Kislovodsk

Kislovodsk is a spa town in Stavropol Krai on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus at 815 meters (2,674 feet) elevation. The town includes an extensive park with fountain pavilions, sanatoriums from different eras, and walking routes that wind through wooded hills and open valleys.

The area was officially declared a state medicinal resort in 1803 under Emperor Alexander I after Russian troops built a fortress near the mineral spring. In the following decades, the place developed into a popular destination for writers and nobility seeking rest.

Visitors gather along the drinking fountains in the park, where many fill their glass with carbonated mineral water in the morning and walk slowly through the paths. The tradition of the several-hour stroll remains alive here, with local musicians often playing in the squares while patients sit together on benches and share conversations about treatments.

The town is accessible year-round, and most visitors combine walks through the park with regular stops at the drinking fountains. The paths in the park are mostly well paved, though some routes at higher elevations include steeper sections.

The local Narzan mineral spring contains natural carbonation that gives the water a fizzy taste and comes directly from underground. Since the 19th century, this water has been used both for drinking and bathing, with many guests tasting the fresh water directly at the fountain pavilions.