Abkhazia, Anakopia fortress (New Athos): description, history. Sight of New Athos: Anakopia fortress The height of the Anakopia mountain above sea level

The majestic ruins at the top of the Iveron Mountain cover an area of ​​approximately 70 thousand square meters. meters, the citadel reaches dimensions of 83 by 37 meters.


The fortress gates, made of three huge stone blocks, are quite well preserved (characteristically, they are raised quite high above ground level - one could only get inside the walls via a drawbridge), the ruins of the altar part of the temple in honor of the Great Martyr Theodore Tiron (VIII-IX centuries), fragments of seven towers on the southern slope, a watchtower (during the reconstruction of 2008, an observation deck was equipped here), as well as part of the perimeter of two rows of walls with towers and internal buildings with bas-reliefs decorating them.



Excavations revealed two more rows of walls and many other interesting elements - burials of the early Christian era, outbuildings, the remains of a small hall-type temple (X-XI centuries), kilns for burning lime and dishes, as well as for melting metal and glass.

Surprisingly, the fortress also has its own source of water in the form of an artificial well (cistern), presumably built by the first builders of Anakopia. It is adjacent to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary (St. Theodore Tyrone), built one of the first in the 6th-7th centuries, and is replenished by karst waters. There are legends that the cistern dug right into the rock is inexhaustible, and the water that fills it is healing and life-giving.

One and a half hour group tours are regularly held around the fortress, organized right on the spot, but independent visits are not prohibited (entrance - 100 rubles). You can get here by public transport from the city - along Chanba Street to the Rakushka stop, then along the serpentine road to the observation deck with parking in front of the ticket office. After visiting the fortress, you can go down the path towards the village of Anukhva and see the “Three Cauldrons” - karst formations in the form of small but deep wells with blue mountain water.



History and legends of the Anakopia fortress

In the 2nd-5th centuries, to protect the city and port, a fortress was erected on the Iverskaya (Anakopia) Mountain, at the end of the 7th century it was surrounded by an outer line of walls, and a small temple was built, but at the end of the 8th century, unrest in Byzantium, which was dominant in the region at that time, led to the creation of an independent Abazg (Western Abkhazian) kingdom. Anakopia becomes the capital and summer residence of the Abkhaz, Georgian and Ossetian noble families, and the fortress becomes the epicenter of intrigue and feudal wars, withstanding repeated attacks by the Arabs. It also put an end to Arab expansion - after a six-month siege, the troops of Murvan ibn Muhammad (Deaf), who had previously ravaged Eastern Georgia and Armenia, fled from under the walls of Anakopia. In the 14th century, the Genoese, who were actively developing the region, built a four-story watchtower in the upper part of the fortress, now called the Roman one (according to other sources, this was done by Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh in the middle of the 11th century), and somewhat modernized the entire complex. The quality of the masonry and the thoughtfulness of the entire structure led to the fact that even the events of the 20th century could not cause serious damage to this fortress, and at this moment it is considered the most fully preserved ancient fortification on the territory of Abkhazia and a symbol of its history.

Since 1990, the fortress, together with the historical and cultural complexes of the villages Anuhwa And Psyrtskhva (Psyrdzkha), Mount Athos (Akua) and adjacent territories is part of National Historical and Cultural Reserve "Anacopia". In the village of Anukhva, ancient roads with arched bridges over the Mysra (Agtsa) river, a boxwood gorge, karst formations, burial grounds and ancient settlements are protected. Also nearby are Agtsa Grotto with rock paintings, remains of several fortresses and temples from antiquity, several mountain monasteries New Athos monks. On Mount Akua (Akuya, 503 m) there is ancient sanctuary And upper station of the monastery narrow gauge railway- an ancient steam locomotive, received by the monks as a gift from the Russian Emperor Alexander III, still stands here.

The Anakopia fortress is a defensive structure located on the Anakopia Mountain in Abkhazia.


The fortress was built in the 4th-5th centuries, but despite such a considerable age, it was quite well preserved. It was created as a fortification structure, and was supposed to protect the lands from enemies. For access inside, the only gate was provided on the southern side of the citadel. The main defensive function was performed by the Roman Tower, from the top floors of which the land and sea surroundings were perfectly visible.
The power of Anakopia gradually grew: in the 4th century it was considered the largest city in the southeastern part of Abazgia (Abazgia is a region in Abkhazia, approximately between Gagra and New Athos), and in the 8th century it became the representative office of the Abkhaz rulers, the political and spiritual capital of the country. At the same time, next to the northern wall of the citadel, a temple was built in honor of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Tiron. The temple was rebuilt several times, the result of the latest transformations was a chapel built inside the temple.

Of course, you want to look at such a structure from above. But I was too lazy to carry a rather large drone along the serpentines, so I decided to start from a small area with a cafe.
So, let's get up and look around. Below on the right is New Athos, a little to the left is the triangular platform where I am. Well, Anakopia Mountain with a fortress in the center.

The tower below us is closer



Serpentine, sea...

Almost in the center of the frame is the entrance to the legendary New Athos cave, above are the Psyrtskha station and the Nofoathon Monastery


The fortress from another angle

Then the drone flew into a cloud

I wanted to fly around the mountain, but I didn’t take the terrain into account, and the moment the drone left the mountain, the analog video signal suddenly disappeared

However, control was maintained, so I sharply return back and continue the flight from the sea

Temple with chapel

View towards Gagra

with the train

On the site (if I had seen immediately where the car was standing, I would never have stood up), meanwhile, life stopped. The sellers abandoned the goods, the parking attendant stopped collecting money for parking, and a taxi driver passing by threw the car across the road... And everyone surrounded me in a tight ring, watching the flight)


When the battery was already running low, a proposal was received to “fly to that cave on the neighboring mountain.” But the prospect of climbing mountains, tracking a discharged drone at a lighthouse, did not smile at me at all). So next time!
In general, I had no luck with flights on this trip - almost all the time there was bad weather, or other factors that did not allow me to take off...

That's it for now! But we will still walk around New Athos!

What to see in Abkhazia?

The Anakopia fortress in New Athos is one of the oldest and most mysterious sights of Abkhazia. The bastion, powerful even by modern standards, rises above the city on the southern slope of the Iverskaya Mountain. Once upon a time there was a residence of the Abkhaz kings, but now the ruins of the citadel are included in a large-scale historical and architectural reserve.

The height of the Anakopia fortress above sea level- 350 meters.

The fortress has two official names, enshrined in guidebooks - Anakopia and Trachea. The second name goes back to the canonical Greek pronunciation and literally means: “rocky ground,” which is close to the truth - the path to the top is strewn with boulders.

Story

There is still no consensus on when the Iveron Peak was decorated with the walls of the ancient bastion. Most researchers agree that the fortification could have appeared in the early Middle Ages, during the period of Byzantine rule. Around the 5th century AD, the Abkhaz lands needed protection from Muslim raids, and then the construction of walls began to shelter civilians during the siege and repel enemy attacks.

Every Abkhaz knows how impregnable the fortress turned out to be. The chronicles preserved two dates - 736 and 788, when Arab commanders tried to storm the citadel. Both campaigns failed, and the defense of Anakopia became a symbol of Caucasian courage. In memory of the victory, one of the internal halls was rebuilt into the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Greek immigrant monks founded a parish here, declaring this place a miraculous Christian shrine.

But the glorious period of history ended by the 15th century, when Genoese traders bought the rights to the land, taking control of the entire Black Sea coast of the Caucasus. The Italians were unable to hold the bastion, and after 200 years it was captured by the Turks, devastating the neighboring lands and driving the Abkhazians to slave markets. Only in the 19th century, with the establishment of the Russian protectorate here and the birth of the New Athos Monastery, did they begin to restore Anakopia.

Today the fortress is an architectural and archaeological ensemble of 13 internal objects, including the ruins of walls and defensive lines, as well as a completely reconstructed eastern tower. The restoration was completed in 2008, when Abkhazia celebrated the anniversary of independence from Georgia. To this day, this is one of the key and most visited places in both New Athos and the entire republic.

An inexhaustible well in the Anakopia fortress

This is the most popular site among tourists and pilgrims inside the citadel. It is still unclear when exactly it was founded, but the people of the Caucasus mastered the principle of “inexhaustibility” in ancient times. It's all about a complex system of communicating vessels in which precipitation and morning dew accumulated - so the people inside the fortress had supplies of drinking water all year.

In the 19th century, the well was rebuilt - now moisture accumulates in it due to the temperature difference and condensation on the stone walls. The entrance was also improved - gratings typical of grottoes appeared, and the tank itself was decorated with an arch in the medieval style. It is noteworthy that guides often call this place a “pool”, because its depth is more than 3 meters. Everyone can collect the purest water, but without unnecessary zeal - it takes time to restore supplies.

How to get to the Anakopia fortress

Despite the fact that only one serpentine road leads to the top of Iverskaya Mountain, the path ahead for tourists is long and difficult. The ascent due to the constant bends of the path exceeds 3 kilometers, there are mounds of stones everywhere, and an impenetrable oak grove grows around. The closer to the goal, the steeper the cliffs - you need to walk carefully and with constant attention.

The starting point of the route is New Athos Cave, from where you need to turn onto Chanba Street and walk along the right side of the curb to the nearest intersection. This will be the beginning of the ascent; it is impossible to miss it - the place is equipped with an observation deck, which also serves as a paid parking lot. There is also an inconspicuous kiosk with a sign: “Box Office”, where tickets to the fortress territory are sold and tour guides are hired.

Then there is only one way - up the serpentine road, without turning anywhere. There are no signs; you need to follow the winding path leading to the ascent. The first 500 meters is a wide cemented path, but then it narrows, turning into a snake with potholes, boulders and “traps” in the form of carved steps. Heaped logs on the roadside serve as a warning - there is a steep cliff behind them, and you need to be extremely careful.

The approach to the fortress gate itself is marked with a modest sign, followed by several signs for orientation. You should move around the territory itself with caution - often tourist paths are blocked during excavations. The approach to the observation deck is always open, the main thing is to see the “DANGER” signs in time so as not to fall into the abyss.

How to get there by car

Due to the unrecognized status of Abkhazia, international taxi services do not operate here. You can catch a car with checkers in any area of ​​the city, and just say that you want to get to the Anakopia fortress, and the driver will already know where to go. There is one stop for everyone - this is the same parking lot near the ticket offices; it is simply impossible to go further.

For those traveling by private car, it is better to immediately follow the navigator:

coordinates - 43.092722, 40.802610.

Leaving your vehicle at the gate of the reserve costs 200 rubles. If you don’t want to pay for a parking space, you can stop below the serpentine turn at any private house and negotiate with the owners, perhaps they will agree to look after the car for free.

Since ancient times, there have been many defensive structures on the territory of Abkhazia. However, it is located in the city of New Athos that is considered the best preserved historical monument.

The majestic Anakopia fortress, whose coordinates are 43°5"40"N 40°48"29"E, was built on the top. Translated from the Abkhaz language, its name means “rugged”. And the Greeks called the fortress Trachea, which translates as “severe rocky,” so don’t be surprised if you come across the name Trachea-Anakopia in some tourist guides.

Anakopia fortress: history

This land has been attacked by aggressive neighbors since ancient times. Abkhazia has long been famous for its military defense structures. The Anakopia fortress was intended to strengthen the borders and protect against enemies. In the first centuries of our era, Transcaucasia, or rather its western part, was under the rule of the Romans. In the 3rd-4th centuries Colchis was invaded by nomadic tribes of the Huns, Goths, as well as North Caucasian highlanders.

The Roman forces stationed here during this period are used to control and subjugate the local population and protect the peripheral possessions of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire. The Abazgs and Laz were supposed to guard the passes and passages from the north. This was in the interests of the local population.

To carry out such a defense, fortresses and other military-strategic structures were required. At the turn of the early Middle Ages and ancient times, several serious fortifications appeared on the territory of Colchis, among which Anakopia occupied a special place.

The Anakopia fortress was built in the 4th-5th centuries, but, unfortunately, today we can no longer see the beautiful fortress city as it was in the distant past. Merciless time, bloody wars with brutal massacres, of which there were many throughout the life of this building, have done their job.

Description of the Anakopia fortress

Abkhazia was attractive to many neighboring peoples. The Anakopia fortress became a formidable defensive structure, occupying a fairly large area - 70 thousand square meters. It had two defensive lines (main), as well as an external defensive line.

Anacopia Mountain became the site of construction of the first line, which was a citadel 83 meters long and 37 meters wide. It must be said that for the time of construction it was a very powerful structure. The Anakopia fortress, whose height was more than five meters, and the thickness of the walls exceeded a meter, scared off many who wanted to seize these lands.

The main defensive function was assigned to the Roman Tower; from its upper positions the sea and land surroundings were clearly visible. The power of the fortress city grew over time: in the 4th century it was already considered the largest city of Abazgia, and already in the 7th century it became the residence of the Abkhaz rulers, the spiritual and political capital of the country.

Tower and walls

The tower, as well as the fortress walls of the second line, were presumably built in the 7th century. The tower is made of brick, mortar and white stone. The builders used the technique of the Byzantines and Romans, which consisted of alternating brick laying with white stone.

The two lower floors of the structure date back to the 7th century, and the upper superstructures appeared much later - in the 11th-12th centuries. Seven towers were located every sixty meters and protruded slightly from the walls. During excavations in the area of ​​the second line, objects and objects of historical value were discovered. Among them are the remains of a hall-type temple, a kiln in which lime was burned, and eleven burials performed in accordance with Christian rites.

Gates

The Anakopia fortress (New Athos) had a main gate, which was protected by a round tower. They were built from three limestone slabs and were located quite high above the ground. To get into the fortress, it was necessary to use an attached wooden staircase.

Gate tower

This structure is notable for the fact that its location and shape made it possible to fire at the enemy at an angle of almost 290°. On the second floor there are five loopholes, which are located in special niches, and an arched entrance. The combat power of this tower was due to the fact that it reliably protected the approaches to the gate.

East Tower

According to researchers, in the early thirties of the 11th century, Tsarevich Dmitry and Princess Alda took refuge in Anakopia, who surrendered the citadel to the Greek garrison. Thus, the fortress city of Anakopia and the adjacent lands came into the possession of the Byzantines for a long time.

It was at this time that the eastern tower appeared in the fortress. It served as the main command and observation post. It was the last line of defense in the event of the fall of the fortress. The tower has no architectural delights - everything is subordinated to its main functional purpose. It is built from limestone hewn blocks of fairly large sizes, which are held together with lime-gravel-sand mortar. At the base the thickness of the walls is two meters, at the highest point - 1.6 meters. An observation deck was created at the top. Today, after reconstruction, the eastern tower is open to tourists.

Well

Abkhazia attracts many guests from the countries of the former USSR. The Anakopia fortress is included in almost all tourist routes. Pilgrims are drawn here by a well with life-giving Anacopian water. It is adjacent to the temple. It is believed that this container, carved into the rock, is inexhaustible, and the water that fills it is life-giving and healing.

The well is carved into the rock and lined with limestone. In ancient times, rainwater from the roofs was collected in it, but today water flows due to the appearance of condensation on the cold walls of the “bathtub”.

The water conduit to this wonderful well was built in ancient times by the builders of the fortress. It operated on the principle of communicating vessels. Presumably, such a water pipeline could be installed in a ditch dug on the slopes of the Iverskaya and Athos mountains. It passed through the valley located between them under the river, and was later disguised by earth.

Temple of Theodore Tyrone

Abkhazia is famous for its many ancient religious buildings. The Anakopia fortress had its own temple, which was located on the top of the Anakopia mountain. The temple was built in the 6th-7th centuries in the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From the chronicles of the 11th century, which describe the battle with the Arabs near the walls of Anakopia in the thirties of the 8th century, it follows that the Anakopian icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary had miraculous powers that protected the inhabitants of the fortress.

There is an assumption that there was another temple on the slopes of the mountain, but it has not survived. In the 11th century, the temple was rebuilt and consecrated in the name of This is confirmed by the epigraphic monument discovered in the fortress. Abkhazia (Anakopia fortress) still attracts historians. In our time, the remains of the temple buildings of the fortress from different times have not yet been fully studied, due to the lack of comprehensive large-scale architectural and archaeological research and written evidence. In this regard, numerous scientific disputes arise, but all experts agree that the temple was rebuilt many times.

Scientists are sure that the latest changes in the temple were carried out by the monks of the New Athos Monastery. This happened at the beginning of the 20th century. He cleared the rubble of the southern aisle of the cathedral, as well as the adjacent room (on the eastern side). Its purpose has not yet been clarified.

A small chapel was built inside the temple. In addition, minor changes affected the layout of the surrounding area. Some sections of the walls were completed.

Facade

The facade of this early Christian structure was decorated with only one slab, on which three crosses were depicted. It was located under the arch. Three crosses symbolized the Great Trinity. Some researchers believe that these are symbols of Christ, John the Baptist and the Mother of God.

Reconstruction

In 2008, the reconstruction of the fortress was completed. As a result, the watchtower was restored and an observation deck appeared on it. True, many tourists believe that after restoration work the tower began to resemble a remake. The slopes of Apsara Mountain and the hiking trail leading to the top were put in order.

How to get there?

We hope that you are interested in the Anakopia fortress (Abkhazia). How to get here? Quite simple. Today, from New Athos to the fortress, a landmark for travelers is a stop in the form of a huge shell, by the way, it is called “Shell”.

Near it, turn towards Iverskaya Mountain and follow the asphalt serpentine road past the famous one. Then you should turn onto Chanba Street and continue driving uphill. Soon you will see an observation deck and a car park with a seating area. Here you can leave your car, buy tickets at the box office and join a tour group. A professional guide will accompany you on the excursion, which will last one and a half hours.

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    Among the many attractions of Abkhazia, the majestic Anakopia fortress, built on the top of the Iverskaya Mountain, especially stands out. From the Abkhaz language the name of this fortification is translated as “rugged”. Native speakers of Greek called the fortress “Trachea”, which means “severe rocky”, so don’t be surprised if you come across the name “Trachea Anakopia” in tourist sources.

    The Anakopia fortress was created as a fortification structure and was supposed to protect the lands from enemies. For access inside, the only gate was provided on the southern side of the citadel.

    History of the Anakopia fortress

    The Anakopia fortress was built in the 4th-5th centuries, but despite such a considerable age, it has been fairly well preserved. Of course, time could not pass without a trace, and today we will no longer see the beautiful fortress city in the formidable form in which the Anakopia fortress appeared in the distant past. Bloody wars and brutal massacres, of which there were many throughout the life of this fortress, became a faithful ally of merciless time in the matter of destruction.

    Anakopia fortress

    So, the Anakopia fortress was created as a fortification structure and was supposed to protect the lands from enemies. For access inside, the only gate was provided on the southern side of the citadel. The main defensive function was performed by the Roman Tower, from the top floors of which the land and sea surroundings were perfectly visible. The power of Anakopia gradually grew: in the 4th century it was considered the largest city in the southeastern part of Abazgia, and in the 8th century it became the representative office of the Abkhaz rulers, the political and spiritual capital of the country. At the same time, next to the northern wall of the citadel, a temple was built in honor of the Holy Great Martyr Theodore Tiron. The temple was rebuilt several times, the result of the latest transformations was a chapel built inside the temple.

    Only minor fragments remain of the temple itself, but the chapel can still be seen today.

    The main center of attraction for pilgrims is considered to be the “wonderful” well with living Anacopian water. It is adjacent to the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, one of the earliest built in the 6th-7th centuries. There are legends that this cistern, dug right into the rock, is inexhaustible, and the water that fills it is healing and life-giving.

    As a result of large-scale reconstruction, which ended in 2008, the watchtower was restored, on which an observation deck was built. The slopes of Apsara Mountain with a hiking trail leading to the top were also put in order.

    Tourist information

    For those who plan to get to the Anakopia fortress on their own, the main landmark will be a stop made in the form of a huge shell and decorated with mosaics, it is called “Shell”. Near the stop we turn towards Iverskaya Mountain and drive along an asphalt serpentine road past the New Athos Cave, then turn onto Chanba Street and continue moving uphill. Soon on your way you will come across an observation deck with car parking and a recreation area. Here we leave the car, buy tickets at the ticket office and, if you are lucky and there are at least a dozen tourists, we join the excursion group and, under the command of a guide, go on an hour and a half excursion.

    Entrance: 200 RUB. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

     

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