The ancient settlement of Dzivgis stands on the left bank of the Fiagdon River, at the very beginning of the Kurtatin Gorge. It is here that one of the most famous and remarkable sights of North Ossetia is located—the main stronghold of Dzivgis, a rock fortress. The exact age of the fortress is unknown; however, burials from the 13th century have been found within the fortifications, so it is believed to have been built between the 13th and 16th centuries. According to some sources, the impregnable fortress stood in the way of Tamerlane (15th century), and descriptions place it right at the beginning of the Kurtatin Gorge—most likely this was the Dzivgis fortress. According to another legend, in the 17th century, the Dzivgis fortress was stormed by Shah Abbas I. Legend has it that traces of cannonballs from his guns remain on the fortress walls, but like Tamerlane, he also failed to conquer the fortress. The tale says that for many months the warriors inside the fortress suffered from hunger and hardship, and after half a year, they took a desperate step—they threw out the last supplies they had beyond the castle walls: a huge bull’s leg. The starving invaders fought over this delicacy, killing their own tribesmen left and right, and the shah had no choice but to lift the siege. One way or another, the ancient fortifications of Dzivgis, seemingly grown into the rocks, withstood many attacks, protecting the Ossetians from raiders. The hardest times came during the tsarist punitive expeditions of the 19th century, during which many Ossetian fortresses were destroyed.

This complex of defensive structures, in varying states of preservation, is one of the most significant objects of the material culture of Alania, the pinnacle of cave architecture in Ossetia, and is located at the entrance to the Kurtatin Gorge between the Fiagdon River and the slope of Mount Kariu-khokh. The complex consists of seven defensive towers, covering the entrances to natural caves where warriors were stationed. The central one, 70 meters long, could accommodate about 100 people. There were no permanent paths or stairs between the towers, but in peacetime, beams were driven into cracks in the rocks, and planks were laid on them. At the moment of attack, the boards were removed, making it almost impossible to storm the towers.

Shrouded in an aura of mystery, it almost merges with the rock, and in summer it can be missed behind the trees. This is an outstanding medieval defensive structure. The fortress complex includes six structures at different heights, built at the entrances to natural caves. The local landscape was used organically in construction: in particular, in some places, natural holes formed by the erosion of the rock were adapted as loopholes.

The Dzivgis fortress is not the only one in the gorge. Slightly earlier than it is the Kadargavan fortification, almost invisible and blending with the rocks. The enemy passed by Kadargavan unnoticed on the way to Dzivgis and thus found themselves surrounded.

Despite its historical value, the structures are not in the best condition. The ascent to the fortress is not specially equipped; you will have to climb over stones. Entry into the structures is possible through a breach. Modern fences and residential buildings are located right next to the historical monuments.

Sources:

https://livingheritage.ru/brand/respublika-severnaya-osetiya-alaniya/dzivgis-naskalnaya-krepost

https://club-voshod.com/info/pohodnoe_info/dostoprimechatelnosti/severnaya_osetiya/krepost_dzivgis/