According to the legend, Matsesta was called a local girl who, for the sake of sick parents entered the cave and made a mash on the evil spirit at the expense of her own life, to open access of people to the healing spring. When translated from the Ubykh Matsesta means "fire water". Even the ancient Romans knew about the existence of hydrogen sulfide sources in the area of modern Matsesta, but the settlement turned into a popular balneological resort only at the beginning of the 20th century.
The main symbol of Matsesta is a sculpture on Kurortny Prospekt. In 1968 Iraida Gusleva created a fountain with the figure of a girl as if emerging from a rock, which became a visiting card of the village. Since 1928 every year Stalin was under medical treatment in Matsesta. Other party leaders and commanders also used to visit Matsesta.