Fortress Town on the Iori

Ujarma combines a complex fortress with a setting on the Iori. The museum-reserve encompasses a walled fortress town with defensive towers, a citadel, lower fortress, palace, water reservoir, and church. The fortress stands on the right bank of the Iori near the modern village of Ujarma; the fortress landscape includes views across the Iori Valley. The site is therefore a clear focal point for travelers who want to consider architectural history and landscape together.

Building Structure and History

The inner fortress stands on a ridge; the lower fortress was built on a steep rocky slope that descends toward the river. The two areas thus differ in their position on the ridge and on the descending slope. At the Jvari Patiosani Church, the oldest lower story is attached to a tower without blocking its entrance.

The construction of Ujarma is attributed to King Aspagur at the turn of the 3rd and 4th centuries. In the 4th century, King Mirian made Ujarma a princely fortress town. In the 5th century, King Vakhtang Gorgasali made the complex the capital for a time; Ujarma’s main buildings were also erected during this century. The complex was rebuilt in the developed and late medieval periods. Dachi completed the fortress town after the works associated with Vakhtang Gorgasali. The attributed construction, the period when it served as capital, and the later building phases can thus be distinguished.

Location and Planning Your Visit

Nature and mineral water are also part of the area’s profile: the Caucasian agama has been observed in the area, and Ujarma has a balneological spa with therapeutic iodine-bromine mineral waters. Alongside the fortress architecture, this gives the site a specific natural feature and a balneological character.

Ujarma is about 45 kilometers from Tbilisi, on the winding road toward Gombori Pass. The museum-reserve can be reached by minibus on the Tbilisi–Gombori route. Check before departure whether the route is still in service. Admission to the museum-reserve is free; check this policy again before your trip.

Kakheti as a Regional Context

The broader destination of Kakheti is characterized by the Alazani Valley, steep mountain passes, evergreen forests, and dry steppes. The protected areas of Vashlovani include a nature reserve, a national park, and three natural monuments. Their network of trails offers one- and two-day trips by car, bicycle, and on safari; conditions may vary seasonally. Kakheti is also Georgia’s most important wine-growing region and is known for large qvevri, including vessels with a capacity of 6,000 to 8,000 liters. These regional nature and wine themes complement Ujarma’s specific profile as a fortress town, without conflating the region’s attractions with the local complex.

Discover more destinations: Kvareli Municipality, Sighnaghi, Napareuli, Shenako, Akhalsopeli, Lagodekhi, Omalo, Tkhilistskaro

For the broader travel overview: Kakheti.