Kvari Fortress

Kvari Fortress, a feudal fortress in Georgia, Racha, on the right bank of the Krikhula River, 1.5 km from Zemo Skhvava (Ambrolauri Municipality). It was first mentioned in historical sources in the 11^th century. In the late feudal era, it was a royal possession, in the 1590s, it was taken over by King Simon I of Kartli, at the beginning of the 18^th century – by the feudal Iashvili family, and from 1769 it was under royal authority again. In 1786, the opponent of David II of Imereti, Prince Solomon II, took refuge in Kvari Fortress. In 1802, the Pasha of Akhaltsikhe – Sabud – was beheaded here. In 1810, during the annexation of the Kingdom of Imereti to the Russian Empire, the Kvari Fortress was occupied by the Russian army after some resistance, and in subsequent times it lost its importance.

Kvari Fortress is a typical fortress-hall. It is surrounded by a 6–7 m high fence. The total area is approximately 2000 m², and it has an entrance from only one side. Inside the fence, a two-story round residential tower, a small church, a pool and the ruins of other buildings have been preserved. In 1991, as a result of earthquakes, most of the rock massif the fortress was situated on collapsed.

 

Literature: ვახუშტი, აღწერა სამეფოსა საქართველოსა, წგ.: ქართლის ცხოვრება, ს. ყაუხჩიშვილის გამოც., ტ. 4, თბ., 1973; გიორგაძე მ., საქართველოს სტიქიით დაზარალებული ძეგლები, თბ., 1991; ქვათაძე ი., სხვავა და სხვაველები, თბ., 2005.

 

T. Beradze