Bebristsikhe Fortress and Panoramic Kartli Views
Hike to the ancient Bebristsikhe Fortress above Mtskheta for sweeping panoramic views over the Kartli plain, the sacred city below, and the Caucasus mountains beyond, accessing one of the oldest hilltop fortifications in Georgia's ancient capital region.
- 1
Trailhead Below Town
Begin the hike from the trailhead below Mtskheta where the path climbs steeply through scrubby vegetation toward the ancient fortress ruins above, the trail used for centuries by the inhabitants of the ancient capital to reach their defensive heights.
- 2
Ancient Wall Sections
Reach the first sections of the ancient Bebristsikhe fortification walls where large stone blocks of varying periods of construction demonstrate the continuous use of this hilltop as a fortified position from antiquity through the medieval period.
- 3
Tower Ruins
Explore the ruined watch towers that guarded the ancient capital from above, their strategic position providing sight lines over the approaches to Mtskheta along the river valleys — the Mtkvari from the south and the Aragvi from the north.
- 4
Summit Panorama
Reach the summit for one of the finest panoramic views in central Georgia — Mtskheta directly below with its churches visible, Jvari across the confluence, the Kartli plain stretching south, and on clear days the Greater Caucasus range visible to the north.
- 5
Armazi Citadel Sightline
From the summit, identify the Armazi Citadel site across the river where the pre-Christian kings of Kartli maintained their pagan religious center, the two hilltop fortifications together framing the river confluence that made Mtskheta the ancient capital of Georgia.
- 6
Descent and River Walk
Descend the hill and follow the riverside path along the Mtkvari back into town, the walking route passing through the agricultural margins of Mtskheta where vines and orchards occupy the fertile river bottom land of the Kartli valley.