Interesting old towns in Georgia. The fortress city of Atskuri.
Atskuri – a fortress city – is located on a steep cliff, along the edges of which runs the fence of the city. The fortress city is divided into five equal parts, each of which has its own meaning. At the end of the eastern part is the largest round tower, which you will see from afar. Interesting fact: the fortress has a secret cave.
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On the territory of Atskuri, the ruins of the domed Church of the Most Holy Theotokos (X-XI centuries, XIII-XIV and centuries), which in the Middle Ages was the largest church in Georgia, have been preserved.
There was an icon of the Kursk Mother of God, which was the first image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Georgia. According to legend, the icon had miraculous power. Currently, the icon is stored at the State Museum of Georgia.
Atskuri Fortress City it is located on a steep cliff, at the mouth of the Kura and Abanosgele rivers, on the outskirts of the village of Atskuri, 30 km from Borjomi. The chronicler tells us that the fortress's defenses, along with the cliffs of the steep slope, were provided by an internal structure that, like a fence, was merged with the slopes of the mountains.
On the territory of Atskuri, the oldest layers of human habitation have been revealed, which date back to the V century BC- I century AD. In historical sources, the fortress has been mentioned since the middle of the XI century during the reign of Bagrat IV. The fortress "Atskveri" and the "Majestic temple of the Meskhetians "Atskveri" are even more common in written sources of the XIII-XVI centuries. During the early Middle Ages, Atskuri was the political and religious center of South Georgia (historians refer to it as Sosangeti or Atskveri). Numerous battles and strong earthquakes destroyed the city, so only its ruins have survived to our time.
The fortress is divided into five equal parts. All parts according to the plan have irregular outlines. The fence stretches along the relief of the rock. At the end of its eastern part stood the largest round tower. The fortress has a secret cave that leads down to the river. It was possible to enter the fortress through a narrow cave, which is now at the level of the road, on the bank of the Kura.
In 1590, according to the Istanbul Peace Treaty between Iran and Turkey, the entire Caucasus, including Southern Georgia, came under Turkish domination. Atskuri became the main city of the Ottoman administrative unit of Sinjaki. The rule of the Turks lasted for almost 300 years. Only in 1829, as a result of the Adrianople Peace Treaty, the region was freed from the Turkish yoke.
Today, the fortress is not ennobled for tourists, you can get inside by climbing a cliff, or use a tunnel for water. After the construction of the road, water access was stopped, so now there is no current.
Independent travelers who like to climb the ruins, this fortress will please. Fairly well-preserved walls, ancient history and many legends that the locals tell will be a wonderful addition. In addition, there is an incredible view of the village from here.
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