Uplistsikhe, the Lord's Fortress

Uplistsikhe is one of Georgia's oldest urban settlements.

The cave town lies about 10 kilometers east of Gori.

Builders carved the whole town into a sloping mountain.

A 3 m tunnel functioned as the water supply.

The complex covers approximately 8 hectares of rocky ground.

Some larger caves have ceilings carved like wooden logs.

A stone and brick basilica crowns the summit.

Muslim conquest of Tbilisi made Uplistsikhe a key stronghold again.

A ceremonial hall stands out in the southern part.

Uplistsikhe contains various rock-cut structures carved into the mountain.

An earthquake in 1920 destroyed several vulnerable parts.

The site has been on UNESCO's tentative list since 2007.