Pirgebuli Monastery (Region of Kvemo Kartli)
Pirgebuli Monastery (Georgian: პირღებულის მონასტერი) – The monastery is located in the municipality of Tetritskaro, to the west of the ruined medieval city of Samshvilde (Georgian: სამშვილდე). It dates back to the first half of the 13th century and was built on a hard-to-reach rock, on the left bank of the Khrami River. This place is a natural cave area of ​​the river valley. It is from this geographical location that the name of the monastery comes – “Pirgebuli”. During the period of Samshvilde’s power as a city, the territory of the monastery was actually the outskirts of the city and the now impassable cliffs and valley were previously crossed by roads.
The monastery complex includes the main temple, a bell tower, utility and residential buildings. The main temple is of the hall type, built from local basalt stone. The northern wall of the temple is built entirely on the rock. The entrance is from the southern side. Traces of multiple reconstructions are visible on the walls of the temple. The outside walls are decorated with carved stone ornaments. As for the interior of the church, it was plastered and painted. Some fragments of the painting have survived to this day. The Pirgebuli Monastery included in the list of immovable cultural monuments of national significance in Georgia.
Khrami River Gorge (Georg. მდ. ხრამის ხეობა), Tetritskaro Municipality (Georg. თეთრიწყაროს მუნიციპალიტეტი)