The New Athos Cave offers an unusual starting point for exploring Abkhazia: its walking route and variety of crystal formations contrast with monasteries, churches and alpine landscapes.
Crystal Formations and the Cave Railway in New Athos
The walking route in the New Athos Cave is 1.4 kilometres long and passes several viewpoints. All the halls feature artistic lighting and sound. The cave contains hundreds of thousands of crystal formations of more than 100 different types, with a wide variety of shapes and colours. Both their quantity and appearance are central to the experience: the sheer number conveys their abundance, while the different shapes and colours invite closer inspection. The history of the cave railway is also part of the site: in 1975, a train on the “cave railway” first carried tourists through the man-made tunnel leading to the cave.
The Monastery, Built in Several Phases
The New Athos Monastery in Anakopia was built in several phases between 1877 and 1911 and consists of two parts. The upper complex has a rectangular ground plan, was built between 1884 and 1896, and includes five churches. Its construction period falls within the monastery’s longer development. This makes it possible to consider the monastery as a whole and the upper complex as a distinct architectural unit: its ground plan, construction period and five churches offer specific points of reference for viewing the complex.
Pitsunda: Churches and Lighthouse
Churches from different periods and in different styles have been preserved in the Pitsunda area. Pitsunda Cathedral was built in the late 10th or early 11th century on the ruins of an older cathedral. The later church building and its older predecessor therefore occupy the same site; the other preserved churches offer a glimpse of different periods and styles. Pitsunda’s old lighthouse is also one of Abkhazia’s local attractions. It is no longer in operation and offers a different point of interest from the churches.
Alpine Route and Local Cuisine
A route from Auadhara leads to Piw Pass, which lies at an altitude of over 2,000 metres in the alpine meadow zone. The Abkhaz name for the place is Tschcha or Antschcho. Its elevation and meadow zone define this aspect of the landscape, which contrasts sharply with the underground halls of the New Athos Cave. If you are also interested in local cuisine, the traditional Likhnashta festival in Likhni offers an opportunity to try traditional Abkhaz dishes.
Abkhazia at a Glance
Abkhazia has more than 195 kilometres of coastline and a warm, humid subtropical climate. These regional characteristics complement the specific sights of its caves, churches, monastery complexes and alpine meadow zone.
Discover more destinations: Merkheuli, Gagra, Gantiadi, Pizunda, Sukhumi, Akhali Atoni, Gudauta, Ochamchira, Aatsi, Abgara, Alakhadzi, Ashitsra, Babushara, Baglani, Dacha, Dranda, Gulrip'shi, Kheivani, Leselidze, Lidzava, Likhni, Machara, Miusera, Otradnoe, Pʼsirtsʼkha.
For the main travel overview: Georgia.
