Akhaltsikhe (Akhaltsikhe- - akhaltsikhé) is a city in the south-west of Georgia, which is located among the majestic mountains in the valley of the Potskhovis-Tskali river. Translated from the Georgian language, “akhal tsikhe” means “new fortress”. The city is the regional center of the Akhaltsikhe region, the administrative center of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. 20 km from the center passes. The height of the city above sea level is 100 meters. The population of the city is about 20 thousand people. Speaking about the population, I would like to note right away that Georgians are very hospitable and warm-hearted people. So they have such traditions.
The city consists of old and new parts. is spread out on a hill, a new one is upset on the plain. The history of the city goes back thousands of years, the first mention of it is found in the annals of 1204, which is dedicated to the military leaders Shalva and Ivan Akhaltsikhe.
The city's attractions
It is not surprising that the city is rich in historical structures and buildings. Most of them are free for tourists. The main attractions of the city are: the centuries-old fortress Rabat, the Sapara monastery, the cave.
Fortress Rabat
The Akhaltsikhe Fortress is the main attraction of the city of Akhaltsikhe (Akhaltsikhe — akhaltsikhé-). It is located on a hill and opens for review immediately from the city's bus station. This fortress with a thousand-year history was built in the distant XIII century. In the 16th century, it was captured by the Ottomans, and the Ottoman Empire became its full-fledged mistress, in the 19th century it came under the leadership of the Russian Empire, and then returned to the Georgians. It entered the 21st century in a dilapidated state, and in 2011 the Georgian authorities decided to restore it. In 2012, the fortress was completely renovated and opened to tourists and locals alike.
Its total area is 7 hectares, the fortress is divided into two parts. The upper part is located on a hill, the lower one occupies a flat territory. They are separated from each other by a monumental battlement wall. There is only one passage in the wall through which tourists can get to the upper part of the fortress. The upper part is museum complex fortress, a visit to which is paid for tourists. The cost of an adult ticket is 7 GEL. The main historical monuments of the fortress are concentrated there, these are:
- a Christian church built into the stone wall of the fortress;
- the oldest mosque in Georgia, Haji Ahmed Pasha (Ahmedie);
- historical museum of Samtskhe-Javakheti;
- tomb of Pasha ;
- a beautiful gazebo with a fountain, water from which you can drink;
The upper part of the fortress is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, visiting hours from 10: 00-19: 00.
The lower part of the fortress is open around the clock, walking here is absolutely free. Passing through the massive gates, you will find yourself in a walking area with convenient playgrounds and beautiful swimming pools. A vineyard is also planted here, in a very interesting stepwise order.
For tourists and guests of Akhaltsikhe, in the lower part there is the "Rabat" hotel, which has an unusual interior: in the powerful stone walls, light wooden balconies are built in.
The city's service sector is very developed. Akhaltsi offer tourists the maximum comfortable rest... On the territory of the fortress there are cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, wine shops - everything that modern visitors need.
Sapara monastery
10 km from Akhaltsikhe, in the mountains, there is a men's monastery, in which today 20 monks live. This is another historical site belonging to the municipality of the city. On the territory of the monastery there are thousand-year-old historical monuments.
The oldest church of the Assumption, built in the X century. It is famous for its stunning iconostasis, which is decorated with relief sculptures. Nearby there is a domed temple, erected in the 13th century, and a bell tower, the dome of which was built of solid stone slabs. Further along the slope, there are old towers, cells displaced into the rock, and an ancient stone wall.
The main attraction of the complex is the main cathedral of the monastery - the temple of St. Saba. it ancient structure, built in the XIII century, completely faced with embossed stone. The entrance to the temple is located on the north and west sides. The passage to the southern part of the temple is closed, it is intended for economic management. Here are the cells of the monks living in the temple.
This is a relatively young building, built by the local authorities together with the Akhaltsikhe city administration in 2009. It was erected in honor of the only woman who ascended the throne of Georgia and independently ruled the country - Queen Tamara. In appearance, he looks quite restrained. Inside it is decorated with painted walls and an altar shining with gold. A huge monument to the Tsarina is erected in front of him. Queen Tamara is very revered by the Georgian population. During her reign, Christianity entered the Georgian land, spread and became the main religion of the country. Traditionally, Georgians celebrate the holiday dedicated to the queen with a special celebration.
Cave city Vardzia
60 km from Akhaltsikhe, another unique attraction of Georgia is located - this is the ancient "monastery city" in the form of Vardzia caves, built right in the rock, at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level. Historians associate the name of the city "Vardzia" with the word "Vardzh", which the Persians used to call the Georgian Kartvelians. Throughout its history, the city was repeatedly exposed to earthquakes, it was repeatedly captured by the wars of the Ottoman Empire, which in turn adversely affected the preservation of the historical complex. For some time the city was also in the power of the Russian army. In Soviet times, it was completely closed to the public, only after Georgia gained independence, it was restored and opened to visitors. The monastery is divided into two parts. The secular part is intended for excursions, and the monastery is closed for tourists, monks still live here.
In addition to the cells, which were intended for living, the rocks are also carved: a hospital, wine cellars, chapels, book depositories, storage rooms. All rooms are connected to each other stone labyrinths... This is a unique structure, which in ancient times served as a refuge for Georgians.
During the reign of Queen Tamara, who greatly revered the Christian religion, the Temple of the Assumption was built on its territory Holy Mother of God... Opposite it, to this day, there are frescoes depicting the Tsarina and her father George III. observation deck, which overlooks the entire rocky city and the surrounding landscapes.
Akhaltsikhe city (Akhaltsikhe- -akhaltsikhé) is one of the few historic centers, in which the monuments of ancient times have been preserved to this day. It gives a unique opportunity for visitors to see firsthand how our ancestors lived, how they defended their freedom and defended their native lands. Akhaltsi, carefully preserve historical buildings, ennoble and care for the adjacent territories, because they reflect the centuries-old history of the formation of Georgia as an independent state.
Driving directions to the city of Akhaltsikhe (Axalcixe) on the map for foreign tourists
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Summing up the above, I would like to note that every year the flow of tourists to Akhaltsikhe is only growing. The level of tourism development in the country over the past five years has risen to a very high level. Now there is no need to travel or fly by plane to countries far from us in order to relax in comfort and touch history with your hands. Everything is provided here. Visiting local attractions, you will not remain indifferent. Historical monuments will open for you a lot of interesting things about the distant era of the X-XVI centuries. Akhaltsikhe is one of the few places on the planet that has preserved ancient history in its original form and allows guests to touch it in reality.
Safar Monastery is located in the mountains near Meskheti in a southeast direction. It was founded by St. Savva in the XIII century.
The Safara Monastery has preserved the spirit of antiquity, lost by many Georgian churches during the current period of the great and merciless renovation of Georgia.
Safara Monastery is an active male monastery located in the mountains of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region near Akhaltsikhe. There are 20 monks who are engaged in agriculture on donations from the population. There are many unique frescoes in the monastery, some of them have survived from distant times of the past. Built in the 10-12th centuries.
To get to the monastery, you first need to drive to the city of Akhaltsikhe. The way can be done by minibus, which leaves every half hour to the city from the Tbilisi bus station (near the Didube metro station). The monastery is located 12 kilometers from the city. Minibuses do not go to the monastery. Therefore, it is better to hire a taxi.
Lake Khozapini
Lake Khozapini belongs to the territory of Samtskhe-Javakheti - a marvelous land located on volcanic plateaus. The border with the Turkish state runs directly along Lake Khozapini.
The surrounding landscape is devoid of bright colors. From one side to the lake there is a descent from the steep slopes covered with grass, and from the other - here and there mountain flowers can be seen. However, in the harsh local climate, they can be found only in the middle of summer.
The only village located nearby is the village of Kartsakhi, which is located on the very border and stands on the banks of the Kura River.
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Church of the Epiphany of the Holy Cross
The Church of the Epiphany of the Holy Cross in the city of Akhaltsikhe is a temple of the Armenian Catholic Church. The building was erected in the 17th century in the Armenian architectural style... The architects doing the work are currently unknown, but, according to experts, the church looks more like a building built in the 18th century. It was built for the use of the Armenian Apostolic Church, but some time after the construction it was transferred to the Armenian Catholic Church.
Currently, the Church of the Epiphany of the Holy Cross is in a dilapidated state, since several years ago the Georgian Catholic community began restoration work, which aimed at re-specializing the building. As a result of unprofessional activities, the foundation of the church was damaged, and now questions are being resolved about the future of the Church of the Epiphany of the Holy Cross.
In addition, the Georgian and Armenian churches are in dispute, as the Armenian historians do not agree to give the building to the Georgian disposal. The explanation is that remains with Armenian inscriptions were found on the territory of the church, so the only thing that can be doubted is the Catholic or apostolic affiliation of the Church of the Epiphany of the Holy Cross.
Javakheti National Park or Samtskhe-Javakheti. There are several parks here, but officially only two.
First, this is the entire territory adjacent to the Tabatskuri lake - there you can meet birds, stunning in their beauty and mystery. Second national park and the reserve is Borzhomsky - the largest in length - and the famous mineral water Borjomi, which was very popular in the former Soviet Union. It is also worth noting that these mineral water have a beneficial effect on health, so very often you can meet people with decayed health at these sources.
There is another small reserve - Tetrobi - but the essence of its origin is not clear.
Samtskhe-Javakheti is also famous for the fact that ski resorts world class found cave cities and monasteries on the tops of rocky mountains - all this is quite interesting for both tourists and local residents.
The most popular attractions in Akhaltsikhe with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places Akhaltsikhe on our website.
Individual and group
At intersection stories of three countries: Georgia, Turkey and Armenia is the Georgian city of Akhaltsikhe, the center of cultural and tourist life in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region.
Georgia unique country... In a small area, there are twelve regions with a varied landscape and history. Samtskhe-Javakheti, where we go after Kutaisi, borders with Armenia and Turkey and their influence on the region is enormous.
Many Armenians live here, perhaps even more than Georgians, because Samtskhe-Javakheti was a part of great Armenia for more than 1000 years.
The main investors in the region are Turks. They build hydroelectric power plants and gas pipelines, help with infrastructure, not for free, of course. Most likely, domination over the region in the 15th-18th centuries does not give them rest and they decided at all costs to regain their influence, which had been taken away by the valiant Russian army in the 19th century. Part of the territory of Samtskhe-Javakheti, by the way, with some ancient monasteries and temples, was never liberated and remained on the territory of Turkey, Georgians still talk about this with sadness.
Akhaltsikhe city, Georgia.
The main city of Samtskhe-Javakheti is Akhaltsikhe with a population of about 20,000. It was he who we chose to base and get to know this region. We arrived in Akhaltsikhe from Kutaisi. The distance from Kutaisi to Akhaltsikhe is about 200 kilometers, approximately the same as Tbilisi - Akhaltsikhe. It is not possible to travel this distance by taxi cheap option, so our choice fell on the minibus. At the Kutaisi bus station, we buy a ticket (18 GEL per person) and in a little over three hours we find ourselves in Akhaltsikhe.
Kutaisi - Akhaltsikhe.
Traveling by minibus in Georgia is a separate song, but to hear it you need your own experience.
There were few people in our minibus at the beginning of the journey, along the way the number of passengers either increased or decreased, with some we even managed to talk. For a while a beekeeper was riding next to me. He took the queen to his apiary, showed her to me and boasted about his honey. At one stop, a woman asked the driver to take large trunks of empty cans along the way, apparently she wanted to give them to someone in Akhaltsikhe. Without waiting for a positive answer, she began to place the trunks around the minibus, and so that they would not break, she handed them to us and our fellow traveler. The whole process was interrupted by the driver, and under loud joint squabbling forced the woman to take the cans back.
In a word, we did not have to get bored in the minibus. What was worth only the fact that before each overtaking our driver began to cross himself. At such moments you think about the frailty of life and how everything depends on the case.
Thank God our trip went well. From the Akhaltsikhe bus station to our hotel, booked in Russia through booking, a taxi took us for three lari.
Hotel Almi, Akhaltsikhe.
We liked Hotel Almi, Akhaltsikhe, and not only because my birthday fell on the days of my stay at the hotel and the friendly hotel staff made me a real holiday with songs, dances and fireworks:
But also because Hotel Almi is one of the best places in Akhaltsikhe!
The furnishings and renovations are new, tastefully done, cleaning is at a height, a beautiful view from the windows of the fortress.
Breakfasts are included in the room rate. They take place in a beautiful local area.
You can have lunch or dinner at any time (be sure to order fried fish), the menu is varied, the food is just "lick your fingers." Only hotel guests eat in the restaurant, and since there are few rooms, an almost individual service is obtained. So twice we dined in splendid isolation.
Very good value for money. If you want to enjoy excellent service and family atmosphere, come here !!! Again, thank you very much friendly Almi family for our holiday !!!
One of the advantages of Hotel Almi is its location. It is located between two streets: Kostava (the main street of the city) and Natenadze. The streets run parallel to each other, then merge into one and lead to the main attraction of Akhaltsikhe - the Rabat fortress.
The distance from the hotel to the fortress, if you walk along Kostava Street, is only one and a half kilometers, and along the way there are many attractions of Akhaltsikhe, so you will not be bored. Let's go for a walk around Akhaltsikhe!
Since we had several walks along this route: both during the day and in the evening, then there will be photos of Akhaltsikhe: both daytime and evening.
Akhaltsikhe map.
Before I start my story about walking around the city, I suggest that you familiarize yourself with the map of our route.
Sights of Akhaltsikhe.
Thanks to Saakashvili, a global reconstruction was carried out in Akhaltsikhe at the beginning of the 21st century, which solemnly ended on August 17, 2012 in the renovated Rabat fortress. Thanks to the reconstruction, roads were repaired, new administrative buildings, supermarkets, hotels were built, parks were put in order.
The next street worth paying attention to is Ladze Street. It leads directly to the Armenian Catholic Church. The temple is unusual in that it is Catholic. The construction of the Church of the Holy Sign on this site began in the 15th - 16th centuries, but already by XIX century it was completely destroyed. At the expense of the Armenian Vardan in 1861, the temple was rebuilt. In Soviet times, it was used as a theater, as evidenced by the painted walls and the remains of the scene inside the temple.
Tamaroba.
The main holiday of Akhaltsikhe – Tamaroba passes May 14 on the day of commemoration of the holy queen Tamara. The residents of Akhaltsikhe have a special attitude towards Tamara, so the holiday is held on a large scale.
A special attitude is confirmed by the main monument of Akhaltsikhe, dedicated to the queen. The monument to Tamara, together with the new Church of the Ascension, is located at the intersection of Kostava and Didimamishvili streets.
Let's continue our way to the fortress. Along the road from Kostava Street, small streets with old buildings go off to the right and then to the left.
Newer and more renovated buildings are located along the street Kostava.
On a walk we met a car with such numbers. You can meet funny numbers on cars in Georgia quite often. Under Saakashvili, it became possible to order all thieves' numbers officially, without bribes, by paying a certain amount to the budget.
All the walk we were accompanied beautiful views to the Rabat fortress. And the closer we got to the fortress, the more it became, turning into a huge stone giant.
We pass along the bridge over the Potskhovi River, which divides Akhaltsikhe into a flat and mountainous part. The mountainous part of the city is older.
After crossing the bridge we find ourselves on the noisiest street in Akhaltsikhe - Tamarashvili. The federal highway to Turkey and the Akhaltsikhe-Batumi road pass along it.
There is a new palace of Justice of Akhaltsikhe, a car and railway stations, the main supermarket of the city of Smart.
Taxis are constantly on duty in the square under the fortress, as well as at the bus station, with which you can arrange trips to the sights of Samtskhe-Javakheti. So we visited the Green Monastery, Vardzia.
From the square, along a winding road, along the newly restored houses, we rise to the oldest part of Akhaltsikhe - to the Rabat fortress.
Akhaltsikhe fortress.
The main attraction of the Georgian city of Akhaltsikhe is the Rabat fortress. Before the city restoration, the fortress was in such a deplorable state that, instead of restoration, the fortress had to be rebuilt anew. It turned out, in our opinion, very well, although, as they say locals, almost nothing to do with the old fortress remained.
Inside the fortress is divided into two parts.
Open: Tue-Sun 10: 00-19: 00, Mon. - day off. The entrance to its territory is paid - 7 lari for an adult, 4 for a student, 1 for a child under 12 years old.
Rabat Akhaltsikhe.
Translated from Arabic, rabat means “fortified monastery”. This was the name of all Arab fortresses, and to the Akhaltsikhe fortress the name Rabat was fixed as its own. Much has been done in the fortress in the Arabian style, more precisely, even in the Moorish one. Those who have been to the city of Granada, Spain will agree with me. The style of Rabat is very similar to the Spanish Alhambra.
There is also some similarity with the walls of Jerusalem,
and its Temple Mount, dominated by a gilded mosque.
Ahmedie Mosque.
Russian historian of the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829 Vasily Aleksandrovich Potto in his book "The Caucasian War" wrote in detail about the history and structure of the Akhmediyev mosque. He noted that the Ahmedie Mosque, or, as it is also called by the name of the founder, the Ahmed Pasha Mosque, was built in the 16th century in the likeness of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople.
Ahmed Pasha.
Potto, relying on historical data and legends, described the fate of Ahmed Pasha. Ahmed Pasha was from the noble Georgian family of Jakeli. During the conquest of his lands by the Ottoman Empire, he had to convert to Islam. Having built a mosque, in its center, he ordered to establish a hill for himself, which was in violation of Islamic canons. According to the canons, only the Sultan had such a right, Ahmed Pasha was found guilty of insulting the padishah and sentenced to strangulation. Ahmed Pasha personally brought the verdict into effect, and his subjects gave his body great honors.
The fourth volume of Potto's book was devoted to a description of the battles for Akhaltsikhe, where the valiant Russian soldiers defeated the Turks.
The crown of the Rabat fortress is the Jakeli castle, from the tower of which a stunning view of Akhaltsikhe and the buildings of the fortress opens.
Akhaltsikhe Museum.
At the foot of the castle, you can go to the Samtskhe-Javakheti Museum, which presents archaeological finds and rarities. The advantage of the museum is that there is no need to buy a separate ticket to the museum, and the disadvantages include the lack of lighting in the rooms and the ban on photos.
In time, you need at least two hours to inspect the Rabat fortress and better time choose for inspection on weekdays, as many tourists come from Tbilisi on weekends. Our visit fell on a weekday, and besides us, there were only a dozen people on the large territory of the fortress.
There are a lot of old streets and low buildings here. There is no access to the sea in the city, but at the same time there is something different here, something that attracts tourists.
Breathtaking mountain landscapes and a small body of water make many travelers stop in the city for a few days. Many travel through Akhaltsikhe to Borjomi, but when they see the beauty of this southern town, they cannot resist staying for a couple of nights.
As in other Georgian cities, the hospitality of Akhaltsikhe will delight many foreign guests.
Akhaltsikhe on the map of Georgia
How to get to Akhaltsikhe from Moscow
You can get from Moscow to Akhaltsikhe by several types of transport.
By bus
There are no direct flights to this city from Moscow, so it will be necessary to transfer. It is best to go to Tbilisi, it is from this city that you can get to Akhaltsikhe most quickly. As an example, several minibuses go from Didube bus station at once and you can get to the city in just 3 hours.
By plane
There is no airport in Akhaltsikhe, so you must also fly to Tbilisi or to another large Georgian city. After that, it is necessary to get either by public transport, or by taxi.
The cheapest tickets from Moscow to Tbilisi and back
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By car
The distance from Moscow to Akhaltsikhe is more than 2 thousand km, and it takes 22 hours to get to the city with a quick border crossing.
By train
To use this transport, you will need to make several transfers. In addition, this method is considered one of the most time consuming, and you can spend several days on the road.
Rest seasons in Akhaltsikhe. When to go?
Akhaltsikhe has a subtropical climate and is located in the southern part of Georgia. The average annual temperature is + 9 ° C.
Winter. The average temperature at this time of the year is -7 ° C. There is very little rainfall, the driest month is January.
Spring. It is still quite cold in March, but already from mid-April and directly in May, you can have a great time in the city, walk and enjoy the beauty of nature. There is also a lot of rainfall in the city in spring.
Summer. This period is the hottest of the year and receives a lot of rainfall. The thermometer shows the highest temperatures.
Autumn. September is still warm enough. This time is ideal for traveling to this town. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in October.
Weather in Akhaltsikhe today
Sights of the city and nearby
The city has great story which counts over a thousand years. Travelers go to Akhaltsikhe to look at the wonderful local lore experts, as well as enjoy the beauty of the old streets. In addition to all this, the city also has several attractions that every guest of the city should see:
Alley of Love
This is the attraction that the locals are proud of. It is located not far from the registry office building. This is one of the distant parts of the fortress, which is decorated with bushes and has additional natural landscapes.
photo: Rabat fortress in Akhaltsikhe - new building. A good SPA hotel is now operating on its territory. An ancient fortress, which was built in the 13th century near the banks of the Potskhovi River. The structure was built so that it can be seen from any part of the city. A large number of once the fortress was destroyed, but it was restored. The last renovation was carried out in 2012.
Green monastery
Between the cities of Akhaltsikhe and Borjome, there is this architectural monument, which was built in the 10th century. The monastery continues to operate today, accepting pilgrims and tourists.
April 22nd, 2013
Just a couple of years ago, I would have seriously thought about whether it was worth going here at all. Georgia is so rich in sights that God knows what ruins of a fortress near the Turkish border could be safely discarded in favor of more popular places. That I haven't seen fortresses? But last summer, restoration work was completed in Akhaltsikhe, a white-red state flag was hoisted over the main tower of the Rabat fortress, and from that moment the city seemed to change its aura. Now, not to visit here means not to see modern Georgia and not to feel the idea that the authorities are investing in the restoration of the country.
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More recently, the city of Akhaltsikhe, the capital of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, had a reputation as a hopeless place. If in neighboring Borjomi life was glimmering thanks to tourism and water extraction, then everything was completely dull here. I will cite a small excerpt from a 2005 article, the entire article for a seed can be read by following the link. The ruins of an old fortress towered over all this devastation. I deliberately tried to find on the Internet photographs or reports about the Rabat fortress before the reconstruction, and so - there are almost none, and those that I managed to find do not say anything. This is an indicator that tourists did not come here. The most eloquent were satellite images on Google and Yandex. Here's how it all looked:
That is, in no way. There were walls of average preservation, a couple of buildings and that's it. And this is how it looks now, and only a small piece of the complex got into the frame:
There is no information about who made the decision to reconstruct the fortress and Akhaltsikhe itself. There are rumors that this could have been facilitated by the former Minister of Internal Affairs, a native of the neighboring village of Ude (it was under his leadership that the well-known police reform took place), and now the head of the presidential party United National Movement Vano Merabishvili. If so, then another plus in his piggy bank. By and large, not even a reconstruction was carried out - the fortress was rebuilt, adding various pseudo historical details. Almost all buildings, with the exception of the mosque, are remakes. The result is an incredible mix of styles, at first plunging into a slight stupor. Yes, this object is now difficult to call historical, the fortress has rather turned into an attraction, but I can say with confidence that this is one of the most photogenic places in Georgia. Here you can find a good angle around every corner. I snapped off a few hundred pictures, and later, seeing photographs by other authors on the Internet, I was convinced that this topic is not exhausted here.
Work began in the fall of 2011 and was completed only in August 12th. The opening was celebrated on 17 August in the presence of the President. Charles Aznavour was the guest of honor, his father was born in Akhaltsikhe, and the graves of his grandfather and grandmother are located. In honor of the opening of the complex, the chansonnier gave a big concert.
There is no information about the history of the fortress, some sources say that it was founded in the 9th century, others mention the 12th century. From the 14th century to the 80s of the 16th century, Akhaltsikhe was the center of culture, politics and economy of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. In 1579 the city fell under the rule Ottoman Empire and from 1628 it became the center of the Akhaltsikhe province. In 1829, following the results of the Adrianople Peace, the Akhaltsikhe fortress was annexed to the Russian Empire.
The fortress remembers several large and brutal battles, both during the Russian-Turkish War of 1828-29, and later in the Crimean War of 1853-56. To assess the scale of the massacres that took place there, it is enough to look at the painting by Y. Sukhodolsky "Storming the Akhaltsykh fortress on August 15, 1828" (The surviving mosque is in the picture, by the way.)
It is no wonder that during the restoration work they found a lot of skulls and cannonballs here. Where was all this interesting?
The territory of the complex was divided into two parts, in the first there are boutiques, tourist centre, cafes. This part is free, and the entrance to the second half, where you can climb the highest tower of the fortress, visit a mosque and a museum, costs money and seems to be not even small by local standards. The first time I came here the weather was not very good, and I decided to postpone the paid half until better times. On my second visit, the weather deteriorated just during my stay in the fortress ... We turn to the paid part.
The purpose of some structures is simply not clear here:
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Let's take a look at the Ahmedie Mosque:
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The inside is empty. I was impressed by the domed brick ceiling.
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Serious passions have flared up around the mosque recently. Turkish side asked to take out the stone steles with crosses outside the mosque. Part of the society took this request painfully.
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Nice new church built into the wall:
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Inside - a little more than nothing:
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Very beautiful carved gazebo with a fountain inside:
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Pools - small and large, old and new:
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22. It seems that they were going to make a hotel here, if this is the same place, then the other day information slipped through that the hotel was working:
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A small but stylish history museum can be visited right before climbing the most main tower... The museum is not bad, but they don't let you take pictures there. I made one illegal shot:
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Young visitors:
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Let's climb the bastions, because, as you know, best view- view from above.
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29. View of the free half of the complex:
We go to the very top:
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And we look at the whole fortress:
31. The T-shaped building below is a museum:
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And on the opposite (western) side there is an impregnable wall and a gorge through which the aqueduct is thrown.
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A wonderful view of the city opens from the fortress wall:
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The new roofs show that part of the city has also come under restoration.
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Actually, Rabat - if I understood correctly - is the name of the old part of the city, in which the fortress is located. Over time, the fortress itself began to be called so. We did it very well at home, the eyes are happy, bravo!
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Now let's turn the zoom a little. This is how the entrance to the city center from the side of Borjomi looks like, this is Tamarashvili Street. Pictured is the building of the Public Registry, the Wissol gas station and the Police.
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Many Armenians live in Akhaltsikhe. From the fortress, one can clearly see the Armenian church Surb Nshan (1862) located on a hill in the Marda quarter.
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New church and monument to Queen Tamara. Since during her reign the region developed greatly (for example, the Vardzia cave complex was being built), it is likely that the fortress was also founded at that time. Perhaps that is why the national holiday of Tamaroba, dedicated to the queen, is celebrated here on a special scale.
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Now let's go down to the city.
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Past the restored houses on the street leading to the fortress:
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Let's take a closer look at Tamara the Great:
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Let's evaluate the outlandish foreign architecture:
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Railway station (under restoration) and a monument to those killed in the Second World War in front of the House of Justice (Public Register). They say that now trains do not run to Akhaltsikhe ...
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The actual center of the city is located on a small hill between the streets of Shota Rustaveli and Merab Kostava. Despite the fact that the center is small, for a city with a population of 20,000 people it is quite cozy and beautiful here.
49. View from Kostava street to the Rabat fortress:
50. Monument to Shota Rustaveli:
In the very center:
51.
52.
53. Cafe for the cool:
54. Cafe for the simple:
55. Library:
Well, I'm not me, if I don't put in a fly in the ointment. Outside the front part, the city looks very shabby. I even had a rough association with the old "Moskvich" that got into my shot. It is barely alive, rusty and barely drives, but it has retained a whole rare collectible item - a plastic flag on the MZMA emblem.
56.
57. Private house in the very center of the city:
58. Private house on the outskirts of the city:
