Vardzia, Georgia: history, sights and photos

Traveling through Georgia, one can not help visiting the man-made miracle of the Golden Age - a real cave city, carved in the depths of a picturesque rock.

Winding undercover corridors in the depths of the dungeon, an ancient monastery with a unique collection of frescoes and almost a thousand-year history is Vardzia. Georgia is deservedly proud of its monumental historical site, ranking it among the most outstanding monuments of ancient architecture and national culture of the country.

Ancient Vardzia - a colorful spot on the map of modern Georgia

Geographically, Vardzia (Georgia) is located near the Turkish border in the south of the country, next to the settlement of the same name near Akhalkalaki in Samtskhe-Javakheti province. The cave monastery is located in the picturesque valley of the river Kura (in Georgian Mtkvari), surrounded on all sides by the majestic mountains of the Caucasus. On the expanses of the Javakheti upland the sheer rock of Erušeti (which in Georgian sounds like the Bear Mountain) rises, lacquered by cave openings and winding lazy of an ancient monastery.

The legendary origin of the city's name

The etymology of the sonorous name of Vardzia is explained by several ancient legends. The legend of the little Tamara, who plays with her uncle in the caves of the erected monastery, enjoys the special love of Georgians. Having lost sight of the girl, the man began to look around, and at that moment the young princess suddenly appeared behind his back, having issued a cry "Ak var, dzia!" (I'm here, uncle!). Melodious consonance was so pleasing to Tsar George that he decided to name the fortress in the words of his daughter, to the glory of the future tsarina.

According to another version, which historians tend to adhere to, the name Vardzia comes from the Persian "varge" - so the Persians called the ancient inhabitants of Georgia.

History of the construction of the ancient fortification

The history of the monastery complex runs to the depths of the 12th century, the reign of Queen Tamara, which is still worshiped by all of Georgia. The cave city of Vardzia was erected as a reliable fortification, designed to protect the Borjomi gorge from militant Mongolian-southerners. The natural system of underground grottoes of Mount Erushte gave an excellent basis for the future impregnable fortress, the construction of which was begun under the reign of King George III and continued by his legendary daughter Tamara.

Once the monastery was completely and completely hidden in the depths of the rock, connecting with the surface of the labyrinth of underground passages. The strongest earthquake in the history of these places, which shook the region at the end of the 13th century, brought down the outer part of the mountain slope, exposing the premises of the city-temple, previously unseen to the enemy.

The desolation and the subsequent resurrection of Vardzia

In the following centuries, the country was repeatedly looted by Tatar-Mongolian and Persian troops, including Vardzia. Georgia remembers the largest fire, arranged by the Persians in 1551. This disaster took the life of the monks of the monastery, but, paradoxically, it provided immortality to the unique decoration of the monastery. The frescoes and murals of the walls concealed under the soot are safely preserved to the present day.

Captured the fortress in the XVI century, the Ottomans owned this area for more than two hundred years, during which the monastery remained uninhabited. Two centuries later, Russian troops recaptured from the Ottoman Empire an ancient city, and under the vaults of an ancient temple life began to swirl again.

Nowadays Vardzia is an actively visited national monument of Georgia and the current monastery. The first after a centuries-old break the liturgy sounded in the walls of the temple in the late 80's.

Since 2004, the Ministry of Culture of the country has organized restoration work, during which the tapping systems were restored, the cracks made by time were concreted. In order to ensure the safety of monks and visitors, strengthening supports were erected. The issue of including the cave city on the UNESCO World Heritage List is under consideration.

Architectural masterpiece of medieval Georgia

So what is Vardzia astonishing? Georgia has many cave buildings and monasteries, but this place is truly special. A real underground city, impressive with its monumentality and complex system of structures! The multi-storeyed complex of Vardzia includes more than six hundred grottoes and caves of natural and man-made origin, connected by a network of streets and tunnels stretching 800 meters long and over 50 meters deep into the mountain.

The temple complex united fifteen churches, the heart of which was and still is the majestic temple of the Assumption of the Virgin. In addition to the cult rooms, the architectural ensemble of the rock city included residential and subsidiary buildings, refectory, libraries, baths and a 3.5 km stretch of water.

In the event of a military threat, the impregnable vaults of the fortress could accommodate up to 20,000 people and withstand a long siege, and three outlying tunnels leading to the outside provided Georgian troops with a surprise attack on the enemy's military forces.

Sights of the cave complex

If you ask Georgians what object makes them very proud, many will say: Vardzia. Georgia (where the famous cave complex is located, we told at the beginning of the article) lists the monastery as one of the richest places in the world.

Today it is a refined cultural object, equipped with electricity, convenient staircases and safe fences. The main entrance to the cave city is a small bell tower, built after the historic earthquake. This kind of grand entrance leads to the central temple of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, located in a spacious grotto. Crowning its walls, unique frescoes with the faces of the saints, the queen Tamara and George III are of great artistic value. The temple's vaults are painted with traditional biblical subjects. According to legend, the queen Tamara found rest here.

The temple of the Assumption is located in the depths of the rock, and from the outside only the arches of the vestibule are visible, the altar hides a secret passage into a small room for utensils and temple attire. Narrow passages lead to other small churches and temples hidden in the depths of the cave city, there is also a small spring that gives water to the current monastery, where today about fifteen monks live.

Such is the picturesque Vardzia (Georgia). The sights of this area are not limited to an ancient monastery. In the vicinity of the rocky city you can get acquainted with the history of the fortresses of Tmogvi and Khertvisi, visit the cathedral church of the 10th century Kumurdo, visit the even more ancient cave monastery Vanis Kwabebi.

Vardzia (Georgia): how to get to the cave monastery town

If you chose a trip to Vardzia, start the trip best from the southern city of Akhaltsikhe. You can use the car rental service and get to the cave complex yourself. The journey takes an hour. Also from the town there are shuttle buses "Akhaltsikhe (Georgia) - Vardzia". Where to stay at the time of rest? The choice you have is great. Usually travelers are accommodated in numerous guesthouses in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region. You can stay overnight in small hotels, hostels or rented apartments of the village itself.

Not far from the monastery complex was opened a modern hotel with a restaurant Vardziarezot, which opens a delightful panorama of the cave city. Especially impressive sight in the dark - the monastery is highlighted by bright lights. Some tourists prefer to stay in a tent or spend the night under the picturesque Georgian sky.

Interesting moments for visitors

• The cave city is open for visits all year round, working hours are from 9 to 19 hours. The inspection of the entire cave complex will take at least 2.5-3 hours. The ticket price is 3 GEL (approximately 100 rubles) for adults, a child ticket is 1 GEL.
• Did you plan to visit the underground monastery? Not too much will be stocked with a flashlight - many corridors and transitions of the complex are wrapped in impenetrable darkness.
• In the caves it is quite cool even on hot summer days, therefore, when going on the road, be sure to take warm things with you.
• Organized excursion tours to the monastery complex of Vardzia are carried out by almost all travel agencies of Georgia.

If you are planning an exciting and informative journey through one of the most ancient corners of the near abroad - your choice is Vardzia (Georgia). Photos of the picturesque beauties of the underground monastery and the surrounding mountains will delight and give warm memories for many years to come.