Batonistsikhe

Status: Protected by the state
Date of foundation: 1667-1675.
Condition: Good
From Tbilisi: 95 km / 1 h 42 min

Batonis-tsikhe fortress (Fortress of the Master) is the only surviving royal palace in Georgia. The complex, located in the city of Telavi, with its architectural and historical features, is a wonderful monument of cultural heritage. The Persian-style architectural complex (similar to the Kerim Khan fortress, Iran) includes: the palace of the Kakheti kings, the Church of Erekle II, the Archila Church,a prison fence, a bathhouse and a tunnel in the area palace

The construction of the Batonis-tsikhe architectural complex is conditionally divided into two stages. At the first stage of construction (1667-1675 – Archil’s reign), theMemorial Palace of Heraclius II(Palace of the Kakheti Kings),Eastern Gateand a bathhouse were built. In the second phase of construction, which covers the second half of the 18th century, theChurch of Heraclius IIwas built with round columns in the corner of the fence and theWest Gate.

The complex, which occupied up to 3 hectares of area in plan, is an elongated, uneven rectangular shape. It is surrounded by a high fence built of cobblestones, typical of Kakheti architecture of the late Middle Ages. Batonis-tsikhe was not only a residential ensemble of kings, but also had a great military purpose: the historical fence protected the city from invasions during the reign of King Heraclius and provided reliable protection for the population.

The territory of the complex was divided into two parts – western and eastern, which are still preserved. It is believed that large areas in the west served as fortresses. Its area is more than 1.5 hectares, which indicates the existence of a royal ensemble. And the eastern part is an internal fortress with an area of more than one hectare.