Haunting pictures show once elegant Soviet spa resort decaying and abandoned

Elegant neo-classical arcades, balconies and columns – now left to ruin – rise from the surrounding trees in the city of Tskaltubo, Georgia – famous for its thermal springs. The ‘waters of immortality’ bubbling up from the ground have been thought to possess healing properties for more than a thousand years. As part of a mandatory state-funded programme, citizens were given putevki – meaning ‘vouchers’ – to visit the spas.

By the 50s, Tskaltubo had become an important resort, serving thousands of visitors across nine bathing houses and 19 hotel-like sanatoriums.

One bathing house was even built exclusively for Joseph Stalin.

But after the USSR collapsed in the early 90s, the stream of socialist visitors started to dry up.

Although some of the spas are still functional, many of the once grand buildings were left to be reclaimed by time and nature.

Urban photographer Roman Robroek took his Sony A7Rii on a visit to the formerly bustling resort.

The 31-year-old said: “The area is unique due to the fact that the baths have constant running water.

“Therefore, it is constantly being refreshed and never loses its temperature of 33 to 35C.

“Many of the sanatoriums that were thriving 50 years ago, are now abandoned, in heavy decay, and crumbling.”

Roman’s eerie images show deserted arcades with columns topped by crumbling turquoise arches – that open onto balconies with views of the woods beyond.

In one of the sanatorium’s vast courtyards, trees and other foliage have almost completely overrun the space, with vines sprouting from the elaborate brickwork.

And wide stone staircases spiral down to the now empty bathing pools, where the ceramic tiles barely cling to the walls.

But the buildings are not completely deserted.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, a bloody conflict between Georgian government forces and Russian-backed separatists in the Abkhazia region saw thousands of refugees fleeing their homes.

Many of them found the disused spas, and made them their home.

Roman said: “Before entering any of the buildings with residents, I asked for permission to enter.

“This was mostly with hand gestures, since there is rare knowledge of the English language.

“Every resident that I met was most generous and helpful. They showed me where to enter the building, smiling and waving.

“I have nothing but respect for the attitude these people have, and I sincerely hope that good will come to them soon.”

There are believed to be more than 6,000 internally displaced peoples (IDPs) living in the crumbling and decaying buildings in Tskaltubo.

Roman added: “The government has promised that all IDPs will receive a new apartment in [nearby] Kutaisi by 2020, but barely anyone believes they will be ready on time.

“They’ve been working on them for almost four years now, and hardly anyone has been able or allowed to move.”

source: express.co.uk