Alaverdi Monastery

Religious Site 11th-century monastery overlooking Kakheti vineyards

Alaverdi Monastery in Kakheti, Georgia, is an 11th-century Georgian Orthodox cathedral complex set in a wine-producing region; visitors come for church architecture and regional wine tours.

Main image

Alaverdi Monastery is a historic Georgian Orthodox monastic complex in the Kakheti region of eastern Georgia, notable for its large medieval cathedral. The principal cathedral of the monastery dates to the early 11th century and remains the focal point of the complex.

The site combines the cathedral with monastic buildings and ancillary chapels and has continued as a center of religious life and pilgrimage in the Kakheti region. Architectural features reflect medieval Georgian church-building traditions.

The present cathedral was constructed in the 11th century on the site of an earlier monastic foundation and has served as a diocesan and monastic centre since the medieval period. The complex has been conserved and remains in religious use.

Alaverdi lies in Kakheti, eastern Georgia, within a rural landscape of vineyards and hills and is visited from regional towns such as Telavi.

  • Date: The cathedral at Alaverdi is one of the major medieval churches in Georgia and dates from the early 11th century.

What to See #

  • Cathedral (Alaverdi Cathedral): The main cathedral of the complex dates to the 11th century and forms the core liturgical structure of the monastery, retaining medieval masonry and layout.
  • Monastic complex: Monastic buildings and associated ecclesiastical structures surround the cathedral, forming a functioning monastic complex still used for worship and clergy residence.
Alaverdi Monastery
Alaverdi Monastery, Alaverdi, Telavi Municipality, Kakheti, Georgia
42.0325, 45.3771
Daily 8am-6pm
Free (donations accepted)

How to Get to Alaverdi Monastery #

Alaverdi Monastery is about 12 km north of Telavi, the regional center in Kakheti. The monastery can be reached by car or local minibus (marshrutka) from Telavi; journey time is roughly 20-30 minutes by road.

Tips for Visiting Alaverdi Monastery #

  • Visit on a weekday morning to avoid church service crowds if one wants quiet for photography.
  • Wear respectful clothing; the monastery is an active religious center with monks in residence.
  • Combine the trip with wine tasting in Kakheti-Alaverdi is near Georgia's wine country and several family cellars are close by.

Best Time to Visit Alaverdi Monastery #

Spring and autumn are the most atmospheric times to visit; the monastery is accessible year-round but winters can be cold and snowy.

Spring
April-June · 10-22°C (50-72°F)
Blooms and gentle weather make it pleasant to walk the monastery grounds and surrounding vineyards.
Autumn
September-November · 8-20°C (46-68°F)
Harvest season in Kakheti, golden vineyards, and cooler days-excellent for combining wine routes with the monastery visit.

Weather & Climate near Alaverdi Monastery #

Climate

Alaverdi Monastery's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -3°C to 30°C. Moderate rainfall (698 mm/year).

Air Quality: AQI 59 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
AugustSeptemberJuly
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
36°
Warmest Month
-19°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of -3°C. The driest month with just 28 mm and mostly overcast skies.

49 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-3°
78%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

28 mm
Rainfall
1.3 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.2
UV Index
Low
9.3h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (38 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

47 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-2°
77%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

38 mm
Rainfall
1.7 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.4
UV Index
Low
10.4h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 1°C. Moderate rainfall (44 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

55 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
12°
72%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

44 mm
Rainfall
1.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.7
UV Index
Moderate
11.8h daylight

April

April is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (68 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

61 Good

Comfort

12°
Feels Like Cool
12°C
Temperature
19°
70%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

68 mm
Rainfall
1.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.1
UV Index
High
13.2h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 10°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (102 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

61 Good

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
10° 22°
69%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

102 mm
Rainfall
1.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.5
UV Index
Very High
14.4h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 15°C. Regular rainfall (98 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

71 Very Good

Comfort

21°
Feels Like Mild
21°C
Temperature
15° 27°
63%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

98 mm
Rainfall
1.7 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.9
UV Index
Very High
15.1h daylight

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

75 Very Good

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Warm
24°C
Temperature
19° 30°
58%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

66 mm
Rainfall
1.6 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.9
UV Index
Very High
14.8h daylight

August

August is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 18°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

79 Very Good

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Mild
24°C
Temperature
18° 29°
55%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

66 mm
Rainfall
1.5 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.7
UV Index
Very High
13.7h daylight

September

September is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 14°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

79 Very Good

Comfort

20°
Feels Like Mild
20°C
Temperature
14° 26°
65%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

58 mm
Rainfall
1.6 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.2
UV Index
High
12.3h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (52 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

69 Good

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
18°
74%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

52 mm
Rainfall
1.4 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.7
UV Index
Moderate
10.9h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (47 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

59 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
12°
75%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

47 mm
Rainfall
1.3 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.3
UV Index
Low
9.6h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of -2°C. Moderate rainfall (31 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

51 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-2°
78%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

31 mm
Rainfall
1.3 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.2
UV Index
Low
9.0h daylight

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