Pyatigorsk is a place whose name literally means “five mountains,” so christened because of the Caucasian mountain range that overlooks the city. Its foundation year was in 1780, and because of its mineral springs, it has been considered a health spa since 1803.
On a small plateau located 1680 feet above sea level, the town of Pyatigorsk is a very convenient starting point in heading to a number of tourist routes. It is at the foot of Mount Mashuk, at the bottom of which exists a small lake. If you wish to climb Mount Mashuk, you can take the foot road or go by cable.
Pyatigorsk has a moderate continental climate. Summers are steadily warm and winters, lasting 2 to 3 months, are moderately soft. Springs are early, cool, and quickly transitions to summer, and fall is dry, warm, and long—all perfect conditions for tourists who may want to stay longer in the place. Humidity is between 55 to 80%.
The town obviously is nothing compared to the vastness of Moscow and St. Petersburg, the two largest cities of Russia, but it still has tourist spots to offer. There’s Mikhail Lermontov’s state memorial estate, founded in 1973. It serves to unite all the region’s Lermontov memorial places: the venue of his duel and subsequent death, a necropolis, his small house, Alexander Alyabyev’s house, Verzilin’s houses, and the Lermontov monument and square. There is the Aeolian harp, which is a classical small stone pavilion that was constructed in 1828 by the Bernardicci brothers. You may also drop by Diana’s Grotto, built in honor of the first ever ascent to Mount Elbrus in 1830.
Wonderful restaurants, bars, and clubs teem in Pyatigorsk, so nightlife revelers will not have a dull moment in the town. What is known to the locals as “Broadway” is a major thoroughfare that runs through the town’s center, and this is where most of the attractions are located, one of them being a very large marketplace – a perfect place for people watchers. Hang about at Broadway and you’ll notice the Caucasus region’s influence on the place especially on its music and cuisine.