Between heaven and earth, the creative genius of man
Throughout history, cave dwellings have served defensive, cultural, funerary, economic and even refuge functions. As far back as prehistoric times, people set up temporary or permanent dwellings in this way, either by building underground or by digging into the rock. They also dug to compensate for the harshness of the environment, to make the most of the arid surroundings, when the landscape was - or is - devoid of trees. These troglodyte cities take advantage of unlikely sites, such as cliffs. Initially, they were natural caves. Originally very rudimentary, their architecture has become increasingly sophisticated. Over time, these simple excavations in the rock were transformed into veritable underground cities, with kilometers of galleries and dozens of storeys, as at the Vardzia site. Man has adapted to his environment, sculpting cliffs, escarpments and valley slopes with his bare hands to make them habitable. These three sites embody the cultural richness of Georgia at every period in its history.
Ouplistsikhé website
It's known as the "City of God". Its history began in the 1st and 2nd millennia. It was an important economic, religious and cultural center during the Hellenistic period between the 4th century BC and the 4th century AD. Its heyday was between the 9th and 11th centuries. It was an important stopover on the Silk Road, but went into slow decline as soon as King David the Reconstructor chose Tbilisi as his capital. Mongol armies reduced it to ashes in the 13th century. Originally, there were 700 caves, 150 of which still exist today.
David Garedja's website
Let's pay homage to those monks who established monasteries in the most unlikely, inaccessible - but also the most beautiful - natural sites. In the 6thcentury , David Garedja and his followers founded the oldest monastery. The complex comprises 19 monasteries, including 5,000 cells for monks. In the Middle Ages, these monasteries were very important monastic centers and places of pilgrimage. They were placed under the protection of sovereigns, who were responsible for their upkeep. To meet everyday needs, caves served as bakeries, warehouses and forges, in addition to churches, chapels and monastic cells. Terraces were built for agricultural purposes. The site is also spectacular for its wall paintings, masterpieces of medieval art, the earliest dating from the 8thcentury - the monastery's golden age extending from the late 10th to the 13thcentury . But in the early 13th century, the Mongol invasions brought monastic life to a halt. It resumed, on a smaller scale, from the 17thcentury onwards. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, David Garedja remains a sacred site and a key witness to Georgia's cultural heritage.
The Vardzia site
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of Georgia's treasures. Vardzia is in perfect harmony with its environment. It is a tribute to its beauty and, above all, to the ingenuity of its layout. It's a masterpiece, one of a kind: the whole reflects the alliance of human architectural genius that has managed to make the most of a natural site without destroying it. The reign of Queen Tamar, from 1184 to 1213, symbolizes the golden age of Georgian history. It was during this period that the site, which had a strategic function, was most developed.
The story goes that, originally, only a secret entrance led to the site. Carved into the side of a cliff, this monastic complex, overlooking a canyon, is spectacular. Later, a network of fortresses was built to protect it. Originally a simple monastery, it took 48 years to transform the site into a veritable underground city, designed to accommodate 50,000 people. Vardzia had a defensive function, against a possible invasion from the south: the Turks. Over time, the site gradually developed into a full-fledged city. At its peak, the complex comprised 3,000 caves, arranged on 13 levels, including 360 rooms with a capacity of 5,000 people. These were connected by tunnels.
New masterpieces were created: the murals on the walls of the caves, dating from the 10th to 16thcenturies , are a remarkable example of medieval pictorial art. These relics tell of the daily lives of the inhabitants, with no detail overlooked. The surrounding slopes were terraced for agricultural purposes. A sumptuous site that can still be admired through the layout of the monks' cells and public structures. Try to imagine these places: in their heyday, they were far more imposing. Unfortunately, an earthquake in 1283 destroyed a third of the site.
Birth of a legend... and a name
Legend has it that little Tamar, the future queen of Georgia, set off one day to accompany her father, King George III, and his court. While they were out hunting, the little princess set off to explore the caves. Worried that she was no longer with them, the king and nobles set off in search of her. " Sad Khar, Tamar? " ("Where are you, Tamar?" they cried). " Ar var Dzia! " ("I'm here, uncle," she replied, in the respectful way of addressing an older person) Vardzia was born.
