(Source: https://www.superpohod.ru/events)

 Matsesta is known as a separate area between Khosta and Sochi, but it is an administrative part of Khosta district. It has unusually beautiful views that mostly relate to the Sochi National Park and a very modest infrastructure.

There is no resort zone as such in Matsesta, although the beach is available. There are no hotels or cafes near it, only a parking lot next to the industrial zone under the Matsestinsky aqueduct bridge built in 1930-s. The residential zone on the territory of Matsesta goes deep into the mountains, and are boarding houses and holiday centres built during the Stalin era as part of “Sochi landscaping” are closer to the sea.

Residential buildings are located on the mountain from one side of the avenue, the descent to the sea is on the other side.

The only road leading to the mountains starts near the “Matsesta” sculpture. Matsesta is divided into Novaya (“New”), Srednyaya (“Middle”), Verkhnyaya (“Upper”) and Staraya (“Old”): they are listed in accordance with their remoteness from the sea. The famous balneary is situated in Upper Matsesta.

Old Matsesta is presented by settlements and villages situated along the same road, like seashells beaded on a necklace. The area has its highlights, too. For example, there is a complex of beautiful Zmeikovskiye waterfalls near the village of Izmailovka, besides, tea plantations grow near the village of Semenovka.

The box offices of the hydropathic establishment are open every day, except Sundays, from 8:00 a.m.to 1:00 p.m. The entrance to the territory with sanatorium-resort passes is free and does not depend on the work of the box offices. The springs are open daily from 7:45 a.m. to 2:15 a.m. without holidays.

History

Matsesta is a place of power, health and has a strong smell of hydrogen sulfide. This place has healing springs that have attracted people here since ancient times. 

In early twentieth century the young doctor Viktor Podgursky came to believe in the healing power of the Matsesta springs. In September 1902 he founded the official hydropathic establishment in Matsesta. The hospital flourished even after the October Revolution, when not only Voroshilov and Budyonny, but also Joseph Stalin came to the waters of Matsesta. Holiday centres and health resorts were built here under the motto “palaces should belong to the people”, so local holiday centres are still distinguished by their imperial luxury. Stalin’s dacha is now open as a museum. 

One of these palaces is the main attraction of Matsesta, its essence and heart. This the building of the hydropathic establishment in the form of two crescents connected in the middle. It was built in 1940 by the design of the architect Aleksandr Golubev. 

The interiors behind the magnificent facade will not disappoint you, they are just as luxurious: marble columns, stucco moldings, etc. Old balneary is still working. It has several buildings, and the main one, immediately appearing before the eyes of the visitors, is the building No. 4. Treatment at the spring is available to everyone; one just needs to get a referral from a doctor.