Travel Guide Gremi

In Georgia, the monks have a genius: that of building their churches in the most grandiose sites. Thus, over the centuries, they have always withdrawn into a natural setting of sublime beauty. Gremi, the fortified church, is one of the many examples of this, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is well deserved. Its elegance, the refinement of its architecture and the beauty of its silhouette make it a remarkable masterpiece. It is an unmissable site in East Georgia. The church stands on the ruins of a fortress built on a rocky promontory. It opens onto a unique panorama, facing the Dagestan mountain range. In the 16th century,Gremi was the capital of the vanished kingdom of Kakhetia. It was a prosperous stopover on one of the Silk Roads. The city, very important, stretched around the citadel. Nothing remains of its power. Everything has been destroyed. Nothing remains of the commercial arcades, the baths, the wells, the caravanserais, the houses, the palaces. It was the work of Shah Abbas who sacked Gremi in the 16th century. The archaeological excavations unearthed in the vicinity of the church nevertheless bear witness to the wealth and development of the city. The church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel was built in 1565 by King Leo of Kakhetia. In architecture, Gremi shows a transition between the traditional Georgian models according to the cross-dome plan and new building techniques. Thus the church is narrow and very slender. The arrow arches reflect an Iranian influence. It is built in decorative bricks typical of the late medieval period in Georgia. Inside, the 16th century frescoes have been largely preserved. The architecture of the church is therefore 'revolutionary' at the time. In the following centuries, the monument will be a model and prototype in the development of other religious buildings. Next to the church is a three-storey tower, the lower hall of which has been transformed into an ethnographic "museum" (four showcases display some relics). The small royal hall (containing a portrait of a young Irakli II) is worth a visit. The view from the belfry offers a magnificent panorama of the Dagestan mountains. Let's not forget that in Georgia, and especially in Kakhetia, wine production was originally the prerogative of the monks! So the place has its own wine cellar, the marani, almost an indispensable part of the local monasteries. The region is also famous for its cognac production.