Georgia, Ananuri: description, history and interesting facts

Ananuri fortress called a large castle, located near the reservoir of Zhinvali. This historic building is well preserved and today is a very popular tourist attraction. This beautiful castle is proud of Georgia. Ananuri is a place in which the atmosphere of the late Middle Ages is felt.

Where is?

Ananuri Castle (Georgia) is located on the site near the modern Georgian Military Road, seventy kilometers from the capital and about twelve from Jinvali. The fortress is considered to be one of the most famous in the country. There are excursions here, as this monument is perfectly preserved today.

How to get there?

An excellent place for cultural pastime is Ananuri Castle, Georgia. How to get there by yourself? If you go by car from the border with Russia or from the capital of Georgia, then the castle stands on the road called Military-Georgian. You can also get to the castle by bus or by minibus from Didube Station in Tbilisi. The main thing is that they go to Gudauri or Pasanauri. In addition, you can use this method of budget travel, such as hitchhiking. The fortress can not be missed or missed, since it is visible from afar.

From the history of Ananuri

The fortress of Ananuri (Georgia) is usually attributed to the early feudal period. It was a defensive outpost, which blocked the way from the Daryal canyon. Its owner was a strong feudal family of the era of the Georgian Middle Ages - the Aragvi Eristavs. They were powerful nobles who dealt with issues of national importance, and also influenced the rulers of the country.

As the residence of the Eristavians, the settlement of Dusheti was used in the 17th century. From there the main road to the north ran across the narrow gorge road called Vedzathevi. When the Aragvi River merged with this river, something like a natural gate appeared. This strategic point became a site for the construction of the tower, and then the fortress, which today is famous for all of Georgia, - Ananuri.

After a certain time, Tsar Constantine attacked the possessions of the Eristavs. Another direction threatened Turkish attacks. A nobleman from the Eristavstva, called Revaz, could not resist the attack and was forced to retreat to Mtiuleti. The king wisely used this moment and attacked the castle.

Later, the fortress passed several times from hand to hand. In the middle of the 18th century it was occupied by Tsar Teymuraz. When, in 1744, to him and his son Irakli was taken prisoner by a candidate for the throne of Iran, he was imprisoned in Ananuri. And after that he was given a representative of the Iranian authorities. Then the fortress was owned by Irakli, who from this place supervised military affairs.

The castle, after thirty years in the period of the Russo-Turkish wars, was dominated by Russians. During this period, the strategic weight of Ananuri has greatly increased.

In 1795, when the Battle of Krtsanis was completed, the fortress became the last shelter for the elderly king of Irakly.

When Georgia was annexed to Russia in the early 19th century, Ananuri also played an important role.

First at this place, Russian troops were permanently stationed, guarding the section of the main highway that connected the countries and was a reliable point of support for order in the district. 1812 became the year of the uprising of the mountaineers, who did not manage to capture the fortress. The troops, deported from the capital as reinforcements, ruthlessly treated the insurgents. In the following period, Ananuri Castle was for some time the home of the Russian troops. They assumed the construction of a military town on this site, the project of which had been developed, but did not come into effect. When the Russian military units left Georgia, Ananuri remained vacant. Once a formidable fortress slowly turned into a kind of ruins.

By the way, the first Russian tourist in this area is considered to be the great poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin, who came here in 1829.

What to see in this area?

In the fortress, all the walls, two large turrets and several small ones have been preserved. In the construction of a circular form, overlaps have not been preserved. The square tower has several floors and stairs. According to reviews, tourists like that they can get to not only the territory of the castle, but also in one of the buildings. And the rise in the tower is possible to the very top, where travelers are admiring the view.

Assumption Cathedral

Tourists like to come to Ananuri Castle (Georgia). Sights of this place include another historical monument - the building of the Assumption Church, which was built in the late 17th century. The church is made according to the classical canons of that time, has a dome, and its western façade is decorated with carved elements in the form of crosses and grapes. The interior of the temple is complemented by murals, some of which have survived to this day, as well as wall paintings. They depict the holy fathers. The temple, along with its murals and frescoes, is a fine example of Georgian art from the late Middle Ages. It is really amazing, since such structures were not built on this territory until about the 12th century. It is also strange that the church is located close enough to the towers that cover all the elements with which the temple is decorated. The altar was created by Georgian artists around 1800, nevertheless, many historians believe that the church can not be called unequivocally Georgian.

The Church of the Savior

In the western part of the territory of the fortress there is a building of the Spassky temple, or as it is also called, the Virgin Mary. This building is notable for its prescription, if we compare it with the Assumption Church. This building has a dome, as well as an extension of the second half of the 17th century. The oldest building in this complex is considered to be a tower with a pyramid roof, which, in all probability, dates back to the 16th century. If you also go down from the fortress to the lowlands, to the reservoir, you will be able to find a ruined temple with mysterious ruins.