Khertvisi Castle

Khertvisi Castle is an impressive, partly restored castle and one of the oldest castles in Georgia.

Khertvisi Castle is situated in the small village of the same name, about an hour’s drive (50 km) southeast of the city of Akhalzikhe with Akhalzikhe Fortress, also known as Rabati Castle.

It is here at Khertvisi, that you would have to turn from the main road ს 11 (S 11) on to the regional road შ 58 (SCH 58) in order to reach the famous Vardzia Cave Monastery, another 20 minutes (13 km) by car to the south.   

Khertvisi Fortress is situated on a hill at the confluence of the rivers Mtkvari and Paravani, overlooking the narrow canyon. That not only explains its strategic importance over the centuries as a strong fortification post controlling a major road leading from the Byzantine Empire to the Caucasus, but the name “Khertvisi” itself, which refers to the meeting point of the two rivers.   

Khertvisi Fortress consists of an elongated castle with a restored outer wall and two watchtowers, a five-sided and a four-sided one. Inside the fortress is the citadel, a small castle within a castle, the 10th century St. George’s Church and the remains of a tunnel leading from the castle down to the river below. In case of a siege the defenders of the fortress were able to get supplies of food and water up to the castle through the tunnel unseen.

While nowadays the fully restored Rabati castle in the city of Akhalzikhe is the more famous castle of the region, Khertvisi Fortress is more than 1000 years older.

The oldest structures date back to the 2nd century BC, but even before that there was a small city fortress on the same site. Legend has it that Alexander the Great passed through here during his eastern campaign in the 4th century BC.

The current walls were erected in the 14th century. According to the inscription on a stone that was found in the fortress, Zakari Kamkamishvili, a treasurer and vassal of the ruling Jaqeli family, had significant reconstructions carried out in around 1355.  

As the Samtskhe region was repeatedly invaded over the centuries, Khertvisi Fortress was destroyed several times, by the Mongols in the 13th and then by the Ottomans in 16th century. It was not until the end of the Russian-Turkish war in 1829 that Khertvisi Fortress once again changed hands. This time the region was annexed by the Russian Empire and over the course of the 19th century Khertvisi became a military base for Russian and Georgian troops, slowly losing its strategic importance.

Because Khertvisi Fortress was still not too well-known, a tourist infrastructure was put in place around the castle in 2018. Paving stones were laid on the way to the castle, the castle gate was restored, a water supply system, parking spaces and bathrooms were installed and there is a small café nearby.

If you decide to visit Khertvisi Fortress, please be sure to wear sturdy shoes, as there might be some narrow and steep paths waiting for you!

In October 2007, Khertvisi Fortress, together with Vardzia Cave Monastery, were submitted for future inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

How to get there:
Khertvisi Castle is off the main road ს 11 coming from the cities of Akhaltzikhe and Aspindza, right at the cross-roads with regional road შ 58. A taxi drive from Akhaltsikhe takes app. 1 hour (50 GEL), from Aspindza app. 20 minutes (15 GEL).

Distances from major cities:
Akhaltsikhe - Khertvisi Castle: 47km | Aspindza - Khertvisi Castle: 17km

Opening hours:
Khertvisi Castle can be visited during the week and on weekends.
Summer working hours 10-19, Winter working hours 10-18.

Admission fee:
Adults 10 GEL, children free. Payments cash or credit card.

Guide Service:
Porfessional Guide Service is available on location, guide costs are 20-25 GEL, languages are Georgian, Russian and English. Payments cash or credit card.

Important things to know:
There is a small market nearby, also a few guesthouses. Be shure to wear solid shoes while visiting Khertvisi Castle.

Picture credits: beyondarts GmbH

Project “Increased regional added value in the tourism sectors of Georgia by Digital Heritage Tourism Guides” was funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds of Austrian Development Cooperation.