Rabati-Vardzia-Khertvisi Medieval Fortresses Private Tour

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Rabati Castle, Akhaltsikhe Georgia

Rabati Fortress is located in In Akhaltsikhe. The Akhaltsikhe fortress was founded in the XIII century, and since the XVI century it was ruled by the Ottoman Empire, in the XIX century it came under the patronage of the Russian Empire, and then returned to the rightful owners - the Georgians. That’s why, in the architecture of Rabat is mixed different countries and cultures. The fortress entered the XXI century in a very depressing state. That is why in 2011 it was decided to fully restore and bring to its original appearance. The name "Rabat" means a fortified place, most often a small area located near the citadel. Gradually, people began to call Rabat not only the specified part of the castle, but also the whole territory. The territory of the Rabat fortress on 7 hectares, which are divided into 2 parts: Lower (modern) and Upper (historical).

In the lower part are located: an information center with a cash register, wine terraces (vineyard) and a shop with related products, an alley of love, a hotel, several restaurants, a souvenir shop, a puppet theater, towers.

In the upper part of the Rabat fortress there is a mosque of Haji Ahmed Pasha with gilded domes, a small Christian church, the Samtskhe-Javakheti museum, directly the Jakeli castle itself, and the tomb of the pasha.

Of all the above, a temple built in the 16th century and successfully surviving the Turkish rule (at that time some kind of utility room was made of it) and a mosque built on the foundations of the Christian church have a wonderful past. performing the functions of an Orthodox church. Since then, huge stone monuments with crosses have remained inside.

Another highlight of the upper part of the fortress is the historical museum. Twilight reigns inside. The exposition is presented mainly in the form of household items and weapons.

And the most interesting landmark here is considered to be a tall tower with a Georgian flag on top. The entire citadel had previously served as a castle for the ancient family of Djakeli, who for the sake of their own safety had turned over to the side of the Turkish invaders in the 16th century. From the top, highest point of the tower, there are wonderful views not only of the territory of the Rabat fortress, but also of the surroundings.


Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Vardzia, Erusheti Mountain, Aspindza 383770 Georgia

The ensemble of the monastery of Vardzia was created mainly in the XII - XIII century, during the reign of George III and his daughter, Queen Tamara. Located on the southwestern border of Georgia, the monastery-fortress blocked the gorge of the Mtkvari River (Kura) from the invasion of Iranians and Turks from the south. At that time, all the premises of the monastery were hidden by a rock; only three underground passages connected them to the surface, through which large groups of soldiers could appear completely unexpectedly for the enemy.

The cave complex of Vardzia consists of 13 floors, carved up to 600 rooms: churches, chapels, living cells, storerooms, baths, refectory, treasuries, libraries.

Popular etymology explains the origin of the name "Vardzia" by the following legend.

Once, when Queen Tamara was still a little girl, she played with her uncle in the caves, then the still unfinished monastery. At one moment, the man lost sight of the child in the labyrinths of the caves, and then the young Tamara shouted: “I'm here, uncle!” (In Georgian aq var dzia) George III ordered that his daughters words be called the name of the monastery.


Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Khertvisi Fortress, Vil. Khertvisi, Aspindza 0500 Georgia

Khertvisi Fortress - Medieval fortress in South Georgia, Javakheti, village Khertvisi, at the mouth of Paravani and Mtkvari, on high rocky mountain (now aspindza municipality territory). Khertvisi's active strength was throughout the feudal period. Since October 24, 2007, Khertvisi is accompanied by Vardzia Monastery in UNESCO World Heritage List.

Duration: 50 minutes