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Geotour

Birtvisi Fortress

Kartli · History

Getting there
About 50 km (1.25–1.5 h) south-west of Tbilisi by road to the Tbisi/Partskhisi trailhead, then on foot only
Best time
March–June
Recommended stay
4–5 hours (the hike)

About Birtvisi Fortress

Birtvisi is a ruined medieval fortress built into a maze of volcanic rock towers above the Algeti valley in Kvemo Kartli, about 50 km (1.25–1.5 h) south-west of Tbilisi near the villages of Tbisi and Partskhisi. Walls and towers fill the gaps between the cliffs, and the tower Sheupovari ('the unyielding') stands on the highest rock. It is reached only on foot: the usual loop is about 8 km and 4–5 hours, with scrambling over boulders, through a rock landscape that feels far from the capital.

Tours Including Birtvisi Fortress

See the tour

Must-See Attractions

  • Sheupovari tower

    The main tower on the highest rock, with views down the Algeti valley.

  • Rock maze

    About 1 km² of eroded towers and gullies of volcanic rock (porphyrite and tuff breccia), with walls built into the gaps.

  • Fortress walls and lower towers

    Remains of the defensive walls that linked the natural cliffs into one stronghold.

Nearby

  • Dashbashi Canyon and the Diamond Bridge

    A canyon near Tsalka with a glass-floored bridge, about 1 h by car from the trailhead.

  • Algeti National Park

    Spruce and fir forests on the Trialeti range, about 1 h by car.

  • Tbilisi

    About 50 km (1.25–1.5 h) north-east.

Location41.6089° N, 44.5392° EView on map

Good to know

Getting there

About 50 km (1.25–1.5 h) south-west of Tbilisi by road to the Tbisi/Partskhisi trailhead, then on foot only.

Best time

March–June; September–November

Best time

Spring and autumn are cool enough for the scrambling and bring green or golden forest, while summer afternoons are hot on the exposed rock and winter can bring ice.

Recommended stay

4–5 hours (the hike)

Walking

The loop is about 8 km and 4–5 hours with repeated scrambles over boulders; you need both hands free.

Heads-up

The trail is poorly marked and easy to lose among the rock towers, and the rock is slippery after rain; go with a local hiking guide and postpone if it is wet.

What to bring

Ankle boots with good grip, long trousers, a hat, sun cream and plenty of water; there are no shops or water on the route.

Fees

Free.

Season/Access

Spring and autumn are best; in July and August start early to avoid the heat.

History & culture

History

Birtvisi first appears in written sources as a possession of the Arab emir of Tbilisi. In 1038 the Georgian nobles Liparit and Ivane Abazasdze captured it, and for centuries it controlled the Algeti valley and the routes south-west of Tbilisi. In 1403 Timur's troops took it by climbing the cliffs at night on rope ladders and killed the surviving defenders. After Georgia split into separate kingdoms in the 15th century, Birtvisi belonged to the Kingdom of Kartli and the princely Baratashvili family. It is a protected monument within the Birtvisi Natural Monument.