Ancient buildings of Georgia, which must be visited. The Church of the Holy Mother of God and the fortress of Atskuri.

The first church in the village was built at the beginning of the VII century . And at the beginning of the IX century. there was already an episcopal church here. In the XI century, the Church of the Holy Virgin was built. In the Middle Ages, this church was the largest church in Georgia by area. In the XIII-XIV centuries mtavari (rulers) of Samtskhe, Atabagi Jakheli renovated the church. However, as a result of earthquakes and enemy invasions, the church was in critical condition. The last destruction it underwent in the final period of Ottoman rule. The dome, the dome drum vault, the walls of the temple collapsed. Famous enlighteners were engaged in their activities in Atskuri: George Matskvereli (IX-X centuries), Gabriel Kotai (XI century), Joachim and Jeremiah Matskvereli (XVI century).

Not far from the temple is the Atskur fortress, built at the same time as the Church of the Holy Virgin. This fortification protected the Borjomi Gorge from the south. Since 1579, the fortress was part of the Childir vilayet. In 1770, Georgian and Russian troops unsuccessfully tried to capture it. In 1829, as a result of the Adrianople Peace Treaty, the Ottoman Empire ceded this fortress along with the Samtskhe region to the Russian Empire.

The Atskur fortress was built on a hard-to-reach rock, which increased its defense capability. It was possible to enter the fortress through a narrow cave carved into the rock.