Chakvinji: Fortress and History

Chakvinji Fortress stands on a high limestone hill on the left bank of the Chanistsqali River. It lies in the border area between the villages of Jikhashkari and Chakvinji; at the same time, Jikhashkari is named as the village where the fortress is located. The river and both village names provide a specific geographical reference for the site. The fortress itself is the cultural and historical focus of a visit.

Location and Directions

The fortress is considered easy to reach and is a landmark on the road from Zugdidi to Chkhorotsku. The access road to the fortress climbs from the south. If you are planning a visit, check road conditions before setting out.

Historical Layers and the Dadiani Dynasty

The earliest defensive layers are associated with the Kingdom of Egrisi, known as Lazica in Byzantine sources; they are dated to the 4th and 5th centuries. As an architectural and archaeological monument, the fortress is dated to the period from the 5th to the 17th century. These time spans represent different historical scales: the early dating of the defensive layers and the broader dating of the monument.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the fortification was significantly expanded and incorporated into the Dadiani dynasty’s estate. The fortress is also associated with Davit Dadiani, the last ruler of Samegrelo: he was born in a small house inside the fortress. The fortress was designated a cultural heritage site of national significance.

Layout and Fortress Complex

The citadel has an elongated oval plan; it is 100 meters long and up to 30 meters wide. This makes it more than three times as long as its stated maximum width—a ratio that gives a clear sense of its elongated shape. These measurements refer to the citadel; the wider complex also includes a tower with a tunnel, a palace, and a church. This allows you to distinguish the citadel’s proportions from the layout of the entire site.

Samegrelo and Upper Svaneti: Regional Cultural Context

Within the broader destination of Samegrelo and Upper Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti are the historical and geographical regions, with Zugdidi and Mestia as their respective centers. The region’s cultural context includes the museum housed in the two Dadiani palaces in Zugdidi and the botanical garden at the Dadiani Palace. The museum preserves more than 44,475 ancient objects, including Napoleon’s personal belongings and a death mask of Napoleon Bonaparte; the garden was established in 1840 and covers 67 hectares. Nokalakevi Museum Reserve is another cultural site where visitors can walk through the history of antiquity. The Church of the 40 Holy Martyrs, dating to the 6th century, is located within the reserve. Upper Svaneti was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996.

Discover more destinations: Mestia, Poti, Zugdidi, Kirovi, Anaklia

Return to the broader travel guide: Samegrelo and Upper Svaneti.