Aerial videos of fortresses, churches and landscapes

[AerialExplorer]

Hey everyone,

 

So I have been working long and hard all summer to perfect my drone for capturing aerial video and here is some of the shots I have captured over the summer.

 

 

 

[eightyknots]

Hey everyone,So I have been working long and hard all summer to perfect my drone for capturing aerial video and here is some of the shots I have captured over the summer.

 

Hi Aerial Explorer: that is really nice! Keep the pictures coming!!

 

 

[eightyknots]

I see that this is your first post too, so welcome to the Forum

 

 

[planedriver]

Yes , and I love your very appropriate avitar.

 

 

[Head in the clouds]

Welcome.

 

Excellent work AerialEx, I subscribed and watched quite a number of your videos. Great choice of music on all of them too.

 

I liked the vertical up reveals. A 360 panorama might benefit in some of the locations, Khikhani for example, such beautiful scenery. You have some nice close-ups, maybe the best at Gonio.

 

It's really pleasing to see these ancient treasures being preserved and restored. Perhaps just slightly disappointing to see Gremi rebuilt in brick instead of the original stonework, but better that, than let it go to further ruin.

 

Thanks, and keep up the good work!

 

 

[AerialExplorer]

Thank you all for your comments

 

 

 

[AerialExplorer]

[AerialExplorer]

 

Petra Fortress (Georgian: პეტრას ციხე) is located in the village of Tsikhisdziri in the Kobuleti district of Ajara. Built during the 6th century A.D., it held an important strategic position at the crossroads of the route linking Georgia with Iran and Armenia. The fortress is one of the most significant monuments on the entire eastern coast of the Black Sea.

 

Situated on a rocky outcrop beside the shore of the Black Sea, Petra was considered to be an impregnable fortress. Its name originated from the Greek word “Petra” – meaning rock, stone.

 

Some historians consider the fortress to be the “Hell’s Castle” referred to in the famous “The Knight in the Panther’s Skin” poem (Georgian: ვეფხისტყაოსანი) by Shota Rustaveli.Archaeological excavations have revealed that the site has been settled since at least the Late Bronze Age.Although the fortress is in ruins today, the remains of a small hall-style 10th century church can be found in the center of the complex.A larger basilica-type church did exist on the site and is believed to be Petra Cathedral Church, which dates to the 6th century.

 

 

[AerialExplorer]

 

Samtavro St. Nino’s Monastery was built on the place called ‘Zemo Ecclesia’ (Upper Church). It was located in the capital city of the Eastern Georgian Kingdom Iberia Mtskheta in 30s of the 4th century. The first Christian royal couple - King Mirian and Qween Nana are buried here. Since the 480s Samtavro became an Episcopal see. Since the beginning of 19th century it has become a convent.

 

The present Samtavro Transfiguration Orthodox Church was built in the 1030-1040s in the town Mtskheta. The preserved mural paintings in the altar conch and in the dome are dated to the mid-17th century. The archeological excavations revealed the remains of a large church that had been standing here before 11th century.

 

Eastwards of the Church there is a small early medieval church of St. Nino. Its mural paintings are dated to 19th century. On the North of the Church there is a three storied bell tower of 15-16th centuries. A cylindrical tower of 18th century is preserved in the wall of the monastery that was restored in 19th century.

 

Samtavro convent, together with other historical monuments of Mtskheta has been inscribed upon the World Heritage List of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage since 1994.

 

 

[eightyknots]

Some nice "recreational flying" with your drone, AerialExplorer .

 

 

[AerialExplorer]

 

For some time Bochorma used to be one the largest fortresses in Kakheti. It is located at the Gombori Pass on the road from Inner Kakheti to the capital. Nowadays the ruins of this once magnificent stronghold are covered by a dense forest of centuries-old trees. Its origin is still unknown. The first reference dates back to the beginning of the 10th century. It seems that it underwent multiple changes in later centuries and reached the age of late feudalism in a sadly damaged state. It is known that in mid 1700s Erekle II restored Bochorma fortress and it is the traces of these works we can see now.

 

The old and newer walls of the fortress have been designed in a way that they followed the highly sophisticated landscape of the hill, thus making access to the town extremely difficult for the enemy. The entrance was located in the eastern side where the fortress is relatively easily accessible.

 

The fortress has two main parts. The citadel was built on the hill and served as a residential castle and hub of the stronghold. The now extant ruins include the remains of a formerly two-storey palace inside the citadel, with two halls, archs and fireplaces. The citadel also contained a cylindrical tower that has a good view of the gorges nearby.

 

The highest point of the fortress is occupied by the King’s Hall connected with the citadel with a 2 m wide inner lane. The palace offers a truly unforgettable view.

 

Military importance and security of Bochorma Fortress cannot be underestimated. In the mid 18th century, when Kartl-Kakheti Kingdom was frequently invaded by Lezghins, King Erekle II travelled personally to Kakheti to build Choeti Fortress and restore and fortify Bochorma. Historical records of the 18th century indicate that during one of the invasions of the enemy the king himself decided to send Queen Anna from Martkopi to Bochorma and called on the princes and lords to use the fortress as a shelter for their families.

 

Archaeological evidence indicates that Bochorma Fortress stayed a functioning fortification until the end of the 18th century.

 

 

[AerialExplorer]

City-fortress Ujarma is situated on the right bank of the river Iori, in 45 km to the east of Tbilisi on Gombory Range. Three main periods of construction are defined. In the second half of the 5th century, famous Vakhtang Gorgasal ‘erected numerous buildings in Ujarma’ and moved his residence there. After Vakhtang’s death, his heir Dachi was ruling Kakheti for some period from here. In the 10th century Ujarma was destroyed by Arabian forces of Abul Kassim. In the 13th century, the fortress was restored by King George III, where he arranged treasury.

 

City-fortress consists of two parts: citadel, located on the plateau of the rocky hill and city on the slope.

 

City was surrounded by the powerful protective wall with nine quadrangular towers. The towers are three-storied, covered by tiled roof with loop-holes. City gates were in the first tower.

 

A royal palace – two-storied building with a vault - was located in the eastern part of citadel. Premises were illuminated by big and broad windows and they had hanging balconies.

 

In the middle part of the citadel was ancient church ‘Jvar-Patiosani’ (Church of the Fair Cross). There were dwelling outhouses opposite the church and big reservoirs to keep water.

 

The whole main system of protection was established in the epoch of Vakhtang Gorgasal. Ujarma is referred to the best samples of fortification constructions of the ancient Georgia.

 

In the second period (12th century) the destroyed walls were restored and new fortifications and dwelling places were constructed.

 

The third period (17th – 18th cc) was represented restoration of destroyed parts of the citadel’s walls.

 

Nowadays, other restoration works are taking place.

 

 

[AerialExplorer]

 

Краткий исторический очерк

 

Маткопский монастырь Хвтаэба («Спаса») был основан ещё в VI веке одним из тринадцати ассирийских отцов, Антоном, который прибыл в этот уголок Картли, называемый в те древние времена Акриани, и поселился в одиночестве, вдали от суеты мира. Поэтому в народе его прозвали «Мартомкопели» («живущий в одиночестве») и вскоре местность стала называться в честь старца Марткопи. Вокруг Антона вскоре собаралсь группа учеников, которая и стала основой учрежденного тут первого монастыря.

 

Согласно историческим летописям, Марткопский монастырь всегда считался уважаемым культовым местом, и когда в 1265 году монголы разорили город Рустави, местный архиепископ перенес свою резиденцию именно сюда, в Марткопи. Во время нашествия Тамерлана 1395 года монастырь подвергся страшному опустошению. Именно в это время был утерян образ Спаса, который привез с собой в Грузию святой Антон, и от которого пошло название церкви Хвтаеба.

 

В 20-х годах XVIII века здесь скрывался бежавший из турецкого плена кахетинский царь Константин II. Преследуя его, турецкое войско напало на Марткопи, опустошив монастырь и его окрестности. В 1752 году в результате набегов лезгин прекратило существование училище, существовавшее при монастыре с давних пор.

 

В 1918 году здесь был убит каталикос-патриарх Грузии, Кирион II.

 

Духовная жизнь в Марткопи продолжалассь до 1936 года, после чего монастырь закрыли. В 50-60-х годах здесь функционировал приют для бездомных детей, а затем его переделали а санаторий для труженников авиазавода. В настоящее время Марткопи действующий мужской монастырь.

 

Сегодняшнее состояние

 

Монастырский комплекс состоит из нескольких сооружений и окружен внушительной каменной стеной оборонительного плана, о чем свидетельствуют прорезанные в ней многочисленные амбразуры. В лучшие годы длина этого укрепления составляла почти полтора километра, высота стены — 8 метров, а толщина — 2 метра. Разрушили ее лезгины в 1752 году, и до сегодняшнего дня дошла только ее часть. Внутри стены несколько строений — главный храм Хвтаэба, часовня, жилища монахов. Башня святого Антона, в которой старец прожил 15 лет, находится восточнее от комплекса, на вершине холма, Если подняться на нее, оттуда открывается впечатляющий вид и на сам Марткопский монастрь и на его окрестности. Могила святого Антона находится в северной части храма Хвтаэба.

 

До башни можно прогуляться пешком. Маршрут лесной, красивый. Машины тут ходят (есть объездная грунтовая дорога), но не имеет смысла променять прогулку по лесу на тряске по грунтовой дороге. Тем более, что если идти медленным шагом до башни можно добраться меньше чем за полчаса. Там же ещё одна древняя церквушка, также относящаяся к комплексу.

 

 

[pmccarthy]

The quality of these videos is amazing.

 

 

[Guest Howard Hughes]

Very impressive, what equipment are you using?

 

 

[AerialExplorer]

Very impressive, what equipment are you using?

Thank you

 

Drone inspire 1

 

Zenmuse X3 Gimbal and Camera

 

 

Gremi (Georgian: გრემი) is a 16th-century architectural monument – the royal citadel and the Church of the Archangels – in Kakheti, Georgia. The complex is what has survived from the once flourishing town of Gremi and is located east of the present-day village of the same name in the Kvareli district, 175 kilometers east of Tbilisi, capital of Georgia.

 

History

 

Gremi was the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti in the 16th and 17th centuries. Founded by Levan of Kakheti, it functioned as a lively trading town on the Silk Road and royal residence until being razed to the ground by the armies of Shah Abbas I of Persia in 1615. The town never regained its past prosperity and the kings of Kakheti transferred their capital to Telavi in the mid-17th century. There was big Armenian population. The Russian diplomat Fedor Volkonsky, who was here in the 17th century, said: "Armenians have own church and market behind one was other church". He also said about 10 Armenian churches near the palace of king.

 

The town appears to have occupied the area of approximately 40 hectares and to have been composed of three principal parts – the Archangels’ Church complex, the royal residence and the commercial neighborhood. Systematic archaeological studies of the area guided by A. Mamulashvili and P. Zak’araia were carried out in 1939-1949 and 1963-1967, respectively. Since 2007, the monuments of Gremi have been proposed for inclusion into the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

 

Architecture

 

The Archangels’ Church complex is located on a hill and composed of the Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel itself, a three-story castle, a bell tower and a wine cellar (marani). It is encircled by a wall secured by embrasures, turrets and towers. Remains of the secret tunnel leading to the Ints’obi River have also survived.

 

The Church of the Archangels was constructed at the behest of King Levan of Kakheti (r. 1520–1574) in 1565 and frescoed by 1577. It is a cruciform domed church built chiefly of stone. Its design marries traditional Georgian masonry with a local interpretation of the contemporary Iranian architectural taste.[2] The building has three entrances, one facing west, one facing to the south, and the third facing to the north. The interior is crowned with a dome supported by the corners of the sanctuary and two basic piers. The façade is divided into three arched sections. The dome sits on an arcaded drum which is punctured by eight windows.

 

The bell-tower also houses a museum where several archaeological artifacts and the 16th-century cannon are displayed. The walls are adorned with a series of portraits of the kings of Kakheti by the modern Georgian painter Levan Chogoshvili (1985).

 

 

[AerialExplorer]

 

Кварельская крепость является одной из главных исторический достопримечательностей солнечного города в Грузии. Вам будет интересно узнать, что она была построена ещё в 18 веке и служила главной защитой для местных жителей. Крепостные стены сделаны из серого камня, а их высота достигает более 3 метров.

 

С этим местом связан один интересный факт. Великий аварский вождь Нурсал-Бек, который захватил многие города и сооружения подобного рода, в 1755 году не смог справиться с могущественной Кварельской крепостью. Благодаря чему город и многие жизни населения были сохранены.

 

На данный момент здесь находится футбольное поле, где проходят дружественные встречи местных команд, а также многие фестивали, ярмарки, концерты и другие интересные события.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

Thank you for an amazing tour of some of your country's historic landmarks. Amazing quality video and wonderful music. For armchair travellers like me, even better than National Geographic!

 

 

[AerialExplorer]

Thank you for an amazing tour of some of your country's historic landmarks. Amazing quality video and wonderful music. For armchair travellers like me, even better than National Geographic!

Thank you for your interest

 

 

“Bebris Tsikhe" is an early to mid centuries castle in Kartli. It used to block the north side road of Aragvi ravine, this road went to Mtskheta. Vakhushti Bagrationi called it 'Belta Fortress.' The main part of the fortress was a citadel, which was surrounded by a triangular yard. There used to be three castles at three angles. There is archaeological evidence that there are antique and feudal age layers.

 

According to legend, this castle once belonged to a noble man named Simon. Simon had two children. One of his children was the beautiful Makrine and the other the heartless Mamuka. After the death of Simon, Mamuka charged local peasants at a high tax rate. Makrine felt sorry for the peasants, and asked Mamuka to lower their tax rate. Mamuka became furious at the request and locked Makrine in the castle.

 

One day, while some very watery and tasteless soup was being made for the peasants, a group of crows fell into the saucepans. Peasants poured all the soup away. Mamuka became very angry at seeing the waste of food. Mamuka began to chase the peasants.

 

Suddenly snakes came out of the saucepans and began circling Mamuka.

 

Mamuka feared for his life, and called out to God: “Help me and I will build you a church!”

 

Makrine witnessed this entire episode and began to pray. God heard this prayer and Mamuka and Makrine began living a religious life. Makrine became a nun and Mamuka became a monk.

 

Makrine ended up dying at 70 years of age. On the day of her funeral, a white bearded man visited her body, kissed her forehead, and said: “My sister, we have fulfilled our promise!”

 

After saying these words, he fell down and died. This is why this fortress is called “Bebris Tsikhe,” which means “The Elder’s Fortress.”

 

That's the legend of Bebris Tsikhe.

 

 

[AerialExplorer]

 

Subsequently, Surami declined but retained its lively trading post as well as the fortress which was reconstructed in the 16th and 17th centuries. By the mid-18th century, according to Prince Vakhushti, Surami had 200 households of Georgians, Armenians and Jews. In the 1740s, Surami was used by Prince Givi Amilakhvari as his base against King Teimuraz II and Persians. After the prince’s surrender in 1745, the fortress was demolished, but later restored and exploited by the Russo-Georgian troops in anti-Ottoman operations during the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774). After the Russian annexation of Georgia in 1801, Surami housed a military post and was later popularized as a mountain climatic resort. In 1926, it acquired the status of "urban-type settlement"

 

The Legend of the Suram Fortress

 

An old legend has it that the walls of the Surami Fortress owe their sturdiness to the fact that they have a man buried within them – a mother’s only child by the name of Zurab. According to the legend’s narrative, the original builders had constant trouble putting up the walls of the fortress. No matter how well they built it, the walls kept crumbling for no apparent reason. A fortune-teller told them that the walls would not hold unless a young man, an only child, was bricked up within them. It was very hard for Zurab’s mother to part with her son, but she agreed to it out of love for her homeland (and a probably touch of old-fashioned pagan beliefs). She was present as her son was being buried alive by workers, calling to him until he was no longer able to respond. True to the prophecy, the walls of the fortress held after Zurab’s sacrifice.

 

 

[AerialExplorer]

 

The Zarzma Monastery of Transfiguration (Georgian: ზარზმის მონასტერი, zarzmis p'erists'valebis monasteri) is a medieval Orthodox Christian monastery located at the village of Zarzma in Samtskhe-Javakheti region, southwest Georgia.

 

The Zarzma monastery is nested in the forested river valley of Kvabliani in the Adigeni municipality, 30 km west of the city of Akhaltsikhe. It is the complex of a series of buildings dominated by a domed church and a belfry, one of the largest in Georgia.

 

The earliest church on the site was probably built in the 8th century, by the monk Serapion whose life is related in the hagiographic novel by Basil of Zarzma. According to his source, the great nobleman Giorgi Chorchaneli made significant donation – including villages and estates – to the monastery. The extant edifice dates from the early years of the 14th century, however. Its construction was sponsored by Beka I, Prince of Samtskhe and Lord High Mandator of Georgia of the Jaqeli family. What has survived from the earlier monastery is the late 10th-century Georgian inscription inserted in the chapel's entrance arch. The inscription reports the military aid rendered by Georgian nobles to the Byzantine emperor Basil II against the rebellious general Bardas Sclerus in 979.In 1544, the new patrons of the monastery – the Khursidze family – refurnished the monastery.

 

The façades of the church are richly decorated and the interior is frescoed. Apart from the religious cycles of the murals there are a series of portraits of the 14th-century Jaqeli family as well as of the historical figures of the 16th century. After the Ottoman conquest of the area later in the 16th century, the monastery was abandoned and lay in disrepair until the early 20th century, when it was reconstructed, but some of the unique characteristics of the design were lost in the process.

 

Currently, the monastery is functional and houses a community of Georgian monks. It is also the site of pilgrimage and tourism.

 

A smaller replica of the Zarzma church, known as Akhali Zarzma ("New Zarzma") is located in the same municipality, near Abastumani. It was commissioned by Grand Duke George Alexandrovich, a member of the Russian imperial family, from the Tbilisi-based architect Otto Jacob Simons who built it between 1899 and 1902, marrying a medieval Georgian design with the contemporaneous architectural forms. Its interior was frescoed by the Russian painter Mikhail Nesterov.

 

 

[AerialExplorer]

 

Khertvisi fortress (Georgian: ხერთვისის ციხე) is one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia and was functional throughout the Georgian feudal period. It is situated in Southern Georgia, in Meskheti region. The fortress was first build in the 2nd century BC. The church was built in 985, and the present walls build in 1354. As the legend says, Khertvisi was destroyed by Alexander the Great.

 

In the 10th-11th centuries it was the center of Meskheti region. During the 12th century it became a town. In the 13th century Mongols destroyed it and until the 15th century it lost its power. In the 15th century it was owned by Meskheti landlords from Jakeli family. In the 16th century the southern region of Georgia was invaded by Turks. During next 300 years they have owned Khertvisi too.

 

Name Khertvisi comes from the verb designating the confluence of two rivers. In ancient times, during the march to the east, Alexander the Great saw the city-fortress Khertvisi.

 

Khertvisi fortress is a well-preserved complex construction. The buildings that is prreserved to this day belong to the X-XIX centuries. The fortress consists of two main parts - the citadel and the wall. The Citadel occupies a narrow ledge that is protected by a high vertical cliff. The towers of the fortress are well protected and standing out is the main tower - a building constructed of well-crafted and stacked stones. Also should be noted is the five-sided turret which protects the east side. The fortress is supplied with drinking water through a tunnel, attached from the northwest.

 

Khertvisi was repeatedly rebuilt. In 1356-1356, Zakaria Kamkamishvili, Treasurer of the King, built the tower and wall. In the XVI century the fortress belonged to the feudal family Hertvisari. In 1578 the Turks captured Khertvisi with other fortresses of Samtskhe - Saatabago. In 1828-1829, after the victory of Russia over Turkey, the fortress was returned to Georgia. At that time, Khertvisi, along with other Georgian fortresses, lost its strategic importance.

 

Since 2007, the Khertvisi fortress is included in the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage.

 

 

[AerialExplorer]

[AerialExplorer]

 

Монастырь верхняя Вардзия

 

После посещения огромной территории пещерного монастыря Вардзия стоит обязательно проехать и в этот укромный уголок находящийся недалеко в узком ущелье, всего лишь в трех километрах.

 

Ехать надо влево по дороге перед подъемом в Вардзию.

 

Земо Вардзия в переводе с грузинского-верхняя Вардзия, это крошечный женский монастырь. Эта древняя обитель была построена предположительно в XI веке и при царе Георгие III объявленная царским монастырем. Долгое время монастырь был в запустении, но благодаря насельницам, обитель приукрасилась и ей возвращено былое благолепие.

 

Территория монастыря небольшая,и очень уютная, везде клумбы с цветами,два бассейна, в которых выращивают форель,домашний скот, пасущийся рядом.До наших дней здесь сохранилась церковь Успения Пресвятой Богородицы,построенная из тесанного камня с двускатной кровлей.Скромное сооружение, украшением которой служат высокие изящные арки,капители которых украшенны резным орнаментом.

 

Годы не пощадили церковь- был обрушен южный портик, но в 1970 году собор был полностью восстановлен из обваленных старых камней.

 

Церковь была расписана тогда-же в XI веке, но к сожалению до наших дней сохранилась лишь небольшая часть росписи и то в виде поврежденных фрагментов.

 

 

[AerialExplorer]

 

Ikalto Academy (Georgian: იყალთოს აკადემია) in XI-XIII centuries was a high school and the academy in Ikalto, Georgia. Ikalto monastery was known as one of the most significant cultural-scholastic centers of Georgia, which is asserted by the ruins of some civil building preserved at the site of the monastery.

 

The monastic complex of Ikalto is situated 7-8-kilometers west of Telavi on the outskirts the village of Ikalto. The complex was founded by one of the Assyrian monks – Zenon of Ikalto in the late VI century. Only three churches have been preserved from the complex. The transfiguration church–Gvtaeba (Holy Spirit) built in the VIII-IX centuries stands on the site of an earlier church (in which the founder of the monastery, Saint Zenon had been reburied) and had the form of the Greek cross in plan. St. Mary’s single-nave church Kvelatsminda (Absolutely Holy) built at the close of the XII century and at the turn of the XIII century and Sameba (Holy Trinity). In spite of considerable reconstruction, one can still see parts of an older VI century domed church in the little Trinity church. These churches were restored so many times that their original appearance has changed drastically. All three churches, like most of the Kakhetian churches, are white, and against the background of green hills, attracts one’s attention from far away. The remains of the academy and the refectory survive among other ruins of the monastery complex.

 

According to verbal sources, during the Georgian Renaissance (IX-XIII centuries) an outstanding historical figure and tutor of David the Builder, scholar and philosopher Arsen of Ikalto initiated the project on establishing a high school and the academy in Ikalto. He was a son of Kakhetian nobleman Ibad Vachnadze. Ikalto monastery was known as one of the most significant cultural-scholastic centers of Georgia. That is proved by the ruins of some presumable civil building found in the garth of the monastery. The oblong building of the academy is built of cobble stone. The ground floor consisted of two rooms, while the single hall of the first floor was meant for scholarly discussions. Scholarly and literary work was in full swing at the academy.

 

Many important works were written and translated from Greek, important catalogues were made up. During his scholarly activity at academy, Arsen of Ikalto, the founder and the first rector of the academy, translated such an important work as “The Great Nomocanon”, another important work translated by him was “The Source of knowledge” written by John Damascene. Arsen of Ikalto wrote “The Epitaph of David the Builder”, which was passed on from generation to generation. The academy of Ikalto had functioned for a long time, playing an important role in the history of Georgian enlightenment.

 

According to a legend the famous XII century Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli studied here.

 

In Georgian academies, the syllabus consisted of Trivium (grammar, rhetoric, dialectics or logic) and Aquarium (music, arithmetic, geometry and astronomy) cycles. Theology, philosophy and chanting were also taught here. Besides the theoretical courses, the students were skilled in pharmacology, pottery making, metal work, viticulture and wine making.

 

Archaeological excavations revealed numerous workshops, wine-cellars, a smithy, store rooms and other household rooms grouped around the academy building. The Monastery was roofed with glazed tiles.

 

In 1616, the Iranian invaders led by Shah Abbas-II set it on fire and the academy ceased to exist.

 

After the annexation of Georgia by Russia, in 1921, the monastery was closed.

 

In 1965, a museum was opened in the main church.

 

Precious books, icons, the church bell and many important items were lost.

 

After the restoration of freedom, in 1991, the monastery became active once again.