T'elavi Travel Guide

 JLBG Says:  This half tower is one of the best kept remains of the Dzveli Galavani (ancient city walls) when Telavi was the stronghold of the first kings of Kakheti in the Ixth and Xth century. There are other remains of this first enclosure but we did not see them. 

 JLBG Says:  The museum is displayed in a soviet style building and the museum itself is of the same style : no caption for most of the items on display. Nevertheless, it is worth a fast visit.When we visited, there was a girl with a with a broom and a floor cloth at the entrance. She... 

 JLBG Says:  In another room is the office of Irakli II.Photo 1 shows the desk with in the foreground his sword presented under a glass show boxPhoto 2 gives a close-up on the swordPhoto 3 shows the fire place : as Telavi is at an elevation of 500 m, winters are cold ! 

 JLBG Says:  Irakli II was both born in this bed room and this is where he died too.Photo 1 and 2: the bed is surmounted by a red carpet and several guns are hanged.Photo 2 and 3 : on a small round table a tin plate and a tin ewer are all what was available to have a wash. 

 JLBG Says:  Room of the throne is not very large but impressive with its soberness. It is an almost square room with an arm chair standing on a two steps stage covered with a red carpet now surmounted by a full portrait of Irakli II. On the walls are hanging various engravings. 

 JLBG Says:  The palace is a low building that was built in 1672 in Persian style by Artchil II, king of Kakheti when he moved his capital from Gremi to Telavi..Photo 5 is a statue standing in front of Erakli’s palace that I have been unable to identifyI have found a news agency... 

 JLBG Says:  Inside the complex are mentioned two churches : the Irakli Chapel (previous tip) and the small church built by King Archil II when he transferred his residence from Gremi to Telavi in 1672; This small church is said “in poor condition”. I am not convinced that this is the... 

 JLBG Says:  Irakli II chapel was built in1758. It is all made of bricks and leaning along one of the towers of the defense wall. The church itself has three tall narrow windows on each side and on the eastern side a side entrance. The main entrance is through a smaller building that... 

 JLBG Says:  Georgia is considered as the cradle of vine growing and therefore of wine making. I had never seen such an old vine stock. It be several centuries old. This was in April and therefore, it had not yet any leaves but though it has been already strengthened by concrete, it is... 

 JLBG Says:  The Eastern entrance is the entrance opened for visitors (photos 1 and 2). It has an outstanding iron grid.The western entrance, which was the main entrance at the Irakli period is not open and shows on photo 3. 

 JLBG Says:  Batonis Tsihké means “Fortress of the Master (king)” It was built in the XVIIth century. It is a very strong wall that protected efficiently the royal residence and that remains, even nowadays in good condition. This is the only defense wall of Georgia from that period that... 

 JLBG Says:  Irakli II (Russian transliteration), or Heraclius II (Latinized form) or Erekle II (in Georgian) belongs to the Bagratian dynasty that reigned on Kakheti from 1744 to 1762 and on Karthli and Kakheti from 1762 to 1798. He was born in the family palace on October 7th 1721 and... 

 JLBG Says:  In another part of the town, we stopped to buy a snack that we would have for a quick dinner along the road as we had a busy journey : Tbilisi, Gombori pass, Chouamta, Telavi, Ikalto, Alaverdi, Gremi, Sighnaghi and back to Tbilisi. No time to go to a restaurant.In this part...