Ananuri Fortress
A seventeenth-century castle complex with two churches on the shore of a turquoise reservoir.
About
Ananuri stands on the bank of the Aragvi river, where the water now spreads out into the Zhinvali Reservoir. High stone walls, towers and a keep surround two churches, one with carved reliefs on its facade, in a compact enclosure you can walk around and climb.
The castle is a popular stop on the Georgian Military Highway on the way to Kazbegi. It is small enough to see in under an hour, and the views over the blue-green reservoir and the mountains are among its main attractions.
History
The complex was the seat of the Dukes of Aragvi and mostly dates to the seventeenth century, with the larger church completed in 1689. In 1739 it was stormed during a feud with a neighbouring lord, and many of its defenders were killed. It was later restored. The fortress guarded the road through the Aragvi valley, one of the main routes between the plains of Georgia and the north. The Zhinvali Reservoir was filled in the 1980s, and its waters now lap near the walls, giving the castle its present setting. Restoration work has repaired towers and walls in recent decades.