Argun State Historical-Architectural and Natural M. Аргунский заповедник

Argun Reserve

The Argun State Historical-Architectural and Natural Museum-Reserve is a reserve located in the southern part of the Chechen Republic on the territory of the Vedeno Reserve and covering the Itum-Kali and Sharoy districts in whole, as well as partially Achkhoy-Martan, Vedeno and Shatoy districts. It was established on June 2, 1988 by the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR. The area is 233,800 hectares. We can safely say that the Argun Reserve is an open-air museum. It includes historical and natural monuments of the Argun Gorge. Of the natural monuments on the territory of the Argun Museum-Reserve, the most remarkable is the Sheki-Hyekh cave with sulfur springs, from which a hydrogen sulfide river flows. Of the cultural and historical sites, there are about 150 tower complexes of the early and late Middle Ages, religious buildings, military and residential towers, early Muslim burials, cyclopean structures and other historical monuments. Many objects of the museum-reserve are in ruined condition.

Argun State Historical-Architectural and Natural Museum-Reserve was among six finalists of the II All-Russian Park Award “Parks of Russia” 2025 in the nomination “Historical-Architectural, Museum Park, Estate”. The winners will be announced on April 23, 2025 at the V International exhibition and conference ParkSeason Expo.

For the museum-reserve this nomination is a recognition and appreciation of the work of its staff, as the institution is actively engaged in the preservation and promotion of cultural, historical and archaeological heritage, as well as the natural wealth of the region.