Between heaven and earth, the creative genius of man
Throughout history, troglodyte habitats have had defensive, cultural, funerary and economic functions, and even served as refuges. As early as the prehistoric era, people settled in this way, either temporarily or permanently, by building an underground habitat or digging it out of the rock. They also dug to compensate for the harshness of the environment, to temporize the surrounding arid environment, when the landscape was - or is - devoid of trees. These troglodyte cities took advantage of unlikely sites, such as cliffs. Initially, they are natural caves. From a very rudimentary base, their architecture has become increasingly sophisticated. Over time, these simple excavations dug into the rock were transformed into real underground cities, with kilometres of galleries and dozens of floors, as in the Vardzia site. Man adapts to his environment: with his bare hands he sculpts cliffs, escarpments and valley slopes to make them liveable. These three sites embody the cultural wealth of Georgia at each period of history.
The Uplistsikhe website
It is called the "City of God". Its history begins between the first and second millennium. It was an important economic, religious and cultural centre 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 stage on the Silk Road, but it declined slowly as soon as King David the Reconstructor chose Tbilisi as its capital. The Mongol armies reduced it to ashes in the 13th century. Originally, there were 700 caves, 150 of which still exist today.
David Gareja's website
Let us pay homage to these monks who set up monasteries on the most unlikely, inaccessible but also beautiful natural sites. Thus, in the 6th century, David Gareja and his disciples are said to have 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 centres and places of pilgrimage. They were placed under the protection of the rulers who were responsible for their maintenance. In order to meet the needs of daily life, caves were used as bakeries, warehouses, 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 oldest of which date from the 8th century - the golden age of the monastery extending from the late 10th to the 13th centuries. But at the beginning of the 13th century, the Mongol invasions put a stop to monastic life. It resumed, on a smaller scale, from the 17th century. Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, David Gareja remains a sacred site and one of the key witnesses to Georgia's cultural heritage.
The Vardzia site
Classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of Georgia's treasures. Vardzia is in perfect harmony with its environment. One can pay tribute to its beauty and above all to the ingenuity of its layout. It is a masterpiece, unique of its kind: the whole reflects the alliance of human architectural genius which has been able 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.
History tells us that originally only secret access led to it. Dug into the cliffside, this monastic complex, overhanging a canyon, is spectacular. Later, fortresses were built in a network to protect it. Originally a simple monastery, it took forty-eight years to transform the site into a veritable underground city, designed to accommodate 50,000 people. It included libraries, houses, shops, a network of pipes carrying water... Vardzia had a defensive function, against a possible invasion from the south: the Turks. In the course of time, the site gradually became a real city. At its peak, the complex had 3,000 caves, organized on 13 floors, including 360 rooms with a capacity of 5,000 people. These were connected by tunnels.
The development of the site has allowed the appearance of new masterpieces: the mural paintings, decorating the walls of the caves and dated from the 10th to 16th centuries, are remarkable in medieval pictorial art. These remains tell the story of the daily life of the inhabitants, where no detail has been forgotten. Terraces had been laid out on the surrounding slopes for agriculture. A sumptuous site that can still be admired through the layout of the monks' cells and public structures. Try to imagine these places: at their peak, they were much 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 great queen of Georgia, once went 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 would not be seen among them again, the king and the nobles went in search of her. " Sad Khar, Tamar? " (Where are you, Tamar? They shouted). " Ar var Dzia! (I am here, Uncle," she replied, in the respectful manner of an older person) Vardzia was born.
