Darial Gorge: Queen Tamar's Castle and History

Mysterious castle in the Daryal gorge, sung in the poem by M.Y. Lermontov ”The Demon", is known to many history lovers. In honor of Queen Tamara, with whom the golden age of Georgian history is associated, a defensive fortress was named.

Despite the remote location, the majestic castle attracts many visitors to Georgia!

Darial Gorge: The Castle of Queen Tamara and the Ermolovsky Stone

Title Daryal Gorge translated as “gate of the Alans”, in historical records it is known as the Caucasian and Sarmatian gates. The total length of the gorge is 12 kilometers, it is located between the settlements of Verkhny Lars, where there is a checkpoint on the border with Russia, and Stepantsminda.

The Castle of Queen Tamara it rises on the rock of the south side Daryal Gorge. Today, on the site of the defensive fortress, you can see the ruins of the castle on the western side, three watchtowers and the remaining fragments of outbuildings. Historians suggest that the entrance to the fortress was on the south side, there was also a gallery and an underground corridor to the Terek River. On the western side of the castle, near the tunnel through which water was brought, you can see another observation tower.

In addition to the fortress, the gorge is also known for the Ermolovsky stone, located near the village of Verkhny Lars. The landmark in the form of a huge boulder is located in the Terek riverbed, previously the stone was used as an observation post, and during the war artillery pillboxes were installed on it.

The Castle of Queen Tamara is a citadel with a mysterious history

In ancient times Daryal Gorge It was the only place of passage from Transcaucasia to the north, so it was important to build an impregnable fortress that would protect against enemy attacks. The first mention of a defensive structure in the gorge refers to the Greek historian Strabo in the 1st century BC, but those fortifications were destroyed. King Vakhtang of Georgia built a fortress in the 5th century to repel the attacks of the Alans, after which in the 12th century King David restored the castle and expanded the fortifications.

The fortress acquired the name “Castle of Queen Tamara” much later, and there is no evidence that its construction is connected with the famous Queen of Georgia. There is a legend that in the 17th century a beautiful princess lived in the castle, perhaps that is why today the fortress is known as Tamara's Castle.

Where is the Castle of Queen Tamara?

Ruins The Castle of Queen Tamara It can be seen from the Daryal Monastery, located near the Upper Lars checkpoint. It is impossible to approach the fortress from the side of the temple, since the path to the rock passes through the state border with Russia.

The easiest way to get from Tbilisi to the sights of the Daryal Gorge is by car, which can be rented in Georgia. To do this, you need to move towards the ancient city of Mtskheta, then turn left onto the Georgian Military Road, where there will be a pointer to the Castle. Buses also run to the village of Stepantsminda, but you will have to hitchhike 12 kilometers to the fortress itself.

The gorge lies right by the border and no public transport goes there: people see it on the way to Kazbegi.