Саратовская областная психиатрическая больница Святой Софии

The Saratov Regional Psychiatric Hospital stands at the foot of Altynna Mountain and comprises nine buildings spread across roughly 40 hectares of land. The complex is organized into 19 treatment departments offering specialized care for children, adolescents, and elderly patients.

Princess Sofia Shcherbatova established the facility in 1891 as a memorial to her daughter who struggled with mental illness. The first chief physician S.I. Steinberg later introduced innovative treatment methods that shaped psychiatric practice across the region.

The facility is named after Saint Sofia and was founded by a princess devoted to mental health care. Visitors can see the chapel built in 2004, which reflects the spiritual life of the place.

The grounds are large and spread across multiple areas, so it helps to get oriented before exploring the site. The location in the mountain region makes it easy to locate and visible from a distance due to its characteristic hillside setting.

The first chief physician S.I. Steinberg was a pioneer in using new treatment approaches that went far beyond standard practice of his time. His work made the hospital a center for psychiatric innovation in southeastern Russia.