Khertvisi fortress
Khertvisi fortress (UNESCO) - is one of the oldest fortresses in Georgia and was functional throughout the Georgian feudal period.
The fortress is located on a high rocky hill in the gorge at the confluence of the Mtkvari River and its right tributary - the Paravani River in Southern Georgia, in Meskheti region.
The fortress was first built in the 2nd century BC.
Khertvisi fortress is noted with big space and a number of utility rooms. It has an unaccessible citadel, court church. The fortress was supplied with water through a tunnel constructed from south-west.
The church was built in 985, and the present walls were built in 1354, In place of the old walls, destroyed by the earthquake of 1283.
In the 10th-11th centuries it was the center of Meskheti region.
During the 12th century Khertvisi became a town.
In the 13th century Mongols destroyed it and until the 15th century it lost its power. In the 15th century it was owned by Meskheti landlords from Jakeli family.
In the 16th century the southern region of Georgia was invaded by Turks. During next 300 years they have owned Khertvisi too.
In the first half of the 19th century, Georgian and Russian army returned the lost territories and Khertvisi became the military base for Russian and Georgian troops.
After that, Khertvisi, along with other fortresses of the region, lost its defensive functions and remained only a fortification monument.
There are traces of a lot of renovations (Georgian, Russian, Ottoman) conducted at the fortress.
Khertvisi serves as a popular destination of tourism.