Manavi Castle

Manavi Castle lies on a mountain next to the village of the same name, in the Sagarejo municipality in the Kakheti region in Georgia.

Manavi Castle was presumably built in the 10th or 11th century. Nothing is known of its history until the beginning of the 18th century. Then David II of Kakheti built a palace here, using the ruins of the old, and probably ruined, castle. In 1712 his brother Teimuraz II of Kakheti got married here to Tamar of Kartli. The couple made Manavi their residence. It is said that Teimuraz's son Erekle II of Georgia grew up here. Nothing more is known about its history.

The castle has an irregular ground plan on top of a mountain and, together with nearby Chailuri Castle, it created a barrier for enemies on their way to Tbilisi. On its east side there is a bailey. The palace would have been in the inner castle but nothing has survived but 3 small churches and some of those typical stone coffin-like gravestones.

At present Manavi Castle is freely accessible. You will need a 4WD car or make a hike to reach it. A very nice castle ruin, mainly because of the churches and the views.

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