Famous traveler Arcangelo Lamberti said that the village of Rukhi, located near the Enguri River, was the oldest city in history. Here you can find the remnants of the fortress built by Levan Dadiani II, the Prince of Samegrelo. This is the area where the famous Megrelian Robin Hood, Matsi Khvitia, began fighting against human trafficking.
An outstanding fighter and admirer of freedom, Matsi refused to serve Queen Gurandukht, making her furious. The dignified Queen sent Matsi’s beloved Eka, along with other captives, to the slave market. Matsi attacked the Queen’s entourage and freed the people who were condemned to slavery. The story didn’t have a happy ending, unfortunately, as the bullets of the persecutors struck Matsi and Eka at the border of independent Svaneti.
Campers often gather in the vicinity of the Rukhi fortress to hear the stories of bravery, love, and self-sacrifice from the local population.