Petres-Tsikhe Fortress (Region of Samtskhe-Javakheti)
Petres-Tsikhe (Georgian: პეტრეს ციხე ) (Petra Fortress) – The remains of an ancient structure is located on the right bank of the Kura River, on a high rocky mountain, opposite the palace of the Romanov royal family in Likani. The most famous fortress in the vicinity of Borjomi. It is believed that its former name was “Kverbilis-Tsikhe” (Georgian: ყვერბილის ციხე). There is no exact data regarding the date of construction of this structure. Massive high walls stand out for their monumentality and inner strength. The wavy shape of the wall and planks give it lightness and dynamism. The castle was rebuilt several times. In some places, the walls of earlier large piles can be seen.
In the past, the fortress belonged to a feudal family and blocked the road to the Borjomi gorge. After being conquered by the Ottoman conquerors in the 16th century, the fortress became the center of the Ottoman administration. The architecture attracts attention with its pronounced upper part and several tiers. The fortress consisted of a citadel and a lower courtyard connected to it. Between the wall and the interior, ruins of various structures have been preserved; in the inner part of the fortress, remains of residential halls, granaries and qvevris are visible. There are embrasures and loopholes in the fortress wall. The fortress has been restored many times. In some places, early horizontal masonry stands out. The nearby ruins of a settlement with a church and a cemetery are the same age as the castle.
Likani Village (Georgian: სოფელი ლიკანი), Borjomi Municipality (Georgian: ბორჯომის მუნიციპალიტეტი)
