The city of Grozny is the capital of Chechnya. Its name comes from the fortress of the same name, founded in 1818. The fortification received this name because at that time the area surrounding it was the hottest and most tense point in the North Caucasus. Subsequently, a city grew around the fortress. Its date of formation is considered to be December 30, 1869. What is the capital of Chechnya? Its appearance and internal politics are described in the article.
Geographic coordinate systems
The world coordinate system WGS 84 is used in the satellite-based global positioning and navigation system GPS.
Coordinates (latitude and longitude) determine the position of a point on the Earth's surface. The coordinates are angular values. The canonical form of representing coordinates is degrees (°), minutes (′) and seconds (″). GPS systems widely use the representation of coordinates in degrees and decimal minutes or in decimal degrees.
Latitude takes values from −90° to 90°. 0° – latitude of the equator; −90° – latitude of the South Pole; 90° – latitude of the North Pole. Positive values correspond to northern latitude (points north of the equator, abbreviated N or N); negative – southern latitude (points south of the equator, abbreviated as S or S).
Longitude is measured from the prime meridian (IERS Reference Meridian in the WGS 84 system) and takes values from −180° to 180°. Positive values correspond to east longitude (abbreviated as E or E); negative – western longitude (abbreviated as W or W).
UTM or Universal Transverse Mercator divides the Earth's surface into 60 meridional zones. The coordinates of a point within each zone are defined as a pair of planar coordinates, measured relative to the intersection of the equator and the central meridian of the zone, and are measured in meters.
Height above sea level shows the height of a point relative to conventional sea level. We use the GTOPO30 digital elevation model.
Source
Holidays with children in Grozny
Grozny is a great destination for a family holiday. This republic has a real cult of family and children, and on vacation with young travelers it will be not only interesting, but also comfortable. In Grozny there are children's entertainment centers, family hotels and restaurants, where everything is thought out for young tourists, as well as many places for walks in the fresh air. In the city center it is primarily the Flower Park .
Beautiful alleys, bright installations with flowers, open cafe terraces where it’s so nice to sit down with a glass of ice cream on a hot day. Kids will love playing with the “living” green sculptures, and concerts and entertainment shows are often held here.
There are many beautiful parks in the center of Grozny
© Igor Butyrskii
The park has sports and children's playgrounds, a small zoo, trampolines, labyrinths, carousels, and a mini-cinema. By the way, you can ride around the park, for example, on a funny musical train.
You can walk here until late; in the evening the beautiful illumination turns on. Another park is Mother's Glory Square. Children will like it no less, because in addition to walks, they will find rides, carousels, and rides in mini-cars. A Ferris wheel, swimming pools, and slides welcome guests in the warm season. You can also have a snack here, there are food stalls.
In the city park named after A. Kadyrov there is a zoo with many animals. Here you can admire the fountains, waterfalls, and relax in the cafeteria. Cool entertainment awaits you at the Like Lend , it is located on the top floor of the Grand Park shopping center in the center of Grozny.
Guests are greeted by animators in bright costumes; you can run in a maze, “plunge” into a dry pool, jump on trampolines and go down slides. Every evening, guests will enjoy an interactive musical show with the participation of magicians, dancers, and acrobats.
But the Grozny City shopping center attracts with the presence of several swimming pools in which you can splash around all year round, and a fun ice skating rink. In Grozny there is a Dolphinarium where you can watch shows by gifted artists. By the way, there is also a dino park, an amusement park, an autodrome, a zoo and a theater for young spectators. The complex has an equestrian club where you can learn to ride horses.
a circus tent comes to Grozny . In the evenings on weekends, Putin Avenue becomes completely pedestrian - children can run, jump, ride bicycles and scooters. And their parents take a leisurely stroll along the shady alleys and listen to a street concert of musicians, for example.
Entertaining
© AquaLand
Have you come to Grozny with the boys? Go to a football match at the Akhmat Arena stadium. You can also have a great time relaxing and having fun on the coast of the so-called Grozny Sea.
Guests can enjoy water adventures, a children's playground, and an entertainment center - there are 5 floors of a wide variety of entertainment. Water park, cinema, slot machines, trampoline and cable car. There are also beaches, separate swimming areas for women and men, and the baby can be with one of the parents.
Here you can ride a scooter or catamaran. You can order lunch in a cafe, or take food with you and have a great picnic in nature. This place is especially popular in summer and early autumn; residents of Grozny come to the coast in large groups.
Names
Translated from Russian, "Grozny" means "formidable", "formidable" or "formidable", the same word as in "Ivan the Terrible" (Ivan the Terrible). Although the official name in Chechen is the same, unofficially the city is known as "Sojlzha-Gӏala" ("Selƶa-ala"), which literally means "city (gӏala) on the Sunzha River (Sojlzha)".
In 1996, during the First Chechen War, Chechen separatists renamed the city Dzhokhar-Gala
(Chechen: Dzhovkhar-GӀala, Dƶovxar-ala), or abbreviated
Dzhokhar
/
Dzhokhar
, in honor of Dzhokhar Dudayev, the first president of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. . In December 2005, the Chechen parliament voted to rename the city "Akhmadkala" (in honor of Akhmad Kadyrov), a proposal that was rejected by his son Ramzan Kadyrov, the prime minister and later president of the republic.
Road route from Grozny to the Chechen Republic
When you have seen all the most interesting things in the Chechen capital, it’s time to hit the road. Distances in the republic are very short, and in 1–2 days you can see a lot of sights. It is more convenient for these purposes to rent a car, or arrange a trip with a local guide. Start with the city of Argun, Grozny's closest neighbor.
Argun city
© Irina Porunova
You will get here along an excellent highway in just 15 minutes; such a short distance allows us to consider Argun a satellite city of Grozny. The town itself is nice, well-kept, cozy. It was rebuilt after the notorious events of the Chechen wars, according to the modern Chechen “scenario”. There is a business part of the City, comfortable residential areas, shops, tourist infrastructure, a park and a beautiful mosque.
It's worth paying closer attention to. Indeed, the mosque in Argun, called “Mother’s Heart,” is very unusual and even futuristic. It can be considered one of the tourist “business cards” of the Chechen Republic, and should definitely be included in your route.
The fashionable high-tech style, so unusual for Islamic sacred buildings, was proposed and brought to life by Turkish architects. With 50,000 light bulbs built into the carved metal dome, the mosque is a fantastic sight at night. The minarets are made in the form of obelisks, but the area around the mosque deserves special attention. Be sure to take a walk.
Next to the mosque is the Argun City . Together they make up an amazing spectacle - a combination of glass, metal, minarets and high-tech style. The high-rise buildings of Argun City are not as large as those in neighboring Grozny, but they also look very impressive. They house shops, offices, business centers, and apartments. You can come here for lunch or just take a photo with the beautiful shiny towers in the background.
Mosque "Pride of Muslims" in Shali
© Victor Bashkir
In addition to Argun, your route should include the town of Shali. It is also located nearby, you will be there in 30–40 minutes. This small city is home to an architectural masterpiece of modern architecture, the Pride of Muslims Mosque. By the way, this is the largest mosque in Europe. The shrine, together with the adjacent territory, can accommodate up to 100 thousand believers at a time.
However, not only Muslim believers can visit the mosque; “Pride of Muslims” is open to representatives of all faiths. Travelers are attracted to the mosque as an architectural object. White marble facades, gold paintings, elegant frescoes, expensive carpets. And also incredible huge chandeliers in the shape of tulip flowers attract with millions of lights. The “Pride of Muslims” mosque is incredibly beautiful both in its external and internal decoration. It will be a beautiful end to your Chechen vacation, which will be remembered for a long time.
Read more: What to see in Grozny in 2 days
Story
Russian fort
Grozny Fortress
(Grozny, lit.
formidable
) (feminine form of Grozny, since the word fortress (fortress) is feminine in Russian) was founded in 1818 as a Russian military outpost on the Sunzha River with General Yermolov. During the construction of the fort, the Chechens fired at the workers. The Russians solved the problem by placing a cannon at a carefully chosen point outside the walls. When night fell and the Chechens came out of their hiding places to steal the gun, all the other guns opened fire with grapeshot. When the Chechens came to their senses and began to carry away the bodies, the guns opened fire again. When it was all over, they counted 200 dead. So the “formidable” fort received a baptism of fire. It was an important defense center during the Caucasian War. The fortress was visited by Russian poets Alexander Griboedov, Alexander Polezhaev, Mikhail Lermontov, classic of Russian literature Leo Tolstoy, Decembrist and writer Alexander Bestuzhev and other famous figures of Russian culture. After the annexation of the region by the Russian Empire, the military use of the old fortress was obsolete, and on 11 January [O.S. 30 December 1869] 1870 it was given city status and renamed Grozny (as the word gorod (gorod) is masculine). in Russian). Since most of the inhabitants here were Terek Cossacks, the city grew slowly until the development of oil reserves in the early 20th century. The founder of the Nobel Prize, Alfred Nobel, took part in the development of the oil industry of the city of Grozny, as well as members of the Rothschild family. Apart from the Nobels and Rothschilds, British companies have played an important role in the oil industry since 1893. English engineer Alfred Stewart completed the first well in Grozny, drilling the largest oil field in the Caucasus region (outside the Baku region) in 1893. Before 1900, 11 companies drilled 116 wells. This contributed to the rapid development of industry and petrochemical production. In addition to oil production in the city itself, the city became the geographic center of Russia's network of oil fields, and in 1893 it became part of the Transcaucasia-Russia Proper railway. As a result, the population nearly doubled from 15,600 in 1897 to 30,400 in 1913. At the beginning of 1914, the largest oil company Royal Dutch Shell was founded in the city, which made Grozny one of the largest industrial centers in the Caucasus.
Self-guided walking route around Grozny
Have you come to Grozny for 1 day or even a few hours? It doesn’t matter, if you plan your walking route wisely, you can see all the most interesting things in the Chechen capital. The city is compact and attractions are located nearby.
It is very convenient to start your walking route in the center of Grozny, near a flowering park - the railway and bus stations are nearby. There is also ample free parking nearby for travelers by car.
Flower Park
© Julia Alisova
So, Flower Park . This popular urban space is very young, like almost everything in Grozny. The park opened in 2022, and since then it has only become more beautiful.
The park's area is large, about 5 hectares, and it takes time to walk around. The well-groomed alleys are “covered” with metal installations with a variety of colors - there are hundreds of thousands of them here.
Along the alleys of the park you will find “living” green figures, kiosks with drinks, open cafes, children’s attractions, and souvenir shops. Both adults and children will enjoy it here.
Take a photo of the impressive skyscrapers of the Grozny City complex in a flower “frame”, and move on. Walking through the park, you will notice a beautiful Orthodox church.
This is the Church of the Archangel Michael, one of the oldest buildings in modern Grozny. The church was founded at the end of the 19th century; later it was reconstructed, and today it is open to the public as a functioning temple.
From old to super-modern. Where else to go in fashionable Grozny but to stroll through the skyscraper district. Beautiful “glasses” welcome guests - there is a hotel, restaurants, cafes, shops, an observation deck, just a great location for photo shoots. The complex consists of 7 towers, their maximum height is 40 floors.
Be sure to go up to the observation deck on the roof of one of the skyscrapers to appreciate Grozny from above. You can drink coffee in a trendy bar, or go further - crossing the road, you will come to the embankment of the Sunzha River . The embankment of the Sunzha River is a new pleasant urban space. There are comfortable paths along the river, flower beds, and recreation and picnic areas. You can go down to the river, or relax on a hot day in the shade of the trees.
Mosque "Heart of Chechnya"
© Igor Butyrskii
The embankment also offers first-class views of the city, the skyscrapers of Grozny City and, of course, the elegant “Heart of Chechnya” mosque.
“The Heart of Chechnya” is a sacred symbol, a tourist “business card”, a center of attraction for both Grozny residents and city guests. And also one of the largest and most beautiful mosques in Russia and Europe.
On holidays, she can meet up to 10,000 parishioners. However, entry for representatives of any religion is allowed - come in, look, take pictures. There is only one rule: to visit an Islamic temple, a strict dress code is required, for men and women.
What should you pay attention to besides elegant architectural lines? Of course, to the rich interior decoration of the temple. Beautiful painted ceilings, suras from the Koran written in gold, soft carpets, incredible chandeliers - there are 36 of them in total, they are made of gold mosaics and Swarovski crystals. All this luxury makes an unforgettable impression.
To recover a little from the beauty that has befallen you, take a walk along the modern streets. For example, along Putin Avenue - taking photos with signs with the address has become a favorite pastime of Russian tourists. On the central avenue of the Chechen capital you will find interesting houses (some with history), buildings of the republic's administration, cafes, hotels, even hostels. If you have always dreamed of living on a street named after the Russian president, this is an excellent choice.
National Museum of the Chechen Republic
© Igor Butyrskii
On the avenue it is impossible to miss the spectacular structure, stylized with four defensive medieval towers. This is the National Museum of the Chechen Republic.
The collection of the main museum of the republic began to be collected about a hundred years ago. Formed from a very small collection, the museum gradually grew to become first regional, then republican.
Nowadays, museum repositories contain real masterpieces, such as paintings by Aivazovsky, medieval military uniforms, jewelry and numismatic collections.
A walk through the museum will be an excellent end to your route around the Chechen capital. However, you can stop by one of the cafes nearby - have a snack, relax, and share your emotions with friends.
Read more: What to see in Grozny in 1 day
Where is the city of Grozny?
Grozny is the capital of Chechnya and the center of the Grozny region.
The city is located in the North Caucasus, has the status of a city of republican significance and forms an urban district. The city is located on the right and left banks of the Sunzha River, and is also surrounded by the Grozny and Urus-Martan regions of Chechnya. It ranks second in area among the cities of the North Caucasus. The total area of Grozny is 324 square kilometers. The approximate population is 297 thousand people. The climate in Grozny is temperate continental. The climate of the area is characterized by mild winters and long, hot summers. The annual precipitation rate is 439 mm. Grozny is located in the same time zone as Moscow, the offset relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is +3.
Holidays, festivals and cultural events in Grozny
Grozny, which is actively developing in recent years, has been striving to become not only a tourist, but also a cultural capital of the North Caucasus. Indeed, in this vibrant metropolis life is in full swing - theatrical performances, film premieres, national and secular festivals, religious holidays. Everything is celebrated cheerfully, noisily, on a grand scale and with Caucasian flavor!
New Year holidays in Grozny
© DK1974
The New Year holidays begin . If you come to Grozny in winter, you won’t go wrong. The weather here is usually mild, and the picture pleases the eye with illumination and New Year's elements.
Christmas trees are not removed until mid-January, and during this period guests also enjoy entertainment and sales in shopping centers.
Spring comes to Grozny along with International Women's Day . Also at the beginning of spring, an unusual “Honk-Fest” , a wild garlic festival, takes place in Grozny. If you have never tried this plant, come for a visit - they will teach you how to cook 1000 and one wild garlic dishes. The supply of vitamins and vitality is ensured.
The end of March marks Novruz , the Muslim spring holiday. Representatives of all religions are invited to attend - the more guests, the merrier.
The same principle is followed on the holidays of Eid al-Adha . It marks the end of fasting for Muslims, when beautiful tables are set, food is served, and guests are warmly welcomed. No less hospitable and fun at the gastronomic festival “Shashlyk-Mashlyk” . As a rule, it takes place in Grozny in May, on a huge square in the city center. It is impossible to make a mistake: the sounds of fiery musical motifs can be heard from afar.
Dancing at the Shashlyk-Mashlyk festival
© Julia Alisova
There are dances, performances by national groups, songs, and of course food. Lots and lots of food - chefs from all over the Caucasus and Russia will compete for the title of best kebab master.
In addition to the most varied barbecue, you can try other delicacies, as well as appreciate the national flavor. Each district of the Chechen Republic is represented by national farmsteads, with beautifully laid tables and a souvenir fair.
By the way, the organizers present “Shashlyk-Mashlyk” not only as a gastronomic festival, but also as a cultural and tourism festival.
If you come to Grozny in June, be sure to go to the mountain lake Kezenoy-Am for a unique event - the Children's Sailing Regatta . Snow-white sailboats gliding across the surface of the lake look very picturesque.
But in July, the international sailing regatta “Kozenoy-Am Cup” . This is an event of an all-Russian scale, and it is organized accordingly - transfer of guests, entertainment, accommodation, educational excursions are thought out perfectly.
In the fall, Grozny hosts the Festival of Culture and Sports of the Peoples of the North Caucasus. It features both traditional and very unusual competitions, such as stilt walking or belt wrestling. By the way, this is not only a sports, but a cultural platform. There you can get acquainted with different traditions and customs of the Caucasian peoples - it will be interesting.
Chechen Women's Day is celebrated annually in September . Another autumn holiday is City Day in Grozny. And this is an excellent reason to get to know Grozny!
Automobile highways
Federal highways pass through Grozny:
- P217 "Caucasus" is a federal highway, the total length of which is 1118 km. It is part of European routes E50 and E119. The route passes through the territory of the following regions of Russia: Stavropol Territory, Krasnodar Territory, Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia. The end of the route is the state border with Azerbaijan. The road surface is asphalt.
- P215 is a federal highway, the total length of which is 470 km. It is part of the European route E119 and the Asian network AH8. The road originates in Astrakhan and passes through Artezian, Kochubey, Red Barricades, Tarumovka. The final point of the route is Makhachkala. The road surface of the P-215 highway is soil and asphalt.
- E50 is a European route that passes through Russia, Ukraine, France, the Czech Republic, Germany, and Slovakia. The total length of the highway is 6,000 km. The beginning of the road is Brest, the end is Makhachkala.
Grozny Airport
There is an international airport in Grozny, which has the status of a federal facility. The airport terminal building consists of one terminal, the type of airport is civil, the operating hours are 24 hours a day. Distance from the center of Grozny to the airport - 6 km
Popular flight destinations: Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Bishkek, Istanbul, Sharjah. The airport serves aircraft of major Russian and foreign airlines: Azimut, UTair, Aeroflot, Avia Traffic Company, Air Arabia, Pegasus Airlines. The annual passenger traffic is more than 250 thousand people.