Samtskhe-Javakheti

Samtskhe – Javakheti is a region that never stop surprising visitors , from the mineral springs of Borjomi to the ancient cave city of Vardzi. Historically one of the most  important centers in Georgia, much  of the region today is […]

Samtskhe – Javakheti is a region that never stop surprising visitors , from the mineral springs of Borjomi to the ancient cave city of Vardzi. Historically one of the most  important centers in Georgia, much  of the region today is virtually unknown to tourists, but this ancient land of cave cities and hilltop monasteries is once again opening its doors to the outside world – especially now that a new road means you can get here in just two hours  from Tbilisi.

It is a mountainous, volcanic region,  traversed by ravines, springs and lakes , as well as large and ast moving  rivers. But this diverse landscape provides  a perfect cultivation  area for  the production of some Georgia’s  most famous  and best known traditional foods  and cheeses.  In many villages  you can see the local making  their  own cheese, and at Poka Monastery they make  an incredible 18 different types of cheese, including their  famous blue cheese.  The region is also well known for its wheat  which allows a unique  type  of delicious  Georgain bread to be made “Meskhuri Puri”.

The region location is at the crossroads of three civilization contributed to an intense development of relations between the ancient cultures of Georgia, Asia Minor, and the Middle East. Archeological remains show that area was particularly advanced by the Bronze Age and developed further through the medieval period.  Today many monumentsstill stand to tell their remarkable stories.

Borjomi Mineral Waters

The most famous and incredible thing about Borjomi is its unique mineral waters that are at least equal of the world’s best. The water is rich in the most important  and necessary  micro-elements for life and each spring in the region is characterized by the effect these various properties have on the wildlife. There are hundreds of different springs and each one has its own unique taste and temperature.

Bakuriani

Bakuriani, is a great mountain resort of Georgia, is a feast  for snow-lovers and skiers. It an internationally known  winter sport center, built to Olympic standards and Novices and children  equally enjoy  their first winter sport steps in this winter paradise.

Off the slopes , ome of the most interesting places to visit in Bakuriani , is the Botanical Garden , which opened in 1910. Over, 1,500 species of plants provide  a rich  collection of Alpine  and Sub-Alpine vegetation.

Abastumani

About 30 km from Akhaltsikhe you reach the famous resort or Abastumani. The village  is situated along the river Otskhe , which is crossed by numerous bridges. Its impressive old buildings have witnessed its glorious past , which reached  its peak at the end of the 19^th C. Today,  two  of the sanatoria have been restored and reopened  to allow a new generation to enjoy the spa and its natural spring waters.

Borjomi – Kharagauli National Park

The Borjomi -Kharagauli national Park is  one of the largest in Europe and covers more than 76,00 hectares of native forests and sub-alpine  and alpine  meadows.  The flora and fauna found here is very diverse. Rare and endemic  species listed in Georgia’s  red Data Book  can be found including  a wonderful array of mammals. Among large carnivores it is possible  to find  gray wolves . lynx, and brown  bears while roe deer and wild  boar can frequently be seen.

Akhaltsikhe Fortress

18^th C. Akhaltsikhe Fortress is often called  the symbol of tolerance , occupies  around 7 hectares  and was returned  to its  original appearance . a church, mosque , minaret, synagogue, as well as  Jakelebi Palace, a historic  museum, old  baths and  a citadel, have been restored on the territory of Rabat Castle.

Saphara Monastery

Saphara Monstery is one among most interesting monuments of Georgian architecture .  The first information about monastery date back  to the 10^th C and in the 13-14C. the monastery included 12 churches  and chapels. The monastery is surrounded by a wall equipped with an observation tower and even has a fortress where people from neighboring villages used to hide during times of war.

Vardzia

The cave town of Vardzia is one if the most important  and impressive  historic monuments in Georgia . It  has 13 floors connected  by a complex system of tunnels

Vardzia was built in 1156 – 1184 and this incredible town quickly  grew to consist over 3,000  caves that could accommodate 50,000 people at  a time. The Vardzia  complex had  living quarters, refectories,  barns, wine cellars,  stabs,  drugstores and even libraries.  The town had a potable  water supply and a sewerage system. A monastery still exists and practices in the caves today.

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