Adventure Group Tours

Khertvisi – Georgia, the stunning 2,500-year-old fortress

Khertvisi - Georgia, the 2,500 year old stunning fortress
Khertvisi – Georgia, the stunning 2,500-year-old fortress

Khertvisi, now in ruins, is one of the oldest forts in Georgia.

Wide view of the fort and the Mtkvari River, Khertvisi Fortress in Georgia
Wide view of the fort and the Mtkvari River

Georgia is a country of the Caucasus, on the coast of the Black Sea, located both in Europe and Asia.

Inside part of the fort ruins, Khertvisi Fortress in Georgia
Inside part of the fort ruins

250 km distance from Tbilisi – the country’s capital, Khertvisi fortress protects the entrance of the valley of Erusheti Mountains that head towards the extraordinary Vardzia cave monastery.

Church bell and view over the valley, Khertvisi Fortress in Georgia
Church bell and view over the valley

The Khertvisi fortress is charmingly situated on the top of a high rocky cliff, on the entrance of a narrow canyon at the confluence of Mitkvari (biggest river in Georgia) and Paravani rivers.

Southern facade of the fort, Khertvisi Fortress in Georgia
Southern facade of the fort
External walls of Khertvisi fort, Khertvisi Fortress in Georgia
External walls of Khertvisi fort

The collection of old Georgian Chronicles testify to its existence from the most ancient of times.

Fort and the rough mountains, Khertvisi Fortress in Georgia
Fort and the rough mountains

The exact date of its foundation is unknown but it’s thought that the first fort was erected a few centuries before the arrival of Alexander III of Macedonia (a.k.a. Alexander the Great).

View of the nearby village, Khertvisi Fortress in Georgia
View of the nearby village

As the legend says, Alexander of Macedonia visited the site during his Eastern Campaign in the 4th century BC.

Fort tower, Khertvisi Fortress in Georgia
Fort tower

The surviving structures date from the 10 to the 14th centuries. Visitors can climb up the towers and visit the small church initially built by 985 AD.

Inside the 10th century church, Khertvisi Fortress in Georgia
Inside the 10th century church

The panoramic views of the village and valleys are stunning.

Panoramic view of Mtkvari River and the valley, Khertvisi Fortress in Georgia
Panoramic view of Mtkvari River and the valley

Georgia is one of the most underrated and least noticed countries in Europe which deserves a visit.

I had the chance to visit Georgia four times. The first took place during the Caucasus Challenge – a crazy 2,700 mi / 4,500 km car rally from Budapest to Yerevan (Hungary to Armenia).

Khertvisi fortress in Georgia
Khertvisi fortress in Georgia

Other amazing places to visit in Georgia:

Batumi, Gori, Lake Ritsa, Mestia, Mount Kazbek, Mtskheta, Tbilisi, Uplistsikhe cave town, Upper Svaneti, Ushguli and Vardzia cave monastery.