Gremi, Medieval citadel in Kakheti, Georgia
Gremi is a medieval citadel in Kakheti, Georgia, which includes a three-story castle, a bell tower, and the Church of Archangels with red brick domes and carved stone decorations. The church stands inside the castle walls, and its domes rise above the surrounding grounds.
The fortress served as the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti from 1466 to 1616, when Persian armies destroyed most of the buildings. Afterward, power and trade shifted to other places in the region, and only the church complex was rebuilt.
The site takes its name from the old trading town that once spread below the hill. Visitors can study the church interior walls, where paintings show the royal couple and members of their court.
The grounds stand on a hill overlooking the surrounding vineyards and fields, and a path leads from the entrance up to the church. Inside the castle is a small museum displaying finds from excavations carried out between 1939 and 1949.
The construction combines Georgian, Persian, and Armenian design elements, which reflect the trading connections of medieval Kakheti. Some stone carvings show patterns rarely found in other parts of the Caucasus.
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