Rabati Castle is a medieval fortress built in the 9th century under the name "Lomisa Castle" in the city of Akhaltsikhe in southern Georgia, recently globally reconstructed. One of the main attractions of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region along with Vardzia caves
We have been visiting Rabati occasionally here and then, so did happen at the end of September 2020, we were on a day trip to the Borjomi, when decided to come here, luckily I was equipped with my DJI Mavic mini drone and made a few nice drone photos.
Rabati fortress complex
In May 2011, the reconstruction of the Rabati fortress began, which was accompanied by the restoration and completion of many buildings that were destroyed in time immemorial. For this purpose, the Government of Georgia allocated 34 million lari from the state budget. As part of the project, the Akhmediye Mosque, the mosque minaret, the madrasah, the Jakeli castle, baths, the citadel, the walls of the fortress and the Orthodox Church were updated on the territory of the fortress. The tunnel leading to the Potskhovi River was also restored. As part of the project, two main streets of the fortress were repaired, a pavement was equipped, and the facades and roofs of buildings were restored.
Rabati fortress complex
According to the Georgian Chronicles the city was established in the 9th century by Guaram Mampal, son of the King of Tao. At the end of the 12th century Lomisa turned into a real city with the new name Akhal-tsikhe (New Fortress), which in addition to the fortress had a serious system of city-wide fortifications – high walls, guarded entrance gates and watch towers. From the 13th to the end of 14th centuries it was the capital city of Samtskhe-Saatabago, ruled by the Georgian princely (mtavari) family and a ruling dynasty of the Principality of Samtskhe, the House of Jaqeli.