Ruins of the Khosta fortress description and photos - Russia - South: Khosta (Topic)

Ruins of the Khosta fortress description and photos - Russia - South: Khosta. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photos and a map showing the nearest significant objects.

Photo and description

The Khosta fortress, located in the northeast of a yew and boxwood grove, on the right bank of the Khosta River, is one of the main attractions of the region.

The Khosta fortress, which can be seen today on the top of a rocky cliff, is the remains of an ancient defensive structure. The fortress belongs to the early medieval fortifications of the region. It was built around VII - X century. AD

The Khosta fortress was erected so that its eastern, northern and western parts were protected by natural cliffs. The southern part was fortified with a defensive line of a wall, rampart, gate and three towers. During the construction of the walls, the soil was removed to the rocky area. They were erected gradually, in narrow tiers 5-6 m high. At the top, the walls were decorated with battlements. The masonry of the walls was carried out with stone blocks observing the rows in the shell, as well as backing up from broken stone on a solution of limestone with an admixture of fine gravel and sea sand.

The towers consisted of two or three tiers with an upper battle platform and multi-storey wooden overlappings. The height of the three-storey tower was 11 m. The fortress gates had an arched ceiling, a stone threshold, a log fence and a massive boardwalk. Fragments of walls and the remains of four towers have survived to this day.

The south-eastern corner of the Khosta fortress was protected by a tower that remained at a height of 4.5 m. On the western side of the tower there is a loophole. Outside, at the southeastern corner, is a wall with a groove for a log bolt. The second tower, shaped like an irregular rectangle at the base, located 45 m from the first. In the east and west walls of the tower, two tiers of grooves are visible. Each floor is 1.7-1.8 m high. The second and third towers are separated by only 11 m. Unfortunately, the last tower is very poorly preserved. A little to the west of the gate, a buttress was located in the fortress wall, which protected the gate. The last tower is located just 10 meters from it, the height of which was originally at least 11 meters.

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Topic: Ruins of the Khosta fortress description and photos - Russia - South: Khosta.