Gagra fortress, located at the entrance to the city of Gagra, at the mouth of the river Joekvara is one of the ancient defence structures of Old Gagra. The remains of the citadel adjoin the western side of the Seaside Park.
The construction of the architectural complex dates from II to XI century. It is believed that the Gagra fortress was founded in the 5th century. The defensive structure was built as a defence against enemy tribes. It is not known whether the fortress was built by Abazgi or Romans. The fortress closed the Joekvar gorge and blocked the way from east to west. According to historians and scientists, in XIV-XV centuries Genoese, who founded the Kakara factory on the territory of the modern city, settled in one of the parts of the fortress to conduct trade with ancient Abkhazian tribes. Later, this coastal tower was called Genoese tower. During the late Middle Ages the citadel became a refuge of Abkhazian tribes. In 1830 it was occupied by Russian troops, who built bastions and rebuilt the fortress walls with loopholes for guns and cannons. The fortress became a place of military battles between Abkhazians and Russian troops. At the beginning of XX century Abaata was destroyed to build a hotel in its place.
Time was the main factor in the loss of the fortress. Until today, only part of the wall and the Gagra temple of St Hypatius has survived. The temple is located in the very centre of the fortress. Its walls are made of huge blocks of limestone, which are 1.5 metres across. The preserved structure of the temple dates back to the VI century AD, but there is an assumption that the church was built no earlier than the X century from the stones of the dismantled fortress wall. The temple of St Hypatius has a rectangular shape with two annexes. The road to the temple - a cypress alley - is paved with limestone slabs.
Today on the territory of the Gagra fortress there is the Gagra Museum of History and Regional Studies "Abaata", a hotel and a restaurant.
