The most important fortresses in Georgia. The best sights. Fortress "Okros Tsikhe".
"Okros Tsikhe" is located on a huge rocky massif and fits so well into the surrounding landscapes that you won't even notice it right away. This fortress was the main fortress structure and has a complex architecture. The height of the walls, which have survived to this day, reaches ten meters. Be sure to visit this fortress.
The Turks mention the fortress of Okros Tsikhe under the name "Altunkala". The Iranian diplomat of the XVI century, Don Juan of Persia, who visited the historical regions of Georgia Kartli and Saatabago, mentions Altunakala as the capital of Saatabago. The fortress is often mentioned in other written sources of a later period, including the Meskhetian Chronicles of David (XVI century), which describe the events of the last period of the principality of Samtskhe.
The fortress of Okros Tsikhe — the Golden Fortress — is located on the road that connects the cities Akhaltsikhe and Adigeni, in the vicinity of the village of Bolajuri, on a huge rocky massif. The fortress fits so well into the environment that it is difficult to separate it from the relief at a glance. The fortress was built at the turn of the XIII-XIV centuries. For centuries it was one of the main fortifications of the Jakeli family and played a major role in the fight against the Turks in the XV-XVI centuries.
Fortress Okrostsikhe it has a complex architectural layout. On three sides it is protected by three steep slopes. The only entrance is on the north side. The citadel is built on a rocky ridge and surrounded by several parallel rows of walls.
The walls are reinforced with support pillars and towers. One of the towers is located at the top point of the fortress complex, and from it you can see not only the inner territory of the fortress, but also the villages located in the valley of the Kvabliani river. The height of the preserved fence wall is 10 meters. In the north side, the frame for the gate has been preserved. The gate, presumably, was double-leafed and closed with a latch. There is an additional wall in front of the entrance. And above the entrance there is a room for a stone thrower.
Currently, the fortress is badly damaged. Archaeological excavations were not carried out on the territory of the fortress.
Due to the impregnability of the fortress, it is very difficult to study it. Researchers and archaeologists cannot find the necessary tools and equipment that will help them carry out the necessary work.
For tourists, the fortress is accessible, but because of the high and steep ascent, rarely anyone dares to climb up the sheer cliff. In addition, the locals do not approve of such campaigns at all. But you can also admire it from below, while incredible emotions also capture and fill.
Read more about the ancient buildings of Georgia in the madloba catalog. Here we have collected information about all the sights of the country and made special collections for tourists.
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