Fountain · Petrozavodsk

Gorodskoy Plyazh Na Reke Lososinka

AT A GLANCE

Why go?

City Beach on the Lososinka River is a beloved green pocket in central Petrozavodsk, tucked into the floodplain of the Lososinka River where a sandy shore meets a calm pond called the French Pond. Known locally as part of Zaretsky Park, this is where generations of Karelians have sunbathed, strolled across lacy footbridges, and watched the river spread wide beneath tall trees.↗↗

The name "fountain" on Google Maps refers to the once-famous multi-jet water display that rose 20–30 meters from the middle of the pond in summer, nicknamed "Seplyakov's Jet" by locals. Although that fountain has been silent for years, the site remains a scenic recreation zone with ongoing renovation plans that promise to bring the water feature back in grand style.↗↗↗

A River Running Through the City

The Lososinka is a short, quiet river that slices right through the heart of Petrozavodsk before emptying into Lake Onega near the famous waterfront. Where it widens just south of Kirov Square, a dam built in the early 1900s created the French Pond — a placid, pond-like stretch of water framed by parkland, footbridges, and mature trees. The dam once fed the city's first hydroelectric station, which lit up Petrozavodsk from 1910 onward.

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Fountain · Petrozavodsk

Gorodskoy Plyazh Na Reke Lososinka

Petrozavodsk, RU 3.2 (6 Google reviews)

Photo: Google Maps

AT A GLANCE

Why go?

City Beach on the Lososinka River is a beloved green pocket in central Petrozavodsk, tucked into the floodplain of the Lososinka River where a sandy shore meets a calm pond called the French Pond. Known locally as part of Zaretsky Park, this is where generations of Karelians have sunbathed, strolled across lacy footbridges, and watched the river spread wide beneath tall trees.↗↗

The name "fountain" on Google Maps refers to the once-famous multi-jet water display that rose 20–30 meters from the middle of the pond in summer, nicknamed "Seplyakov's Jet" by locals. Although that fountain has been silent for years, the site remains a scenic recreation zone with ongoing renovation plans that promise to bring the water feature back in grand style.↗↗↗

A River Running Through the City

The Lososinka is a short, quiet river that slices right through the heart of Petrozavodsk before emptying into Lake Onega near the famous waterfront. Where it widens just south of Kirov Square, a dam built in the early 1900s created the French Pond — a placid, pond-like stretch of water framed by parkland, footbridges, and mature trees. The dam once fed the city's first hydroelectric station, which lit up Petrozavodsk from 1910 onward.

↗↗

Today the floodplain between Pravdy Street, Lunacharsky Street, and Gylling Embankment forms Zaretsky Park, an irregular green basin of over five hectares that dips below the surrounding roads. The effect is one of stepping out of the city bustle into a sheltered valley of water, grass, and shade — a surprisingly pastoral scene for a place so central.↗

The City Beach

On the park's south-facing shore sits the "Gorodskoy Plyazh" — the city beach. It's a simple, sandy strip where locals spread towels on warm summer days, children splash in the shallows, and gulls patrol the waterline. In sunnier decades, people actually swam in the French Pond; today the water levels vary (the municipality manages sluice gates on the Pimenovsky dam), but the beach remains a favorite low-key hangout, especially for families who can't drive out to the big Onega lakeshore.↗↗↗

The park surrounding the beach is crossed by more than ten footpaths and alleys, seven of which carry local names like Nakropinskaya and Parashyutnaya. A pedestrian bridge called the Zaretsky Bridge links the right bank to Lososinsky Island, where a small further green square extends the walk.↗

The Fountain That Made the Spot Famous

The reason Google categorizes this beach as a fountain is the landmark water jet that once shot multiple plumes 20–30 meters high from the center of the pond. Locals called it "Струя Сепсякова" (Seplyakov's Jet), and it was the summer signature of the neighborhood. In 2012, the city announced ambitious plans to transform it into a musical fountain with a robotic hydrmonitor reaching 50 meters and sweeping a 120-degree spray arc. By 2022, the renovation concept still included a light-musical fountain with jets up to 30–50 meters, visible from the new terraces planned along Gylling Embankment.↗↗↗↗

For now, the fountain is still dormant — only its metal armature remains, and gulls have claimed it as a perch. But restoration is written into the master plan, and the city has committed to phased works running from 2022 onward, based on architect Evgeny Taev's concept.↗

What to Notice and Do

Even without the fountain running, the floodplain is worth a visit for its combination of water, greenery, and quirky public art. The "Farm of Love" — a circular steel tube at three meters' height with chains dangling to the ground, installed in 2023 — invites newlyweds to attach padlocks, replacing the old tradition of locking bridges. A sculpture of Pan, the horned nature god, watches over the river channels nearby. The restored openwork footbridges over the Lososinka's two tributary streams make for lovely photo spots.↗↗

There are three sports courts (volleyball, basketball, football), a children's play town, and an outdoor gym complex between the pond and Gylling Embankment. In spring, wild apple trees along the paths bloom white, and on any warm weekend the beach fills with sunbathers and families. In 2022, the pedestrian bridges were re-decked and repainted; paving of the Nakropinskaya alley and the Parachute Descent stairway has upgraded parts of the park. The eastern section, however, still has unpaved paths and weathered benches — the renovation is a work in progress.↗

Getting There

The City Beach and Zaretsky Park sit less than a kilometer from the center of Petrozavodsk, just south of Kirov Square. Take bus routes 5, 12, 17, 18, 19, 25, or 26, or trolleybus 1, 4, or 7, and stop at "Cafe Petrozavodsk" or "Ulitsa Pravdy" — from there it's a short downhill walk into the floodplain. The park is free to enter and open at all hours.↗

Pair the visit with a walk along Gylling Embankment or a stroll up to Kirov Square and the city's Onega waterfront, both a few minutes away on foot.

A Place Undergoing Change

Zaretsky Park's renovation blueprint envisions a summer café with deck-board terraces tumbling down the slope to the water, an avant-garde pavilion with 28 polished-steel pipes supporting a tilted circular roof (on the site of the old boat station), and sculptural leaf-shaped wooden benches. Whether these plans reach full realization remains to be seen, but the first phase has already brought cleaner paths, repainted bridges, and a renewed sense of civic pride to this central green bowl.↗↗

What makes it special

01

The once-majestic "Seplyakov's Jet" fountain shot water 20–30 meters high in the 1980s and 1990s — a beloved summer landmark of Soviet-era Petrozavodsk↗↗

02

Restoration plans call for a new light-musical fountain reaching 30–50 meters↗↗

03

A sandy city beach just steps from downtown — a rare urban waterfront you can actually sunbathe on↗↗

04

The French Pond was created by the dam for Petrozavodsk's first hydroelectric plant, which began generating electricity in 1910↗

A little planning goes a long way

Best for summer visits when the beach is lively and wildflowers bloom along the paths. Spring and autumn are quieter but the light through the birches and apple trees is beautiful.↗
The park sits in a natural depression below street level, so expect a short downhill walk on entry and an uphill climb to exit. Wear comfortable shoes on the unpaved eastern trails.↗
Water levels in the French Pond can drop seasonally when sluice gates are adjusted for dam maintenance, so the swimming beach may be less inviting in some years.↗
Combine with a visit to the nearby Kizhi Wharf and Petrozavodsk's famous Onega Embankment of International Relations, both a short walk or ride away.

About this guide

Compiled with AI assistance from the sources below; this is not a first-hand visit. Place details collected October 5, 2026. Hours, access and ratings can change; confirm with the venue before visiting.