The ancient architectural complex in Dargavs in the Republic of North Ossetia definitely deserves to be more well known and would even seem to be a good candidate for full UNESCO World Heritage status. This area has been inhabited since the bronze age and it is thought to be the centre of what was known as Tagauria - which believed to be a society formed of the descendants of Taga, and perhaps even Taga himself lived here. The buildings on the hill were never used as homes, they are in fact tombs and the whole site is a graveyard. For this reason it is often referred to as the City of the Dead.

  It is not known for sure when they were built but some experts believe the first ones date back to the 12th century. In total there are just under 100 of them of varying sizes and at the top of the hill is a watchtower. The largest tombs have three layers and each layer has its own window to allow the air to circulate. A warning before you look into these windows though: the bodies are still there. Some now are just skeletons while others have mummified to some degree. What is especially interesting is that some of them are in specially made boats, even though the neighbouring River Gizeldon is not navigable. It is assumed that these boats were needed to take the souls into the next world. In times of plague, those infected would spend their last days in the tombs alongside their dead relatives. All in all this is certainly one of the most mysterious, and let’s be honest creepy, sites in Russia.