Otskhe Fortress (Region of Samtskhe-Javakheti)
Otskhe Fortress (Odzrkhe) (Georgian: ოცხეს (ოძრხეს) ციხე) – The fortress is located on the right bank of the Otskhe River (Georgian: ოცხე), on the watershed ridge of the Otskhe and Kurtskhana (Georgian: კურცხანა) rivers. The castle, distinguished by its significance and antiquity, is today called the “Castle of Queen Tamar”. It was part of the defense system of the ancient settlement of Odzrkhe or Odzrahe (Georgian: ოძრხე, ოძრახე). Since ancient times, on the territory of today’s famous resort – Abastumni, there was a fortress city of Odzrkhe (Otskhé), which is mentioned in Urartian inscriptions in the 8th century BC. When Odzrkhe (Otskhé) became deserted, the name was also lost and new settlers who arrived in the 19th century named it after a nearby village – Abastumani.
In addition to the castle of Queen Tamara, on the same slope of the ridge there are the remains of a second ancient castle, a tunnel leading to the river bank, and the ruins of an old monastery complex. The fortress was not an ordinary defensive structure, but by all indications a feudal residence, with its own church and buildings of various types and purposes. This purpose of the fortress is also indicated by the large hall occupying the western part of the courtyard and directly adjacent to the castle’s locking tower. The height of the fortress walls in some places reaches 15 meters. Powerful fence walls with two multi-story towers erected on a narrow rocky ridge enclose an elongated courtyard. The building has been preserved in the form of ruins, but the main features of its architectural appearance can be restored.
Abastumani Village (Georgian: დაბა აბასთუმანი), Adigeni Municipality (Georgian: ადიგენის მუნიციპალიტეტი)
