Vardzia: Cave City and Cultural Heritage

Vardzia combines a fortress city carved into the rock with a culturally rich landscape in the upper Mtkvari Basin. There are several options to focus your travel plans: the cave complex, other historic sites in the area, and a multi-day hiking route. You can plan your journey by bus or via a train and minibus connection.

The Cave City and Its Churches

Vardzia is a fortress city carved into a cliff face, extending over 900 meters. The Vardzia Historical-Architectural Museum-Reserve includes a cave complex with 13 levels. Most of its main construction took place between 1156 and 1203. The complex includes the Dormition Church, defensive and irrigation systems, monastic cells, an aqueduct, secret tunnels, a bell tower, and several churches. A total of 242 caves in Vardzia are partially or fully preserved. The Dormition Church and its narthex, or vestibule, contain murals depicting scenes from the life of Christ, as well as portraits of King Giorgi III and Queen Tamar.

Cultural Landscape in the Mtkvari Basin

The Vardzia-Khertvisi area extends for 18 kilometers from Khertvisi to Vardzia in the upper Mtkvari Basin. Villages and farmland in the gorge are arranged in terraces that follow the topography. The area's heritage includes Asomtavruli inscriptions dating from the 9th to the 18th century. Zeda Vardzia preserves an example of the two-nave church type from the 11th century. These sites add further dimensions of regional architectural and written history to the cave architecture.

Fortresses and Historic Traces

The road from Khertvisi to Vardzia runs through the Mtkvari Valley. The historic Tmogvi Fortress is also located in this valley; in the Middle Ages, it controlled access to Georgia from Asia. Khertvisi Fortress is considered a medieval fortress on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. If this status is important for your plans, check the listing again. Vardzia's history also includes the 28 wine cellars and 235 qvevris that once existed there.

Hiking and Nature

The Khertvisi–Shalosheti Mountain–Atskvita route is 28 kilometers long and starts in the village of Khertvisi. It heads toward Atskvita through untouched wilderness. The full route takes two to three days and requires an overnight stay in a tent. Seasonal suitability can change with conditions; check the situation before setting out. Atskvita is considered a place that preserves Georgian folklore and traditions. The area is associated with underground shelters known as darns, which probably date from the Late Bronze Age.

Wildlife offers another point of interest: sparrows, ravens, and Egyptian vultures nest in the cliffs of Vardzia. Blue rock thrushes and rock buntings can also be seen around Vardzia. Sightings vary by season, so factor the time of year into your plans if birdwatching is important to you.

Getting to Vardzia

You can reach Vardzia by bus or minibus on the Tbilisi–Aspindza–Vardzia route. Alternatively, you can take a train from Tbilisi to Akhaltsikhe and then continue by minibus. Transport connections can change, so check the route for your chosen journey before departure.

Discover more destinations: Tskaltubo, Kutaisi, Terjola, Meore Obcha, Kursebi, Chiatura, Sairme, Etseri.

Go to the main travel overview: Imereti.