Gremi in Kakheti: royal citadel and how to get there
The Gremi complex in Kakheti: a royal citadel and the 1565 Church of the Archangels, former capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti. How to get there.
Gremi is an elegant brick complex on a green hill above the Alazani Valley and the former capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti. The domed Church of the Archangels and the castle tower, rising above the vineyards, are all that remains of a once prosperous trading town - and one of the most picturesque stops on the wine routes of Kakheti.
Why Gremi is famous
Gremi was built by the Kakhetian king Levan, and in the 16th and 17th centuries the town served as the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti. At its heart stood the Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, built in 1565 and painted with frescoes by 1577. Gremi was more than a residence: trade passed through it on a branch of the Great Silk Road, and the town flourished.
The year 1615 put an end to that: the forces of the Persian Shah Abbas I razed Gremi to the ground. The town never recovered, and in the mid-17th century the Kakhetian kings moved their capital to Telavi. What survives of Gremi today is the Church of the Archangels, the castle tower, the bell tower and fragments of the walls.
What to see
The main sight is the Church of the Archangels, with its brick walls and the medieval frescoes preserved inside. Beside it stands a three-tier castle tower, whose bell tower houses a museum: it displays archaeological finds and a 16th-century cannon. From the hill on which the complex stands, a wide view opens out over the green Alazani Valley and the mountains on the horizon. Gremi is on Georgia’s tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage status.
What to keep in mind when visiting
The Church of the Archangels is a working church, so modest dress is required at the entrance: women cover their head and shoulders, and men wear long trousers. The complex itself is compact, and about an hour is enough for an unhurried look around, including the climb up the tower. The best light for photos is morning and evening, when the brick takes on its warmest tone.
Nearby
A handy base for a trip through wine country is Telavi, and not far away stands the ancient monastery of Alaverdi. Getting around the wineries and landmarks of the region is easiest by car - for how to rent one, see the car hire section; for more places, see the things to see section.
Photos
On the map
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Admission and opening hours
- Admission price
- Free entry
The Church of the Archangels is a working church - modest dress is required: women cover their head and shoulders, men wear long trousers. A museum in the bell tower may charge separately. Allow about an hour for the visit.
Details checked: June 14, 2026
Distance
- Tbilisi≈150 km · ~2.5 hvia Telavi, near the town of Kvareli
- Kutaisi≈360 km · ~5.5 happroximate, via Tbilisi
- Batumi≈490 km · ~7 happroximate, via Tbilisi
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