• English

Leave the roads, take the trailes...

Vardzia

Vardzia (UNESCO)  is a cave city- monastery site in southern Georgia, excavated from the slopes of the Erusheti Mountain on the left bank of the Mtkvari River, 30 km, from Aspindza. The main period of construction was the second half of the XII century. The caves stretch along the cliff for some five hundred meters and in up to nineteen tiers. The Church of the Dormition, dating to the 1180s during the golden age of Tamar and Rustaveli, has an important series of wall paintings. Excavations have shown that the area of Vardzia was inhabited during the Bronze Age. Cave settlements are known along the Mtkvari River from V century BC, while rock cut architecture, in the context of Georgian Christianity, is known from the VI century AD.  Four distinct building phases have been identified at Vardzia: the first during the reign of Giorgi III (1156–1184), when the site was laid out and the first cave dwellings excavated; the second between his death and the marriage of his successor Tamar in 1186, when the Church of the Dormition was carved out and decorated; the third from that date until the Battle of Basian c.1203, during which time many more dwellings as well as the defences, water supply, and irrigation network were constructed; while the fourth was a period of partial rebuilding after heavy damage in the earthquake of 1283. The greater Vardzia area includes  the early XI-century church at Zeda (upper side) Vardzia and the X-XII-century rock village and cave churches of Ananauri. The main lower site was carved from the cliff's central stratum of tufaceous breccia at an elevation of thirteen hundred metres above sea level. It is divided into an eastern and a western part by the Church of the Dormition. In the eastern part of the complex are seventy-nine separate cave dwellings, in eight tiers and with a total of 242 rooms, including six chapels, "Tamar's Room", a meeting room, reception chamber, pharmacy, and twenty-five wine cellars; 185 wine jars sunk into the floor, document the importance of viticulture to the monastic economy. In the western part,  are a further forty houses, in thirteen tiers and with a total of 165 rooms, including six chapels, a refectory with a bakery, other ovens for baking bread, and a forge. Beyond the bell tower the complex rises to nineteen tiers, with steps leading to a cemetery. Infrastructure includes access tunnels, water facilities, and provision for defend. Vardzia serves as a popular destination of tourism.

  • Wine Tour

    Read More...
  • Welcome to Georgia

    There are many wonderful countries in the world where you can find many interesting sights. But if you are looking for a place of incredible beauty with a fascinating history and kind, hospitable people, you need to find your way to Georgia, in a country full of contrasts, where East meets West.

    Read More...
  • Samshvilde - forgotten city

    Samshvilde city abandoned, but not dead. When you walk through the deserted streets, discover several churches with frescoes and  inscriptions,  you feel the history

    Read More...
  • Gelati Monastery

    Is a masterpiece of the Golden Age of medieval Georgia, a period of political strength and economic growth between the 11th and 13th centuries. It is characterized by the facades of smoothly hewn large blocks, balanced proportions and blind arches for exterior decoration. The Gelati monastery, one of the largest medieval Orthodox monasteries, was also a centre of science and education and the Academy it housed was one of the most important centres of culture in ancient Georgia.

    Read More...
  • Around Kakheti

    Read More...
  • Imereti Caves Protected Areas

    The historic region of Imereti in western Georgia is the region of the legendary Golden Fleece – this is where the long quest for the Golden Fleece took Jason and the Argonauts. The total area of Imereti Caves Protected Areas amounts to 504.6 ha and includes Sataplia Nature Reserve (330 ha), Sataplia Managed Reserve (34 ha), Promethe Cave Natural Monuments (46.6 ha) and 17 Natural Monuments.

    Read More...
  • Kobuleti Protected Areas

    Read More...
  • Schuchmann Wines Georgia

    Is an ultra-premium winery specializing in famous indigenous Georgian grape varieties. It was founded in 2008 by Schuchmann family in a very center of Georgian wine growing zone in Tsinandali.

    Read More...
  • Wine Trails Winery

    WELCOME TO “WINE TRAILS” Winery, where wine make by the Friends – For the friends. Our friendship has been going already 54 years, from first class of the school, since 1969. A dream to have our own winery, we had a long time ago, but we started to fulfill our dream in 2019 after pandemic was started. Wine Trails Winery located in KAKHETI wine region, Village IKALTO, Alazani valley.

    Read More...
  • Twins Wine Cellar

    Wine producing of ''Twins Wine Cellar in Napareuli'' is based on the oldest Kakhetian method, such as producing wine in kvevri. It points to the uniqueness of this method and it is also a message for the whole world that wine is an integral part of ancient Georgian culture.

    Read More...
  • Alaverdi Monastery Cellar

    Monastery Wine ” is a millennium brand of Alaverdi Monastery Cellar made by the Alaverdi Monastery congregate in the XIth century cellar. The wine is produced by endemic variety of Kakhetian vine in unique clay vessel – Qvevri. Alaverdi Royal Monastery is historically known by its qvevris and cellar.

    Read More...
  • Wine Tour

    Read More...
  • Welcome to Georgia

    There are many wonderful countries in the world where you can find many interesting sights. But if you are looking for a place of incredible beauty with a fascinating history and kind, hospitable people, you need to find your way to Georgia, in a country full of contrasts, where East meets West.

    Read More...
  • Samshvilde - forgotten city

    Samshvilde city abandoned, but not dead. When you walk through the deserted streets, discover several churches with frescoes and  inscriptions,  you feel the history

    Read More...
  • Gelati Monastery

    Is a masterpiece of the Golden Age of medieval Georgia, a period of political strength and economic growth between the 11th and 13th centuries. It is characterized by the facades of smoothly hewn large blocks, balanced proportions and blind arches for exterior decoration. The Gelati monastery, one of the largest medieval Orthodox monasteries, was also a centre of science and education and the Academy it housed was one of the most important centres of culture in ancient Georgia.

    Read More...
  • Around Kakheti

    Read More...
  • Imereti Caves Protected Areas

    The historic region of Imereti in western Georgia is the region of the legendary Golden Fleece – this is where the long quest for the Golden Fleece took Jason and the Argonauts. The total area of Imereti Caves Protected Areas amounts to 504.6 ha and includes Sataplia Nature Reserve (330 ha), Sataplia Managed Reserve (34 ha), Promethe Cave Natural Monuments (46.6 ha) and 17 Natural Monuments.

    Read More...
  • Kobuleti Protected Areas

    Read More...

JOIN OUR SPECIAL HARVEST FESTIVAL & WINE TASTING TOURS...