Marcial Waters: The first resort of the Russian Empire (PHOTOS)

Igor Podgorny/Sputnik

There are drinking springs, bathhouses, a long spa “staircase”, as well as walking alleys. It appeared back in 1719 thanks to Emperor Peter I.

Museum of the History of the First Russian Resort «Marcial Waters»

The emperor, having visited European thermal resorts, decided to organize such places in Russia, as well. He issued a decree on searching for mineral waters in the country "in the manner of Europe" and such were found in Karelia, near an iron ore deposit.

This is how this resort looked in the late XIX century. Then the settlement near the resort was called Dvortsy.

Yaroslav Pekarsky

Non-freezing mineral springs, as chemical analyses showed, contained large amounts of iron. The waters were named ‘Marcial’ in honor of the god Mars from ancient Roman mythology - the patron saint of iron and war.

Wooden pavilion above a mineral spring.

Legion Media

Peter the Great visited the resort four times, spending more than 90 days in total there. The waters were also visited by other royalty and those close to them.

St. Peter's Church. Built in 1721 according to the drawings of Peter the Great.

Igor Podgorny/Sputnik

Nevertheless, already by the middle of the 19th century, thetsars’ interest in the resort had fallen. At that time, they had already built resorts in the south of the country, where there were not only springs, but also a mild climate.

Krasny (CC BY-SA)

The resort was restored only in 1964. All-Union balneological sanatorium ‘"Marcial Waters’ was opened there based on the springs and healing muds of Gabozero. In 2003, a second sanatorium, ‘Dvortsy’ (‘Palaces’) was built nearby.

The lake Gabozero.

Valery Kukin

There, they treat iron deficiency anemia, diseases of digestive organs, respiratory, cardiovascular diseases among others. The treatment programs are designed for two to three weeks, but people also visit to just have a rest from urban life. 

The sanatorium.

Semenov.m7 (CC BY-SA)

Yegorov Valery (CC BY-SA)

Dear readers,

Our website and social media accounts are under threat of being restricted or banned, due to the current circumstances. So, to keep up with our latest content, simply do the following:

• Subscribe to our Telegram channel
• Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter
• Enable push notifications on our website
• Install a VPN service on your computer and/or phone to have access to our website, even if it is blocked in your country

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.