Drisi Fortress

The Historical Past of Drisi Fortress

History tells us that this fortress was built by a family of Georgian feudal lords, the Torelis. Later, it became the ancestral home of the Javakhishvilis, lending it its name of Drisi Javakhaant Fortress.

The Structure of Drisi Fortress

Built high upon a rocky crag, the fortress has sustained significant damage over the years, but a single glance will make clear its importance. 

Today, a church, tower, palace, and storerooms remain of the fortress, but archaeological evidence tells us that the compound was once encircled by a two-tiered wall.

With the exception of the church, all of the structures are made from a combination of sandstone and cobblestones. In the complex’s north stands a tower, while the ruined remains of the palace stand in the south.

The church, standing in the upper portion of the fortress, is dedicated to Saint George. Unlike the other structures, it is made from well-hewn green tuff, although the stones have cracked over the years.