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Vardzia – is a cave monastery complex of XII-XIII centuries in southern Georgia, in Javakheti. Is a famous medieval sight of Georgian architecture. Over 900 m along the left bank of the Kura River in the steep tuff wall of Erusheti mountain (Bear) is carved up to 600 spaces: churches, chapels, living cells, storage rooms, baths, refectories, treasuries, libraries. The premises of the complex go 50m in deep into the rock and rise to a height of eight floors. Secret passages connecting the rooms, the remains of plumbing and irrigation system are preserved. In the center of the monastery is placed the main temple of the Dormition of the Theotokos. The temple is of the hall type, covered with the basket-handle arc (on the strengthened arcs), and decorated with pilasters on the walls - unique mural paintings (including images of King George III and Queen Tamar,1180-s., Master George). The frescoes of the Dormition of the Theotokos, the Ascension of the Lord and and the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ are of the great historical and artistic value.
In September 2004, by the Ministry of Culture of Monuments Protection and Sport of Georgia was made the complex of works for the rehabilitation of the monastery complex: recovery of the divert systems, cleaning of the rock of the complex, packing of the dangerous cracks and stopping the process of expansion, recovery of the braces, holding the stones.
Currently, Vardzia cave monastery is one of the main tourist attractions of southern Georgia. In 2005 was raised the question on the inclusion of the complex in UNESCO World Heritage List.
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