Monument on the mountain in Ossetia. North Ossetia. Sights of North Ossetia. cultural tourism

"Uastirdzhi"
From the city of Alagir, the Ossetian Military Road leads along the wide floodplain of the left bank of the Ardon River, among the mountains of the Forest Range. Approximately 8 km from the outskirts of Alagir, on the right in the direction of travel, an extraordinary sculptural composition attracts attention. This is Nykhas Uastirdzhi, as they call him in North Ossetia. This place is a dzuar - a holy place. The sculpture is attached to the rock and weighs 28 tons!
Uastirdzhi is the patron of men, travelers and warriors. The deity, which was similar in its functions to St. George, who is also revered in Christianity as the patron saint of warriors, travelers and men. In the Nart epic, Uastirdzhi is described as a celestial, depicted as a formidable warrior on a white horse, in a white cloak. It is believed that Uastirdzhi constantly carries weapons with him. Descending to earth, he tests people to see if they help each other in need and grief.

Among people, HE appears in the form of a beggar. Women were afraid to pronounce the name Uastirdzhi and spoke about him allegorically "lagti dzuar" - "god of men". They did not even have the right to participate in the festivities held in honor of Uastirdzhi. He is considered an 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

river tseydon

Valley of the river Skazdon. Hard afternoon light...

river tseydon

mountain "Monk"
Mount Monk is the motionless and stern guardian of Tsey. It is similar in shape to a skufia (a round cap made of velvet, a headdress of Orthodox monks). Mount Monk - is a spur of the Azish-Tau ridge, towering 500 meters above the surrounding landscape. Its cliff at the bottom is covered with scree and overgrown with broad-leaved forest, and is bare in the near-top part. From afar, the reddish rocks resemble a human face. The name of the mountain is associated with a legend telling that a monk once lived on its top and a small cave. According to legend, the monk, allegedly trying to atone for sins, wanted to carve the figure of a saint in the rock, but he was able to make only one head. And now you can see the old man's bony, scowling face upstairs. Slanted eyes look from under their brows, a massive flattened nose protrudes sharply, and the mouth is tightly compressed. Thick hair is disheveled above a low forehead, and a bald spot is whitening on top of her 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 sandstones. The top of the mountain is flat, at 1058.3 m above sea level it shot up, 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 several barrow dolmens have been preserved on the top.
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 widely known Ossetian sanctuary Rekom is located in the depths of the Tsei Gorge (the southwestern branch of the Alagir Gorge), 9 km along the high mountain road from the village. Buron, at an altitude of 1946 m above sea level.
Rekom (Osset. Rekom) - a character of the Nart epic and Ossetian mythology, a deity of fertility, one of three, except for Mykalgabyrt and Tarandzheloz, Ossetian sanctuaries. Rekom was approached with a request 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 reverence for Rekom was widespread in the Alagir Gorge and the holiday dedicated to Rekom was celebrated in July. During this holiday, which lasted for a whole week, numerous livestock were sacrificed to Rek. Only men could attend the sacrifice, because the Rekoma sanctuary was the center of the cult of Uastirdzhi, who was the patron of men.
According to the Ossetian Nart epic, at the place where one of the three tears of God, shed on the death of the Nart Batradz, fell, the Rekoma sanctuary was formed, called in Ossetian Rekomy dzuar or Rekomy Uastyrdzhi.
From the side of the entrance to Rekom, wide boards like shelves are fixed along the wall. They have a large number of heads of sacrificial animals, deer horns, skulls of rams and aurochs, and just bones.
"floating heart"
Turbaza "Goryanka", or rather, all that is left of it ..
located near the current PSO Ministry of Emergency Situations near the mountain "Monk". you can see how this base looked before it was abandoned - www.travelvlad.com/7835660655/3871441288
the sweet pollen of summer still beckons butterflies
Valley of Skazdon
Mountains of the Tsey Gorge.

View from the bed of the river Skazdon
Alpine camp "Tsey"

Alpine camp "Tsey"
Cars)
mountains of the Skazdon gorge. Taken while climbing the cable car
river Skazdon. Taken while climbing the cable car

Climbing Green Hill
cannon for forced avalanching 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 :)
Fairy tale valley

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

Jurassic Valley) ..the shadows falling on the mountains excite the fantasy)
an endless road up ... Such winding roads meet on the way to an amazingly beautiful place in North Ossetia - Tsey
and party again on Olympus))
"Afsati"
Afsati (Osset. Æfsati) - in Ossetian mythology and the Nart epic, the deity of wild animals, the patron of hunters, the celestial. Afsati is one of the most revered deities in the Ossetian pantheon. Afsati, being the patron of wild animals, which were called "Afsati cattle", especially patronized deer and wild 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 carefully observed his numerous wild economy. Despite the fact that Afsati was one-eyed, he vigilantly watched his pets and severely punished those who violated his decrees and laws. One of the laws established by Afsati was that every hunter, to whom he gave an animal during the hunt, had to share with the first comer from his village a part of the carcass of the hunted animal.

The way back home ... it remains to drive about a hundred kilometers, the mood is awesome, the sea of ​​​​impressions. Already dreaming of a new trip :)

The Republic will please you with delightful landscapes - these are majestic mountains, and the most beautiful gorges, and crystal air, and fast mountain rivers, and mineral springs. These are the locals who are famous for their hospitality, Ossetian cuisine and Ossetian toasts. And the abundance and variety of historical and cultural monuments will pleasantly surprise you! Resting here, you will enjoy the amazing climate and visit the very heart of the Caucasus.

1. Kehl volcanic plateau

This is a real find for an experienced tourist and traveler. The picturesque plateau is a zone of extinct volcanoes and volcanic lakes, it is located in the valley of the Xan River at an altitude of 2600-3000 meters above sea level. Here you will see a unique landscape for the Caucasus and insanely beautiful views. The main attraction of the plateau is Lake Kielskoe, its length is 1.7 km, the depth is 75 meters, and the height of the volcanic lake is 2925 m above sea level. Most of the time, the lake is covered in ice, so to enjoy its true beauty, the best time to visit is August. As you climb up to the lake, you will be able to enjoy breathtaking views, and you may also notice that the water of Lake Kehl changes color. Today, the plateau has become a popular tourist route, as it is excellent for mountain ascents of low and medium difficulty.

© Sputnik / Atsamaz Tedeev

What climber doesn't love mountains? Halaca attracts mountain lovers from all over the world. This is the highest peak in the Republic of South Ossetia. The height of the snowy beauty is 3938 meters, it adorns the Main Caucasian Range and is located on the very border of South and North Ossetia. The name of the mountain from Ossetian is translated as "covered with hoarfrost". The top of the mountain is covered with eternal snows, these glaciers feed the rivers Ardon (the left tributary of the Terek) and Jodzhora. Every year, mountain lovers try to conquer this peak.

© Sputnik / stock photo

3. Kudar gorge. Lake Ertso

The Kudar Gorge or Kudaro is a gorge in the South Caucasus, located in the Dzau region of South Ossetia. This is the highest mountainous region of the republic. There are picturesque gorges, mountain rivers, waterfalls and one of the most beautiful lakes - Ertso. The beauty of the lake will delight any traveler who loves eco-tourism, but the reservoir became famous not for its picturesqueness, but for the fact that it anomalously disappears every 5-6 years. This is associated with the presence of underground caves. For this anomaly, Ertso was nicknamed the ghost lake. Height above sea level 1711 meters. The lake is unique, in the Caucasus it is the largest of the karst ones.

4. Tskhinvali

The capital of the Republic of South Ossetia is an ancient city famous for its ancient architectural monuments. The city has a large number of temples and churches, Tskhinval was called the city of 37 temples. In translation, Tskhinval means "the dwelling place of the highest caste of priests." Not to visit Tskhinvali, its restaurants and not to try Ossetian pies, Ossetian cheese and Ossetian drinks means not to visit South Ossetia.

5. Tire Monastery

This is an Orthodox monastery on the territory of the Tskhinvali region of South Ossetia, literally a 15-minute drive from Tskhinvali. Official name: Tirsky Bogoroditsko-Rozhdestvensky Monastery. The monastery is located in a very picturesque place. It is located on the side of a mountain, and to get into it, you need to go down a small stone staircase to enjoy the truly great buildings in the Byzantine style. The Tir Monastery is a real relic of South Ossetia, and you should definitely visit it.

© Sputnik / Ada Bagian

The Transcaucasian Highway is the only route that connects the capitals of North and South Ossetia. For tourists, this route to South Ossetia may seem attractive and interesting. There is something to see here. These are mountains, with their snow caps, and various caves, and ancient fortresses and buildings of past centuries. There are many shrubs, trees, and all this creates incredible landscapes. The way from Tskhinvali to Vladikavkaz is only 170 kilometers - this distance is called the journey along the "road of life".

© Sputnik / Natalya Hayriyan

7. Spring "Bagiata"

South Ossetia is famous for its mineral springs. In Soviet times, there were many sanatoriums and various health resorts here. Today, mineral springs are not so much in demand among tourists, but they are also useful. Each gorge has its own springs, differing in their chemical composition. One of the most famous mineral springs in South Ossetia is Bagiata. The source itself resembles a small volcano, because it beats with waves right from the ground. The source is located on the road from the border checkpoint to Tskhinvali. Healing water removes any stones from the body, its saturation with minerals is confirmed by stones painted nearby in bright red.

© Sputnik / Alexey Kovalev

8. Goat Lake

This is a unique mountain lake, one of the most beautiful places in South Ossetia. On the way to the lake, you will see many beautiful landscapes. The lake is located near the town of Kvaisa, Dzauska district. Koz is the only lake formed as a result of deep tectonic processes that blocked the natural flow of the hydrological system of the Kedy-komy-don river. The river, having no flow, formed a mountain lake with an inflowing and outflowing river.

© Sputnik / Petr Gassiev

9. South Ossetian State Reserve

The reserve can be called the ecological museum of South Ossetia, its flora and fauna are striking in diversity. It was formed in 1977, and is located about two hours from Tskhinvali, on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Range. Area 6804 ha. The territory of the reserve is located at an altitude of 1200 to 2300 m above sea level. The relief is mountainous and very complex, with many different gorges. The reserve is famous for its relict forests, and a large number of lakes and reservoirs. Among the relic species in the park, Imeretian buckthorn, alpine oak, chestnut and boxwood are distinguished. Also in the park there are rare herbal plants, such as Robert's geranium or fragrant woodruff. The fauna of the park is rich in mammals. Here you can meet roe deer, Caucasian deer, as well as predatory animals: brown bear and steppe wolf. In addition, Caucasian black grouse, mountain partridge, snowcock and many others nest in the park.

© Sputnik / Natalya Hayriyan

10. Zyldy Masyg Fortress

Zyldy masyg is an architectural monument of antiquity, translated from the Ossetian language means "Round Tower". This amazing place served as a defensive structure. The fortress is located in the upper reaches of the Urs-Tualta gorge in the Dzau region of South Ossetia. For several centuries, the fortress served as a refuge for the local population, its walls were made of huge raw stones and reached 5 meters in places. Now only ruins remain of it. Tourists are attracted by the opportunity to climb them and enjoy the wonderful mountain air. In general, there are plenty of fortresses and temples in South Ossetia, but many of them require urgent restoration, otherwise they will become history only in memory or on paper ...

© Sputnik / Ada Bagian

The material is compiled from open sources.

One of the most picturesque places on our planet is the Caucasus. Just imagine: the mountains, the Caspian and Black Seas. It seems, what place could be more ideal? There is an answer, this is Ossetia.

Ossetia is a region of the Central Caucasus. Divided into southern and northern parts. North Ossetia is a suitable place for climbers to relax, for lovers of mountain tourism. This part of Ossetia is simply crammed with gorges and caves of various sizes and scales. Each of them is so picturesque that any person will remember for a long time and become pleasant memories.

Kurtatinsky gorge

If you are a fan of extreme and outdoor activities, you should visit the Kurtatin Gorge. It is not only beautiful, but also has a rich history. Hinged gray-yellow rocks, a portrait of Stalin painted on one of them, an incredible number of old watchtowers, and plus to all this - a wonderful landscape - what you will be lucky to see.

trail of miracles

Not far from this gorge you can come across the "Trail of Miracles". This is a place with cute and long bridges that are located on the rocks above the turbulent Fiagdon River.

Capital

Connoisseurs of architecture will be interested in walking around the capital of North Ossetia - Vladikavkaz. You can see many churches there. One of the main attractions is the Ossetian Church, ancient and majestic. In 2015 she will be 200 years old. It is worth seeing the Sunni mosque. Feel free to step inside and marvel at its unique look.

You can see the Russian theater and visit museums on Prospekt Mira. The avenue itself is already something peculiar and beautiful. Walking around like this is just a joy. There you will enjoy buildings made in modern and eclectic style.

One of the must-see places to visit should be the park to them. Kosta Khetagurova. True, it is located outside of Ossetia. But a tourist should see it. These are non-standard, exotic plants, vibrant nature, ponds where you can feed wild ducks and swans. Also, you can have fun with your friends and family. The park has such entertainment as a shooting gallery, various attractions, for example, a Ferris wheel, catamarans.

Ossetia and its sights amaze to the core. I don't want to leave this place. Calm atmosphere, clean air, colorful places. Around everything is green and full of juicy grass. What could be better? Weeks are not enough to explore all the beauties of Ossetia. Here everyone will find a holiday to their liking and will undoubtedly be satisfied.

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

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Dargavs "City of the Dead"

North Ossetia, der. Dargavs

In the Gizeldon Gorge, among the wild impregnable mountains framing it, there is an ancient city, which from a distance may seem like the most ordinary aul or, on the contrary, an ancient fortress. However, it is neither one nor the other. 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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Tsey 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 so far away, so anyone can go to explore it. The Tsei Gorge attracts tourists with its breathtaking picturesqueness and the purest mountain air.

• Alania or the Republic of North Ossetia is an amazingly beautiful land of mighty and sometimes very harsh mountains, green fertile valleys and gardens and, of course, a land that holds many legends and stories. Numerous ancient temples, fortresses, ancient settlements and other unique monuments have become living witnesses of which, many of them have the status of historical heritage monuments. All this is not at all surprising, because the first human settlement was founded in Alanya about 150 thousand years ago. It is hard to imagine how many legions, armies and hordes 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, having such indicators, has excellent chances to become a very popular tourist destination for lovers of excursion programs, for those who cannot imagine themselves without extreme sports, for ethnographers and historians. In a word - absolutely for everyone.

  It goes without saying that Ossetia is a land of beautiful mountains, rocky gorges, fast rivers. You can admire all these splendors 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 brightest such examples is a mighty rock fortress, which is located near 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 upon a time, these powerful walls repelled more than one siege, even such mighty conquerors as the formidable Persian Shah Abbas I gave up before them. Locals say that this mountain is completely dug with secret manholes and passages, so necessary in the event of a long siege.

  But not far from the village of Dargavs is 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 fairly 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 a glass, since they are long dead. Here, according to ancient tradition, the Alans buried their dead until the 18th century, so even now it is not difficult to notice whitening bones in the green mountain vegetation.

  High among the white mountain peaks is another unique settlement called Tsamad. Quite a living thing, at least in the summer, although very sparsely populated. Tsamad is notable for the fact that it was from this ancient high-mountain settlement that a fairly large part of the representatives of Ossetian surnames originated. Here, on the peaks, blown by all conceivable and inconceivable winds, there are silent witnesses of many glorious events. These are the ruins of ancient towers that withstood many sieges. The most famous of them is the family tower of the Cherchesovs, 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 back in the era of the Byzantine Empire. As you know, monks seek solitude, and there is no better place to achieve this goal. In these parts, there are many monasteries that belong to a variety of eras. But one of the most famous, and also the youngest, is the Assumption Alan Monastery, which is located right on the slope of a steep mountain, like the famous Greek Meteora. The very architecture of this monastery evokes such associations.

  Grayish stone, bright tiled roofs, looking up 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 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. 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 last, and was completed several times before finding its current majestic style.

  This church, which was 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 capital of Egypt, Cairo, and in terms of the richness of its design, it is considered perhaps the most magnificent in the country. You can endlessly list the sights of this wonderful region, but it is impossible to convey in words all the color, hospitality, extraordinary cuisine and other advantages of this region. Therefore, the best option is to see everything with your own eyes. Welcome to Alanya!