Fortress of Kvelistsikhe (Region of Erusheti)
Fortress of Kvelistsikhe (Georg. ყველისციხე(ყუელისციხე), Tur. Kuvel(Kol) Kalesi) – medieval Georgian fortree in the historical region of Erusheti (Georg. ერუშეთი), located in the village of Kolka (Tyr. Kolköy), on top of the Arsiani Mountains (Georg. არსიანის მთა), territory of modern Turkey. The castle, which first appeared in Georgian sources at the beginning of the 10th century, is now almost completely destroyed. The castle is located on a hill, directly above the Tsurtskabistskali (Georg. წურწყაბისწყალი) river. Round tower 10 meters high, one of the remaining towers of the fortress wall, which can be seen today. There is a small cruciform church in the eastern corner of the castle. Fragments of clay and ceramic products were found on the territory of the castle.
Due to its strategic position, Kvelistsikhe fortress has seen many military conflicts, wars and sieges throughout its history. It was located at a strategically important crossroads and controlled trade routes connecting different regions and countries. After the formation of the Bagration principalities in Tao-Klarjeti in the 9th-10th centuries, Kvelistsikhe became a regional center and one of the most important fortresses of Samtskhe. Throughout its history, the fortress served as the epicenter of a number of military conflicts. In the 16th century, the fortress, like most of southwestern Georgia, fell under the rule of the Ottomans and lost its former significance.
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