Bagrati Cathedral
Bagrati Cathedral
4.5
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
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Best nearby
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145 within 3 miles
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30 within 6 miles
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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
463 reviews
Excellent
236
Very good
143
Average
65
Poor
12
Terrible
7
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Dirk W
Alexandra Headland, Australia10,143 contributions
Aug 2023 • Solo
Bagrati Cathedral is an 11th century masterpiece of medieval Georgian architecture and, as such, was included in UNESCO's World Heritage List, together with Gelati. But it was destroyed by Ottoman cannon fire and seriously neglected since - photos show the dismal state it was in before extensive restorations were started in the 1950ies.
Things started to go wrong when the new independent Georgian Government took charge around 2008 and ignored UNESCO guidelines : concrete and heavy steel reinforcements now dominate the building - even a glass/steel elevator was attached to the side. Bad enough for UNESCO to remove Bagrati from its valuable list in 2017.
Bagrati is still worthwhile visiting. Although definitively no longer authentic, the building and surrounding structures are important and the views from the top are great.
Things started to go wrong when the new independent Georgian Government took charge around 2008 and ignored UNESCO guidelines : concrete and heavy steel reinforcements now dominate the building - even a glass/steel elevator was attached to the side. Bad enough for UNESCO to remove Bagrati from its valuable list in 2017.
Bagrati is still worthwhile visiting. Although definitively no longer authentic, the building and surrounding structures are important and the views from the top are great.
Written November 3, 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.
Игорь К
Riga, Latvia3,934 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
The Central Church of Kutaisi, also known as the Cathedral of the Assumption, was built in 1003 under King Bagrat III, who owned Abkhazia and Imeretia, and later conquered all of Georgia, and therefore bears his name. A huge and powerful temple rises on a hill and can be seen from almost anywhere in the city. Architecturally, the cathedral is not very similar to other Georgian churches, including the light green tiles unusual in Georgia. In 1089 he was crowned King of David the Builder in the cathedral. The church was severely destroyed in the 17th and 18th centuries and in a ruinous state until the beginning of the 21st century. The restoration of the church was completed in 2012, but despite protests by UNESCO and the Georgian Patriarch, a glass elevator was added to the church, which was a controversial episode, as the complex was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994, and after that action was excluded.
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.
Calle K
Hong Kong, China1,814 contributions
Jan 2020
Lovely place. Easy to drive up and a great place to walk around and get city views.
However, why on earth did they add on that modern addition, such a shame. Please restore it back!
The Gelati Monastery is further away and a bit similar in style and untouched, don’t forget to go there, this could get a skip
However, why on earth did they add on that modern addition, such a shame. Please restore it back!
The Gelati Monastery is further away and a bit similar in style and untouched, don’t forget to go there, this could get a skip
Written February 5, 2020
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.
CrunchyMonkey
Taipei, Taiwan1,536 contributions
May 2019
Beautiful cathedral. One thing I can appreciate in Georgia, at least until now, is that there are not loads of tourists, especially outside of Tbilisi because it is not easy to get around. So many places were empty or almost completely empty. But I know in years to come that will change. Most tourists seem to be Russian, of course, it is their neighbor.
Written April 26, 2020
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.
Martin S
25 contributions
Sep 2019
I was impressed with this cathedral, and I especially liked the big iron (?) cross outside the cathedral. The architecture is beautiful. But I agree with UNESCO removing it from the World Heritage list after its renovation, there were some modern structure added to it in the back that completely took away the feeling of it being 1000 years old.
But beautiful!
But beautiful!
Written February 2, 2020
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.
Kritsana P
Rayong, Thailand2,085 contributions
Mar 2023 • Couples
A beautiful cathedral on the top of Kutaisi city.
It's a few kilometers from Kutaisi city center, on the hill. It's walkable.
The atea aroung the cathedral has a nice view of Kutaisi and suit for picnic.
Worthy to visit.
It's a few kilometers from Kutaisi city center, on the hill. It's walkable.
The atea aroung the cathedral has a nice view of Kutaisi and suit for picnic.
Worthy to visit.
Written March 31, 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.
_zmir_T_rkiye3101 Beste Erbak
Izmir, Türkiye13,593 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
A wonderful sight. On the hill.11. century III. It was built by Bagrat. One of the masterpieces of medieval Georgian architecture. It has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. It was later removed due to poor renovation. Like new.
Written January 2, 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.
lifenadventure
Dubai, United Arab Emirates2,196 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
A stunning church with a lot of history. Better to go with a guide so they can share with you. Also has the cloth from Jesus and some bones of different apostles. Also a really great view of the city from the top. Well with a visit
Written July 19, 2022
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.
Philip_Bolster
Groningen, The Netherlands937 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
The cathedral was a ruin for ages, but renovated in the past decades. The renovation is definitely interesting, but also spoiled the character of the cathedral. This is also the reason the UNESCO has taken off the cathedral from their World Heritage List again.
Written October 26, 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.
Paul Legate
United Kingdom21,965 contributions
Dec 2018 • Solo
It is quite a walk from the city centre up to Bagrati Cathedral, there are a number of steps to walk up but what a view when ascending! Arriving at the cathedral there was an abundance of dogs near the entrance and a cow came trottng out as I went inside.
The cathedral has been restored to the point that it could be classed as a new build, that doesn't really matter because it is visually stunning and there is an amazing view of the city from the grounds.
Inside it is immense but quite stark and no fittings that would be associated with a cathedral of its size. It is still a sight worth seeing and definitely worth the walk up from the city.
The cathedral has been restored to the point that it could be classed as a new build, that doesn't really matter because it is visually stunning and there is an amazing view of the city from the grounds.
Inside it is immense but quite stark and no fittings that would be associated with a cathedral of its size. It is still a sight worth seeing and definitely worth the walk up from the city.
Written December 31, 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.
Attention: these sites are not in the same place: Bagrati is very close to centre of Kutaisi, you can go on foot while Gelati is 25 km far away. Gelati is one of the most colourfur church in Georgia. You need a taxi to go there. During the week they are silent but in the weekend you'll find a lot of people especially families and groups of children. If you are lucky in Gelati you will find singers of sacre music, they are magic. Don't miss them!
Written June 17, 2017
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