The ruins of an ancient Scythian capital that thrived from the 3rd century BC, perched on a rocky plateau just east of the modern city. What survives is fragmentary — foundations of city walls, ceremonial buildings, and a substantial mausoleum — but the setting is striking, with views back over the Salgir River valley to the city.
The site has been under excavation since the 19th century and was officially declared an archaeological reserve in 2011. Information boards are mostly in Russian. Allow an hour and a half; it's a steep walk up from the road, with no shade — go in the morning if you're visiting in summer.