Derbent, Ancient fortress city in Dagestan, Russia
Derbent is a coastal city in Dagestan, Russia, positioned along a narrow strip of land between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains. The place served for centuries as a natural corridor between Europe and Asia, and its stone fortress walls still run visibly from the hills down to the shore.
The Persian Empire built the Naryn-Kala fortress in the 6th century to protect its northern border from nomadic tribes pushing through this narrow passage. Later control passed to Arab caliphates and Russian forces, each aiming to dominate the trade route along the Caspian shore.
At the central market, vendors sell dried fruit, spices and handmade carpets, while residents gather in the shade of old mosques for prayer. The city still follows a rhythm shaped by religious holidays and local festivals, and on Fridays the streets fill with people heading to nearby places of worship.
The city is connected by a main road and a railway line linking other regions of the Caucasus. Visitors should expect a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and warm summers, while spring and autumn offer comfortable temperatures for exploring.
The parallel defensive walls run from the mountaintop fortress down to the Caspian Sea, forming a stone barrier that controlled north-south traffic for centuries. Walking along these walls today, you can still see the traces of watchtowers carved into the rock at regular intervals.
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