GeorgiaOfficial tourism
Ujarma Fortress

Fortress of kings, keeper of faith

Ujarma Fortress

Why go

Ujarma Fortress rises from a sun-drenched Kakhetian valley as one of Georgia's oldest continuously inhabited strongholds, founded in the 2nd century BCE and later expanded by King Vakhtang Gorgasali in the 5th century CE. This was the strategic eastern citadel of early Georgian kingdoms, where Christianity took root and royal armies mustered. The surviving stone walls, watchtowers, and the ruins of a triple-nave basilica speak to centuries of defense, worship, and resilience. Unlike heavily reconstructed sites, Ujarma retains the weathered authenticity of a place that witnessed the rise of a nation—its silence more eloquent than any restoration.

On the ground See

  • Climb the surviving 5th-century defensive towers for sweeping views across the Iori River valley
  • Explore the ruins of the early medieval basilica with its carved stone fragments and altar foundations
  • Walk the eroded ramparts where archaeological layers reveal Hellenistic, Roman, and medieval occupation

Practical Know before you go

Best visited April–June or September–October; 45 minutes by car from Tbilisi via the Tbilisi–Sagarejo highway, with a rough final kilometer requiring sturdy footwear.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026 · reviewed quarterly