Things to see and do Western Georgia

This small monastery of the th century is one of the most beautiful of Imérétie, if you do not count the two flagship sites of the Koutaïssi region. It has a little common look for a Georgian complex; it would even resemble a fortified monastery of the high Middle Ages. Georgian churches and monasteries are often carved stone or brick, Oubissa is a rare case constructed of apparent round stones - which gives it the airs village air. Black grey tones of stones are also unusual. The monastery consists of three buildings included in the fortified enclosure, whose size reports combine nicely with a very special silhouette. The covered porch is particularly large and has itself the shape of a small church. Next, the little basilica of the th century.

Its interior is particularly valuable: it has a wall cycle of the th century. The masterpieces of the round are the Supper and the Nativity. The cycle was conducted by the artist Damiane. There is a great influence on the Was Byzantine school. The third building is a four-storey tower dating back to 1141, which was the residence of the Dean of the monastery. The whole is very sophisticated and slender, despite a chivalric appearance due to the fortification and color of the stones. The monks of Oubissa seem particularly modern: they use a solar panel! Besides this, they sell delicious honey and very well reputed, do not hesitate to buy it.

In the region of Sénaki it is a beautiful excursion in the deep Mingrélie. It is located at the top of the mingréliens foothills, at the foot of the Caucasus, in a magnificent landscape. The monastery dates from the end of the th century; The Church of the Virgin dates from the th century, but its current structure comes from the fourteenth century. This is one of the most important sanctuaries in West Georgia, after Guélati. Martvili was the episcopal chair of the Georgian Orthodox Church until the Russian conquest. There were also buried monarchs of the Middle Ages. The frescoes of the th and th centuries covered the whole church; some of them are retained; they represent kings, nobles and donors alongside traditional iconography.

Recently, the monks revived the complex, asphaltant the road, build dependencies, stairs, ramps, by even partially restoring the church and its esplanade, to the detriment of historical authenticity.

The monastery is located on the hill above the small town of Martvili, very well connected by marchroutka in Koutaïssi and Zugdidi. You can walk on foot (1,5 km). Magnificent views at the summit.

Can help organize circuits in the park.