Cherkessk.

History

The settlement grew from a Russian fort of 1804, named Batalpashinskaya after a victory over Ottoman forces in 1790. In 1825 the Cossack stanitsa of Batalpashinskaya was founded here, and this is counted as the city's birth year. In 1931 the stanitsa became the town of Batalpashinsk, then changed its name several times and has been called Cherkessk since 1939. The town was occupied from August 1942 to January 1943. It later became the centre of an autonomous oblast and then the capital of the republic.

Culture & traditions

Cherkessk is the republic's main cultural centre. It has a drama theatre and a state philharmonic, and is home to the Elbrus ensemble, which performs North Caucasian dances, and a Cossack song and dance ensemble. The city's many peoples show in its streets too, where Orthodox churches stand near mosques and an Armenian church.

Sport

The football club Inter plays at the Nart Stadium. In 1972 the now-demolished Dombay Stadium hosted the continental final of the Speedway World Championship.

Food & drink

Cherkessk's food brings together the traditions of the peoples who live here: Karachays, Cherkess, Abazins, Nogais and Russians. It is best sampled at the market and in small cafés.

Practical information

The city has no airport of its own; the nearest major one is Mineralnye Vody, with onward travel by road. Cherkessk has a station on the North Caucasus Railway, and trolleybuses and buses serve the city. The climate is moderately humid, averaging about −2 °C in January and +21 °C in July. The best time is May to October, when it is easy to continue into the mountains.

What to see

• Green Island — a park with a cascade of artificial ponds
• Kuban riverside — a walk along the river in the foothills
• An Elbrus ensemble show — dances of the North Caucasus
• Batalpashinsk Lakes — reservoirs 18 km from the city
• Start of the Military Sukhumi Road — the route into the mountains begins here