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Bagrati Cathedral, Gelaty Monastery, Motsameta Monastery from Kutaisi

2 Reviews 4.00 out of 5 stars Based on 2 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 100% of reviewers
100% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
| Kutaisi, Georgia
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from $20.75 per person

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Bagrati Cathedral, Gelaty Monastery, Motsameta Monastery from Kutaisi Image 1
Bagrati Cathedral, Gelaty Monastery, Motsameta Monastery from Kutaisi Image 2
Bagrati Cathedral, Gelaty Monastery, Motsameta Monastery from Kutaisi Image 3
Bagrati Cathedral, Gelaty Monastery, Motsameta Monastery from Kutaisi Image 4
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On average, this is booked 22 (0) days in advance.
3 hours (approx.)
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Offered in: English
and 1 more
Russian
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Overview

Explore the Gelati Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn about the history of these important monuments of ancient Georgian culture.

Learn about the history of the monastery, which was founded in 1106 by Davit Agmashenebeli. Admire the buildings from different times, mainly from the 12th and 13th centuries.

Next, visit the Monastery of Motsameta, one of the important monuments of ancient Georgian culture. The walled monastery is built on the site of a rocky and forested mountain.

Finally, visit the Bagrati Cathedral, the Assumption Cathedral, built in 1003 during the reign of Bagrat III (975-1014), in Kutaisi, on Uchimerion Hill. The monument is a landmark church in Georgian medieval church architecture, both in terms of its architectural solution and historical and symbolic significance.

What's Included

  • Private transportation
  • WiFi on board
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
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    Meeting Location

    Meeting point

    Joseb Grishashvili Street
    Kutaisi, Georgia

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    Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

    End point

    This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    What To Expect

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    Bagrati Cathedral

    The Cathedral of the Dormition, or the Kutaisi Cathedral, more commonly known as Bagrati Cathedral, is the 11th-century cathedral church in the city of Kutaisi, the region ofImereti, Georgia. The cathedral, rebuilt officially on September 16, 2012 after heavy damage ages ago, served as a masterpiece in the history of modern and medieval Georgian architecture. A distinct landmark in the scenery of central Kutaisi, the cathedral rests upon the top of Uk’imerioni Hill. It was built in the early years of the 11th century, during the reign of King Bagrat III, due to which it was called "Bagrati", i.e., Bagrat’s cathedral. An inscription on the north wall reveals that the floor was laid in "chronicon 223", i.e., 1003. In 1692, it was devastated in an explosion by Ottoman troops who had invaded the Kingdom of Imereti. The incident caused the cupola and ceiling to collapse. Conservation and restoration works, as well as archeological studies, began in 1952. In 1994 the Bagrati Cathedral, together with the Gelati Monastery, was included in UNESCO's World Heritage Site list as a single entity. In 2001, ownership of the cathedral was transferred from the Georgian state to the Georgian Orthodox Church. It is now of limited use for worship services, but attracts many pilgrims and tourists. It is also frequently used as a symbol of the whole city of Kutaisi, being one of its main tourist attractions.
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    40 minutes Admission Ticket Included

    Gelati Monastery

    This perfectly restored outstanding monument of Georgian architecture was the centre of spiritual and scientific life of the Middle Ages, the tomb of Georgian kings, the cult place for pilgrims. It is located 14 km from the city of Kutaisi and is under UNESCO protection as a site of cultural and historical legacy. In fact, Gelati is a rich historical architectural complex comprising the ancient monastery, the bell tower, the church and the academy set up in 1106 by the great king of Georgia David the Builder. Thus, Gelati was not only the spiritual centre of the country but also the largest centre of culture, history, and science. David the Builder, who wanted to create a large educational centre in his country, gathered the best Georgian scientists in the academy. In Gelati there was a big and rich library, the teachers and scientists in the academy were the most educated people of the time. The main structure of the complex is the church of Assumption of the Virgin. This temple keeps well known Gelatian mosaics and frescos dated the 12th – 18th centuries. The most valuable are the paintings with the images of the Holy Mother of God. On the northern wall of the temple, there is a fresco with the image of David the Builder. Beside those Gelati complex includes St. George the Victory-Bearer cross-dome church (the 13th century) which is a smaller replica of the main Gelati temple. The church has 16th- century frescos. The two-level St. Nicholas the Miracle-Worker church is also part of the complex. … Here is the short history of Gelati. From the 12th to the 14th centuries, the monastery was the property of the King's house. King David granted it enormous grounds and generous treasures – the trophies of the victorious wars. The monastery was the place where such religious relics of entire Christian world as Khakhul icon of Divine Mother and the Atskuri icon of Divine Mother along with ancient manuscripts and many other relics were kept. King David ordered to arrange a tomb for the representatives of imperial family in the monastery. Nearly all the kings of united Georgia are buried there: Demetre I, George III and presumably Queen Tamara. In his testament David the Builder ordered to bury him in such a way, that everyone entering the tomb would step on his grave. The legend says that it was how the king wanted to be punished for his sin of arrogance. Now king’s body is resting under the southern gate of the temple and everyone who enters the temple has no other choice but stepping on his tomb. There is also the tomb of Imeretian kings since after the disintegration of the united state the monastery was in their possession. In 1510 Gelati was burnt by Turkish aggressors. After that, the kings of Imeretia Bagrat III and George II thoroughly repaired the monastery. Afterwards the residence of the Katholikos was transferred from Bichvinta to Gelati in the second half of the 16th century (until the 19th century). In the 17th century, the monastery was renovated again. After Imeretian kingdom joined Russia, Gelati ceased to be the church possession and became a state property.
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    50 minutes Admission Ticket Included

    Motsameta

    Motsameta Monastery is smaller and quieter than the one in Gelati, although its cliff-edge setting is more spectacular by far. It is located 6km out of Kutaisi, off the Gelati road. Take the turning marked by a photo of the church and follow this track for a couple of kilometres. This little monastery has a spectacular setting on a cliff-top promontory above a bend of the Tskhaltsitela River. Situated dizzily high above the ravine of the Tskhaltsitela River, the monastery offers awe-inspiring views of the river and the surrounding countryside from any number of buildings and points on the grounds. Extremely isolated and seldom visited by tourists, this place will give you an unadulterated taste of the monastic life. The church itself is on a site on which there had been a church and village since the fourth century. The name Motsameta is derived from the Georgian word for martyrdom. Two brothers, David and Constantine Mkheidze, were lords of this region in the eighth century. Sometime between 720 and 730, succumbing to a superior Arab force, they were captured and tortured for refusing to convert to Islam. They were thrown into the Rioni River with stones tied around their necks and their bodies washed up on the riverbank below the monastery. They were buried as martyrs in the crypt of the church, which was also destroyed by the Arabs at the time of the brothers' death.
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    50 minutes Admission Ticket Free

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    Additional Info

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Service animals allowed
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers

    Frequently Asked Questions (8)

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Bagrati Cathedral, Gelaty Monastery, Motsameta Monastery from Kutaisi?

    A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (+04).This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025

    Cancellation Policy

    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

    Still have questions?

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    Activity code: C-216599P2

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    Reviews

    4.00
    2 reviews

    Average 4.00 out of 5 stars based on 2 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

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    On average, this is booked 22 (0) days in advance.
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    Frequently Asked Questions (8)

    Activity name

    The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Shore Excursions customers.

    Filter by:

    Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Bagrati Cathedral, Gelaty Monastery, Motsameta Monastery from Kutaisi?
    A:
    You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
    • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
    • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
    • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
    • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (+04).
    • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
    Apr 2025
    Q: What's included in the price?
    A:
    The following is included:
    • Private transportation.
    • WiFi on board.
    • Air-conditioned vehicle.
    • Insurance 100%.
    Apr 2025
    Q: What is the weather cancellation policy?
    A:

    This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

    Apr 2025
    Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
    A:

    The minimum age to participate is 13. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..

    Apr 2025
    Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
    A:

    If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

    If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

    Apr 2025
    Q: Is this an accessible tour?
    A:

    Accessibility information for the Bagrati Cathedral, Gelaty Monastery, Motsameta Monastery from Kutaisi is as follows:

    • Service animals allowed
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    Apr 2025
    Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
    A:

    Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Private Neuschwanstein Romantic Winter Tour with Tickets included will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Shore Excursions. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

     

     

    Mar 2024
    Q: How long does a refund take to reach my card, and can I get it faster?
    A:

    Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.

    Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.

    If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.

    Oct 2026

    What's Included

    Activity name

    • Private transportation
    • WiFi on board
    • Air-conditioned vehicle
    • Insurance 100%

    Additional Info

    Activity name

    • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
    • Service animals allowed
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers

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