One location, many impressions
Rabati Castle stands on a high hill in the old part of Akhaltsikhe, on the bank of the Potskhovi river. Its history goes back to the early Middle Ages: it was the residence of the Jaqeli, the rulers of Samtskhe, and under Ottoman rule it became the seat of the pashas of Akhaltsikhe. Different eras and cultures meet in a single courtyard here: a citadel and towers, a Georgian church, the Ottoman Ahmediye mosque, a bathhouse and palace buildings. The complex was extensively restored in 2012. The castle grounds house the Samtskhe-Javakheti History Museum, and from the walls you can see all of Akhaltsikhe and the surrounding mountains. In the evening, when it is lit up, the castle is especially beautiful. 📷 Photos: John Wagner, Alexey Yurko, Jelger Groeneveld, Karelj / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA / CC BY)
