Shatili is a small village only a few miles away from the Chechen border, famous for its fortified dwellings built between the 7th and 13th centuries, located in the deep Arghuni gorge at an elevation 1.400 meters above the sea level.
It is located on the northern slope of the Greater Caucasus mountains, in the historical Georgian province of Upper Khevsureti, which is now part of the modern-day region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti.Located in the deep Arghuni gorge at approximate 1,400 meters, the village is actually a unique complex of medieval-to-early modern fortresses and fortified dwellings of stone and mortar which functioned both as a residential area and a fortress guarding the northeastern outskirts of the country. The fortress consists of the terraced structures dominated by flat-roofed dwellings and some 60 towers which cluster together to create a single chain of fortifications.
The population of Shatili, along with that of most of the Khevsureti, was resettled under the pressure from the Soviet authorities to the plains in the early 1950s. In the 1960s, the exotic landscape of the empty village was used as a setting for a series of Georgian films about the past life of the highlanders. 
Shatili is still inhabited by a dozen or so families, but is inaccessible by road during wintertime. The village is a favourite destination for tourists and mountain trekkers.
Shatili was often surrounded by the enemy. The village always had an extra weapon and bullets. There destination was unknown for children and new daughter- in- lows. If the water supply was not enough there was a huge cupric copper under a rock which was filled with the water of the rain/snow drop by drop. This supply was enough for the village for 3 days. In times of difficulty the water was strictly distributed among the population. 
Unfortunately, in 1913 the castle of Shatili was burnt down by the Russians. Nowadays, the reddish and brownish signs of the fire are clearly seen on the walls of the castle.
Nowadays, Shatili is restored. It is still inhabited by 9 dozen or so families, but is inaccessible by road during wintertime. There is an electricity in the village. Although there is no a mobile communication, the internet is accessible. There are also family hotels in the village. In 12 km from this place there is a castle of Mutso, which is also very interesting. 
To reach Shatili there’s a road along the Aragvi River. The first half of the route, from the Zhinvali Reservoir to Barisakho, is pretty uneventful. But the road becomes really dangerous on the start of climbing to the Datvis-Jvari Pass, culminating at 2,676 meters. The pot-holed road turned into a dirt track often cut by rainwater streams and fallen rocks, or blocked by cows, horses or sheep.
