The Khertvisi Fortress is located on the bank of the Kura River, in the Samatskhe-Javakheti region, in the south of Georgia. This fortress is one of the best preserved examples of medieval fortifications in Georgia. If you are traveling on the way from Borjomi to the Cave settlement of Vardzia, then you should definitely plan a stop at the Khertvisi fortress.
The Khertvisi Fortress is located in a convenient location, at the confluence of the Kura River and its small tributary Paravani. Above these two rivers rises a rock suitable for the construction of fortifications. The main route from Armenia to Georgia between the Trialeti mountain range and the Meskheti mountain range ran along the bed of the Kura River in Borjomi Gorge, so several fortresses were built there in the Middle Ages. The fortress of Khertvisi was one of the most powerful of them.
Archaeological excavations indicate that the settlement on the site of the fortress of Khertvisi existed in ancient times. But the fortifications of those times have not survived to this day. Now, when visiting the fortress of Khertvisi, you can see only the fortress walls of the Lower Fortress, which surround an area of more than 3 hectares, as well as the Upper Fortress.
The walls of the Lower Fortress are low and in many places they are destroyed. The main interest is the Citadel of the Upper Fortress. It is located on a rock that rises above the Lower Fortress. The eastern side of the Citadel is located directly above the Paravani River.
The walls of the Fortress of Khertvisi were built in the period of 10-14 centuries. They were damaged during the strong earthquake of 1283. At the same time, most of the Cave Settlement of Vardzia was destroyed, however, the fortress of Khertvisi was quickly restored and even more powerful walls were erected, which have survived to this day.
