Motsameta Monastery
Motsameta Monastery
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Motsameta Monastery
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
55 within 3 miles
Attractions
28 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
311 reviews
Excellent
220
Very good
69
Average
20
Poor
2
Terrible
0
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
This service may contain translations provided by Google. Google disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to translations, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from forgery.
Игорь К
Riga, Latvia2,397 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
Monastery of Saints David and Constantine
is the second most important Kutaisi monastery after the famous Gelati. It is dedicated to the martyrs Saints David and Constantine, local rulers of the 8th century who were tortured for refusing to convert to Islam during the Arab invasion. Mozamet means "martyrs" in translation. Mozameta is separated from Gelati by a canyon and a hill. The monastery's buildings date from the 11th century, with subsequent alterations and restorations. The ark with the relics of David and Constantine is located in the main temple, on an elevation to the right of the entrance. You should go around the ark three times, bowing your head under a specially low-made tunnel, and without touching the ceiling or walls (you can make a wish, but only one that will not hurt other people).
is the second most important Kutaisi monastery after the famous Gelati. It is dedicated to the martyrs Saints David and Constantine, local rulers of the 8th century who were tortured for refusing to convert to Islam during the Arab invasion. Mozamet means "martyrs" in translation. Mozameta is separated from Gelati by a canyon and a hill. The monastery's buildings date from the 11th century, with subsequent alterations and restorations. The ark with the relics of David and Constantine is located in the main temple, on an elevation to the right of the entrance. You should go around the ark three times, bowing your head under a specially low-made tunnel, and without touching the ceiling or walls (you can make a wish, but only one that will not hurt other people).
Automatically translated
Written September 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IowaWillAlwaysBeHome
11 contributions
Jun 2024 • Solo
Three weddings were going on so it was fantastic to see the men in their traditional dress and hear the religious service. The chapel is small but there is a working water well and the setting amidst the forested hills is lovely. No explanations in English, no guides, so visitors are left wondering...
Written June 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrixtonMassive
Melbourne, Australia67 contributions
Feb 2016 • Couples
The Bus for Gelati can drop you off at the turn off for Motsameta.
If you choose one Gelati has the history and Motsameta has the perfect setting.
If you are choosing to walk between both we recommend that you start at Gelati as there will be a lot less up hill.
Getting to Gelati was easy. From behind the Main Theatre in Kutaisi there are marshutkas, just as around. The one that we got had a painted picture on the sign. It departed at 1100 in the morning and took 30 mins.
From here you can easily walk to Motsameta Monastery.
- Walk down to the main road from Gelati, Turn left.
- Walk until you come to a shop on the left this is the second street you will come to.
- Take a left down the dirt road and follow it until you reach the train tracks.
- Go left along the train tracks until you reach the abandoned rail station
- You will see Motsameta Monastery down to your left.
You can follow the train tracks back into town if you want to. This is what we did.
Enjoy.
If you choose one Gelati has the history and Motsameta has the perfect setting.
If you are choosing to walk between both we recommend that you start at Gelati as there will be a lot less up hill.
Getting to Gelati was easy. From behind the Main Theatre in Kutaisi there are marshutkas, just as around. The one that we got had a painted picture on the sign. It departed at 1100 in the morning and took 30 mins.
From here you can easily walk to Motsameta Monastery.
- Walk down to the main road from Gelati, Turn left.
- Walk until you come to a shop on the left this is the second street you will come to.
- Take a left down the dirt road and follow it until you reach the train tracks.
- Go left along the train tracks until you reach the abandoned rail station
- You will see Motsameta Monastery down to your left.
You can follow the train tracks back into town if you want to. This is what we did.
Enjoy.
Written February 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rebecca M
London3 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
Gelati is very impressive. This is even though it has scaffolding and roof works taking place until October 2016.
The complex is peaceful (on a weekday) and it is really easy to get to - you can take a marshrutka from behind the theatre for 1GEL and it takes approx. 20 minutes. I took one which left at 11 and returned 14.30.
The inside of the main church is beautiful and impressive. For women, the expectations is that your knees, shoulders and hair are covered - helpfully just outside the door there are scarves that can be borrowed to be worn as sarongs, over the shoulders and hair as needed.
To walk between Gelati and Motsameta, as you come back out of the main stone archway into the complex you should turn right. There is a sign for a tourist hiking trek in Georgian(I think Gelati-Kutaisi). Go to the right of the sign and you'll walk passed a cemetery. The path forks - going left signposts you to some other churches (I didn't go so I can't comment) and if you go to the right you walk downhill. Unfortunately the path also seems a bit of a dumping ground but it soon clears up. Keep going downhill. Eventually the path splits again. Take the left path, which was grassy when I did it. Follow this and you will start to see farms, homes and then it becomes more of a road. Keep going until you meet the main road to Gelati monastery that the marshrutka travelled on.
Turn left and go over the river- keep going. A shop will be on your right and then after some homes, further on another supermarket and bakery is on the left. Just after the supermarket you turn left onto a track. A sign for a hostel is your landmark. Keep on the track and you'll go through some houses, eventually getting to the disused railway that will take you straight to where you turn left for Motsameta. At one point the shrubbery clears and you can see Motsameta from the railway.
Footwear - I wore sandals and was okay but it's not recommend! Trainers/hiking boots would be best.
The complex is peaceful (on a weekday) and it is really easy to get to - you can take a marshrutka from behind the theatre for 1GEL and it takes approx. 20 minutes. I took one which left at 11 and returned 14.30.
The inside of the main church is beautiful and impressive. For women, the expectations is that your knees, shoulders and hair are covered - helpfully just outside the door there are scarves that can be borrowed to be worn as sarongs, over the shoulders and hair as needed.
To walk between Gelati and Motsameta, as you come back out of the main stone archway into the complex you should turn right. There is a sign for a tourist hiking trek in Georgian(I think Gelati-Kutaisi). Go to the right of the sign and you'll walk passed a cemetery. The path forks - going left signposts you to some other churches (I didn't go so I can't comment) and if you go to the right you walk downhill. Unfortunately the path also seems a bit of a dumping ground but it soon clears up. Keep going downhill. Eventually the path splits again. Take the left path, which was grassy when I did it. Follow this and you will start to see farms, homes and then it becomes more of a road. Keep going until you meet the main road to Gelati monastery that the marshrutka travelled on.
Turn left and go over the river- keep going. A shop will be on your right and then after some homes, further on another supermarket and bakery is on the left. Just after the supermarket you turn left onto a track. A sign for a hostel is your landmark. Keep on the track and you'll go through some houses, eventually getting to the disused railway that will take you straight to where you turn left for Motsameta. At one point the shrubbery clears and you can see Motsameta from the railway.
Footwear - I wore sandals and was okay but it's not recommend! Trainers/hiking boots would be best.
Written August 12, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mehdi_Farrokh
Banbury, UK183 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
Motsameta Monastery is a great place! It's very beautiful. Location is not easy to reach and it's not famous like other Churches/Monasteries. All around is mountains and it's sorrounded by river somehow. Visiting Gelati Monastery and Motsameta Monastery can be a good idea one after the other. Just be aware it's on the mountain and not easy to go there on foot. It's better to take a car or taxi...
Written September 10, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EleanorStoneham
London, England, United Kingdom349 contributions
May 2014 • Friends
Not so historically interesting as the Gelati Monastery across the valley but in more spectacular setting. See the recovered skulls of the saints David and Constantine Mkheidze, brothers killed by Arabs for refusing to convert to Islam in the 720s, their bodies thrown into the gorge below.
Written June 12, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ark2gl
Boston, MA83 contributions
Sep 2019
This is good quick stop on the way to Gelati, breathtaking views. Couples to be married often come here for photoshoots, which adds to the experience. You will have to walk about 500 meters on the road with very narrow shoulder from the parking, just be careful (bride/groom vehicles are allowed there, so there is some traffic).
Written October 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert O
Rotterdam, The Netherlands5,824 contributions
Sep 2019
It is very well possible to go to Motsameta on foot either from Kutaisi or Gelati monastery. Most travelers take the marshrutka (1 Lari) up to Gelati monastery and hike down to Motsameta (6.7 km along the main road). There is no trail or short-cut.
From Motsameta to Kutaisi is another 5 km downhill if you take the short-cut along the railway tracks to Kldiashvili suburb (3 km) and further by road (2 km). At Kldiashvili there is a marshrutka (0.5 Lari) to Kutaisi center in case you had enough of walking. Keep in mind there is no path along the railway track. You have to walk on the track itself (unpleasant but the views are great).
Alternatively you can walk back to Kutaisi from Motsameta following the main road (6 km). Some travelers walk back to the main road at the Gelati police station (1.8 km) and take a marshrutka back to Kutaisi from there.
The main reason for visiting Motsameta (meaning place of martyrs) is its spectacular setting. The river Tskhaltsitela (meaning red water) meandering through the mountains has carved out a magnificent gorge here. The monastery is on a promontory in a curve of the river. The monastery itself is a 19th century structure.
From Motsameta to Kutaisi is another 5 km downhill if you take the short-cut along the railway tracks to Kldiashvili suburb (3 km) and further by road (2 km). At Kldiashvili there is a marshrutka (0.5 Lari) to Kutaisi center in case you had enough of walking. Keep in mind there is no path along the railway track. You have to walk on the track itself (unpleasant but the views are great).
Alternatively you can walk back to Kutaisi from Motsameta following the main road (6 km). Some travelers walk back to the main road at the Gelati police station (1.8 km) and take a marshrutka back to Kutaisi from there.
The main reason for visiting Motsameta (meaning place of martyrs) is its spectacular setting. The river Tskhaltsitela (meaning red water) meandering through the mountains has carved out a magnificent gorge here. The monastery is on a promontory in a curve of the river. The monastery itself is a 19th century structure.
Written September 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
antonmdavid
Berlin, Germany17 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
Beautiful monastery located on a high clifftop which gives a spectacular view onto the horseshoe-bended river below and the dense green forest.
Written May 29, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nadine H
Bochum, Germany162 contributions
Mar 2018 • Couples
Since in Kutaissi is not that much to do and if you have a car you can drive there (10-15 min from Kutaissi). Don't expect to much.
Written April 5, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey! Is there an entrance fee? If so, what is it for adult foreigners? Thanks in advance for the answer.
Written July 15, 2019
Hello !
There's no charge to visit this monastery.
It's really worth a visit - hope you enjoy it !
Written July 16, 2019
If take taxi to motsameta and gelati monastery and back to city central, how much the taxi fee.
Written March 21, 2015
Hi. I can't answer you to your question, as I was going with locals there. Its around 10 km to Gelati and closer to Motsameta (to one way taxi could cost approx. 5 lari). You can take a marshrutka in a city center to Gelati, then walk to Motsameta around 1 km or ask somebody to lift you there. Georgians are very nice and helpful. Enjoy the trip:-)
Written March 22, 2015
Showing results 1-2 of 2
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing