 Rabati castle ruins in Akhaltsikhe | ||
| ახალციხე, Akhaltsikhe (Akhaltsikhe), Ахалцихе, Ախալցխա, Ahıska, hist: Lomisa | ||
| region | Samtskhe-Javakheti | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 17.903 (2014), 14.000 (2016) | |
| height | 1,029 m | |
| Tourist information Tel | 995 365 225028 | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Akhaltsikhe(Georgian: ახალციხე, Akhaltsikhe) is the capital of the administrative region (Mchare) Samtskhe Javakheti and at the same time capital of the administrative district (Raioni) Akhaltsikhe. The city lies on the Potskhovi River and has about 20,000 inhabitants.
background
Akhaltsikhe is a multiethnic city, besides Georgians, Russians, Meschetian Turks and Armenians also live here. Therefore there are numerous foreign-language exonyms for Akhaltsikhe: Russian Ахалцихе, Armenian Ախալցխա, Turkish Ahıska. Akhaltsikhe translated in German means "new castle".
history
The city was first mentioned in writing in the 12th century under the name Lomisa, until the 13th century it was the seat of the rulers of Samtskhe. From the 13th to the 17th century, the city was ruled by the aristocratic Jaqeli family. In 1576 it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire and in 1628 the center of the Turkish province of Akhaltsikhe.
During the 8th Russian Turkish War, Russian troops under the command of General Paskevich took Akhaltsikhe on August 27, 1828. An attempt by the Turks under Akhmed Pasha to retake the fortress and town in March 1829 was thwarted by General Bebutow. In the Treaty of Adrianople (1829), the city and other Turkish-occupied areas of Georgia were added to Russia.
economy
In earlier centuries Akhaltsikhe city was an important marketplace for human trafficking. Today, however, the city and the whole region live mainly from agriculture.
Akhaltsikhe has become an important hub in international energy trading in recent years: the Baku-Tbilisi-Çeyhan-Pipeline transports Azerbaijani oil north of the city to nearby Turkey. The power transmission bridge of the Black Sea Energy Network, which enables Georgia to sell electricity from hydropower to Turkey, is also located in the village of Zikilia not far from Akhaltsikhe.
Akhaltsikhe is also of great importance as a transit city. 20 km southwest of the city is the border crossing Posof-Vale with the Turkey, with the closed Turkish-Armenian border, the shortest route runs from the westArmenia to Kars through Akhaltsikhe.
getting there
| Distances | |
 Borjomi | 52 km |
|---|---|
 - Vardsia | 65 km |
| Akhalkalaki | 71 km |
| Chashuri | 79 km |
- Ardahan | 120 km |
| -Մ 1Gyumri | 162 km |
 Batumi | 180 km |
- Tbilisi | 203 km |
-- Kars | 206 km |
-- Artvin | 230 km |
By plane
Closest airports with scheduled flights are in Tifis and Kutaisi (approx. 220 km each), Gyumri (approx. 180 km) and Kars (approx. 200 km).
By train
The 1 railway station is located west of the city center across the Potskhovi river, but there is no longer any passenger traffic on the route, the trains now end about 50 km northeast in Borjomi.
By bus
The 2 Bus station (ავტოვაგზალი, Awtowagsali) is located on the station forecourt.
Both off Tbilisi, Borjomi and Akhalkalaki or. Ninozminda there are numerous bus and minibus connections during the day. Also from Turkey (Kars and Artvin) and Armenia (Gyumri) buses run regularly to Akhaltsikhe. If you are traveling from the two neighboring countries, you can also take a bus to the border, cross it on foot and then change to another bus after the border. This variant is significantly cheaper, but also more time-consuming. Numerous travelers report that the bus connections at the border were only available with long waiting times, and taxis for onward travel are also difficult to come by.
In the street
The highways meet in Akhaltsikhe (Chashuri-Borjomi-Achalziche-Vale-Turkey) and the trunk road (Akhaltsikhe-Akhalkalaki-Ninozminda-Armenia), both roads are two-lane country roads in good condition and relatively quiet traffic.
The regional road begins a few kilometers west of Akhaltsikhe and continues over the Goderzi Pass Batumi. The pass is impassable in winter (November-April) due to snow. Furthermore, the route is over 40 km in poor condition, an off-road vehicle is recommended. It is therefore advisable to find out about the condition of the road on site and, in case of doubt, to go from or to Batumi via Chaschuri and Kutaisi to take.
The 3 Border crossing Vale (GE) - Posof (TK) is open around the clock as of summer 2014 and can be passed by car, on foot or by bike.
mobility
The city is small enough to be explored on foot. Marshrutkas drive to the surrounding villages, but taxis can also be used relatively cheaply to visit the remote sights.
Tourist Attractions
- 1 Rabati castle ruins (რაბატისციხე, Rabatisziche), 13-14 century, with a former mosque, the renovation in 2012, during which the mosque was given a golden roof, was not only controversial in Georgia because of monument protection concerns, but also because of the dubious funding that came from the police's budget . Part of the complex is free to visit, the larger, renovated part, which is more reminiscent of a Disneyland, is that Historical Museum of the Samtskhe-Javakheti Regionwhere, in addition to the renovated buildings, you can also admire archaeological finds and historical Georgian manuscripts:
- 2 Samtskhe-Javakheti Museum. Tel.: 995 365 2162, 995 (0)32 2998022, Email: [email protected]. Open: Tue-Sun 10 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Monday.Price: adults / students / pupils 7/2/1 GEL, children under 6 free.
- The historic quarter with small alleys between the castle and the train station is ideal for a walk, which you have to pass when walking from the city center to the castle ruins.
- 3 Amaghleba Church and Monument to Queen Tamar (Didmamishvili Street)
Surroundings
- 4 Sapara monastery(საფარის მონასტერი) (9th century, expanded from the 13th century) is about 15 km south of the city at the end of the regional road შ 125, a bad gravel road. East of the center if you go ri. Achalkalaki drives, you have to turn right.
- 5 Atskuri castle ruins(აწყური)(10th century) is located in the village of the same name 10 km northeast of the city, it can be clearly seen from the Borjomi-Akhaltsikhe road.
- 6 Vale: Theotokos Church (10th century) expanded as a three-aisled basilica in the 16th century.
activities
shop
- The 1 market (Bazroba) is located in the city center at the southern end of Tamar-Mepe-Str.
- 2 Smart Market, Tamarashvili Str. Opposite. Train station behind Wissol petrol station. Well-stocked supermarket, where you can also get snacks and coffee.Open: Daily 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
- There are a few shops on the site of the castle ruins where you can buy souvenirs and wine. The offer is touristy and slightly overpriced.
kitchen
Apart from the hotels where you can also eat, there are only a few restaurants in Akhaltsikhe:
- 1 Daviti, Aghmaschenebeli Str. 1.
Open: 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
nightlife
- 2 Meskheti State Drama Theater (Crossing Didmamishvili / Vazha Pshavela)
accommodation
Apart from the hotels listed below, there are also numerous private accommodations in the city and the surrounding area, guide price around 50 GEL p.p. including 2 meals.
Cheap and medium
- 3 Rio, at ს 11 near the intersection with ს 8. Tel.: 995 32 2238661, Email: [email protected]. Price: 70 GEL p.p.
Upscale
- 5 Gino Wellness Rabati. Tel.: 995 599 880960, Fax: 995 322 192939, Email: [email protected]. The hotel also has wellness, spa, sauna and swimming pools for external guests.Price: Room 145-350 GEL.
- 6 Hotel Lomisa, Kostava St. 10 / Queen Tamar St. 11. Tel.: 995 577 120154, 995 365 222001, Email: [email protected]. Price: 180 GEL single, 240 GEL double.
security
The security situation in Akhaltsikhe does not differ from that in the rest of the country.
health
- 1 hospital. The hospital is located east of the city center.
Practical advice
- 2 Tourist Information, in the castle area. Tel.: 995 365 225028, Email: [email protected]. Open: Daily 9 am-6pm.
Postal code: 0800; Area code: 0365
trips
Akhaltsikhe is a good base camp for excursions or sightseeing tours in the region, for example to Vardsia and Abastumani. The city is also a stopover for transit to the city Turkey or. Armenia at.
literature
Web links
- http://akhaltsikhe.gov.ge - Akhaltsikhe official website
