Kentau

Kentau is a town in Turkestan region of Kazakhstan, 30 km northeast from Turkestan. It was established in 1952 for mining; at first was settled with Soviet exiles. Kentau has great Soviet architecture and some Soviet monumental art.

It takes half an hour ride on shuttle bus from Turkestan.

Kentau is a relatively compact and thus walkable city. Although there is a public transportation.

• 🌍 Soviet mosaic on school 4. It is two-part mosaic on a façade of a school. (updated Feb 2025)

• 🌍 Soviet relief on a Culture Palace. Metal relief on a façade. (updated Feb 2025)

Enjoy decaying Soviet architecture and dozens of square kilometers of abandoned industrial zones, mines and waste dumps.

• 🌍 Skazka bar-restaurant, Garagin street, 33, ☏ +7 775-233-06-18. Daily 09:00-24:00. Place to eat and drink. (updated Feb 2025)

• 🌍 Rosa hotel, Loginova street, 46, rosehotelkentau@gmail.com. 07:00-23:00. Local hotel. (updated Feb 2025)

All major cellular networks of Kazakhstan are available in Kentau.

• Visit Karatau Nature Reserve. There are 2 routes opened for public. One with petroglyphs.
• The semi-abandoned town Ashisay, its abandoned mines and then Turlan pass as a part of Silk Way. Lots of abandoned mines if you are into digging. Kilometers of fun. Do not forget rubber boots. The higher the better.

• Two fortresses in Kyzylata Valley
• There is a recreational area north-east from Kentau in Kantagi River Valley.