Tsqaltubo, city in Georgia
Tskaltubo is a city in Georgia built around natural mineral springs and known as a spa town. It consists of large sanatorium buildings arranged around a central park, with bathhouses and treatment centers that offer therapies and mineral water baths.
The city became famous in the early 20th century as the 'Riviera of the Soviet Union' when visitors from across the USSR came to relax and take treatments. After the Soviet collapse in the 1990s, the city declined and many buildings were abandoned or used as shelter by people displaced from nearby conflict zones.
The name Tskaltubo refers to the natural mineral springs that have always been the heart of this place. Residents continue to draw on these traditions today, and visitors can see how the old bathing culture remains part of daily life even as new developers work to revive the town's former character.
Visitors should wear sturdy shoes before exploring abandoned buildings and ask residents for permission, as some structures are unsafe. Guided tours are recommended to learn the history and navigate safely through the town.
Bathhouse No. 6 was an exclusive bath used only by Joseph Stalin, and its walls still show signs of its former privacy. Photographers like Ryan Koopmans have documented the decaying buildings and residents who have created lives and gardens amid the ruins.
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