Journey through Borjomi & Vardzia
We experienced a day walking through the town of Borjomi , along the snowy roads and through the park. It was like being in a fantasy wonderland. Day two took us to a castle, fortress and we ended out journey at Vardzia caves. A cave system created in the 12th century.
• Vardzia cave town
The underground halls of the Vardzia was a cave-palace-monastery built by Georgians.
In the late 1100s the medieval kingdom of Georgia was resisting the onslaught of the Mongol hordes. Queen Tamar ordered the construction in 1185, and the digging began.
Extending 13 levels and containing 6000 apartments, a throne room and a large church with an external bell tower. It is said that you could only access this stronghold via a hidden tunnel near the banks of Mtkvari river. In 1283, only a century after its construction, a devastating earthquake ripped the place apart. The quake destroyed more than two-thirds of the city, exposing the hidden innards of the cave systems.
Despite, a monastery community persisted but was raided and destroyed by Persian Sash Tahmasp in 1551.
• Blue palace borjormi
Known as “Firuza” one of the most important historical buildings in Borjomi. located at the entrance of the “Mineral Water Park,” the unique cultural monument. Was built by the consul of Iran In 1892. The building is a combination of Persian, Georgian and European styles
• Sulphur baths
The 'Sulfur Pools averages a temperature of 32-38 C° with a analgesic effect. It is very beneficial for the skin, cardiovascular and endocrine systems, spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system among other benefits. We experienced these pools amidst the snow covered forest with temperatures at 0° and below.
• Khertvisi fortress
According to oral tradition, during the eastern conquest, in 20’s of the 5th century BC, Alexander the Great, together with other fortified cities visited Khertvisi. Located on an important pathway, under its subordination were regions of Mtkvari and Paravani rivers. .
In 1578 during the Ottoman expansion in southern Georgia, the son of Iotham, Arfaksad together with other fortresses in Javakheti, forfeited Khertvisi to Ottomans. Center of Ottoman administrative unit during the 70s of XVIII century, and taken by king Erekle II, during Russian-Ottoman war (1828-1829), in 1828 fortress was liberated by Russian army.
While reconstructed several times. The fortress consists of the citadel and a wall. Citadel stands on a narrow, rocky edge of the mountain, it is not approachable from the northeastern side.
• Tmogvi
The name "Tmogvi" is derived from Georgian word mogvi (მოგვი), meaning "pagan priest" or "magus". The first mention of the fortress is from sources dating to the 9th century. Built to control the ancient trade route between the Javakheti plateau and the gorge of Kura, over a gorge formed by the Kura River.
This was a crucial military stronghold in the region.
The feudal lords of the region were at that time the Bagratids, the Georgian branch. Gaining importance around 900 AD after the neighbouring town and fortress of Tsunda was ruined.
In 1073, it was given in apanage to the nobleman Niania Kuabulisdze; his descendants kept it in the following centuries, before it passed to other major feudal families such as the Toreli, the Tmogveli, the Shalikashvili or the Jaqeli. In 1088, the castle collapsed in an earthquake. The medieval Georgian writer Sargis Tmogveli was from Tmogvi. The Ottoman Empire gained control of the fortress in 1578. In 1829, the Treaty of Adrianople transferred the fortress, among with the surrounding region, to the Russian Empire.
• Rabati castle
Established in the 9th century by Guaram Mampal,. From the 13th to the end of 14th centuries it was the capital city of Samtskhe-Saatabago.
In 1393 the city was attacked by the armies of Tamerlane. Despite the Turko-Mongol invasions, the fortress withstood and continued to thrive. After the Treaty of Constantinople in 1590, the whole territory of Samtskhe-Saatabago came under the rule of Ottoman Empire. Turks Mostly used to build defensive edifices. In 1752 the first mosque was built in Rabati.
Despite the fact that a large part of the population has been Islamized, there's still a functioning Orthodox church".. The first attempt to take the fortress in 1810 failed. Prince Paskevich successfully stormed the fortress 18 years later, in the great Battle of Akhalzic. After the Treaty of Adrianople in 1829, the Ottomans yielded part of Akhaltiske Region.
