My name is Vladislav, and I’m from Stavropol. When people talk about our city, they often think of it first and foremost as an agricultural one, but to me, it’s much more than that. First and foremost, I see Stavropol as a city of students and young people. It’s home to North Caucasus Federal University, attracting many students, and it hosts festivals, competitions, and other events.
One of the places we can visit as a family is St. Prince Square. There’s a multimedia museum nearby, and the square itself is located next to a residential complex with the patriotic name “Russian.” It’s also a convenient spot for us because it’s close to home.
You can go there just to take a walk, spend time together, and see what’s going on around you. It’s especially interesting in the evening. The square is lit up with LED lights in the colors of the Russian flag, and you can see a fountain show set to music and a light show. The space itself is quite large, so it’s a comfortable place to walk around and just hang out.
I like that places like this exist right near home. You don’t have to travel far to see something interesting or just get out with the whole family. You can come to the square, take a walk, and see the fountains, the lights, and the music. For me, it’s one of those places that feels familiar and is already part of everyday life in the city.
If I were to imagine Stavropol a hundred years from now, I’d like to see it continue to develop. In particular, I’d like public transportation to become even more convenient and getting around the city to be easier. There are certain challenges right now, so I’d be interested to see how this area changes in the future.
But the most important thing for me is for more new events to take place in Stavropol and for various festivals and events to continue coming here. This brings additional recognition to both the city and the entire region.
We already host events such as “Student Spring” and “School Spring.” These festivals bring a large number of participants to the city, and thanks to this, more people are learning about Stavropol. I would like to see major youth events continue to be held here so that the city remains visible and appealing to young people.
This is largely why I consider Stavropol to be a true college town. It’s home to a federal university, attracts a large number of students, and hosts various events. All of this gives the city a youthful vibe. For me, this is one of its key characteristics—one worth highlighting alongside the common perception of Stavropol as an agricultural hub.
But Stavropol itself is only part of a larger region. If you come here, you can see a wide variety of places. There’s Stavropol itself, which can be seen as a fairly ordinary city with its own industry and history, or you can go, for example, to Kislovodsk and find yourself in a completely different, resort-like atmosphere. That’s why I think everyone will be able to find something interesting in the Stavropol Region that appeals specifically to them.
When it comes to the people, I would first and foremost highlight Southern hospitality. Of course, people’s moods vary—sometimes you encounter a bit of grumpiness—but overall, people are friendly. I think this is also an important part of the character of our city and region.
I myself try to get involved in Stavropol’s community through volunteer work. I’m actively involved in it at the city level. Over the past two years, I’ve participated, among other things, in making everyday items for participants in military operations. For me, this is one way to take part in the life of the city and help out wherever possible.
If right now, while attending the International Youth Festival, I had to address my city, I would say:
“Don’t give up. We’ll get through this together.”
I hope that Stavropol will continue to be a city of students and young people, host new festivals and events, become better known, and keep developing. And I hope that people visiting here for the first time will always have the opportunity to see not only the city itself, but the entire Stavropol Krai—diverse, hospitable, and fascinating.”
