Ishan Church
Ishan Church
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
28 within 3 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.
4.5
23 reviews
Excellent
15
Very good
6
Average
2
Poor
0
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.
Brun066
Florence, Italy13,530 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
Going from Kars to Yusufeli, we traveled the last stretch before arriving at this church observing the impressive hydraulic works affecting the Çoruh river basin (works including 15 dams on the river and its tributaries). So now it's difficult to imagine what this part of the so-called “Georgian Valleys” (also called Tao-Klarjeti) was like before the recent works.
We could only admire this church from the outside; which is already no little thing, because the forms of this church, dating back over 1000 years ago, are also valuable from the outside, both in terms of architecture and decorations. The recent restorations have certainly been heavy, but the old photos of the church still allow us to verify that they didn't radically upset the previous physiognomy of the church.
We learned that a thousand years ago this church (the only one we were able to visit) was the most important cathedral in the Tao-Klarjeti region; which in turn was the heart of Christian Georgia (as the current capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, and its region, were ruled by an Arab emir).
It must then be assumed that the communication routes in the region at that time developed along the ridges of these rugged mountains or in any case high up in the valleys; because the track (I dare not call it a road) currently used to go up to the church (and to the village of the same name) from the D60 road on the valley bottom is the most daring and frightening route I have experienced, being narrow, steep, with hairpin bends on sheer slopes; so upon arrival you feel relieved, if it weren't for the fact that you have to retrace the itinerary on the way back...
We could only admire this church from the outside; which is already no little thing, because the forms of this church, dating back over 1000 years ago, are also valuable from the outside, both in terms of architecture and decorations. The recent restorations have certainly been heavy, but the old photos of the church still allow us to verify that they didn't radically upset the previous physiognomy of the church.
We learned that a thousand years ago this church (the only one we were able to visit) was the most important cathedral in the Tao-Klarjeti region; which in turn was the heart of Christian Georgia (as the current capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, and its region, were ruled by an Arab emir).
It must then be assumed that the communication routes in the region at that time developed along the ridges of these rugged mountains or in any case high up in the valleys; because the track (I dare not call it a road) currently used to go up to the church (and to the village of the same name) from the D60 road on the valley bottom is the most daring and frightening route I have experienced, being narrow, steep, with hairpin bends on sheer slopes; so upon arrival you feel relieved, if it weren't for the fact that you have to retrace the itinerary on the way back...
Written October 16, 2023
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.
Tamuna
9 contributions
Apr 2019 • Friends
You take a ride (or a hike!) 1,800 meters above the sea level uphill, in the middle of empty hills, in a deserted place, and all of a sudden discover a beautiful village, all green, on a hilltop, which is a home of this beauty. If you love history - this is a place for you!
Ishan church, built as an Orthodox Christian Church way back in the VII century by Georgian statesmen, to which the land belonged at that time (and for few centuries after). Turned into a mosque after Turkishi invasion, Ishan Cathedral was recently restored (although not fully to its original brilliance) as part of the agreement of the governments of Turkey and Georgia, and is to be opened to public as a museum at the end of 2019, together with two other Georgian churches now on the territory of Turkey.
Ishan church, built as an Orthodox Christian Church way back in the VII century by Georgian statesmen, to which the land belonged at that time (and for few centuries after). Turned into a mosque after Turkishi invasion, Ishan Cathedral was recently restored (although not fully to its original brilliance) as part of the agreement of the governments of Turkey and Georgia, and is to be opened to public as a museum at the end of 2019, together with two other Georgian churches now on the territory of Turkey.
Written April 30, 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.
Rod F
Royal Wootton Bassett, UK2,052 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
Although the church is all that remains of the monastery, it is decorated with beautiful reliefs, in very good condition. Internally the church is badly damaged, although the dome fresco is in surprisingly good condition. This is a cross against a blue background surrounded by 4 seraphim. Beneath the dome, the drum has 16 alternating windows and blank arcades showing 8 apostles and 8 local saints.
Written May 3, 2017
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.
Regi S
Istanbul, Türkiye160 contributions
Sep 2014
What is so amazing about this church is the location of it. Think of red, dry hills around the motorway. All you see is this red colour lying under the sun, no single tree, nothing. Then you see an arrow saying "İşhan" and you start to climb up a dry hill, just like everywhere else around. You drive your way up into the red heights till you come to top which is not visible from anywhere else... It is like an oasis, all green and like your little secret which you could keep from anyone else. Mesmerising! Don't miss İşhan and its church.
Written August 13, 2015
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.
Sedanur V
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Family
I liked the environment, but it was very neglected and looked abandoned. If maintenance is done, it could be a place that attracts a lot of customers.
Written October 30, 2023
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.
Merhaba mimari restorasyon öğrencisiyim. Artvin Yusufeli ilçesinde bulunan İşhan kilisesinin rölöve, restitüsyon ve restorasyon raporları, kilisenin yapım malzemesi ve yapım sistemi, iç mekan görselleri yapacağım çalışma için gerekli yardımcı olursanız sevinirim şimdiden teşekkürler.
Written October 17, 2018
Merhaba, İşhan Kilisesini sadece görmek için turistik amaçla gittim. İstemiş olduğun teknik konularda bilgi veremediğim, yardımcı olamadığım için üzgünüm.
Written October 17, 2018
Showing results 1-1 of 1
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