Ananuri

Ananuri

Ananuri is a beautiful castle complex located on the Aragvi River in the municipality of Dusheti, Georgia, about 72 kilometers away from Tbilisi. The castle was the scene of many battles in the past. In 1739, Ananuri was attacked and burned by troops from a rival duchy, commanded by the Shanshe of Ksani, and the Aragvi clan was slaughtered. But four years later, the local farmers rose up against the Shanshe rule, killed the usurper, and demanded direct rule from Teimuraz II. But by 1746, with the help of King Erekle II of Kakheti, King Teimuraz was faced with another peasant uprising. Thereafter, the fort was used until the early 19th century. The complex was inscribed in 2007 on UNESCO's provisional list for inscription on the World Heritage Site List. The name of the castle is the name of a woman whose name is Ana and who is now a legend. During the siege of the castle, the enemy were unable to take the castle because of a secret tunnel that led to the water, allowing them to bring food and water to the people who were sheltering in the castle. Eventually, the enemy captured Ana, who belonged to the Nuri, and tortured her to reveal where the tunnel was located. However, the woman's choice was death rather than revelation of the secret. This is why the castle is called Ananuri.