Gremi Archaeological Complex

What was once a well-developed city in the 15th century, Kakheti is a location that many tourists flock to. The first population around Gremi most likely appeared in the late Bronze Age, but its history as a strategically and politically important city starts in the 15th century.

Region

Kakheti

City

Kvareli

The History of Gremi Archaeological Complex

The best-preserved building is the Archangel Church, standing on a rocky ridge, and a three-story palace and bell tower, where the excavated materials around Gremi and Nekresi are displayed. The complex houses a wine cellar and a secret path, made of stone, leading to the Intsoba River.

To the west, lies the city in the lowlands, with its merchant quarters, hotels, caravanserai, and public and royal baths. We know the city had a functional water system from ceramic plumbing pipes that have been found in the old settlement.

In 1616, Shah Abbas I laid waste to Kakheti, including Gremi. The city never recovered and people gradually stopped living there.

The unique architectural monument is 120 kilometers from Tbilisi. Fairly near Gremi are Lagodekhi and its famous national park, the ancient architectural monument of Nekresi, Alaverdi Church, built in the expansive Alazani Valley, and the tallest church of all the churches built in Georgia in the Middle Ages.

Gremi, like the rest of Kakheti, is famous for its hospitality, diverse cuisine, and amazing Kakhetian wines that you can try. Georgian winemaking has a history of at least 8,000 years, which is why this country is recognized as the birthplace of wine.

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