Anacopia Fortress
Anacopia Fortress
5
Points of Interest & Landmarks
07:00 - 21:00
Monday
07:00 - 21:00
Tuesday
07:00 - 21:00
Wednesday
07:00 - 21:00
Thursday
07:00 - 21:00
Friday
07:00 - 21:00
Saturday
07:00 - 21:00
Sunday
07:00 - 21:00
What people are saying
PavelS_11
By PavelS_11
An Unforgettable fortress hike from which our Abkhazia exploring experience has begun
5.0 of 5 bubblesApr 2021
Just have returned from long weekend tour to Abkhazia. Stayed for three night at the town of Novy Afon (New Athos), there a plenty of places of interest located, with Anacopia Fortress on the hill, above everything around. Our guide dropped us to the beginning of the way up by his jeep ( very experienced man of 50, strongly recommend if you’d like privacy and professional service, PM for the contacts. pls) Cold and rainy morning we climed up the path and crossed the ticket point ( for free as it was closed:). Not easy to get there but the whole way is stunnind and the views are really breathtaking. It is really worth a visit, first for it's historical nature. Possibly it was established around the 2nd century AD and looks like an abandoned Roman fortress or Scotch castle. Limestone bricks with green ivy on, the path surrounded by old trees makes the way up the steep slope more and more exciting each step. There is an old chirch ( still working like piligrims worship site) on the top, and a castle a bit higher. Wooden steps leads you to the roof with four flags on the corners. A spectacular 360 degree view of New Athos and nice view of the mountains from this site is really worth to do such a long walk up! By the way, no need any transportation to get from the town to the fortress if you in a good fit condition and have normal trekking shoes. At each curve of the road you may find house wine for very funny price. 4-5 road bends and your mood is getting higher after each degustation:) ( Avoid overdrinking — it makes your descend a bit troubling:). No need to carry much water if you prefer drinking it more than wine — the well with holy water ( cold and fresh, definetely unusual taste) is near the chirch. No restritions, no irritating people, no criminals. Safe and wonderfull place ( like the whole Abkhazia country) is there. What to pay attention: have good boots as the road is partially destroyed, with many sharp rocks, slipppery when wet. Mind the preciepice on the other side of the fortress — dangerous place to get close. The whole hike from the town and back took four hours ( including wine stops:), with long rest on the top. Strongly recommenfd this beautiful place, you won’t regret!

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PavelS_11
Moscow, Russia490 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2021
Just have returned from long weekend tour to Abkhazia.
Stayed for three night at the town of Novy Afon (New Athos), there a plenty of places of interest located, with Anacopia Fortress on the hill, above everything around.
Our guide dropped us to the beginning of the way up by his jeep ( very experienced man of 50, strongly recommend if you’d like privacy and professional service, PM for the contacts. pls) Cold and rainy morning we climed up the path and crossed the ticket point ( for free as it was closed:). Not easy to get there but the whole way is stunnind and the views are really breathtaking.
It is really worth a visit, first for it's historical nature. Possibly it was established around the 2nd century AD and looks like an abandoned Roman fortress or Scotch castle. Limestone bricks with green ivy on, the path surrounded by old trees makes the way up the steep slope more and more exciting each step.
There is an old chirch ( still working like piligrims worship site) on the top, and a castle a bit higher. Wooden steps leads you to the roof with four flags on the corners.
A spectacular 360 degree view of New Athos and nice view of the mountains from this site is really worth to do such a long walk up!
By the way, no need any transportation to get from the town to the fortress if you in a good fit condition and have normal trekking shoes. At each curve of the road you may find house wine for very funny price. 4-5 road bends and your mood is getting higher after each degustation:) ( Avoid overdrinking — it makes your descend a bit troubling:). No need to carry much water if you prefer drinking it more than wine — the well with holy water ( cold and fresh, definetely unusual taste) is near the chirch.
No restritions, no irritating people, no criminals. Safe and wonderfull place ( like the whole Abkhazia country) is there.
What to pay attention: have good boots as the road is partially destroyed, with many sharp rocks, slipppery when wet. Mind the preciepice on the other side of the fortress — dangerous place to get close.
The whole hike from the town and back took four hours ( including wine stops:), with long rest on the top.
Strongly recommenfd this beautiful place, you won’t regret!
Written 21 April 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JGDynamo
Canada2,158 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2017 • Friends
Anacopia Fortress is an ancient fortress started in the 2nd century and has been through some interesting history. You can hike up to see the ruins which are still in fairly decent shape, it’s a beautiful area to explore and the views over New Athos are stunning. The history is similar to a “Sparta” type story with 3000 men holding off 60000 behind a well fortified position (and possibly a hand of God scenario too) but you get the sense that it is definitely possible and what a racket that would have been. It is worth coming up here just to see the views but the history is quite engaging as well
Written 22 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hamster Raul
Krakow, Poland98 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2015
If you like castles, in ruined state, up on hills with spectacular views, then this is your place.
The hill is high up, so don't try and walk from Athos, it will be miserable, rather walk down.
A taxi should get you to the ticket office from whence you must walk. It's still a treck, but mostly on a shaded pathway. At the top is a very pretty church in a ruined state, a restored tower, and a well, where you can get fresh, cool drinking water, bring a bottle. You collect the water yourself which is fun :)
From here, walk down to the ticket office, and then you are about 15 mins walk down a steep road, to the entrance of the caves. On the right side of that main building (where you buy tickets) is a small restaurant selling good food, the wine was very good as well, especially at 360 RUB a bottle.
Written 6 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DelanA82
Melbourne, Australia170 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2014 • Solo
Anacopia Fortress is a large fortification/citadel that overlooks Novy Afon (New Athos).
It is well worth a visit, first for the it's historical nature. I believe this fortress began its construction as far back as the 2nd century AD.
Some of the stone walls (limestone) are in reasonable shape given the period of time that has elapsed. Some historical elements of the church remain with many pilgrims still visiting regularly. There is a cistern or well that was created around 1500 years ago next to the church, with some of the purest water, which some believe has healing properties, and so many will draw up water with the bucket and either drink or collect to take away. My understanding is that the water maybe spring water.
The other reason to visit this fortress is the the lookout tower which was restored a few years back, enables a spectacular 360 degree view of New Athos and the slopes and surrounds of slopes of Mt. Apsara and beyond. It's a nice overall aerial view of the town.
We took a taxi as far up as we good get and walked up the rest the way to enter the fortress and they called a taxi to do the same upon return, otherwise it would take too long. The path up is not too bad. It has been cleaned up and made safe as possible in recent times, but good shoes will help. It does go around a bit. I suppose the quicker alternative is to ignored the path and go straight up through grass/garden bits but that is also much steeper and less safe.
You can rest and spend as much time as you like at the top before returning.
Written 28 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TinaQ
Moscow, Russia1,910 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2014 • Couples
From the highest point you can park your car it would take you another 30 minutes to walk the rocky road to the Anacopia Fortress that will provide you with lovely views over New Athos. I strongly advise wearing either running or hiking shoes because the road is partially destroyed with sharp rocks. Mind your step all the time. There's a well inside the fortress, don't be afraid to use it, the water is clean and safe to drink.
Written 16 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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ANACOPIA FORTRESS: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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