Gori Castle

Gori, Georgia

Gori Castle is a medieval citadel in Georgia, standing above the city of Gori on a rocky hill. The castle first appears in the 13th century records but archaeological evidence shows that the area had already been fortified in the last centuries BC. The fortress controlled major strategic and economic routes and accommodated a large garrison. In the 16th century the Ottomans captured it to overawe Tbilisi. In 1598 the Georgians besieged it to no avail; in 1599 they feigned a relaxation of the siege for Lent before launching a surprise attack at night to regain the citadel. The fortress continued to change hands between the Georgians and the Persians in the 17th century.

The citadel acquired the present-day form under the Georgian kings Rostom of Kartli in the 1630s and Erekle II in 1774. After the Russian annexation of Georgia in 1801, the fortress was garrisoned by a Russian grenadier battalion, but its importance gradually declined and the fortifications went defunct.

Gori Fortress was significantly damaged by the earthquake in 1920. The best preserved structure is Tskhra-kara ('the Nine-gated'), which looks to the west, and is adjoined by the supplementary walls on the south and east.

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Address

Kote Apkhazi Street 3, Gori, Georgia
See all sites in Gori

Details

Founded: 13th century
Category: Castles and fortifications in Georgia

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

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Ateni Sioni Church (9,2 km)
Urbnisi Church (10,9 km)
Birtvisi Castle Ruins (55,1 km)
Samtavisi Cathedral (25 km)
Kvatakhevi Monastery (36 km)
Largvisi Monastery (44,2 km)

User Reviews

Aytac Əhmədova. (12 months ago)
Gori Fortress was a beautiful place than I expected. Other than the remote, in the mornings, and at night, they look different. The common point is that it is always astonishing.
Helmut Schaus (12 months ago)
Basic ancient castle. Poorly maintained. Nice views of the city. But nothing special really. Is just a small trek from the city centre.
João Carlos Vergueiro (13 months ago)
Of course it's just the ruins, and they are refurbishing some of it, so there's no access to some parts. Butnthe view from up there is great, specially at sunset. The walls from outside, also stand still, and look great. It's nice quite tour, and it's free.
Malcolm MX Taylor (15 months ago)
I love this place, right in the centre of the city but even though it is pretty high, if you are driving through the town you could easily miss it. Anyway when you do see it you can follow the path to the top and have some amazing views of the town and surrounding areas. Well worth a visit!!
Louie van der Watt (15 months ago)
It is always a mind blowing experience to visit a Castle and realise that a few years ago, people lived, laughed, slept and fought wars we you are standing. Great view of Gori
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Klis Fortress

From its origin as a small stronghold built by the ancient Illyrian tribe Dalmatae, becoming a royal castle that was the seat of many Croatian kings, to its final development as a large fortress during the Ottoman wars in Europe, Klis Fortress has guarded the frontier, being lost and re-conquered several times. Due to its location on a pass that separates the mountains Mosor and Kozjak, the fortress served as a major source of defense in Dalmatia, especially against the Ottoman advance, and has been a key crossroad between the Mediterranean belt and the Balkan rear.

Since Duke Mislav of the Duchy of Croatia made Klis Fortress the seat of his throne in the middle of the 9th century, the fortress served as the seat of many Croatia"s rulers. The reign of his successor, Duke Trpimir I, the founder of the Croatian royal House of Trpimirović, is significant for spreading Christianity in the Duchy of Croatia. He largely expanded the Klis Fortress, and in Rižinice, in the valley under the fortress, he built a church and the first Benedictine monastery in Croatia. During the reign of the first Croatian king, Tomislav, Klis and Biograd na Moru were his chief residences.

In March 1242 at Klis Fortress, Tatars who were a constituent segment of the Mongol army under the leadership of Kadan suffered a major defeat while in pursuit of the Hungarian army led by King Béla IV. After their defeat by Croatian forces, the Mongols retreated, and Béla IV rewarded many Croatian towns and nobles with 'substantial riches'. During the Late Middle Ages, the fortress was governed by Croatian nobility, amongst whom Paul I Šubić of Bribir was the most significant. During his reign, the House of Šubić controlled most of modern-day Croatia and Bosnia. Excluding the brief possession by the forces of Bosnian King, Tvrtko I, the fortress remained in Hungaro-Croatian hands for the next several hundred years, until the 16th century.

Klis Fortress is probably best known for its defense against the Ottoman invasion of Europe in the early 16th century. Croatian captain Petar Kružić led the defense of the fortress against a Turkish invasion and siege that lasted for more than two and a half decades. During this defense, as Kružić and his soldiers fought without allies against the Turks, the military faction of Uskoks was formed, which later became famous as an elite Croatian militant sect. Ultimately, the defenders were defeated and the fortress was occupied by the Ottomans in 1537. After more than a century under Ottoman rule, in 1669, Klis Fortress was besieged and seized by the Republic of Venice, thus moving the border between Christian and Muslim Europe further east and helping to contribute to the decline of the Ottoman Empire. The Venetians restored and enlarged the fortress, but it was taken by the Austrians after Napoleon extinguished the republic itself in 1797. Today, Klis Fortress contains a museum where visitors to this historic military structure can see an array of arms, armor, and traditional uniforms.

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