- Type
- Fortress
- Origins
- 15th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Coordinates
- 42.0136°, 45.6703°
History
In the 15th century Gremi grew into a busy trading town on the caravan routes and became the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti, which had broken away from a united Georgia. It flourished above all under King Levan, who in 1565 founded the Church of the Holy Archangels on the hill above the town, enclosed by the walls of a citadel. A palace tower stood beside it, while the town spread below with its bazaar, baths and caravanserais. In 1615 the armies of the Persian Shah Abbas I ravaged Kakheti and razed Gremi. The kings moved their capital to Telavi, and only the fortified citadel survived of the town.
What to see
The hilltop is crowned by the brick Church of the Archangels, with its dome and murals of 1577, alongside a bell tower and the three-storey royal tower housing a small museum. Walls with towers and a gateway enclose the complex. From the ramparts there are views over the Alazani valley to the Caucasus ridge, and remains of the old town lie at the foot of the hill.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q1783374
Popularity: articles about this site in 20 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).