Cascade Staircase (Kislovodsk)

The Cascade Staircase in Kislovodsk forms the grand northern entrance to Kislovodsk National Park. It serves as a direct link between the city center and the park above, extending from Dzerzhinsky Prospekt and climbing to the Middle Park without the winding alleys. The structure rises approximately 20 meters and features 170 steps, roughly equivalent to the height of an eight-story building.

It was built in 1934–1935 to a design by the architects L. S. Zaleskaya and K. A. Shevchenko, in a classical style that echoes the Colonnade by the Narzan Gallery. While it was originally built from local dolomitized limestone, the worn steps were replaced with concrete in the 1970s, and in 1981 the staircase was listed as a regional heritage site. The layout includes ornamental pools with fountains, flower beds, and thuja trees. At the summit, two semicircular flights lead to a viewing platform adorned with a Doric colonnade, offering panoramic views of the city center and the Borgustan ridge. A terrace at the mid-level serves as a stage for local festivals. Although the site fell into disrepair in the late 1990s, it underwent a major restoration between 2015 and 2016, which included new paving, landscaping, and a colorful night-time lighting system.

The staircase is free to access and remains open 24 hours a day, though it is not wheelchair accessible as it lacks ramps. Visitors can reach the site by taking a bus or marshrutka to the Prospekt Dzerzhinsky stop. From Kurortny Boulevard or the Colonnade, it is a 15–30 minute walk (about 1 kilometer).