Chapala Fortress, or rather the ruins of the fortress, are located near the village of Chapala, at the confluence of the Mashavera and Bolnisi Tskali rivers. The fortress is clearly visible from the Bolnisi-Maneuli highway, especially between the villages of Mukhran and Rachisubani. You can go around the fortress on the right and climb it. The first documentary mention of the fortress dates back to 1664, when Tsar Vakhtang V granted it to Elizbar Sologashvili. In 1749, the fortress became the property of the Orbeliani princes. The fortress consisted of two parts: The upper castle stood on the top of the hill, and below it was the lower part, where the baths and walls were located. The upper castle is built on a high cliff. On the eastern peak of the hill, the foundations of presumably security towers and a stone staircase cut directly into the rock have been preserved. This section is the most difficult in the route, it will require basic climbing skills. The saddle between the peaks is a flat space of about 60x50 meters, where all the main buildings were located. The space is surrounded by stone walls made of brick with stone inserts. At the foot of the fortress are the ruins of a village and two churches. Archaeological excavations have revealed on the territory of the fortress the remains of various agricultural buildings, baths, water storages (XI–XIII centuries), hollowed out right in the rocks. Archaeologists dated individual buildings to the 10th century.

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