Ananuri Fortress

Ananuri was the seat of the dukes of Aragvi, who built this walled complex of towers and churches above the Aragvi River in the 17th century. Today the water of the Zhinvali Reservoir laps below its walls, making it one of the prettiest viewpoints in the country.

Inside the walls, the larger Church of the Assumption has a facade carved with crosses and grapevines, and fragments of painted frescoes survive inside. Climb the tallest tower for a view over the reservoir and the hills.

Ananuri is a little over an hour north of Tbilisi, so most visitors stop for 45 minutes to an hour on the way to Gudauri and Kazbegi. Stalls by the car park sell churchkhela, strings of walnuts dipped in thickened grape juice.