Hello, everyone!
I spent the second day of my stay in Pyatigorsk strolling around the city and visiting two museums, followed by a spa day. It was January 13th, and the weather wasn't great - it was snowing heavily in the morning, then it stopped, but the wind picked up. So, I decided not to take any excursions and just walk around the museums instead.
First up, I visited the local history museum, and I'm excited to share my thoughts on it with you. Spoiler alert: I was pleasantly surprised by how interesting it was - I ended up spending two hours there!
What did I like about the museum? What's on display? How much does the entrance ticket cost? And what were my overall impressions after visiting? I'll answer all these questions in today's review.
Pyatigorsk local history museum reviews
Where is it, and how to get there?
The museum is located at Ul. Brat'ev Bernard'tsi, 2, Pyatigorsk. It's right opposite the popular park called Tsvetnik, and you can also use the Gukasov coffee shop as a landmark - it's right next to the monument to Kisa Vorobyanychinov. These spots are way more well-known than the museum itself.
Another landmark is the intersection with Kirov Prospekt - it's a long, beautiful street with a square in the middle called Broduyev, which has loads of cafes, shops, and other stuff.
I was lucky enough to live just a short walk away from the museum - the Artotel Cruise, which I actually reviewed separately, so feel free to check it out if you're interested - and I strolled over around 11 am.
Pskov Regional Museum reviewsOperating Hours
The current schedule is as follows:
Monday and Tuesday - 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Wednesday - Closed
Thursday to Sunday - 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
It's always a good idea to double-check the hours before heading over, just in case.
Admission Price
I paid a mere 300 rubles for my adult entrance ticket. This is the standard price for a regular adult ticket, although there are some discounted options available for certain groups and children, so your final cost might be lower if you qualify.
You can pay with either card or cash - I opted for card and was given a receipt. The staff explained that the museum spans four floors, each featuring a range of exhibits, and I decided to start from the bottom up, beginning with the main exhibit. I'd recommend doing the same, starting from the ground floor and working your way up.
Stavropol Regional Museum ReviewsI visited the museum on January 13th, after the New Year's holidays. I liked how they decorated the area near the stairs – it still had the festive touch.
Cloakroom / Toilets
There's no dedicated cloakroom in the museum, but there are hooks near the ticket counter where you can hang your coat. I hung mine there.
The toilets are located in the basement. You need to head down from the main entrance to get to them. There are signs pointing the way, though. The toilet was clean, but the old plumbing was a bit of a letdown – it looked like it hadn't been updated since it was first installed.
What's in the Museum, and What Impressed Me?
The museum has both permanent and temporary exhibitions. The permanent part is mainly on the first and second floors, with a few bits scattered around the other floors.
Stavropol Regional Museum ReviewsOn the first floor, you can learn about the unique features of the North Caucasus Mineral Waters region, the people who helped establish it as a spa resort, and see some models, photos, busts, weapons, taxidermied animals and birds, and plenty of paleontological finds from the Caucasus region.
This part really caught my attention, and I ended up spending a lot of time browsing through the exhibits, taking photos, and reading up on everything.
Pyatigorsk Local History Museum ReviewsNext, I headed up to the second floor and stumbled upon an exhibit dedicated to the events of the early 1900s and World War II. This section was just as packed with artifacts as the first one.
This exhibit had a unique layout, with two separate zones that allowed me to explore the war exhibits first, followed by the events leading up to it. It's definitely worth paying close attention to the chronological order of the exhibits.
Pyatigorsk Local History Museum ReviewsOne exhibit that really stood out to me was an installation that looked like a cozy little room. There was a tablecloth-covered table, a chair with a back, and a little window with lace curtains. It felt like I was stepping into someone's home. And above the table, they had hung up a bunch of letters tied together in a triangle - the kind of thing people used to send to their loved ones during wartime.
Piatigorsk Regional Museum ReviewsWalking into the museum, I couldn't help but feel like I was waiting for a letter to arrive. The staff had suspended copies of old letters from the ceiling, which was a nice touch. But what really caught my eye was that the real letters were safely stored under glass, and you couldn't touch them. I guess that's a good thing, considering how fragile they must be.
Piatigorsk Regional Museum ReviewsOn the same floor, I stumbled upon another exhibit that was just as interesting. It was a collection of gifts from other people to the museum, and each shelf was labeled with the name of the donor. I found it fascinating to see the different items people had chosen to give. It was like a mini-museum within the museum.
I spent some time exploring the third and fourth floors, which had several more exhibits. Some of them seemed to be temporary, like the art galleries. There were two of them, featuring works from different artists.
Piatigorsk Regional Museum ReviewsOne of the exhibits that really stood out to me was the textured artwork by Zarema Gadbashova. The pieces were made from epoxy resin and other materials, and they were incredibly unique. Each one had a little plaque with information about the artwork, including what materials were used and what it represented. I was blown away by the creativity and skill that went into creating these pieces.
Piatigorsk Regional Museum ReviewsI have to say, the birch forest exhibit really stood out to me. Check out the collage at the top for a sneak peek.
I also enjoyed the artwork gallery, although I'm sorry to say I forgot the artist's name. Her work was nice, but it didn't quite capture my attention like the first exhibit did. I could see myself displaying one of her pieces in my own home.
Piatigorsk Regional Museum ReviewsThere were a few smaller rooms with exhibits that focused on a single theme, like the culture, clothing, and daily life of a specific Caucasian people or even the Soviet era.
I was pleasantly surprised by how rich and interesting the regional museum turned out to be. And to top it all off, there was an entire room dedicated to the museum's history, its founding, and its plans for the future. It turns out the museum has been around for a while, which is why it's been able to collect such a vast and impressive collection.
Skazka Museum ReviewsOne of the things that really stood out to me was how friendly and unobtrusive the museum staff were. On every floor, there were people working there, but they didn't hover over you or try to stop you from taking photos. If I had any questions, I'd ask them, and they'd answer politely. I've been to some museums where the staff are a bit too enthusiastic, following you around and making sure you're not doing anything 'suspicious'. But not here - the staff just kind of stood by the door or sat in the corner, letting you explore without any fuss.
Skazka Museum ReviewsI have to say, I was really impressed by the museum. I thought I'd be in and out in about 30 minutes, but I ended up spending a full two hours there. There's just so much to see - four whole floors of exhibits, and the entrance fee is really reasonable. I was blown away by the quality of the exhibits and the sheer amount of stuff on display.
Final Verdict
Skazka Museum is a real gem - it exceeded all my expectations and left me feeling pleasantly surprised. Of course, I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great museum experience.
Thanks for reading my review - I hope it's been helpful!
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Take care, and happy travels!
Other reviews from me:
Art Hotel Cruis 3*, Russia, Pyatigorsk
Alansky Uspensky Men's Monastery, North Ossetia
Cable Car to Mashuk Mountain in Pyatigorsk
Lake Proval
The Beshstyazhie Baths in Pyatigorsk