The ancient castle of Chapala was once an impregnable fortress in which the inhabitants of the village of the same name restrained the attacks of enemies. It is located in Bolnisi.

History.

Archaeological excavations have shown that some of the buildings present here date back to the X centuries. Also, this citadel was mentioned in manuscripts of the XVII century and from there it became known that it was owned by the Sologashvili family. In 1749, the Principality of Orbeliani became the new and last known owner. It was established that the fortress consisted of two parts - the upper castle stood on the top of the mountain, and under it - the lower part of the fortress, which had baths and walls.

The citadel was located on two hills of the mountain and occupied them completely, together with the middle of the mountain top. On the eastern peak of the hill there are foundations of presumably security towers and a stone staircase carved right into the rock. The middle of the castle is a saddle flat space, it was here that the buildings were located. Two buildings that were located here, or rather traces of their presence, were baths, at a time when these buildings were intact there was certainly something to see in Georgia.

What is most interesting, there was a noticeable shortage of water resources in this area. No religious buildings were found, which indicates only the military-security nature of the fortress. The territory is surrounded by a brick wall with stone inserts. On the ground, you can easily find the remains of ceramics, it is not difficult even to find pieces resembling ancient Georgian vessels, a cross between a jug and an amphora.

In the western part of the mountain there are water basins carved directly into the rock, which was usually unusual for such structures. On the sides of the mountain there is a winding path leading directly to the very top of the cliff and the fortress. And although the fortress is no longer visible from the very top, since it is located below us. From this point, the most beautiful places of Georgia open up. Also next to the fortress, on the Mashavera River there is an old stone bridge of the XVII century.

Getting into the fortress is not very difficult. It can be seen from the main Bolnisi-Maneuli road. 1.5 km from Mukhran to the west there is a turn to the south, and there will already be the Mashavera River and the Chapal Bridge, one third of a kilometer to the crossroads, turning right, and after almost a kilometer turning left you will get to the only road leading to the fortress, and then it will not be difficult to find the ruins of the fortress.