Ananuri stronghold is 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?
Замок Ананури (Грузия) расположен на участке near the modern Military-Georgian road seventy kilometers from the capital and about twelve from Zhinvali. 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?
A great place for cultural pastimeis 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
Ananuri Fortress (Georgia) is usually attributed toearly feudal period. It was a defense outpost that blocked the path from the Darial Gorge. It was owned by a strong feudal genus of the Georgian Middle Ages - the Aragvi Eristavs. These were powerful nobles who were engaged in matters of national importance, and also influenced the rulers of the country.
As residence Eristave usedsettlement Dusheti in the 17th century. From there, there was the main route to the north through a narrow gorge 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 the kingConstantine attacked the possession of the Eristavs. Another direction threatened Turkish attacks. A nobleman from 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.
In the future, the fortress several times passed fromhand to hand. In the middle of the 18th century, she was occupied by King Teimuraz. When in 1744 a candidate for the throne of Iran was captured by him and his son Heraclius, he was imprisoned in Ananuri. And after that he was given to the representative of the Iranian authorities. Then the fortress was owned by Heraclius, who from this place was in charge of military affairs.
The castle thirty years later in the period of the Russian-Turkish wars was dominated by Russians. During this period, the strategic weight of Ananuri increased significantly.
In 1795, when the battle of the Krtsanis was completed, the fortress became the last refuge for the aged king Heraclius.
When Georgia was annexed to Russia in the early 19th century, Ananuri also played an important role.
At first this place was constantly stationed.Russian troops guarding the area of the main highway that connected the country and was a reliable point of maintaining order in the district. 1812-th was the year of the uprising of the Highlanders, who failed to capture the fortress. Troops sent out of the capital as reinforcements, toughly treated the rebels. In the following period, Ananuri Castle was for some time the home base of the Russian troops. They assumed the construction of a military camp on this site, the project of which they managed to develop, but did not begin to be implemented. When Georgia was abandoned by the Russian military units, Ananuri remained empty. The once formidable fortress slowly turned into a sort of ruin.
By the way, the first Russian tourist in this area is considered to be the great poet Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, who came here in 1829.
What to see in this area?
The fortress preserved all the walls, two largeturrets and a few small ones. In the construction of a round shape not preserved overlap. The square tower has several floors and stairs. According to reviews, tourists like that they can get not only to the castle, but also to one of the buildings. Moreover, the rise in the tower is possible to the very top, where travelers admire the view.
Assumption Church
Tourists love to come to Ananuri Castle (Georgia).The 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 the time, has a dome, and its western facade is decorated with carved elements in the form of crosses and grapes. The interior of the temple is complemented by frescoes, some of which have survived to the present day, as well as wall paintings. They depict the holy fathers. The temple, together with its paintings and frescoes, is an excellent example of the Georgian art of the late Middle Ages. It is truly amazing, since such structures have not been built on this territory since about the 12th century. It is also strange that the church is located close enough to the towers that cover all the elements that adorn the temple. The altar was created by Georgian artists around 1800, however, many historians believe that, nevertheless, the church cannot be definitely called a Georgian one.
Church of the Savior
In the western part of the fortressis the building of the Savior Church, or as it is called, the Virgin Mary. This building is distinguished by 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, apparently, refers to the 16th century. If you also go down from the fortress to the valley, to the reservoir, you can find a dilapidated temple with mysterious ruins.
