Ananuri Fortress Complex is a remarkably well-preserved medieval castle perched above the Zhinvali Reservoir in Georgia’s Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, roughly 72 kilometres north of Tbilisi along the Georgian Military Highway. Dating from the 13th century and once the seat of the Aragvi Eristavi — the feudal rulers who controlled this vital mountain corridor — the complex contains two churches, a defensive tower, and imposing curtain walls that still stand to full height. The Church of the Assumption is decorated with intricate stone-carved grapevines and the Georgian cross of Saint Nino. Whether arriving on a day trip from Tbilisi or pausing on the journey north towards Gudauri and Kazbegi the fortress and its lakeside setting make a stop that rewards time spent wandering slowly through its layers of history.
