Among the majestic mountains, on the bank of the Potshovi River, there is a compact cozy town of Akhaltsikhe (Georgia).
This colorful city, which has a history of thousands of years, has served a strategic role since its foundation, since it was located in the south-west of Georgia, near the border with Turkey, at the intersection of major roads.
Such a past is clear even from the name: “Akhaltsikhe” is a “New Fortress”. Although earlier, being the possession of the noble princely family of Jakeli (900), this city was called differently – Lomisia. The current name is first mentioned in the chronicle of 1204, dedicated to the military leaders Ivan and Shalva of Akhaltsikhe.
Now Akhaltsikhe, with a population of 15,000, is the administrative center of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. Akhaltsikhe consists of the old city, which is spread out on a hill, and areas with new buildings erected on the plain.
It is impossible not to mention that the people here are friendly, always happy to make contact.
City attractions
If you want to learn the history of the ancient region of Samtskhe-Javakheti and get a lot of positive emotions, then the best solution is to see the sights in Akhaltsikhe. Most of the most interesting historical sites here can be viewed completely free of charge, which allows you to save a lot on your vacation. In 2-3 days it is quite possible to see everything: the city itself and its immediate surroundings.
Centuries-old Rabat Fortress
The impregnable fortress of Rabat has turned into a real city, occupying almost 7 hectares. From the center of Akhaltsikhe, it is quite possible to walk to it-it will take at most 30 minutes.
The territory of this mighty fortress is a journey to different eras, here you can walk for hours, completely forgetting about life outside its walls. And if you come here in the evening, you can feel like in a fairy tale: the territory of the fortress is illuminated by strong spotlights, which creates the appearance that all the structures are floating in the air!
The first mention of Rabat dates back to the IX century, but then this structure was not so grandiose. In the XII century, the representatives of the Dzhakeli family built a castle and citadel here, making it an impregnable outpost in the southern part of Georgia. Rabat fortification has experienced a lot during its existence: in the XIV century it was destroyed by Tamerlane’s soldiers, in the XV – it was attacked by the Mongol Khan Yakub, and in the XVI, along with the city, it was captured by the army of the Ottoman Empire.
Over time, the citadel lost its tactical purpose. Strained relations between the USSR and Turkey, which developed in the twentieth century, led to the fact that this area was closed for tourism, the Rabat fortress did not receive adequate care and was gradually destroyed.
Interest in Akhaltsikhe and Rabat resumed only after the collapse of the USSR, and in 2011 they began to restore the ancient citadel. The Georgian government spent more than 34 million lari on the restoration work (then it was almost $ 15 million). For the reconstruction, projects were developed that allowed preserving the authenticity of existing structures, and materials were also selected that made it possible to “repeat” the construction techniques used in ancient times. By the end of summer 2012, the reconstruction was completed, and the” New Fortress ” of Akhaltsikhe was opened for inspection and regular visits.
Now the territory of Rabat is divided into lower and upper, historical parts.
So, first about the lower part of the Akhaltsikhe fortress, which can be visited at any time of the day, and completely free of charge. Massive gates leading to the territory of the citadel, designed for walking, are enclosed in powerful walls: smooth paved paths, clean cozy playgrounds, picturesque swimming pools. There is also a young vineyard planted in an unusual step order.
In the lower part, visitors will find the Rabat Hotel, where the balconies made of carved wood look unrealistically airy against the background of its powerful stone walls. Comfortable rooms start at GEL 50 ($18.5). Delicious local cuisine is served at the nearby restaurant of the same name.
KTW Wine Shop, one of the best wine shops in Samtskhe-Javakheti, offers an excellent selection of drinks. Here they offer chacha, cognacs, a variety of wines, including very rare ones made from rose petals. The store also impresses with its interior: there are a lot of exhibition windows, comfortable wooden furniture for guests, and magnificent domes of mirrors under the ceiling.
In the souvenir shop you can buy icons, silver jewelry with natural gems, as well as wine bowls and bottles made from the purest wax.
At the entrance to the Rabat fortress in Akhaltsikhe, in its lower part, there is a tourist information center, where you can immediately buy tickets to visit the museum section of the complex.
Next, we will talk about the upper part of the Rabat Citadel – this is the territory that costs 6 lari to enter, while visiting the museum must be paid separately – 3 lari. After buying a ticket, you can walk around the fortress from 10: 00 to 19: 00, taking photos and making videos.
From the lower part of the fortress, the upper one is separated by a powerful stone wall, and the buildings here are made in a stepped structure, so you will have to climb numerous steps all the time. The main attractions are located in the museum part:
- High observation towers (there are 4 of them), which can be reached by steep spiral steps. From the extensive viewing platforms, the mountains are perfectly visible, offering amazing views of the city and the surrounding area. The inner surface of the tower walls of the fortress is decorated with colorful stones, you can see the rooms that were used for storing weapons.
- The Akhmediye Mosque was built in the 18th century and was named after Akhmed Pasha (Kimshiashvili). In 1828, when Rabat was captured by Russian soldiers, the mosque was turned into an Orthodox Church of the Assumption of the Virgin. During the restoration, the dome of the mosque was covered with gold, which evokes associations with the Omar Mosque in the capital of the State of Israel, Jerusalem.
- There is a gazebo with a fountain in Rabat, where you can always relax and drink clean water.
- The Historical Museum (open from 10:00 to 18:00) offers visitors an exhibition that tells about the history of ancient Southern Georgia. It is forbidden to take photos in this museum of Akhaltsikhe.
Sapara Monastery
In the mountains, just 10 km from the center of Akhaltsikhe, there is another historical attraction – the Sapara Monastery (Safara). Under Soviet rule, it was abolished, and since the 1980s it has been an active monastery for men – 20 monks live there.
On the monastery territory is located:
- The oldest structure of the complex is the Church of the Assumption, built in the X century. It is known for its iconostasis, which is crowned with magnificent relief sculptures.
- Nearby – a solid domed church, the construction time of which corresponds to the XIII century, and a bell tower. The bell tower has a dome made of solid stone slabs.
- A little further and higher up the slope are fortified buildings, including 3 well-preserved towers, a small stone wall, as well as cells (they were cut out of the rock and completed from stone).
- The main cathedral of the monastery-the Church of St. Saba, was built in the XIII century. This is the most powerful structure on the monastery grounds, lined with hewn stone. Its architecture is dominated by flat surfaces and low proportions. Next to the main temple there are 2 very small ones. All these monastic buildings have roofs made of stone slabs.
- The entrance to the southern part of the complex is closed. There are cells of monks and premises for household purposes.
Sapara is a unique and interesting place in Georgia near the city of Akhaltsikhe, but getting there is not so easy. There are no direct flights from the city bus station, but sometimes tourists here also agree with the minibus driver about an excursion – this will cost about GEL 3 per person. You can take a taxi, which will cost approximately GEL 25.
You can also get there on foot. From the central part of Akhaltsikhe, you need to go east along Rustaveli Street for about 2 km, then turn onto the road to the village of Khreli – the difficulty is that this turn is not marked in any way. The village starts almost immediately, and the dirt road goes steeply up. After 2.4 km from the outskirts of the village, the road leads to the pass of a small ridge, from where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Akhaltsikhe. Just beyond the pass, on the left side, there is a small house and a pile of ruins – this is the village of Verkhniye Khreli. On the right side there will be a clear pine forest, which is considered the best place for a wild overnight stay near Akhaltsikhe. The monastery is about 3 km away from the village of Verkhniye Khreli on a very good road, from which you can see the city outskirts, the Kura Valley, and the village of Minadze.
Entrance to the monastery is free. It should be noted that Sapara is very crowded on weekends, as school trips come from all over Georgia.
Temple of Queen Tamara
During the entire history of Georgia, there was only one woman in this state who ascended to the throne and independently ruled the country. This is Queen Tamara.
The reign of Tamara (XII century) was a Golden Age for Georgia. It was thanks to Queen Tamara that Christianity spread in the country and became its religion. Since 1917, it has been customary to celebrate Tamarob Day on May 14 in Georgia.
This national holiday is held with special celebration and effect in Akhaltsikhe, where the temple of Queen Tamara was erected in 2009-2010. This modest building is decorated in light colors. Inside, the attraction looks quite modest, however, the altar is all shining gold, and the walls are decorated with traditional paintings, on which there are many images of the queen.
In front of the temple is a huge monument depicting Tamara, who sits on the throne, holding the symbol of power. The monument and the temple of Queen Tamara are located almost in the center of Akhaltsikhe, on Kostava Street, and it is convenient to get to it from anywhere in the city.
On a note to the traveler! From Akhaltsikhe, you should go to the cave town of Vardzia. What it looks like and its features can be found in this article.
How to get to Akhaltsikhe?
From Tbilisi
Finding out how to get from Tbilisi to Akhaltsikhe, it becomes clear that although there is a railway station in these cities,there are no direct flights, however, as with 1 transfer. Rather than make 2-3 transfers, it is better to forget about the train altogether and use the bus.
Buses to Akhaltsikhe depart from the capital’s Didube Bus Station. In Akhaltsikhe, they come to Tamarashvili Street, where the local bus station is located. Flights are available every 40-60 minutes, from 7: 00 to 19: 00, and the ticket costs GEL 12. From Akhaltsikhe to Tbilisi, the distance is approximately 206 km, the journey time is 3-3. 5 hours.
How to get there from Batumi
You can also get from Batumi to Akhaltsikhe by shuttle bus, which departs from the old bus station located on Mayakovsky Street, 1. There are only 2 direct flights per day: at 8: 00 and at 10: 30. Travel costs GEL 20-25, and the journey takes about 5.5-6 hours. By the way, these buses go through the Borjomi health resort, so you can visit the world-famous balneological and climatic resort.
You can also get from Batumi to Akhaltsikhe by taxi, but is there any point in such a trip? Taxis, as it is usually understood, are not available here – private cabs work, which offer their services for too high a fee. A trip in the same minibus as a regular one, except with a smaller number of passengers, will cost approximately $ 80-100.
When deciding how to get to Batumi in Akhaltsikhe, it becomes clear that the most convenient option for such a weak transport connection is a trip by your own car. It is desirable that it was an SUV, because although the roads were repaired not so long ago, but there are quite a lot of unpaved areas.
When is the best time to visit Akhaltsikhe
You can come to the city of Akhaltsikhe to admire its grandiose sights at any time of the year. But the best time to travel will be July-September: in May, the temperature already rises to +17 °C, but quite often there are short-term rains.
In summer, usually strong heat is not observed: the temperature can reach +30°C, but on average the thermometer column is kept at +23..+25°C. At the beginning of autumn, the weather conditions are still comfortable, the temperature drops to +18…+19°C. In this weather, it’s nice to walk around the city, and it’s not cold to climb the mountains yet.
In autumn, in Akhaltsikhe (Georgia), you will see magnificent pictures! Thanks to the trees, the mountains acquire shades of yellow and purple colors, green firs serve as an addition. The ridges are shrouded in a light haze, the air is filled with forest smells.
Useful to know! The Georgian health resort Abastumani is 28 km from Akhaltsikhe. You can read more about treatment, recreation and attractions of the village on this page.
Interesting facts
- 26% of residents of Akhaltsikhe are Armenians.
- Thanks to the reconstruction of the fortress, roads were also repaired in the city, new shops and hotels were opened, and some buildings were restored.
- The Armenian Catholic Church of the Holy Sign in Akhaltsikhe served as a theater in Soviet times.