Cascade staircase of Kislovodsk

The cascade staircase is the main entrance to the Resort Park from the north side. On this side there are residential quarters of Kislovodsk and many sanatoriums. You can also enter the Resort Park from the west side, from the Narzan Gallery along the Embankment of the Olkhovka River. 

The terrain in the center of Kislovodsk is very rugged. There are many small mountains and hills here. The territory of the Resort Park occupies 965 hectares. Since 2016, it has been transformed into the Kislovodsky National Park with a stricter environmental regime.  

In 1930, the city authorities of Kislovodsk decided to make a beautiful front entrance to the park in the form of a Cascade staircase. The construction of the Cascade Staircase began in 1936. The author of the project was architect Lyubov Zalesskaya. The construction of the Greek colonnade at the entrance to the Resort Park was planned at the beginning of the 20th century, but Zalesskaya prepared and implemented a large-scale project of a Cascading staircase of 170 steps. In Soviet guidebooks, this staircase became a symbol of Kislovodsk. 

The cascade staircase is divided into two parts. In the lower part, the staircase rises along the platforms on several levels. Round fountain bowls surrounded by flower beds are installed on each level. At night they are beautifully illuminated.  

At the top of the staircase rises a semicircular colonnade in the style of the Greek odeon. There is a cascade fountain at the foot of the colonnade. Its waters flow down from one bowl to another. Through the colonnade you can enter the Middle Park. Near the stairs there are Red Stones and Viewing Point of the Resort Park.