Located in the hills north of the Russian city of Smolensk, this estate was originally built in the 19th century by Prince Kutuzov as a country retreat. Nationalized in 1925, the spa was open only to officials in the local Communist party for the next 15 years. Nearly destroyed during the Second World War, Elnya was rebuilt as a "people's resort" but quickly slipped back into use as a private palace for the intelligentsia. Because of this NATO designated the spa as a class "C" nuclear target for most of the Cold War. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union Spa Elnya was sold to private concerns. Current ownership is uncertain.
