Khertvisi Fortress
Great and enormous Khertvisi
Fortress is the real pride among the cultural monuments of the rich and
various history of South Georgia. It is located in a rock 50 meters above
the river-level in the mouth of the river Javakheti and the Kura in Artaani
with ravines from three sides. The fortress has remained the leader position
in the best places of the village in the river ravine. The flag of past
centuries has been waving proudly from its great and proud towers. Khertvisi
is often mentioned as the main protection of the city and fortress of
Javakheti and Samtske road. It surprises us with its greatness. The whole
fortress is built on top of the rock. It consists of one fence and towers.
Its length from north to south is 150 meters and width – 30 meters. The
walls of the fence, in north and south, were protected by three towers. One
of them is the most beautiful (located in the north) and has remained the
roof. The inside space of the fortress is divided in 5 parts and three of
them have the form of rectangle and two – trapeze. It seems the builders
tried to give the fortress a geometrical form. The height of inside and
outside walls is about 10-20 meters and thickness – 1,5 meters. Most parts
of the walls are kept well even nowadays. There are a lot of holes in the
walls of the fence and towers to watch and destroy enemies. Secret holes
(corridors) are made, where the additional walls are protected. The ruins of
former buildings are discovered but nothing important can we say. There was
a small church in the yard of the fortress, accordingly the materials of
academician Brose.
Khertvisi Fortress is the
symbol of century battles for independence and honor of Georgian nation.
Fierce troubles and centuries couldn’t steal the strength and opposition
towards enemies, which people put into it while its buildings and the great
sight of the fortress which is kept recently is the result of Georgian
people’s real love to their motherland.
Malkhaz Datukishvili
Archeologist.
