Khertvisi Fortress
ხერთვისის ციხე
Samtskhe-Javakheti, Georgia · 41°28′59″N 43°17′13″E
One of the oldest fortresses in Georgia, a 10th-century keep on a rock at the meeting of two rivers, walked past by everyone on their way to Vardzia and entered by almost no one.
A fort has stood on this rock since at least the 2nd century BC; the present walls and towers date from the 10th to 14th centuries, with a secret tunnel down to the Mtkvari river. The keep occupies a spur where the Paravani joins the Mtkvari, commanding the valley road to the Turkish border. It was held by the Jaqeli princes of Samtskhe and later the Ottomans.
The cave city of Vardzia, 20 km upstream, is the region's famous site; Khertvisi is its gatehouse.
Why it stays quiet
Every Vardzia-bound minibus passes below the walls and none stop. The fortress has no ticket office and the path from the road takes ten minutes.
Where it is
Before you go
Free access. The tunnel to the river is partly collapsed; do not attempt it. Small guesthouses in the village below.
Updated 2026-09-06 · Suggest a correction
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