Narikala Fortress, Tbilisi

The history of the Narikala Fortress

The first mention of it dates back to the middle of the IV century. It was originally a Persian citadel, but then passed to the Arabs, who expanded it in the VII and VIII centuries by building the tallest observation tower. In the XI century, the king David IV the Builder rebuilt Narikala, and already in the XIII centuries the fortress was captured by the Mongols. The history of Tbilisi is connected with subsequent events, including the capture of the Ottoman Empire, the raids of the Avars and the invasion of the Iranian Shah Qajar. For many centuries, the fortress was completed, because it was one of the most important defensive fortifications: many extensions date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. But after the earthquake of 1827, most of the buildings were lost.

In 1996, the fortress was partially reconstructed. Now it consists of two parts: upper and lower reinforcement.

St. Nicholas Church

There is the church of St. Nicholas inside the walls of the fortress , which was originally built in the XIII century, but turned into ruins after the earthquake of 1827. In 1996, the temple was built almost from scratch, but the restorers managed to transfer parts of the fragments of the lost church to a new temple.

How to get there

The Narikala Fortress can be reached by cable car from Rike Park at the entrance from Europa Square, or by a 1.5 km long walking route. Both options will allow you to enjoy views of both the fortress and Tbilisi from different angles.

The cost of entry

Admission is free