Vladikavkaz: from fortress to center of culture

Yana Vinetskaya exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

Vladikavkaz is one of the most beautiful places in the North Caucasus. It is situated on the banks of the Terek River right at the bottom of the Black Mountains. The view on the mountains is stunning from different parts of the city. Grigory Moskvich recommended to readers of his guidebook to see the view from a church square in Ossetian outskirts of the city. It was very beautiful at sunset.

Vladikavkaz in the late 19th and the early 20th century was an administrative center of the Terskaya Region. The military settlement became a town in 1861. The title “Vladikavkaz” means “possess the Caucasus.” It was given to the fortress by Prince Potemkin. He reported on his order to build the fortress on April 25th, 1784. Ekaterina II ordered the building of a church in the fortress. The very important Military Georgian road connecting North and South parts of the region begins from Vladikavkaz.

In the early 20th century, Vladikavkaz was not so much a fortress as an important trade and administrative center. Intensive trade between Ossetians, Georgians, Ingushs, Cirkassians, and other mountain peoples took place there. Production of silver belts, harnesses, knives, shoes, and clothes was developed. The goods were popular all over the North Caucasus, especially among tourists and guests. They paid special attention to traditional Caucasian cloaks and boots – in the early 20th century the set could be bought for 10-15 rubles. Along with jewelries and handcrafts, cultural life prospered in the city. According to Grigory Moskvich, Vladikavkaz was a kind of “intelligent center for mountain people” where “all intelligent people and educational facilities of the north slope of the Caucasus were concentrated.” 100 years ago Vladikavkaz with population of 75 thousand people had a dozen of colleges, city, craft, mountain, and technical schools and a musical school. Some scientific societies worked there.

The city developed rapidly and soon purchased an electric tram. Several high-class hotels were situated in the center of the city: Grand Hotel, Europe, and Imperial. There were simpler variants in the hotel Kavkaz and some other. The city had a theatre, a club, and other cultural facilities, but one of the best city corners was Bike Riders’ Track in the park Yerofeyevsky.

The population of Vladikavkaz was mixed. Along with Terek Cossacks who have a small museum in the city, Vladikavkaz had districts with different customs and traditions. Guidebooks said: “Tourists should note types of local ethnic groups. In Tiflis you won’t meet them today. In the north people are bigger and more active. They preserved their traditions in clothes and character…”