Top 11 Castles in the Greater Caucasus

I found it very impressive. However, I didn't dare to climb in, especially using the strange ladder

Dartlo is considered the most beautiful mountain village in Tusheti. And rightly so. There are also a few hotels and cafes with WiFi. It is fun to climb through the small village in search of beautiful photo motifs. You can also camp below the village.

Mutso towers high above the river and looks truly defensive.

The old town of Sheki with the Khan's Palace is a historical center of sericulture. Shaped by various cultural influences, its architecture reflects Safavid, Qajar and Russian building traditions. In July 2019, the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List at the 43rd session of the World Heritage Committee in Baku. Source: https://www.unesco.de/kultur-und-natur/welterbe/welterbe-weltweit/altstadt-von-seki-mit-khanspalast

The architectural complex is the only surviving royal palace in Georgia. The complex, with its architectural-historical features, is a remarkable monument of cultural heritage. The museum complex includes: the palace of the King of Kakheti XVII-XVIII centuries, the churches of the King’s Gate X-XVIII centuries, the remains of the philosophical-theological school founded by Erekle, the King’s bath – XVII century, the tunnel in the palace – XVIII century. , Unique gates on the east and west sides. New modern standards building opened in 2018 . The museum also preserves: Numismatic material, pre-feudal sarcophagus, late medieval armor, 17th-19th century copper household items, ammunition, Khevsurian garment collections, rich collections of rugs, manuscripts, books printed in King Erekle’s printing house, fine art. Among them: Dutch, French, German, Russian (works of I. Aivazovsky, A. Kramskoi and other artists of the “Peredvizhniks” period) samples of paintings and small sculptures of the XIX century, as well as Georgian artists (El. Works of Khutsishvili et al.). Source and more information: https://georgianmuseums.ge/en/museum/telavi-historical-museum/

House-museum of King Erekle II (Erekle's palace) - Founded in 1927 as a museum of local lore. It is Located in the Kakheti region, in the city of Telavi. The architectural complex of "Batonis Tsikhe” is a castle which still remains as the only Royal Palace in Georgia. The complex is a remarkable monument of cultural heritage with its architectural-historical features. Museum complex embraces: XVII-XVIII c.c Royal Palace of the king of Kakheti, X-XVIII c.c churches of the court of the king, the remains of the philosophical and theological schools founded by Erekle, XVII centuries' King's Bath, tunnel paved on the territory of the palace - XVIII century, unique gates of the East and West Side. In the museum there are also preserved: numismatic material, early medieval sarcophagus, late medieval armor, collections of XVII-XIX c.c. copper household objects, weapons, Khevsureti clothes, rich collections of rugs, manuscripts, books printed in King Erekles’ press, interesting patterns of art, including: XIX c, Dutch, German, Russian (I. Aivazovsky, A. Kramskoi and the works of other artists of the "peredvizhniki" period),paintings and small plastic samples, as well as Georgian painters (E. Akhvlediani, L. Gudiashvili, J. Khutsishvili and others ) works. The palace known as "Batonis Tsikhe" was the residence of the kings of Kakheti. The church of the palace, the east door and the bath are built in the period of Archil. In the second half of the XVIII century, Erekle II built a huge curtain wall around the palace, the height of which reached five meters. According to the chronicler Papuna Orbeliani, the King Erekle completed the construction of Telavi curtain wall in 1753. Except the main door, the fortress had other standby entrances as well, one in the south and another one in the north. King Erekles’ church is built in 1758. Beside the church, it also performed a defensive function.It had an embrasure under the roof. There is a big pier with a distance of about 10 meters from the church. It reaches 14 meters and there is no similar pier in Georgia. It was built by the Queen Darejan and until the 40s of the XIX century there was a 8-meter long cannon that was always ready to repel the enemy. Source: https://georgiantravelguide.com/en/house-museum-of-king-erekle-ii-erekle-s-palace

Sheki Fortress was substantially built during the reign of Sheki Khan Haki Celebi (1743-1755). Sheki Fortress was the khan’s citadel in Sheki (or Shaki), which was the capital of the Sheki Khanate until absorbed by the Russian Empire in the 19th century. The fortress features northern and southern gates, and numerous defensive bastions. Approximately 40 buildings were constructed inside the fortress walls, which extend to some 1,300 metres, at 2.2 metres thick. Sheki Fortress once included a winter palace, residences for the khan’s family and servant’s quarters. At the height of the khanate, the fortress contained public and commercial structures of the city. Source: https://www.historyhit.com/locations/sheki-fortress/

Khan's Palace (Xan Sarayı), Giləhli. Former summer palace in the citadel of the Khans, built in 1797. Only surviving wing. Numerous frescoes worth seeing. Used by the Tsar's governors from the 1850s. Beautified in 1895/6 and 1902. Some years ago somewhat sterilely renovated. Group tours for viewing, photography is prohibited. Source: https://de.m.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Sheki