North Ossetia–Alania.

History

As early as the 1st millennium BC the Koban culture flourished here. The Alans, ancestors of the Ossetians, founded the Kingdom of Alania in the 8th century and adopted Christianity in the 9th. Ossetian lands joined the Russian Empire between 1774 and 1806, and in 1784 the fortress of Vladikavkaz, 'ruler of the Caucasus', was founded at the mouth of the Darial Gorge. It became the starting point of the 212-km Georgian Military Road, built and improved between 1799 and 1863. North Ossetia became an autonomous republic in 1936, and 'Alania' was added to its name in 1994.

Culture & traditions

Ossetian is an Eastern Iranian language descended from Alanic and Sarmatian, with two main dialects, Iron and Digor. The Nart epic lies at the heart of folk culture. The classic of Ossetian literature is Kosta Khetagurov, after whom a park in Vladikavkaz is named, and the conductor Valery Gergiev is closely linked with the republic. About half the residents are Orthodox Christians, while nearly a third follow the traditional Ossetian faith. Opera, ballet and orchestral music are strong in the republic.

Nature

The highest point is Mount Kazbek (5,033 m) on the southern border. The mountains are cut by the Kurtatin, Dargavs and Karmadon gorges, and the Midagrabin waterfalls tumble down in the alpine zone. The North Ossetian Nature Reserve and Alania National Park protect the landscape. The main river is the Terek, on which Vladikavkaz stands. The climate is moderately continental, averaging about −5 °C in January and 24 °C in July.

Sport

Freestyle wrestling is Ossetia's great sporting passion, and the republic has produced many Olympic champions. Vladikavkaz is home to the Aslan Khadartsev Wrestling Academy, the largest wrestling centre in the region. The football club Alania won the Russian championship in 1995.

Food & drink

Ossetian pies are the signature of the local table, and the classic is fydzhin, filled with meat. On festive occasions three pies are served, standing for sun, earth and water. They come with Ossetian cheese and Ossetian beer, a dark, almost black brew with little foam and modest strength that has been made since ancient times. There is even a festival in its honour, Iron Bægæny.

Practical information

The republic is served by Beslan International Airport near Vladikavkaz, and a railway has linked the city with Rostov since 1875. Trams have run in Vladikavkaz since 1904. The republic is on Moscow time. Summer and early autumn are best for the mountains and gorges, and the city is pleasant in spring too.

What to see

• Dargavs, the 'City of the Dead' — 99 medieval crypts with stepped, pointed roofs.
• Georgian Military Road — the historic route through the Darial Gorge towards Kazbek.
• Midagrabin waterfalls — cascades in the alpine zone.
• Kurtatin Gorge — one of the republic's main mountain gorges.
• Vladikavkaz — the 1906 Mukhtarov Mosque and Kosta Khetagurov Park on the Terek.
• Ossetian pies — try meaty fydzhin on its home ground.

Cities on the map

• Vladikavkaz 311,338