What sights of Georgia are there in Akhaltsikhe - the ancient fortress of Rabat and its splendor in modern times.

On the approaches to the territory of the fortress there is a feeling of security and reliability. It is worth getting closer, and this feeling only intensifies. The ancient fortress is a place where different time periods intersect. Walking along the majestic walls of the fortress, you can forget about all the hardships, the citadel seems to protect you from misfortune, leaving it outside its borders. At night, Rabat does not stand as a nondescript shadow, under the spotlight it majestically towers over the city.

Looking back at the rich history of the fortress, there is an understanding why people treat the monument of medieval architecture with such reverence and respect. Respect for the memory of ancestors is a distinctive feature of the Caucasian mentality, which manifests itself not only to people of older worship, but also to historical sights.

The construction of the Akhaltsikhe fortress was started in the late 16th – early 17th centuries. The decision was made by the rulers, the location of the fortress was the Meskheti region, where the Russian-Turkish battle later broke out. In 1828 Rabat played a crucial role in the defense of Russian soldiers from Turkish troops, it became a stronghold that helped soldiers in a difficult battle. However, neither the Russians nor the Turkish soldiers managed to conquer the land in the end, because after a while it was returned to the Georgians. A cursory tour of the historical events of Akhaltsikhe reflects how great was the strategic value of the grandiose building.

Admission for a family of two adults and a child will cost about 15 lari: 7 lari is an adult ticket, it is about 170 rubles, the cost of a children's ticket (for children under 12 years old) it is 1 GEL (30 rubles). The visiting time starts at 10 am, the museum complex closes at 19 pm, the museum is open on weekdays and weekends, except Mondays. It must be remembered that the fortress is located on a hill, so you should be prepared for a large number of ascents, descents and steps. Photo and video shooting is not prohibited, you can safely fill your family album with the beauties of the Akhaltsikhe fortress.

The main sights of Georgia in the city of Akhaltsikhe are located in the museum part, a colorful view of the sights opens from the observation tower, which can be reached by a spiral staircase. From a bird's–eye view, you can see the amazing beauty of the city - this is the entire territory of the fortress and the city of Akhaltsikhe, a mountain landscape rising to the horizon.

The walls of the tower are decorated with multicolored stone slabs, inside there are military and armory storage rooms, which anyone can get into. Inside the ancient buildings there is a feeling of belonging to the rich history of this sunny country.

The sights of Akhaltsikhe have a rich history and beauty, another example is the Ahmediye Mosque. The mosque was named after Ahmed Pasha, it was built in the 18th century, some sources claim that there was also a large Muslim library, secondary and higher schools at the mosque. During the seizure of the territory of the Rabat fortress by the Russians in 1828, the mosque was transferred from a Muslim religious building to an Orthodox church. After numerous sieges of the Rabat citadel, the mosque also suffered. During the restoration, the dome of the mosque was decorated with gold leaf, the initiators of the project were probably inspired and sought to resemble the Omar Mosque in Jerusalem.

Before the construction of the Rabat fortress, the Lomisi fortress stood in its place, established in the 9th century by the son of the founder of the Tao-Klarget Principality – Guaram Mampali. Later it became the ancestral estate of the family of princes Jakeli. After the destruction of the "Lion" fortress, the descendants of the noble feudal family of Dzhakeli, to whom it belonged until the 17th century, undertook the new construction. The fortification was defended by means of powerful guns in large numbers (about 40), and the walls were reinforced with a double row. During the construction, the location was well thought out: behind the fortress wall was adjacent to the cliff, and the upper wall was located on a high rock, which made it almost impregnable. Along the perimeter of the defensive structure, it was surrounded by a high defensive fence of stones and cobblestones.

With each passing century, the citadel only became stronger, over the years, the elements of the building under their own weight formed a kind of shell that could not be penetrated by artillery. The end of the 14th century became a black period for the city of Akhaltsikhe. After the conquest of Iran, Tamerlane's army practically destroyed the fortifications and the city, robbing and killing many residents and soldiers. It took years to rebuild what was destroyed. However, a hundred years later, in 1578 Akhaltsikhe was conquered again, but by another enemy – the army of the Ottoman Empire.

After the invasion of the Turks, the citadel acquired its new name – Rabat, which translates as "fortified place". The representatives of the Jakeli clan did not have the resources to resist the huge Ottoman Empire, and they joined it. Having gone over to the side of the Turkish troops, the Dzhakels converted to Islam and became hereditary pashas. This lasted for 300 years until 1829, when Georgia became part of the Russian Empire.