The historical development of the territories on which modern Georgia is located dates back to the time of the birth of human civilization. In different eras, these lands were ruled by Greeks, Romans, Persians, Ottoman and Russian empires. Constant military conflicts over the division of the territory happened at all times. Fortresses were traditional structures for observation and defense against the enemy.
A large number of fortresses in various states have survived in Georgia. The origin and history of many remain unknown, their names are associated with many legends. Georgian fortresses are interesting for lovers of historical tourism, extreme trekking walks, as well as for connoisseurs of rare architecture and natural beauty. Large-scale work is underway in the country to develop tourism and restore architectural monuments.
The most interesting castles and fortresses of Georgia
List, photos with names and descriptions of ancient castles!
Rabat
A large fortress is located in the city of Akhaltsikhe; a large-scale reconstruction was recently completed in the fortress. The place is attractive for visiting tourists, on the territory there is a hotel building, a museum, as well as shops of Georgian wine and mineral water. The area of the fortress is quite large, is divided into an upper and a lower part, includes many historical buildings, a Christian church and a mosque.
Ananuri
The fortress is considered the most famous in Georgia. The trip will allow you to enjoy beautiful landscapes, see the medieval castle and the rarest churches of the 17th century, moreover, all this is located only 70 km from Tbilisi. The 13th century tower is the oldest building in Ananuri, from which the construction of the entire fortress began. In addition to visiting historical buildings, a visit to the fortress can be combined with swimming in the Zhinvali reservoir.
Narikala
The central fortress of Tbilisi is clearly visible from many points of the city. It was built exclusively as a defensive structure, the date of the construction of the fortress has not been precisely established, but there is an assumption that the beginning was laid back in the 360s. The fortress has survived in fragments, there are towers, remnants of walls, the recently restored Church of St. Nicholas of the 12th century. Currently, a cable car is operating, which allows you to climb to the very top of the ridge in a couple of minutes.
Khertvisi
The fortress owes its modern fame to its close location to the Vardzia monastery. It is known for certain that the fortress already existed in the XII century. Located above the Paravani River, on the top of a cliff, the length of the buildings is about 180 meters. You can climb to the fortress along the path that starts from the highway. The walls of the fortress are well preserved. Also on the territory there is a small temple, presumably built in the 10th century.
Petra
The fortress, located in the village of Tsikhisdziri, is attractive to visit primarily with its beautiful views of the sea coast, as well as Kobuleti and Chakvi. Today, there are only traces of buildings of the ancient era, fragments of the walls of the 17th century, as well as buildings of the 18th and 19th centuries. It is easy to get to the fortress, the Kobuleti - Batumi route rises high in the mountain here and passes by the fortress ruins.
Goristsikhe
The central fortress of the city of Gori is not the main attraction of Georgia, but it may be of interest to visit. First of all, the fortress offers beautiful views of the city. The entrance to the fortress passes through the South Gate in the Persian style; almost no buildings have survived inside the fortress walls.
Gonio
One of the unique historical sites of the Adjara region, which is not rich in ancient sights. The fortress is rightfully considered the oldest building in Georgia, its origins date back to the 1st century. The territory is fenced with walls up to 5 meters high. 18 towers have been preserved intact, only ruins have remained from the rest of the buildings. Inside the fortress walls there is an alley and a green garden, as well as a museum, which is constantly replenished with exhibits from the excavations carried out in the fortress.
Batonis-Tsikhe
The fortress in the center of Telavi is a pearl of Georgian architecture of the 17th century, which was founded as the residence of the Kakhetian kings. For a long time, the buildings were in disrepair, but have recently been restored. Here you can visit the ethnographic museum and art gallery. The fortress walls, buildings of the palace, two ancient churches have been preserved. According to rumors, ancient underground passages are being prepared for the visit by tourists.
Ksani fortress
In the Mukhran Valley, there is a small castle built on a cliff top above the Ksani River. The place is not very popular to visit, as the mountain serpentine, destroyed by a landslide, used to lead to the top. You can climb only on foot, but it is very difficult. From a height of 600 meters above sea level, a view of the city of Ksani, the Mukhran Valley and Mount Tkhoti opens. From the fortress you can go to the Shio-Mgvime monastery.
Tmogvi
Not far from Vardzia there is a rather large, but poorly preserved fortress. It is quite difficult to get into it; you will have to climb to the top of the cliff on foot. For all those who have overcome the difficult climb, wonderful views of the Kura River and its surroundings will open. In the fortress, mainly fragments of walls and the ruins of an ancient temple have been preserved.
Nokalakevi
In the north of the Senaki region, there are the ruins of an ancient city. According to some versions, a settlement in this place existed here as early as the XIII century BC, here was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Colchis, to which the Greeks were striving for the golden fleece. Today an archaeological museum functions here. The Temple of the Forty Martyrs is well preserved, there are ruins of a palace of the 4th century. An interesting place is a staircase cut into the rock, which serves as a descent to the Tehura River.
Gremi
The 16th century castle is the main attraction of Kakheti. Here you can visit the Archangel Church. The tomb of Tsar Levan is located in the temple; frescoes and paintings from different eras have been preserved. Next to the temple there is a museum in an old tower. There used to be an urban settlement in the vicinity of the castle; it has recently been restored. Now there is a Georgian wine shop and a park with a fountain. Baths and a small temple were reconstructed.
Shatili
The mountain village in Khevsureti is known for its unusual architecture. The fortress is located on the border with Chechnya; in the past, its inhabitants fought more than once with their neighbors. A group of stone houses and towers is located on the left bank of the Argun - Old Shatili. New Shatili is an ordinary modern settlement. It is easy to get here, people come all weekend, rest with tents or in small hotels.
Bebristsikhe (Natsikhari)
An ancient defensive fortification of the 9th century is located on the outskirts of Mtskheta. In 2010, there was a large landslide here, so the fortress was badly damaged, only ruins remained from many buildings. Now the reconstruction of the architectural monument is underway, but the territory is open to the public.
Sighnaghi
In a small Kakhetian town, work is currently underway to transform it into a tourist center. The place is a favorite for foreigners. A fortress wall with a length of more than 3 km runs through the city. To this day, 28 towers have survived, some of them are located in the city center and are open to the public. Sighnaghi is called the city of love, people come here to register a marriage and arrange wedding photo sessions against the backdrop of the fortress.
Suramskaya
The village of Surami is located in the resort area of Georgia; here, at the intersection of two main roads in the country, an ancient impregnable fortress has been preserved. In the upper part of the structure, walls, towers and fortress gates are clearly preserved, but only outlines and ruins remained from the buildings inside the fortress.In the village itself, you can stay in hotels, but tourists prefer camping in a clean pine forest.
Mutso
The ancient fortress in Khevsureti is located on the border with Chechnya. It is built in remote, wild places high in the rocky mountains, on the edge of the gorge. Hiking tours from Shatili to Mutso are often offered for tourists. The road runs along the bottom of the gorge, followed by an ascent along a stone path. There are separate buildings inside the fortress, a cemetery and burial grounds have been preserved nearby. Reconstruction is underway here, but the tourist infrastructure has not yet been equipped.
Ujarma
A high cliff above the Iori River contains the remains of a heavily destroyed fortress. The highway to Kakheti passes by, so the place is often visited by tourists. The fortress is currently being reconstructed. Despite the fact that most of the buildings are ruins, the fortress has a functioning Temple of St. Razhden. The observation deck at the top of the tower allows you to see the mountains of the Gombori ridge and the Iori River.
Hornabuji
In the vicinity of the town of Dedoplistskaro, a picturesque fortress rises above the Alazani Valley. A visit to this place can be easily combined with a visit to neighboring Sighnaghi. The architecture of the fortress is unique, as the stonework is combined with cutting in the rocks. At the top, tourists will find not only the ruins of an ancient castle, but also magnificent views of the valley.
Modinahe
The ancient fortress in Imereti can be viewed as an interesting historical place or just an observation deck. From here you can see the city of Sachkhere and the Kvirila valley at a glance. A rather difficult climb goes along a winding serpentine. From the fortress itself, only the remains of the ruins remained.
Gvara
The nature of Adjara is rich in rare beauty. In the Machakhela Valley, there are the Machakhlistkali and Chorokh rivers, these beautiful views can be observed from the hill on which the fortress of the 5th-6th centuries is located. In the past, it was of great importance for its location. The main part of the fortress is now destroyed, the surviving walls reach 6 meters in height.
Huluti
The well-preserved 17th-18th century fortress attracts fans of extreme jeeping or trekking trips. It is located high on a cliff above the Khrami River. At the foot of the old river bed, there are many grottoes in the rock. In the fortress itself there are two towers, many manholes, details of the fortress situation have been preserved.
Kldekari
The ancient castle was built presumably in the 800s high in the Trialeti Mountains. Today, only fragments of separate walls remain from the buildings. The place is interesting primarily for people keen on trekking. The castle is inaccessible, it is located on two rocks, with steep slopes on both sides. From above there is a beautiful view of the Algeti Valley and the Tedzami River Valley.
Mukhranskaya
The fortress on the banks of the Ksani River dates back to the 18th century. A citadel in the form of a square with towers at the corners has survived to our time; a church is located inside. The fortress is considered one of the largest medieval buildings in Georgia. The walls of the fortress consist of two tiers. The lower part of the wall is wider than the upper one, this creates a path that can be followed along the entire perimeter.
25. Chakvinji
The fortress is located in the village of Jikhashkari in Samegrelo. The remaining several towers and walls are located on a high hill, from which a good view of the plain and valley of the Chanis-Tskali river opens. Fragments of foundations, as well as a dilapidated underground passage, remained from the buildings inside the fortress. You can get to the fortress along a dirt road going from Zugdidi.
