City of the Dead: The Mysterious Village of Dargavs, Russia

Often referred to as the City of the Dead, the village of Dargavs is considered to be one of the more mysterious sites in Russia.  Hidden away in one of the five mountain ridges somewhere in the Caucasus mountains, the “city” is actually an ancient necropolis full of tombs or crypts.  The people who lived here, buried their loved ones in this site for reasons that have been lost in the passage of time. 

Many myths and legends surround the site and in the past local people refused to go here out of fear that they would not come out alive.  Some sources say the oldest crypts dates back to the 16th century and were made due to a plague that swept through the area decimating the population.

The Remote Location of the City of the Dead

Dargavs is located in the republic of North Ossetia in southern Russia.  A three hour drive through dangerous and winding roads, the site sits on the slope of a hill overlooking the Fiagdon River. It lies in the middle of a mountain valley which stretches over 17 kilometers (10. 6 miles) with 4,000 meter (13,000 feet) peaks looming above the village.

Mountain looming over Dargavs: The City of the Dead (Wikimedia Commons)