Vanis Kvabebi
ვანის ქვაბები
A cave monastery about 2 km north of Vardzia, dating to the 8th century. Its cliffside chapel and city walls are older than Vardzia itself.
Vanis Kvabebi is a cave monastery carved into the cliffs of a gorge about 2 km north of Vardzia. Excavated between the 8th and 13th centuries, it predates Vardzia by several centuries. A small chapel sits in the middle of the cliff, and there are defensive walls below. A few monks still live here. Some sections are steep, and the climb takes about 20–30 minutes. Far fewer visitors come here than to Vardzia, so it is a good place to stop on the way to or from Vardzia.
Opening hours
09:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Vardzia
- Khertvisi Fortress
- Sapara Monastery
- Bakuriani
- Rabati Castle
- Green Monastery (Chitakhevi)
- Borjomi Sulfur Pools
- Likani Palace (Romanov Palace)