The monastery complex of Vardzia, carved in the rock - the time of creation is the 12th-13th century.
The cave monastery complex of Vardzia is located a hundred kilometers from Borjomi, on the banks of the Kura. About 600 caves of artificial and natural origin can be counted in the complex. The iconic authenticity of Georgia is the Vardzia Cave Complex
The sights of Georgia amaze with their beauty, unique culture and centuries-old history. If you are interested in such a topic as the most interesting places in Georgia, this article is for you. Today we will talk about the ancient monastic city of Vardzia.
Basic
Vardzia is a monastery complex carved into a monolithic mountain high in the mountains, on the eastern branch of the Erusheti ridge, located in Javakheti, on the left bank of the Mtkvari River, at an altitude of 1300 meters above sea level. This town is considered one of the main sights of Georgia.
The highest cave is located at an altitude of 1462 meters above sea level. Towering over the Kura River, Vardzia consists of about 600 caves of artificial and natural origin. The caves deepen by several tens of meters, the rock city has 8 floors in height, the length of the city along the river is about a kilometer.
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History
The construction of the fortress was started by George III, and his daughter, Queen Tamara, finished it. The original purpose of Vardzia was a fortress, but the queen changed it to a massive fortified monastery. The construction of the Vardzia lasted half a century and ended in 1205 . Vardzia had no artificial fortifications. The fortress wall was a rock, inside of which the monastery city was safely hidden from prying eyes.
In 1551, Vardzia was plundered by the Shah of Iran – Tamaz I, the Persians stole the famous icon of Mary and many other treasures. In 1578, the Turks recaptured Vardzia: many monks were killed, and those who remained alive fled in different directions, and the monastery became uninhabited.
After the establishment of Soviet rule in Georgia, Vardzia was considered a tourist base, and in 1983 a museum was opened. In 1989, with the blessing of the Catholicos-Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II, the divine service was revived, as was the life of the monastery, in 1999.
What you can see in Vardzia:
- Khertvisi Fortress – one of the oldest and best preserved fortresses of the Georgian Middle Ages. Khertvisi is an architectural monument of Georgia. Together with the monastery complex, Vardzia is a candidate for the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Georgia.
- Tmogvi Fortress –medieval fortress, which is located on the banks of the Kura River. From there you can observe the foundations of settlements of ancient Georgians.
- Vanis-Kwabebi – cave monastery in the rocks. It is a quiet, deserted place that has stunning views.
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