Postal stations in the Russian Empire (including the Caucasus) were an essential part of the transportation and communication network of the XIII-XIX centuries.
They were located along major postal and military routes—approximately every 25–40 versts (about 25–45 kilometers)—so that tired horses could be changed and travelers could rest.
A typical postal station included a house for the coachman and the station overseer, stables, barns and granaries for fodder, as well as guest rooms for travelers (often with a small inn or tavern).