Samtshe-Džavahetin linnat ja linnoitukset

Historic Fortresses & Ruins

Samtskhe–Javakheti’s landscape is defined by its strategic border position, resulting in a dense concentration of medieval fortifications. This collection features the 12th-century Vardzia cave complex, the multi-layered Rabati Fortress in Akhaltsikhe, and the imposing Khertvisi Fortress, situated at the confluence of the Mtkvari and Paravani rivers. The list also includes the remote Golden Fortress (Oqros Tsikhe) and the dramatic cliffside ruins of Tmogvi, offering a comprehensive look at the region’s defensive architecture, from rock-cut tunnels to Ottoman-era bastions.

Bernard Gagnon / cc-by-4.0

A

Vardzia

Medieval cave monastery and fortress city carved into cliffs during the 12th and 13th centuries. It contains extensive tunnel systems, ancient wine cellars, and over 600 storage facilities.

Unknown / Public domain

B

Rabati Fortress

Akhaltsikhe Castle is a medieval fortress built in the 9th century under the name "Lomsia Castle" in the city of Akhaltsikhe in southern…

Jaba1977, improvements by Giorgi… / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

Khertvisi Fortress

Khertvisi is a village in Aspindza Municipality of Samtskhe-Javakheti region, the Republic of Georgia.

Giakosh / CC BY-SA 4.0

D

Oqros Tsikhe Fortress

Okros Tsikhe is a medieval fortress in the Adigeni Municipality, in Georgia's southern region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, north of the village…

E

Tmogvi Fortress

Tmogvi or Tmkaberd is a ruined fortress and medieval town in the southern Georgian region of Samtskhe-Javakheti, on the left bank of the…

F

Akhalkalaki Fortress

Originally dating to the 11th century, these ruins mark a strategic military outpost at the junction of the Paravani and Murjakhetis-Tskali rivers. The site contains remnants of medieval walls and structures that were significantly expanded during the Ottoman occupation of the region.