Look into the eyes of antiquity: Vardzia - cave settlement and monastery. Excursion programs with safety equipment.

According to legend, the monastery got its name due to the fact that Princess Tamara at a young age ran through the dungeons, looking for her uncle, and then called him, saying the following phrase in Georgian: "Ak var, dzia", which means: "I'm here, Uncle." A fragment of this phrase became the name of the carved complex.

However, historiographers believe that "Vardzia" is "varj", as the Persians called Georgians from the Kartvelian family.

The Georgian landmark was built during the reign of George III. Initially, several dungeons were formed in the gorge of the Kura River, but then the heir to the throne, whose name was Tamara, ordered that instead of natural formations, the subjects carved the Assumption Monastery. Later it was painted by icon painters. At that time, the temple was inhabited by the first monks. Work on the expansion and completion of the complex continued for at least another 50 years. The active construction of the cave city began on the border of the 12th and 13th centuries, during which many rooms, spacious corridors, refectories and other interior spaces were formed.

Gradually, Vardzia became a reliable rock fortress. In wartime, the cave complex could accommodate 30,000 people. Not only warriors, but also ordinary citizens. Later arches and chapels, bell towers were built.

The exits of the rock fortress were carefully camouflaged, they could not be seen with the naked eye. Due to seismic activity and the subsequent earthquake, the 13th century became a turning point, exposing part of the settlement.

In the 16th century, several more tragedies occurred. The attack of the Persians led to the destruction of the bell tower, the death of monks and the theft of church utensils and relics decorated with silver, gold and jewelry. To top it all off, the conquerors set fire to the cave city, but the oldest icons were not burned, but only covered with a dense layer of soot, which contributed to their preservation to our times.

After 20 years, the sad events were repeated. Vardzia was attacked by Turkish invaders, who destroyed the remaining priests, after which the premises were used by shepherds.

Russian Russians conquered the cathedral during the Russo-Turkish wars of the 19th century, thanks to which it began to function again. The end of the 1880s was marked by the first divine service in the Vardzia caves.

In the Soviet Union, the cave city was a border zone. It was difficult for tourists from other countries to get to it.

In 2004, the Ministry of Culture carried out thorough reconstruction work. Only six monks and one pet, a cat, live in the residential area of the monastery today. Every day there are guided tours for travelers. The history of the monastery is shrouded in many myths and legends.

Folk legends say that once the daughter of the tsar prayed for a very long time in the Assumption Monastery. Then she was in the temple with her subjects and accompanied her husband to the war between Russia and Turkey. The queen stayed in the monastery for more than a week.

During the construction of the Georgian fortress, the workers witnessed a mystical event. Construction work was planned to begin with another rock, but the stone surface could not be carved in any way. One day the builders found their devices near another rock, although they remembered that they had left them at the previous place. This was repeated until the workers continued construction in the place indicated by them from above.

The cost is divided according to the following categories:

• People older than 12 can enter for 73 rubles or 3 lari.
• Schoolchildren and students can enter for 25 rubles or 1 GEL.
• The guide's stories cost 606 rubles or 24 lari.
• Audio guide – 243 rubles or 10 lari.

To get to the ticket office, you need to climb the slope for about a kilometer. If there is no desire or strength to go upstairs, then you can take a minibus or a bus. The fare will cost 25 rubles.

It should be remembered that a prerequisite for visiting is clothes suitable for the church, this is indicated by the signs at the entrance.

If you walk 500 meters from the entrance, you can get to the landing, which leads to the rocky terrain. A tourist can visit more than ten rooms and several viewing areas. At the end of the tour, a long, steep and narrow tunnel awaits you. Comfortable benches are located on the stands for inspection, and from a height there is an excellent view of the Georgian and Turkish borders. Inside the cave rooms there are excellent acoustics and the smell of candles is felt everywhere.

Convenient stairs are provided for each tourist here and fences are installed everywhere. The caves are well lit. Sometimes there are ancient stone staircases, walking along them, you need to be as careful as possible. The tunnels are narrow and short, despite this, a person can easily fit into them. During the tour, you can meet a snake.

If you come to Vardzia in winter, you need to carefully climb slippery paths. However, some of the trails are closed at this time.