The most impregnable ancient fortresses. Birtvisi Fortress in Georgia.

Millions of years ago, the territory of the Trialet ridge was covered by lava flows that escaped from the bowels of the earth during the eruption of an active volcano. In subsequent periods, natural phenomena (rain, wind, erosion) changed the appearance of the territory. On the Trialeti ridge, on the right side of the Algeti River, in the Birtvisi area, there are several such natural pillars, views of individual cliffs, elevated volcanic hills and mounds.

In the cone-shaped impregnable in the rocky mountains Birtvisi, which in itself is a natural shelter, there is a fortress of the same name, which is considered the most impregnable fortress of the country. The exact date of the construction of the fortress is unknown, although it was first mentioned in historical sources in the XI century. The fortress stands on one of the peaks. The builders of the fortress wisely used the complexities of the landscape: taking as a basis a natural fortification located between inaccessible mountains, they connected the line of mountains with a wall. The fortress can be reached by steps carved into the rocks. The narrow entrance door is inside. The interior space is a small courtyard with an artificially leveled area,

where, along with defensive structures, the ruins of residential and outbuildings, including a reservoir, have been preserved. At the highest point of the fortress there is a tower "Sheupovari" ("Irresistible"), from where the surrounding territories are clearly visible.

One of the most powerful and cruel conquerors in world history, Tamerlane, tried to take the fortress seven times in 1386-1403, but all seven times the defenders of the fortress managed to repel the attack. Only during the last — the eighth campaign, Tamerlane reached his goal: after a three-week siege, his soldiers managed to sneak into the fortress by cunning. As a result, the fortress for the first time in its existence went to the enemy.

Today, the fortress is in a dilapidated state, but its greatness has not weakened and still impresses tourists. If you get to the top where the building is located, you will feel an incredible surge of strength, because the energy of this place is off the scale.

Read more recent articles about Georgia, its national peculiarities and preserved sights in the Madloba catalog. Our guides and experts have prepared interesting reviews of all hiking trails in the region. With the help of useful tools and tips, you can easily organize the perfect trip to get to know the oldest country in the world.