Gori Fortress (Region of Shida Kartli)
Fortress of Gori (Georgian გორის ციხე) – The fortress was erected in the center of the city of Gori, on a high rocky hill. Ruins on the northern slope and archaeological data prove that in the last centuries of the first millennium B.C., a powerful fortress stood here and the population was settled around it. The castle was an important strategic fortress. Its domination meant political domination over the whole Shida Kartli. This fortress was of strategic importance and mastering it meant establishing control over Shida Kartli. That is why kings of Kartl-Kakheti, Mongols, Persians and Ottomans fought for it for centuries. At the beginning of the XIX century, a Russian grenadier battalion was stationed here. The fortress of Goris has been repeatedly rebuilt, including thorough reconstruction in the XVII century.
The fortress is built of cobblestones. There are worked stones in the old layers. It has an oval shape. Building layers of different times are observed, the old traces are almost completely erased. Remains of an ancient wall dating back to the last centuries of the first millennium BC were discovered. The walls of the castle follow a rocky hill, causing it to have an irregular shape. Among the remains, the western part, which the locals call Tshrakara (Georgian ცხრაკარა), is better preserved. This side was well fortified and descended into the valley of the Liakhvi River (Géorgien ლიახვი), Therefore, in addition to its defensive function, it also had an economic function. It was from here that the castle was supplied with water. There were two water reservoirs in the castle: one in the center of the citadel and the other in Tshrakara. A secret tunnel led to the Liakhvi valley.
City of Gori (Georgian: ქალაქი გორი), Gori Municipality (Georgian: გორის მუნიციპალიტეტი)
