Vardzia

The cave monastery 

Vardzia (in English also spelled “Wardsia”) is a large cave monastery complex carved into the mountainside on the left bank of the Mtkwari River (also: Kura) some 30 kilometers south of the city of Aspindza. Today it is partly open to the public, partly used as a monastery again and is one of the main attractions in Georgia.

Vardzia cave city was established during the second half of the 12th century by King George III and his daughter and successor Queen Tamar. The vast complex boasts several hundred rooms, 12 churches, among them the Church of the Assumption of Mary that dates back to the late 12th century, and more than 20 wine cellars. During the late 12th and early 13th centuries Vardzia soon grew from a cave monastery into a holy city giving home to more than 2000 monks.

Originally 3,000 3-room-apartments were built on up to seven floors, which offered space for 50,000 people. In addition, treasuries, churches, stables and baths were built. And a water supply network that, in some tunnels, still provides drinkable water.

In 1283 Vardzia and the region were hit by a major earthquake that destroyed the outer walls of many caves, causing significant damage to the complex. 750 rooms on an area of ​​about 900 square meters are still preserved today.

When the region fell under Turkish reign in middle of the 16th century, Vardzia was mostly abandoned and since the end of Soviet era has again become a working monastery, with some caves inhabited by a few monks. These areas are strongly separated from the part of the complex that can be visited, in order to protect the inhabitants’ privacy.

Today the cave monastery of Vardzia is part of a Georgian state heritage reserve, and in 2007 the extended area of Vardzia-Khertvisi was submitted for future inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

How to get there:
Vardzia is located off the main road ს 11, at Khertvisi follow the well-developed regional road შ 58 for about 25 km to the south and you will arrive directly at the cave city. Speaking of which, : if you charter a personal car or taxi from Aspindza you can also visit another historic jewel on the way, the 2000-year-old Khertvisi Fortress. Taxi drive from Akhaltsikhe is app. 1h 20 min (50 GEL), from Aspindza app. 40 min (25 GEL).

Distances from major cities:
Akhaltzikhe - Vardzia: 63km | Aspindza - Vardzia: 32km

Opening hours and prices:
The entrance to the cave city is at the end of the developed regional road, where the parking area, a ticket counter and some small souvenir shops can be found. If you intend to stay for a few days, there are guest houses and two hotels.

Admission price is 5 GEL, opening hours are Tuesday to Sundays from 10 am to 5pm, from May to November until 7 p.m. On Mondays, Vardzia cave monastery is closed. Credit cards accepted.

Guide Service:
Professional Guide Service and Audio Guides available (Georgian, Turkish, Russian, English)

Important things to know:
From the ticket counter you can take a minibus (app. 2 GEL) or you can easily manage the 10-minute ascent on foot. Regardless of whether you are walking or driving, be sure to wear a pair of hiking shoes. The stairs are often narrow and inside the caves it can be difficult to see. You should plan at least 2 hours for the visit.

Picture credits: beyondarts GmbH

Project “Increased regional added value in the tourism sectors of Georgia by Digital Heritage Tourism Guides” was funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) with funds of Austrian Development Cooperation.