Arkhyz

Arkhyz is a village in the Russian republic of Karachay-Cherkessia, located in the northern Caucasus at an elevation of 1470 meters (4823 feet) above sea level. The valley stretches where the Arkhyz and Pshish rivers meet, surrounded by forested slopes and rugged peaks.

The modern settlement formed in 1922 near medieval church ruins that once belonged to the center of the ancient Alania kingdom. Mongol invasions in the 13th century ended that early period, leaving only stone remains as witnesses to the former era.

The name comes from a Kabardian word meaning eldest brother, tied to the valley where families have lived for generations. Today wooden houses stand beside newer buildings, while locals walk narrow paths between structures, shaping daily life in the mountain world.

Travelers reach the place via Mineralnye Vody airport, from which roads wind through the mountain landscape. The journey to the village can take several hours depending on season and snow conditions, so checking road status beforehand is worthwhile.

A rock painting from the 10th century shows the face of Christ on a cliff, drawing visitors who seek this religious artwork amid the mountains. Nearby stands a former Soviet observatory with telescopes, once used to study the night sky.