Akhaltsikhe

Introducing Akhaltsikhe

The capital and biggest town of Samtskhe-Javakheti, Akhaltsikhe means ‘New Castle’ in Georgian. In fact, far from being new, the castle that dominates the town dates from the 12th century. The local power in Akhaltsikhe from the 13th to 17th centuries was the Jakeli family, but from 1688 until 1828 it was the centre of a pashalik (an Ottoman administrative area governed by a pasha). Little of Akhaltsikhe’s Soviet-era industry remains, and unemployment is high, but it’s a pleasant enough place, mostly used by travellers as a staging post for the cave city at Vardzia and the beautiful Sapara Monastery.

The bus station is on a square on the north side of the Potskhovi River. Cross the bridge over the river and bear right at two forks and you’ll be on the main street, Kostava.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009