Tsurtavi fortress (Region of Kvemo Kartli)
Tsurtavi fortress (Georg. ცურტავის ციხე)- located on the left bank of the Khrami River, in the village of the same name in the Bolnisi municipality, on the territory of the ancient trading city of Tsurtavi, founded in the 5th century. The fortress was built in the 18th century. The preliminary project, according to which the fortress was built, has survived to this day. Tsurtavi is one of the last fortresses of this type, which was built in the kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti.
The area of the fortress is 2 thousand square meters. The height of the walls is 6 meters. Towers stand at the corners of the fortress. Another tower stands in the center of the eastern and western walls. The first one is the main entrance to the fortress. A bas-relief depicting chained lions can be seen on the facade. All towers are equipped with loopholes, embrasures for stones and cannon vents. Today, on the territory of the fortress, there is a functioning nunnery named after the Holy Great Martyr Queen Ketevan.
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