A visit to Balneoresort Tskaltubo (“Stalin Bathhouse”#6)

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A more detailed and for me, exploratory, visit to Tskaltubo, included a stop at Spring Number 6 in the main park. This is part of the European Ancient Balneological resorts with the only radon-carbonate mineral springs at a natural almost constant temperature between 33 and 35 C. Out of the original 22 resorts in the town and surrounds, this is the only one of these Soviet-era spa and health sanatoriums that is still operating. In years gone by, Stalin had his favourite swimming pool here (when I go for some treatments at a later date, I will get inside and take pictures of that). Some other luminaries who enjoyed treatments here include Kasparov and Nasser. The right to rest was enshrined in the Soviet constitution and all citizens were prescribed a two week paid vacation. Hence sanatoriums where one could relax and recharge. This is but one of the many sanatoriums in the area, and the scale of these places are vast. This is one of the smaller ones and it still took me about 15 minutes to walk around the outside. Bath house 6 is built right on top of the mineral springs and treatments can be enjoyed year round. The facilities of some of these buildings included theatres, cinemas, sport multiplexes, wellness spa's, natural therapies, doctors on site as well as a setting as close as possible to nature. My visit started at the park's main entrance, following a tree-lined walkway directly to the front of the bathhouse, and the fountain with a statue of a gladiator and a lion. The entrance with its imposing columns, friezes, ceramics and marble floors is really opulent and quite beautiful. Treatments here include up to 17 different kinds, but the onsite doctor will mostly only prescribe 3 - 5 treatments which at the very least will include a massage, some form of hydrotherapy and some form of mud therapy. Towels, underwear, robes and slippers are provided of course. My collage from earlier today.