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During our trip along the Georgian Military Road we will see the picturesque Zhinvali reservoir, the fortress of Ananuri. Ananur ensemble attracts attention from afar. For strengthening, a strategically advantageous place was chosen - on a small cape at the confluence of the Aragvi and Vedzathevirivers. Here, in the Middle Ages, an important road passed that connected Georgia with the northern countries and went from the central regions of the country through the residence of the Aragvi Eristavs - Dusheti. The fortress, built on the cape, dominated this road. It was impossible to pass by it, and it was difficult to take it. It is impossible not to admire this ensemble - a work of high fortification art.
The buildings included in the ensemble were erected in the 15th-18th c. Unfortunately, only the citadel has survived from the entire complex of the large castle.
Ananuri belonged to one of the strongest feudal families of late medieval Georgia - the Aragvi Eristavas.The largest Georgian feudal lords in their struggle for power do not stop at anything. On their way, they spared neither enemies, nor friends, nor even the king himself. Chroniclers report that none of the Aragva eristavs died a natural death.
The first construction of the Ananur ensemble is a twenty-meter watchtower (15th c.) with a pyramidal-steppedceiling in the center of the citadel. The next in time - the turn of the 15th-17th quarters. - a small building church located between two lines of fortifications.
Around the same time or a little later, on the ridge of the mountain, a medium-sized domed temple was erected. By the end of the 17th c. a large temple was built inside the citadel, the exquisite decoration of the facades of which puts it among the best works of architecture of the late Middle Ages. The construction of the temple was completed in 1689.
After leaving the Ananur ensemble, we will continue our journey along the Georgian Military Road to the north. Near Ananuri, the Aragvi gorge is gradually narrowing. The road leads to the town of Pasanauri, where you can observe a unique phenomenon - the confluence of the White and Black Aragvi.
Next, we will continue our journey along the mountain serpentine through the gudauriski resort. Then we will stop at a unique structure on top of the mountain, the "Arch of Friendship", from where we will have a view of the turquoise lake. On the way we are waiting for beautiful landscapes, various architectural monuments (towers).
The next object of our visit, which stands out against the background of the Caucasus Mountains and Mount Kazbeg, is the ensemble of Gergetis Sameba (the church of the Holy Trinity in Gergeti in the 14th c.). It is small; it consists of a domed temple, a bell tower and a fortress wall. Gergeti is an outstanding monument of Georgian architecture and a wonderful work of landscape architecture, rises on a mountain with a height of 2200 m. There is a monastery. The miraculous icon of the Mother of God is kept in the temple.