Ossetia city sights. Beautiful places and sights of North Ossetia

Sights of North Ossetia. The most important and interesting sights of North Ossetia are photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, sites.

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Dargavssky "City of the Dead"

North Ossetia, der. Dargavs

In the Gizeldon gorge, among the wild inaccessible mountains that surround it, there is an ancient city, which from afar may seem like an ordinary village or, on the contrary, an ancient fortress. However, this is neither. In this city it is impossible to see people on the streets and hear human speech.

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Table mountain

Republic of North Ossetia - Alania, Prigorodny district

Table Mountain is depicted on the coat of arms of Vladikavkaz and is perfectly visible from the city. It is also present on the coat of arms of the Republic of Ingushetia, as it stands on its border with North Ossetia - Alania. This is one of the largest peaks of the Rocky Range of the Caucasus Mountains, its height is about 3000 m.

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Tseyskoe gorge

North Ossetia, North Caucasus

The North Caucasus is one of the most beautiful and mysterious corners of the planet Earth. Fortunately, this mountainous area is not that far away, so everyone can go to explore it. Tseyskoe gorge attracts tourists with breathtaking scenic beauty and the purest mountain air.

• Alania or the Republic of North Ossetia is an amazingly beautiful land of mighty and, at times, very harsh mountains, green fertile valleys and gardens, and, of course, a land that keeps many legends and stories. Numerous ancient temples, fortresses, ancient settlements and other unique monuments have become living witnesses of this, many of them have the status of historical heritage monuments. All this is not surprising at all, because the first human settlement was founded in Alanya about 150 thousand years ago. It is difficult to imagine how many legions, armies and hordes have passed through these lands. There were Scythians and Sarmatians, Alans, Byzantines and representatives of various Caucasian peoples, and in the 18th century Ossetia became part of the Russian Empire, whose representatives left a major mark on the culture and history of this region.

  North Ossetia, possessing such indicators, has excellent chances to become a very popular tourist destination for fans of excursion programs, for those who cannot imagine themselves without extreme sports, for ethnographers and for historians. In a word - absolutely for everyone.

  It goes without saying that Ossetia is a land of beautiful mountains, rocky gorges, fast rivers. All these splendors can be admired endlessly, but, in addition, the republic can easily boast of man-made sights. Moreover, they are very organically woven into the landscape, as if by the hands of a skilled craftswoman. One of the clearest examples of this is the mighty rock fortress, which is located not far from the small village of Dzivgis. The fortress is directly carved into the rock, and due to this it is extremely difficult to see it from a distance: it almost completely merges with the mighty rock on which it rises.

  Once these powerful walls repulsed more than one siege, even such powerful conquerors as the formidable Persian Shah Abbas I gave up before them. Locals say that this mountain is completely dug by secret passages and passages, which are so necessary in the event of a long siege.

  But not far from the village of Dargavs there is a not so fortified, but certainly no less glorious City of the Dead. It is not difficult to guess from the name that this glory is pretty flavored with a mystical spirit. Indeed, this is nothing more than a real necropolis, consisting of many small bright houses with a small window and a conical roof. The owners of this house will not invite you to the table and will not pour you a glass, since they have long been dead. Here the Alans, according to an ancient tradition, buried their dead until the 18th century, so even now in the green mountain vegetation it is easy to see the whitening bones.

  High among the white mountain peaks is another unique settlement called Tsamad. It is quite alive, at least in the summer, although it is very sparsely populated. Tsamad is notable for the fact that it was from this ancient highland settlement that a fairly large part of the representatives of the Ossetian surnames originated. Here, on the peaks, blown by all imaginable and inconceivable winds, there are dumb witnesses of many glorious events. These are the ruins of ancient towers that withstood many sieges. The most famous of them is the Cherchesov family tower, a family that has inhabited these places since time immemorial. In ancient times, these towers were used for protection from enemies and for living.

  Perhaps the kaleidoscope of confessions and religions is one of the remarkable features of Alanya. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that in the main city of the republic, Vladikavkaz, there are Orthodox, Gregorian, and Muslim religious buildings.

  In addition, Ossetia is famous for its many ancient temples and monasteries, because Orthodoxy appeared here in the era of the Byzantine Empire. As you know, monks seek solitude, and there is no better place to achieve this goal. There are many monasteries in these parts, which belong to the most different eras. But one of the most famous, also the youngest, is the Alan Dormition Monastery, which is located right on the slope of a steep mountain, like the famous Greek Meteor. The very architecture of this monastery evokes such associations.

  Grayish stone, bright tiled roofs, directed into the incredibly blue or gray sky of the local peaks. This monastery is a place of pilgrimage not only for the inhabitants of Ossetia, but also for the inhabitants of the entire south of Russia. Perhaps, the kaleidoscope of confessions and confessions is one of the remarkable features of Alanya. Therefore, it is not at all surprising that in the main city of the republic, Vladikavkaz, there are Orthodox, Gregorian, and Muslim religious buildings. Among others, one cannot fail to note the amazingly beautiful Armenian church, consecrated in honor of the Illuminator Gregory. It was built at the turn of the century before last and the last one and was completed several times before acquiring its current majestic style.

  This church, built at the expense of believers, is visited not only by representatives of the local Armenian diaspora, but also by pilgrims from the other side of the Caucasus Range.

  Another striking architectural work is the Sunni mosque, located in an incredibly picturesque place, on the banks of the fast Terek, not far from high powerful mountains. This mosque is very reminiscent of the religious buildings of the Egyptian capital Cairo, and in terms of the richness of its decoration it is considered perhaps the most magnificent in the country. You can endlessly enumerate the sights of this wonderful land, but it is impossible to convey in words all the color, hospitality, extraordinary cuisine and other advantages of this land. Therefore, the best option is to make sure of everything with your own eyes. Welcome to Alanya!

Those "rivers are a river in the North Caucasus."

In the Karachai-Balkarian language "terk suu" means "fast, impetuous water or river." In ancient Georgian sources this river is called Lomeki, which means "mountain water" in Chechen and Ingush.

It originates on the slope of the Main Caucasian ridge in the Trusov gorge, from the glacier of Mount Zilga-Khokh at an altitude of 2,713 m above sea level. It flows through the territories of Georgia, North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Stavropol Territory, Chechnya and Dagestan. The length of the river is 623 km, the basin area is 43 200 km & sup2.

Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is the oldest Orthodox church located on the Ossetian Hill within the Vladikavkaz fortress in the city of Vladikavkaz. It was built in 1815 as a wooden structure, which was replaced by a stone one less than ten years after its foundation.

In the thirties of the last century, it was decided to destroy the temple, but the believers managed to defend their holy abode. The church was simply closed, and later a museum was placed in it. K. L. Khetagurova. In 1993, the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos was returned to Orthodox believers, and restoration work took place in it.

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Mukhtarov Mosque

The Mukhtarov Mosque is a century-old Sunni mosque, which is one of the symbols of Vladikavkaz. It was built over eight years - from 1900 to 1908, funded by Murtuz-Agha Mukhtarov and other parishioners. The building of the mosque was designed by Mukhtarva's favorite architect - Pole Joseph Ploshko. The official opening date of the building is October 14, 1908.

The Mukhtarov Mosque is located on the left bank of the Terek River, in the center of Vladikavkaz, in southwestern Russia and close to the border with Georgia. Its architectural style resembles the ancient Cairo mosques of the X-XII centuries. It is housed in a beautiful building with a pointed arch, a small dome, two minarets and balconies. The dome and both minarets end with gilded crescent-shaped rods. The height of the mosque is 16 and a half meters, and the height of the minarets is 33 meters.

The Sunni mosque has a complicated history - in 1934 they wanted to destroy it, but the building was defended by soldiers - the authorities recognized it as an architectural monument, in which they later housed the Republican Museum of Local Lore. Currently, it is a functioning Vladikavkaz mosque.

Argun is a mountain winding river, the presence of which in a forest gorge allowed the Chechens to build many auls and other dwellings on its coast. The length of the river is 148 kilometers, it is included in the basin of the largest river Terek.

Argun was formed from glaciers on the northern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Range. The Sharoargun river flows into it in front of the plain, the so-called "Argun gate".

Many estates have been built on the banks of the river, and the city of the same name, Argun, founded in the 18th century, is located in the lower reaches.

In addition to the Chechen Republic, Argun also passes through the territory of Georgia. In particular, in the north-east of the Georgian region of Khevsureti. The local population, the Khevsurs, are engaged in cattle breeding, agriculture and sheep breeding.

City of the Dead in North Ossetia

Right next to the Ossetian village of Dargavs, in the southwest of the Chidzhitykhokh mountain, in the valley of the Midagrabindon river, there is the "City of the Dead" - a historical monument, which is a complex of 99 two-storey and four-storey stone crypts above ground. The indigenous people call this place Rabinirag. These cultural monuments date back to the 18th century and are important for studying the history of the Ossetian people, as well as their art and everyday life. In the mountain villages of Ossetia, crypts were often built, made in the form of aboveground tombs, which were designed for collective burials.

The city of the dead is a historical and architectural monument and is protected by the state. In their shape, the crypts resemble small towers and are distinguished by skillful laying of walls and roofs, as well as great strength. The conical and pyramidal shapes of the roofs of the tombs were laid out in the form of stepped ledges made of slate slate. The burial ritual in aboveground crypts was associated with the ancient cult of ancestors, who buried the deceased in full clothing along with small household items. The dead were usually placed on special boat-shaped wooden decks or boxes. Despite the fact that this place is a bit gloomy, it attracts many tourists from all over the world.

Alansky Assumption Monastery

The Holy Dormition Alan Monastery is considered the highest monastery in Russia. This opinion arose in connection with its location, it is located in the Kurtat Gorge of North Ossetia.

The first shelter of the monastery was the former hotel for drivers in the city of Beslan. Initially, it was served by two monks. Archimandrite Hippolytus became the spiritual mentor of the monks, the training took place at the St. Nicholas Monastery. With his blessing, the monks went to Beslan to build a temple.

Later, the monastery moved to the Kurtat Gorge, where in a short time (less than a year) a 19th century church in the name of the Myrrh-Bearing Women was restored. The monks built a fraternal building, today they are building a large temple in the name of the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God.

Five kilometers from the monastery is kept the shrine of Ossetia - the Iverskaya Mozdok icon of the Mother of God, it is located in a small chapel. It was presented by the Holy Blessed Queen of Georgia Tamara the Great. And in Beslan the courtyard of the temple remained. In 2011, 14 monks are serving in the monastery. Today, the Alansky Holy Dormition Monastery is the most famous among the inhabitants of Ossetia and throughout Russia.

Zakinsky gorge

The Zakinskoe gorge, located on the northern slope of the Caucasus, is one of the most popular in Russia among mountain tourism enthusiasts.

Once through the gorge there were pass routes in the direction of South and North Ossetia, and now a transcaucasian highway has been laid here. Not far from the Zakado River is the village of Nar, where three gorges converge at once, of which Zakinskoe is the main and most picturesque.

After passing the gorge in the village of Nar, consisting of several mountain villages, you can visit the house-museum of the poet Kosta Livanovich Khitagurov, who is the founder of Ossetian fiction, as well as go to the Zrugskoe gorge and visit the frescoed temple "Khozita-Mairan" and one of seven unique in the world of sources for the extraction of natural resources of several types at once.

The most popular sights in Vladikavkaz with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit the famous places of Vladikavkaz on our website.

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"Uastyrdzhi"
From the town of Alagir, the Ossetian Military Road leads along the wide floodplain of the left bank of the Ardona River, among the mountains of the Lesisty Range. Approximately 8 km from the outskirts of Alagir, to the right in the direction of travel, an extraordinary sculptural composition attracts attention. This is Nykhas Uastyrdzhi, as it is called in North Ossetia. This place is a dzuar - a holy place. The sculpture is attached to a rock and weighs 28 tons!
Uastyrdzhi is the patron saint of men, travelers and warriors. A deity that was similar in function to Saint George, who is also revered in Christianity as the patron saint of soldiers, travelers and men. In the Nart epic, Uastyrdzhi is described as a celestial, depicted as a formidable warrior on a white horse, wearing a white cloak. It is believed that Uastyrdzhi always carries weapons with him. Going down to earth, he checks people to see if they help each other in need and grief.

Among people, HE appears in the guise of a beggar. Women were afraid to pronounce the name Uastyrdzhi and spoke about him allegorically "lagty dzuar" - "god of men". They did not even have the right to participate in the festivities held in honor of Uastyrdzhi. He is considered the enemy of thieves, swindlers, perjurers, murderers; HE is the patron saint of honest, noble people.

on the way to Tsey ..
mountains of the Alagir gorge

on the way to Tsey we were "greeted" by Comrade Stalin himself

tseidon river

Valley of the Skazdon River. Hard midday light ...

tseidon river

mountain "Monk"
Mount Monk is a motionless and stern guardian of Tsey. It is similar in shape to a skufia (a round velvet hat, a headdress of Orthodox monks). Mount Monk is a spur of the Azish-Tau ridge, towering 500 meters above the surrounding landscape. Its cliff below is covered with talus and overgrown with broad-leaved forest, and is bare in the upper part. From a distance, reddish rocks resemble a human face. The name of the mountain is associated with a legend that tells that a monk once lived on its top and a small cave. According to legend, the monk, allegedly trying to atone for his sins, wanted to cut out the figure of the saint in the rock, but was able to make only one head. And now you can see the old man's cheekbony scowling face upstairs. Slanting eyes look sullenly, a massive flattened nose is sharply protruded, the mouth is tightly compressed. Thick hair is tousled over a low forehead, and a bald spot is white on the top of the head.
The image of the face is not the work of a person, but the result of the action of water and wind in platy sandstone. The top of the mountain is flat, at 1058.3 m above sea level it rises, composed of platy sandstones. At the top of the mountain there is a cave about 3 m wide and 7 m long. In the upper part of the mountain there is a cave 8 meters long, and at the top there are several burial mound dolmens.
mountain height 2990
another portrait on a stone (I don't know whose portrait, but it looks like Issa Pliev)
path along the cliff leading to the holy place "Rekom"
Sanctuary "Rekom"
The well-known Ossetian sanctuary of Rekom is located in the depths of the Tseyskiy gorge (south-western branch of the Alagirskiy gorge), 9 km along a high-mountain road from the village. Buron, 1946 m above sea level.
Rekom (Osset. Rekom) is a character of the Nart epic and Ossetian mythology, the deity of fertility, one of the three, except for Mykalgabyrt and Taranjeloz, Ossetian sanctuaries. Rek was asked to send a rich harvest, successful haymaking and hunting. Rekom was a multifunctional deity, in addition to requests related to agriculture, they turned to him for healing from diseases and protection from evil forces. The cult of veneration for Rekom was widespread in the Alagir Gorge and a holiday dedicated to Rekom was celebrated in July. During this festival, which lasted a whole week, the Rivers were sacrificed in large numbers of cattle. Only men could be present during the sacrifice, because the Rekoma sanctuary was the center of the Uastyrdzhi cult, who was the patron saint of men.
According to the Ossetian Nart epic, at the place where one of the three tears of God fell, shed on the death of the Batradz nart, the Rekoma sanctuary was formed, called in Ossetian Rekomy dzuar or Rekoma Uastyrdzhi.
On the side of the entrance to the River, along the wall, there are wide boards like shelves. On them in large numbers - the heads of sacrificial animals, deer horns, the skulls of rams and rounds and just bones.
"hovering heart"
The Goryanka tourist base, or rather, everything that remains of it ..
is located near the present PSO of the Ministry of Emergency Situations near the Monakh mountain. you can see how this base looked before it was abandoned - www.travelvlad.com/7835660655/3871441288
the sweet pollen of summer still beckons butterflies to itself
Valley of Skazdon
Mountains of the Tsei gorge.

View from the Skazdon riverbed
Alpine camp "Tsey"

Alpine camp "Tsey"
Cars)
mountains of Skazdon gorge. Filmed during the ascent on the cable car
Skazdon river. Filmed during the ascent on the cable car

Climbing the "Green Hill"
cannon for forced release of avalanches in winter

a group of young girls walked along the paths of the Skazdon Gorge, as if along Vladikavkaz Avenue after classes, there were no adults with them :)
Skaz Valley

The lower part of the "tongue" of the Skaz glacier

Valley of the Jurassic) .. the shadows falling on the mountains awaken the fantasy)
endless road up ... Such winding roads are encountered on the way to the amazingly beautiful place of North Ossetia - Tsey
and on Olympus again party))
"Afsati"
Afsati (Osset. Æfsati) - in Ossetian mythology and Nart epic, the deity of wild animals, patron saint of hunters, celestial. Afsati is one of the most revered deities in the Ossetian pantheon. Afsati, being the patron saint of wild animals, which were called "Afsati's cattle", especially patronized deer and boars. Afsati is depicted as a one-eyed old man with a white beard, sitting on the high mountain Adai-Khokh, where he lived. From this mountain, he closely watched his numerous wild households. Despite the fact that Afsati was one-eyed, he was vigilant about his pets and severely punished those who violated his ordinances and laws. One of the laws established by Afsati was that each hunter to whom he gave an animal during the hunt had to share with the first person he met from his village a part of the carcass of the animal he had gotten.

The way back home ... it remains to drive about a hundred kilometers, the mood is awesome, the sea of \u200b\u200bimpressions. I already dream of a new trip :)

Vladikavkaz is located in the picturesque spurs of the main Caucasian ridge, where the Georgian military and Ossetian military roads begin. The city built at their intersection became the key on the way to the Transcaucasus. The history of the Vladikavkaz fortress, now a beautiful and amazing city, is inextricably linked with the history of Ossetia and the entire Ossetian people, rooted in the times of the Scythians and Alans. Today's Vladikavkaz is the capital of North Ossetia-Alania.

Attractions of Vladikavkaz:

Vladikavkaz residents are very proud of the sights of their city - over sixty architectural and cultural monuments of historical value have been taken under state protection.

The most important among them is the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. People call it Ossetian. This church is the only building that has survived from the times of the Vladikavkaz fortress. In 2015 she will be two hundred years old. The revered shrine of the temple is the Icon of the Mother of God of Mozdok. In the necropolis of the church, prominent residents of Vladikavkaz were always buried. Among them are the great Ossetian poet Kosta Khetagurov, the first mayor of Vladikavkaz, Gappo Baev, and the linguist Vaso Abaev.

The Apostolic Church of Gregory the Illuminator is located in a picturesque corner of the city - on the embankment, near the Chugunny (Olginsky) bridge. This is a functioning Armenian church. From it, to the terraces of the right bank of the Terek, ran Armenian street. Opposite the church, there is a house where Evgeny Vakhtangov lived with his family. In the courtyard of the church, on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, a khachkar was installed. For his consecration, the bishop of the Diocese of the South of Russia of the Armenian Apostolic Church Movses Movsesyan came to Vladikavkaz. This year the church celebrates its 145th anniversary.

The Sunni mosque has always been a subject of special pride for Vladikavkaz. It is located in the very center of Vladikavkaz, on the left bank of the Terek, and is one of its symbols. This unique monument of federal significance has recently celebrated its centenary. The Sunni mosque was built with the money of the Azerbaijani oil industrialist Murtaz-aga Mukhtarov. Therefore, it is also called the Mukhtarov Mosque. In the thirties of the last century, the city council decided to destroy the mosque. But the commander of the Tatar company of the 84th cavalry regiment, together with his colleagues, with weapons in their hands, began to defend her. The authorities had to give in, and the mosques were given the status of an architectural monument. During the Soviet era, it was a branch of the local history museum, in the center of which there was a pendulum swinging from side to side. Now the mosque has been returned to the believers.

Mira Avenue, formerly Aleksandrovsky Avenue, is very peculiar and beautiful. This is the main artery of the historical center of Vladikavkaz. All houses on the avenue are architectural masterpieces made in the Art Nouveau and eclectic style. Many of them are over two hundred years old. They are decorated with intricate stucco molding and unique forged details. Numerous state, cultural and commercial organizations are located on Prospekt Mira. Among the bottom there are museums, restaurants, an arts and crafts store and the Russian theater.

Through the entire Prospect Mira, cutting through it in the middle, there is a pedestrian boulevard - a favorite resting place for residents and guests of the city. It is very interesting to walk along the boulevard, looking at the old buildings, as if in an open-air museum. Comfortable cast-iron benches, shade from perennial trees, cozy atmosphere of the boulevard - everything is conducive to sit down and relax.

Far beyond the borders of Ossetia, the Central Park named after Kosta Khetagurova, located in the center of Vladikavkaz. This is the oldest park in the North Caucasus. Glory was brought to him by exotic plants, a special atmosphere of shady alleys and bike paths that are covered with yellow sand, deep ponds with swans and wild birds living on them, fabulous architecture and mysterious grottoes. Entertainment in the park is provided for both children and adults. Here you can ride on the circuit, take an exciting journey on the Ferris wheel, shoot at a shooting range, test your strength on the rides, and also ride a catamaran on the water surface of ponds.

Museum lovers will not be bored in Vladikavkaz either. Guests of the city are recommended to visit the Museum of History and Local Lore, which clearly demonstrates the history of the Ossetian people, their way of life and customs. In the Art Museum you can see exhibitions of paintings by both local painters and artists from all over Russia. Museum of Ossetian Literature, will tell visitors about the origin of writing among the Ossetians, about its great poet Kosta Khetagurov and the development of literature in the republic.

The city is also rich in theatrical traditions. Founded by Yevgeny Vakhtangov, and named after him, the Russian Theater, as well as the North Ossetian Academic Theater. Tkhapsaeva, are worthy of the attention of tourists. Excellent acting troupes and a rich repertoire will impress fans of theatrical art. There is an opera and ballet theater in the city, a theater for children and youth, and even its own philharmonic society.

Rest in the mountains of Ossetia:

Perhaps there are few places in the world that can compare in beauty with the mountains of Ossetia. In the morning, looking out the window, you can tirelessly admire their majestic beauty.

Having driven away from Vladikavkaz only some 15 - 20 km, you find yourself in a real mountain kingdom. People who first come to these places cannot speak out of delight. And what can I say if words cannot describe this beauty. You just need to see her.

These magnificent slopes, cliffs overhanging the roads, rumbling between the crevices of the mountains, their waters, the Terek. And springs with the purest water flowing right along the route. It is incredibly easy to breathe here - the mountain air is filled with the aromas of herbs and forests located on the mountain slopes. In the forests you will find berries and mushrooms, as well as a large number of medicinal herbs.

Ossetia has its own mountaineering camp, located high in the mountains - this is Tsey. Rest in these places deserves attention - admire nature, breathe in the clean mountain air, drink delicious spring water. And all this is among the pristine mountains.

Tsey Mountaineering Camp is located at an altitude of 2000 meters. A magnificent view opens from the territory of the camp. Away from the camp is the majestic Monk Mountain. In the vicinity of Tsei you will find the Old Ossetian Sanctuary of the River. In the summer, climbing groups leave the camp, which go to the Skazka glacier. It can be viewed in a simpler way - on the lift. Another famous glacier in the gorge is Tseisky. It is located eight kilometers from the base.

Prices in Ossetia:

A taxi in Ossetia costs just ridiculous money - from 50 rubles. Public transport won't ruin you at all. Food and entertainment prices are also very affordable. There are few hotels in Vladikavkaz, but the prices will pleasantly surprise you. The best are Intourist and Khadgaron. In a word, for tourists here - just expanse. For little money, you will get an unforgettable and vivid experience in Ossetia.

When going to Vladikavkaz, one should take into account that the norms and rules of behavior there are somewhat different from those generally accepted in Europe and are more typical for the countries of the Middle East, which, in fact, North Ossetia is. You can find out a little more about it from our article.