Akhaltsikhe (Akhaltsikhe - akhaltsikhé) is a city in southwestern Georgia, which is located among the majestic mountains in the valley of the Potskhovis-Tskali River. Translated from Georgian, “akhal tsikhe” means “new fortress”. The city is the regional center of the Akhaltsikhe region, the administrative center of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. It passes 20 km from the center. 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 immediately like to note that Georgians are very hospitable and welcoming people. This is how they are supposed to have these traditions.
The city consists of old and new parts. spread out on the hills, the new one is located on the plain. The history of the city dates back thousands of years; the first mention of it is found in the chronicle of 1204, which is dedicated to the military leaders Shalva and Ivan of Akhaltsikhe.
The city's attractions
It is not surprising that the city is rich in historical structures and buildings. Visiting most of them is free for tourists. The main attractions of the city are: the centuries-old fortress of Rabat, the Sapara monastery, and the cave monastery.
Rabat Fortress
Akhaltsikhe Fortress is the main attraction of the city of Akhaltsikhe (Akhaltsikhe—akhaltsikhé-). It is located on a hill and can be viewed immediately from the city bus station. This fortress has a thousand-year history; it was built back in the 13th century. In the 16th century, it was captured by the Ottomans, and the Ottoman Empire became its full owner; 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 restored and opened to tourists and local residents.
Its total area is 7 hectares, the fortress is divided into two parts. The upper part is located on a hill, the lower part occupies a flat area. They are separated from each other by a monumental battlement wall. There is only one passage in the wall through which tourists can enter the upper part of the fortress. The upper part is the museum complex of the fortress, the visit of 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, which is built into the stone wall of the fortress;
- the oldest mosque in Georgia, Haji Ahmed Pasha (Ahmediye);
- Historical Museum of Samtskhe-Javakheti;
- Pasha's tomb ;
- a beautiful gazebo with a fountain from which you can drink water;
The upper part of the fortress is open to the public from Tuesday to Sunday, visiting hours are from 10:00 to 19:00.
The lower part of the fortress is open 24 hours a day, walks here are absolutely free. After passing through the massive gates, you will find yourself in an area intended for walking, where there are comfortable areas and beautiful swimming pools. A vineyard is also planted here, in a very interesting stepped order.
For tourists and guests of Akhaltsikhe, in the lower part there is the Rabat Hotel, which has an unusual interior: light wooden balconies are built into powerful stone walls.
The city's service sector is very developed. Akhaltsi offers tourists the most comfortable holiday. 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 monastery, which today houses 20 monks. This is another historical site belonging to the city municipality. On the territory of the monastery there are thousand-year-old historical monuments.
The oldest Church of the Assumption, built in the 10th century. It is famous for its stunning iconostasis, which is decorated with relief sculptures. Nearby is a domed church built in the 13th century and a bell tower, the dome of which is built from solid stone slabs. Further along the slope there are old towers, cells carved into the rock, and an ancient stone wall.
The main attraction of the complex is the Main Cathedral of the monastery - the Church of St. Saba. This ancient structure, built in the 13th century, is completely lined 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 structure, built by local authorities together with the administration of the city of Akhaltsikhe 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 reserved. Inside it is decorated with painted walls and an altar shining with gold. In front of it there is a huge monument to the Queen. Queen Tamara is very revered by the Georgian population. During her reign, Christianity entered Georgian soil, spread and became the main religion of the country. According to tradition, Georgians celebrate the holiday dedicated to the queen with special celebration.
Cave city of Vardzia
60 km from Akhaltsikhe, there is another unique attraction of Georgia - 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 “Varj”, which the Persians used to call the Kartvelian Georgians. During 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 safety of the historical complex. For some time the city was under the control of the Russian army. During 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, but the monastery part is closed to tourists; monks live here to this day.
In addition to the cells, which were intended for living, the following were also carved into the rocks: a hospital, wine cellars, chapels, book depositories, and storage rooms. All rooms are connected by 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 of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built on its territory. Opposite it, to this day, frescoes depicting the Queen and her father George III have been preserved. A little further there is an observation deck, which offers views of the entire rock city and the surrounding landscapes.
The city of Akhaltsikhe (Akhaltsikhe- -akhaltsikhé) is one of the few historical centers in which monuments of ancient times have been preserved to this day. It gives visitors a unique opportunity to see with their own eyes how our ancestors lived, how they defended their freedom and defended their native lands. Akhaltsi carefully preserves historical buildings, ennobles and looks after the territories adjacent to them, because they reflect the centuries-old history of the formation of Georgia as an independent state.
Directions to the city of Akhaltsikhe (Axalcixe) on the map for foreign tourists
Conclusion
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 has risen to a very high level over the past five years. Now there is no need to travel or fly to countries far from us in order to relax comfortably and touch history with our hands. Everything is provided here. Having visited local attractions, you will not remain indifferent. Historical monuments will reveal to 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 authentic form and gives guests the opportunity to touch it in reality.
Akhaltsikhe is a city that is very convenient to use as a base or springboard for exploring the surrounding area. There is inexpensive but very good accommodation, tasty and cheap food in restaurants, very tasty baked goods in bakeries and besides there is practically nothing to see.
It feels like the city is gradually dying without tourists. Many shops and restaurants are closed, and there are not many people on the streets either. This is confirmed by statistics: if in 2014 the city’s population exceeded 20,000 people, now it barely reaches 14,000.
What sights to see in Akhaltsikhe
The city itself gives the impression of a small rural regional center, which in essence it is. There is a central street with a park, several unremarkable churches, abandoned sulfur baths and, for the sake of visiting which they come to this town.
There are tourists in the city, but not many of them. Mostly travelers stay here for 2-3 days to relax a little, see the surrounding area.
The administrative buildings of Akhaltsikhe also seemed interesting to us. They were built rather modestly, but with a pretense of architectural style:
Ascension Cathedral and monument to Queen Tamara in the center of Akhaltsikhe
In the center of the city, on a small square, there is a rather interesting Ascension Cathedral. It was built quite recently, but is considered the main one in the city. We invite you to get acquainted with the cathedral with the help of our short photo tour:
Rabat Fortress in Akhaltsikhe is the main attraction of the city
The fortress is located within walking distance from the city - you just need to cross the river on a convenient bridge and walk a little. You can get to the fortress in literally half an hour.
You should definitely visit the fortress - it is very interesting. You can climb every tower, you can enter almost every building. It took us about 3.5 hours to explore Rabat and we don’t regret the time spent one bit.
Since we already have a very detailed one, so as not to repeat ourselves, we will just add a few juicy photos:
The Rabat Fortress was reconstructed in 2012. Before this, there were ruins here that were of interest to historians, but not tourists. Now it’s the other way around. There is little historical left in the fortress, but you can climb every tower or wall. Even to the very, very top.
Of course, a few photographs cannot convey even 10% of what is in the Rabat fortress. Despite the fact that it was practically rebuilt in 2012, it is definitely worth a visit - it is one of the best tourist sites in this region.
Where can you go from Akhaltsikhe and what interesting attractions are nearby?
As we have already said, it is convenient to choose Akhaltsikhe as a base and travel from here to see the sights and visit expensive resorts like Borjomi. This makes it both cheaper and more convenient. Let's try to list the key attractions that can be visited from Akhaltsikhe.
Vardzia and the surrounding area - a brief description of the excursion from Akhaltsikhe
We consider one of the main excursions that you can organize for yourself from Akhaltsikhe to be a visit to the immediate surroundings - and. The place is very interesting and unlike any attraction we have visited before.
Our excursion took approximately 6 hours. During this time, we managed to visit not only Vardzia, but also the immediate surroundings. Let's see how it was:
Safar Church - is it worth going?
We were also offered to go to the Safar church (in another transcription Sapara). Was worth the trip 20 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
20 lari = 6.62 euros;
20 lari = 7.6 dollars;
20 lari = 504.4 rubles;
20 lari = 212.8 hryvnia;
20 lari = 17 Belarusian rubles.
, the monastery is located 10 kilometers from the city. According to knowledgeable people, the monastery is quite interesting, recently revived again. It contains ancient frescoes that are worth seeing.
The road to the monastery will be no less interesting - you will encounter many picturesque mountain landscapes. If you haven’t visited or visited Svaneti, it’s definitely worth visiting at least Sapara.
To Borjomi from Akhaltsikhe - how much it costs and how to get there
If you wish, you can travel from Akhaltsikhe to Borjomi. They offered to take us round-trip by taxi for 50-60 GEL GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
50 lari = 16.55 euros;
50 lari = 19 dollars;
50 lari = 1261 rubles;
50 lari = 532 hryvnia;
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate. round trip from morning to evening. The minibus costs everything 4 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
4 lari = 1.32 euros;
4 lari = 1.52 dollars;
4 lari = 100.88 rubles;
4 lari = 42.56 hryvnia;
4 lari = 3.4 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate. per person and goes quite often. .
In principle, the option is very interesting, because housing in Akhaltsikhe costs 2-3 times cheaper than in Borjomi. If we weren't so tired, we would definitely go.
Briefly about prices in Akhaltsikhe: how much food and groceries cost in the supermarket
We have a separate and very detailed article about food prices in Akhaltsikhe. There are exact prices, photos and a map of the restaurants, cafes and shops we recommend.
Here we will only generally compare this city with other resorts in Georgia.
Note to tourists
Life in the city begins around 10-11 am.
Until then, most shops and cafes are closed. Only a few guesthouse canteens and bread bakeries are open. Even buying is problematic.
The situation is similar with excursions - taxi drivers usually agree to pick you up at 10 o’clock, and arrive at about half past ten.
If interesting: food prices in Akhaltsikhe. Restaurants, supermarkets and bakeries.
Currency exchange in Akhaltsikhe: profitable or not?
Changing currency in Akhaltsikhe is not profitable. There are literally several exchangers here (we saw only one in the center), and therefore the rate is very unfavorable. If before this you will be in , or , we advise you to change money there.
Eating in Akhaltsikhe restaurants - how much can you eat for?
It is worth noting that finding a decent cafe in Akhaltsikhe is not so easy. As soon as you move just a few streets away from the center or fortress, all the establishments turn into pubs or disappear completely. Even in the very center, cafes are open from about 10-11 o’clock, and many are completely closed. And all this in the summer, at the height of the tourist season!
But there are also positive aspects to this - eating in a restaurant, cafe or canteen in Akhaltsikhe is very cheap and tasty. We have never paid more for a full meal 30 lari GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
30 lari = 9.93 euros;
30 lari = 11.4 dollars;
30 lari = 756.6 rubles;
30 lari = 319.2 hryvnia;
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate.. If you need to save money, you can eat normally for half this amount.
It is worth saying that calling local establishments restaurants is only a stretch. The dishes and furniture are very old. But at the same time, the staff is friendly and the food is delicious.
Supermarkets and bakeries in Akhaltsikhe - what and how much they cost
We bought this flatbread here for 70 tetri. It was still hot and delicious, straight from the oven. By the time we reached Rabat, we ate it whole. Grocery stores and supermarkets in Akhaltsikhe are very similar to typical rural shops. The selection is modest, the goods are not very fresh, and flies crawl on open boxes of cookies or fruit. Prices are approximately the same as in Batumi or Tbilisi. Some things are noticeably more expensive, some things are a little cheaper.
In any Georgian city there are several bakeries where they prepare bread, khachapuri and other pastries. Akhaltsikhe was no exception. If compared with or, then baked goods in Akhaltsikhe are a quarter cheaper and noticeably tastier.
For example, Georgian bread (shoti) costs 70 tetri GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
0.7 lari = 0.23 euros;
0.7 lari = 0.27 dollars;
0.7 lari = 17.65 rubles;
0.7 lari = 7.45 hryvnia;
0.7 lari = 0.6 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate.. It is served straight from the oven, and the taste is the best we have tried in Georgia. We constantly saw locals carrying home 4 or even 6 of these flatbreads.
Detailed information: article about how much baked goods and other products cost in Akhaltsikhe with exact prices.
Other stores in Akhaltsikhe: is it worth buying clothes or equipment here?
It’s clearly not worth buying clothes and equipment in Akhaltsikhe. And the choice is very modest, and the prices are quite high. For example, a 32 GB camera card costs 50-60 GEL GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
50 lari = 16.55 euros;
50 lari = 19 dollars;
50 lari = 1261 rubles;
50 lari = 532 hryvnia;
50 lari = 42.5 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate. against 30
GEORGIAN GEL RATE:
30 lari = 9.93 euros;
30 lari = 11.4 dollars;
30 lari = 756.6 rubles;
30 lari = 319.2 hryvnia;
30 lari = 25.5 Belarusian rubles.
Exchange rates and prices may not be accurate. in Batumi or Tbilisi.
The situation is very similar with clothes, shoes or souvenirs - there is simply nothing to choose from.
How to get to Akhaltsikhe from Tbilisi or Batumi?
The easiest way to get to Akhaltsikhe is by bus or minibus. Taking a taxi will obviously be expensive, but by rail everything is complicated - from time to time a connection with Akhaltsikhe is opened, but at the time of writing this article and at the time of our trip, passenger trains did not depart to Akhaltsikhe.
How to get to Akhaltsikhe from Tbilisi
Where to live in Akhaltsikhe? Our selection of hotels and good guesthouses
Housing in the private sector is very well developed in Akhaltsikhe. Whenever you arrive, accommodation will be 100% available. Another question is how much it will cost and what quality it will be. We ourselves lived in a small but cozy one.
To make it easier for you to navigate, we offer a selection of the most popular hotels and guesthouses (here they are about the same thing) in Akhaltsikhe.
Map of attractions and useful places in Akhaltsikhe
On this map we tried to display the most interesting sights in the city of Akhaltsikhe and its surroundings. Additionally, we noted the housing, restaurants and shops that we personally checked. To see interesting places in the city of Akhaltsikhe on the map, you need to zoom in on the top left group of icons.
By the way, any photo of an attraction on the map can be enlarged simply by clicking on it with the mouse. For example, by clicking on the image of Central Park you can see as many as 4 photos of nearby buildings.
Detailed video about Akhaltsikhe and its surroundings
Not everyone likes to read long texts. Sometimes it is much better to see once than to read 10 times. It is for such people that we have prepared a detailed video with a story about Akhaltsikhe, fortresses and rock monasteries and Vanis Kvabebi.
At the intersection of the history of three countries: Georgia, Turkey and Armenia, stands the Georgian city of Akhaltsikhe, the center of cultural and tourist life in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region.
Georgia is a unique country. Twelve regions with varied landscapes and history are located in a small area. Samtskhe-Javakheti, where we are going after Kutaisi, borders Armenia and Turkey and their influence on the region is enormous.
Many Armenians live here, perhaps even more than Georgians, because Samtskhe-Javakheti was part of great Armenia for more than 1000 years.
The main investors in the region are Turks. They build hydroelectric power stations and gas pipelines, help with infrastructure, not for free, of course. Most likely, domination over the region in the 15th-18th centuries haunted them and they decided at all costs to regain their influence, 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 people. This is where we chose to base ourselves 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. Traveling such a distance by taxi is not a cheap option, so our choice fell on a minibus. We buy a ticket at the Kutaisi bus station (18 GEL per person) and in just over three hours we find ourselves in Akhaltsikhe.
Kutaisi - Akhaltsikhe.
Driving a minibus in Georgia is a separate story, 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, and we even managed to communicate with some of them. For some time, a beekeeper rode next to me. He took the queen to his apiary, showed it to me and boasted about his honey. At one stop, the woman asked the driver to take large bags of empty cans along the way; apparently she wanted to give them to someone in Akhaltsikhe. Without waiting for a positive answer, she began placing trunks around the minibus, and so that they would not break, she handed them to us and our fellow traveler. The driver interrupted this whole process and, amid loud joint bickering, forced the woman to take the cans back.
In a word, we didn’t have to get bored on the minibus. What was worth it was 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 chance.
Thank God our trip went well. A taxi took us from the Akhaltsikhe bus station to our hotel, booked in Russia through booking, for three lari.
Hotel Almi, Akhaltsikhe.
We liked Hotel Almi, Akhaltsikhe very much, 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, tasteful, the cleaning is top notch, there is a beautiful view of the fortress from the windows.
Breakfast is 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 the fried fish), the menu is varied, the food is simply to die for. Only hotel guests eat in the restaurant, and since there are only a few rooms, the service is almost individual. So we dined twice in splendid isolation.
Very good value for money. If you want to enjoy excellent service and a family environment, this is the place for you!!! Once again, many thanks to the friendly Almi family for our vacation!!!
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 unite 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 won’t 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, there will be photos of Akhaltsikhe: both during the day and in the evening.
Map of Akhaltsikhe.
Before I begin the story about the walk around the city, I suggest 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, and parks were put in order.
The next street that is worth paying attention to is Ladze Street. It leads straight to the Armenian Catholic church. The temple is unusual in that it is Catholic. Construction of the Church of the Holy Sign on this site began in the 15th – 16th centuries, but by the 19th century it was completely destroyed. At the expense of the Armenian Vardan, the temple was rebuilt in 1861. During Soviet times it was used as a theater, as evidenced by the painted walls and the rest of the stage inside the temple.
Tamaroba.
The main holiday of Akhaltsikhe – Tamaroba passes May 14 on the day of remembrance of the holy Queen Tamara. The residents of Akhaltsikhe have a special relationship with Tamara, so the holiday is celebrated on a grand scale.
The special relationship 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 branch off to the right and then to the left.
Newer and restored buildings are located along Kostava Street itself.
While walking we came across a car with these license plates. You can see funny license plates on cars in Georgia quite often. Under Saakashvili, it became possible to order all criminal numbers officially, without bribes, by paying a certain amount to the budget.
Throughout the walk we were accompanied by beautiful views of the Rabat fortress. And the closer we approached the fortress, the larger it became, turning into a huge stone giant.
We cross the bridge over the Potskhovi River, which separates Akhaltsikhe into a flat part and a 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.
Here is the new Palace of Justice of Akhaltsikhe, bus and railway stations, and the main supermarket of the city Smart.
There are taxis constantly on duty in the square under the fortress, as well as at the bus station, with whom 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 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. It turned out, in our opinion, very well, although, according to local residents, almost nothing in common with the old fortress remains.
Inside, the fortress is divided into two parts.
Open: Tue-Sun 10:00-19:00, Mon. - day off. Entrance to its territory is paid - 7 GEL for an adult, 4 for a student, 1 for a child under 12 years old.
Rabat Akhaltsikhe.
Rabat means “fortified monastery” in Arabic. All Arab fortresses were called this way, and the name Rabat became attached to the Akhaltsikhe fortress as its own name. In the fortress, a lot has been done in the Arabic style, or rather even in the Moorish style. Those who have been to the city of Granada, Spain will agree with me. Rabat is very similar in style to the Spanish Alhambra.
There is also some similarity with the walls of Jerusalem,
and its Temple Mount, dominated by a gilded mosque.
Ahmediye 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 Akhmediye mosque. He noted that the Ahmedie Mosque, or, as it is also called by the name of its founder, the Ahmed Pasha Mosque, was built in the 16th century in the likeness of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople.
Ahmed Pashi.
Potto, relying on historical data and legends, described the fate of Ahmed Pasha. Ahmed Pashi was from the noble Georgian family of Jakeli. During the conquest of his lands by the Ottoman Empire, he was forced 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 this right; Ahmed Pashi was found guilty of insulting the padishah and sentenced to strangulation. Ahmed Pashi personally carried out the sentence, and his subjects paid great honor to his body.
Potto devoted the fourth volume of his book to a description of the battles for Akhaltsikhe, where valiant Russian warriors defeated the Turks.
The crown of the Rabat fortress is Jakeli Castle, from the tower of which a stunning view of Akhaltsikhe and the fortress’s buildings opens.
Akhaltsikhe Museum.
At the foot of the castle you can go to the Samtskhe-Javakheti Museum, which displays archaeological finds and rarities. The advantage of the museum is that you do not need to buy a separate ticket to the museum, but the disadvantages include the lack of lighting in the rooms and the ban on photography.
In terms of time, it takes at least two hours to explore the Rabat fortress, and it is better to choose the time for inspection on weekdays, since many tourists come from Tbilisi on weekends. Our visit fell on a weekday and besides us, there were only a dozen people in the large territory of the fortress.
Akhaltsikhe(Georgian ახალციხე, literally - New fortress(Georgian “ახალი ციხე”, “Akhali Tsikhe”);) - a city in southern Georgia. District center of the Akhaltsikhe region, administrative center of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. It is located on the Potskhovis-Tskali River (a tributary of the Kura), highways to Batumi, Borjomi, and Akhalkalaki pass through the city. The railway station of the Georgian Railway is 52 km from Borjomi on the Khashuri - Vale line. There is a theater in the city. Abastumani resort is 28 kilometers from the city.
Story
Founded in the first half of the 12th century AD. e. From the 14th century to the 80s of the 16th century, Akhaltsikhe was the center of culture, politics and economics of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region and the residence of atabegs from the Jakeli clan. In 1579 the city came under the rule of the Ottoman Empire and from 1628 the city became the center of the Akhaltsikhe province of Tur. Ahıska of the Ottoman Empire.
In December 1810, Tamaz Orbeliani took part in the campaign against Akhaltsikhe together with General A. Tormasov, and after a ten-day siege he was forced to retreat to the Borjomi Gorge. There his fighters discovered Borjomi mineral springs.
During the Russian-Turkish war of 1828-1829, in August 1828, near the walls of Akhaltsikhe, a battle took place between Russian troops under the command of General I.F. Paskevich (9 thousand people) and a 30 thousand-strong Turkish army under the overall command of Kios-Magomet- Pasha. The Turkish troops were defeated and retreated, after which the fortress was occupied by Russian troops. In February 1829, Turkish troops tried to recapture the fortress. The defense of the Akhaltsikhe fortress under the leadership of General Muravyov lasted from February 20 to March 4, 1829. Having repulsed the first assault, the garrison held out for another 12 days, after which reinforcements approached them, forcing the Turks to retreat.
In 1829, following the Peace of Adrianople, the Akhaltsikhe fortress was annexed to the Russian Empire.
Attractions
View of the Akhaltsikhe fortress and Akhmediye Mosque
- Akhaltsikhe Fortress (Rabat)
- Ahmediye Mosque
- Church of the Epiphany of the Holy Cross (Akhaltsikhe)
The work was completed on August 17, 2012 in the presence of the President and Prime Minister. The latter, in fact, was born in these parts and they say that the initiative for reconstruction came from him. The fortress immediately generated a lot of controversy in the press and on television, but in the end it became a major attraction, and its photographs flooded the Internet.
In addition to the Rabat fortress, the city has: an Armenian Catholic temple, a Georgian Catholic monastery, ruins of sulfur baths, two synagogues, a Jewish cemetery, ruins of an Armenian temple, an abandoned Armenian temple and the Church of St. Marina. There are also Northern Heights, about which below. Unfortunately, the historical sites of Akhaltsikhe have not yet been systematized anywhere; the names of many places are simply unknown.
The Sapara Monastery is hidden 9 kilometers from the city. The rest of the fortresses and temples are already a little further away.
Story
The history of the city is quite complex. It was once called Lomsia and from about 900 it was the residence of the Dukeli princes. These princes waged constant wars with the central government until Queen Tamara subjugated them and transferred the city to another line of Jakeli, which gave Georgia the famous commander and saint Shalva Akhaltsikheli.
For about 300 years the city was the capital of the semi-independent principality of Samtskhe, but in 1578 the Turks came and occupied it for a long time. In 1828 the city was besieged and taken by the Russian army (see. description of the siege ). Akhaltsikhe is gradually populated by Armenians and Jews and turns into an average provincial city in Transcaucasia. In 1918, the city withstood a siege by the Mesetian Turks; in June the army of the Ottoman Empire entered the city, but in December it was returned to the Republic of Georgia. Since 1921, Akhaltsikhe was a border closed Soviet city.
Around town
The city stands on the Potskhovi River, a tributary of the Kura. The river (and highway) divides it into two parts: a hilly part to the north (Left Bank) and a flatter part to the south (Right Bank). The historical center of the city is the Turkish fortress of Rabat, the transport center is the square under the fortress. Ancient Akhaltsikhe (before 1828) is the space to the north of the fortress, bounded by a Catholic monastery in the north and by ravines on the right and left. Now this space is built up with private houses and looks more like a village. Right Bank is already a new modern city with high-rise buildings.
If you enter the city from the west (from Batumi, Abastumani, Vale, Adigeni), you immediately find yourself in its center. If you are coming from the east (from Akhalkalaki, Aspindza, Vardzia ), then you will have to pass 2 kilometers of boring suburbs. And if you go from the side Borjomi , then the suburbs stretch for 4 kilometers.
The main route within the city is called Tamarashvili Street. It passes under the fortress mountain and in this place there is a small square. Here it is bus station, so if you travel by bus, then the city for you will begin right here. There is a train station right there. From this square you can turn under the railway bridge and climb the mountain to the Turkish fortress. You can cross the Potskhovi Bridge to the right bank and find yourself at the beginning of Kostava Street, here in front of you there will be a small square, a monument to Queen Tamara and a temple. Kostava Street will go to the right of the temple - this is the main front street of the city. If you go around the temple on the left, there will be Didimamishvili Street, from it you need to turn left, onto Rustaveli Street, parallel to it. This is an exit to Vardzia and Aspindza.
Left Bank
The Left Bank is the innermost part of the city. Here, right next to the river, there is a bus station, a railway station and a small square. The line of the inactive railway is the border. Between the river and the road there is a new building, and behind the road there is the old Jewish quarter. In the past, the outer fortress wall of the city ran approximately across the square, and Paskevich’s army broke into the city from this side in 1828.
Akhaltsikhe, beyond the railway line, is the fortress of Rabati and the urban development north of the fortress. Now all tourists go straight to the fortress, and few go deeper into residential areas. But in vain. These quarters are the old Akhaltsikhe. If you enter from the lower square under the railway bridge onto the road leading to the fortress, then everything to your right is the former Jewish quarter with an admixture of the Armenian quarter.
Rabati Fortress
This is the brightest and most memorable part of Akhaltsikhe: a completely restored fortress, divided into paid and free zones. There is a museum, Ahmediye Mosque, a citadel, a Christian temple, several ponds and fountains, and flowers. And a lot of ancient debris. You can wander here for two hours.
Jewish Quarter
Back in the 19th century, a stream flowed west of the Rabat fortress. The Jewish quarter was located on its left bank, on the eastern outskirts of the city, just behind the modern bus station. The Akhaltsikhe “old” synagogue was built in the Turkish era, in the 1740s, and the “new” one - around 1865. During Soviet times, Jews were gradually squeezed out of Akhaltsikhe life and both synagogues were closed. Now only the “new” one is valid.
The Georgian Catholic monastery is the most important point of the city. It stands on a spur of the Northern Heights and is approximately at the same height as the Rabati fortress. It was for this reason that in August 1828, Paskevich’s army first attacked this monastery from the Northern Heights - then it was called the Armenian Catholic. Ten meters north of the monastery there was the northernmost bastion of the Akhaltsikhe wall; it was at this bastion and between the bastion and the monastery that the most fierce battles took place on the day of the assault on Akhaltsikhe. Here General Borodin was mortally wounded, many privates of the Shirvan regiment, and a huge number of Turkish defenders of the city were killed. After the battle, the cemetery at the monastery was littered with corpses and covered in blood. The fall of this height made it possible to fire at Rabati almost point-blank, so the fortress surrendered to the post immediately after this. Thus, the battle for Akhaltsikhe is a battle for the Catholic monastery.
For a long time after this, the monastery lay in ruins, and only recently it was handed over to the Catholics and they built a new building of the Benedictine monastery on the old foundation. Now it is clearly visible from all parts of the city. The gravestones of the cemetery remained in place. The gates of the fence are decorated with two stone rams, and two more such rams stand right at the entrance to the temple. The only sad thing is that after the reconstruction the monastery began to look too modern. And the Turkish bastion disappeared even earlier - in its place during Soviet times, some strange concrete bunker was built.
Unnamed Armenian temple
On the slope of the Eastern Ravine, invisible from Rabati, but clearly visible from the Jewish cemetery and the Northern Heights, stands a very dilapidated temple. It looks like Armenian. Judging by its appearance, it is something later, presumably from the 19th century. It has four stone walls, a wooden gable roof, and a wooden semicircular vault inside. A bell tower with a wooden dome is attached to the west. Now all this is rotten and is gradually collapsing. The name of the temple could not be determined. Usually, Armenians are very sensitive to their historical buildings and carefully systematize them, but for some reason they are little concerned about the Akhaltsikhe Armenian heritage, and everyone has completely forgotten about this particular temple. Even the guides in Rabati don’t say anything about it.
Getting to the temple is not easy. The trail below leads through private property. The main approach is from above, from Kazbegi Street, which passes by the fortress. Approximately from the exit from Rabati and the parking lot there is a street (Vazha Pshavely?), along which you need to go 150 meters and turn left. Then it’s more intuitive.
Church of Saint Marine
The Church of St. Marina is located on a high place to the west of the Rabat Fortress, but for some reason it is ignored by all sites, both Russian and Georgian, even specialized ones. This is an Orthodox church, and it seems to have been built in 1865 on the site of some old one. Major General Galuzevsky is buried at the temple, from whom nothing has been preserved in history except the dates of his life and the date of conferring the rank. This is all very strange.
To the northwest of the fortress, approximately halfway between this fortress and the Catholic monastery, traces of the Turkish presence remained: abandoned Turkish baths. Now all that remains of them are two large brick domes and facades, into which pieces of a certain Christian temple are embedded. It is very likely that the baths were built directly on the foundation of the temple from its ruins. In 2012, there were plans to restore the baths and turn them into either a museum or baths, but the 2012 Elections buried these plans.
On the northern side of Akhaltskhe there is a large long mountain with heights of up to 1120 meters, which was called “Northern Heights” on military maps of the 19th century. Since Soviet times, it has been planted with pine forest and is now a deserted mountain with good views of Akhaltsikhe. In autumn it is good to see the snow-capped peaks of the Turkish mountains. In fact, it is simply a pleasant time for walks and picnics (weather permitting). But besides this, the Northern Heights are the site of a major battle between the Russian and Turkish armies in August 1828. There was a large Turkish camp and an earthen fortification (lunette) here. The remains of this lunette can still be seen, unless it is a later creation. Here Paskevich installed a battery for the bombardment of Akhaltsikhe and from here, down to the Catholic monastery, the attacking columns of his army advanced.
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Right Bank
If you go straight along Kostava Street, then on the right there will be bank of Georgia, and then a small square and a fork in the streets. You can go to the left of the park along Nathanadze Street. In a hundred meters there will be on the left mail, then there is a small park, behind the Drama Theater park. Lives behind the theater on Rustaveli police.
Ladze Street is interesting to us - if you walk all 300 meters to its end, it will run into the hill on which it stands Armenian Catholic Church. You can climb to the temple either by stairs head-on or by going around the serpentines.
The inside of the temple is strange and unusual. Firstly, this is a Catholic church, because the Akhaltsikhe Armenians are mostly Catholics - unlike those from Tbilisi, for example. The temple was apparently recently dedicated to the church, and in the past, apparently, was used as a theater. As of 2010, there was still a stage and old oil paint on the walls. At the same time, the temple looks like an antique store - icons of all times, including magazine ones, portraits of the Pope, postcards, and some kind of jewelry are hung and placed there. A very strange place.
Actually the temple is called Surb Nshan- Temple of the Holy Sign. The time of foundation of the temple is unknown - it is either the 16th or even the 15th century. In the 19th century it was already in ruins, so it was decided to rebuild it. Erzurum Armenian Vardan Vardanyants donated some funds, and in 1861 they began to build a temple named after commander Vardan.
Akhaltsikhe hotels
Hotels and guesthouses have already appeared in Akhaltsikhe. They are still few in number, but most of them are pleasant and inexpensive. Price range - from apartments at 325 GEL to guest rooms at 50 GEL per double.
outskirts of the city
The surroundings of Akhaltsikhe are primarily the Sapara monastery, 10 kilometers from the center, the Kokhta fortress near Aspidza and the Shoreti monastery just above Kokhta. This is also the Zarzma monastery 30 kilometers to the west, the Abastumani sanatorium and observatory 30 kilometers and the Atskuri fortress 20 kilometers. Also at an accessible distance is the city of Borjomi with its mineral water and national park, the cave city of Vardzia and Lake Tabatskuri. And many more little things. There is plenty to do around Akhaltsikhe.
The monument to Queen Tamara stands in Akhaltsikhe for a reason. For some reason, this city has a particularly reverent attitude towards this historical character. Therefore, the Tamaroba holiday, which is celebrated on May 14, is especially solemn and impressive in Akhaltsikhe. In Tbilisi, it is also celebrated on a grand scale, but there are other holidays there, and in Akhaltsikhe this is the main one.
