in those distant troubled times. Now located in the building of the Izmailovsky baths, a sauna called "Dance like a king" is known to all Muscovites. It has everything that implies VIP status. In addition to the excellent bath service, there is billiards, karaoke (a large selection of songs - 50,000 items), a huge plasma TV (satellite dish and NTV channel), a large beautifully designed pool and the services of professional steam workers. The Finnish steam room is designed for 10 people. A beautiful hall is provided for wedding ceremonies, and not only. Local chefs cook wonderfully, you can order food from other restaurants, for a small fee customers are allowed to bring their culinary products and drinks. The decor (both the banquet hall and the pool) is quite exquisite. At this modern level, the Izmailovsky baths work. Sauna reviews are commendable and enthusiastic.
Advantages of Izmailovsky baths
Why are these "terms" so attractive? Well, firstly, the baths have their own "face", they are recognizable even by a small photograph of the interior. In 2002, a major overhaul was carried out, which lasted quite a long time. As a result, absolutely all the rooms of the baths, except for the steam room, were laid out with very nice mosaics and stylized as a log hut.
Wooden tables, benches, gangs, barrels, scoops and beautiful wall panels make the bathhouse attractive and one of a kind. In addition to all of the above, on the territory of the baths are all the necessary facilities for attracting customers and surviving in a competitive environment - a solarium, a hairdressing salon, pedicure and manicure, a beauty parlor, SPA and a body philosophy studio. The required services are also provided here - rental of sheets (60 rubles), slippers and caps (40 rubles each). Brooms are also sold, but often only oak. Their cost is 200 rubles.
Public Baths
It should be noted that the Izmailovsky baths do not have male and female departments. Days of the week include visits to the famous baths of various genders. And since there are no sanitary and weekends in these baths, there is more time for visiting. Izmailovsky baths attract such a ratio as “price-comfort” - 650 rubles (second floor) and 750 (third). In the list of the cleanest and most accessible baths, the Izmailovsky baths are on the second line. In addition, these baths are considered a great place for a family visit. Children under 7 years pass free of charge, from 7 to 12 have a 50 percent discount. The same benefit is granted to pensioners. Given all of the above, it becomes clear why the Izmailovsky baths reviews are in most cases positive and approving.
Address, mode of operation
Izmailovsky baths have the following address: 6th Parkovaya street, 21 (the nearest metro stations are Pervomaiskaya and Izmailovskaya).
Disapproval causes a bathhouse operating mode. There are complaints that it is not possible to obtain accurate information or make an appointment by telephone. Absolutely accurate is the daily working time - from 8 am to 10 pm. The first visitors can start the procedure from the moment the institution is opened. Recent visitors can buy tickets to the Izmailovsky Baths, the work schedule of which was indicated above at 8 o’clock in the evening.
And how are the days of the week distributed between male and female clients? Women's days are Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday (branch for 20 seats), Wednesday, Friday (branch for 36). Men can wash and enjoy the steam in the upper compartment on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays, in the compartment located on the 2nd floor - on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Such a schedule can not but make confusion and not annoy.