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Osk Vank Church (Oshkhi, in Georgian) is perhaps the most spectacular of the Georgian churches in the Artvin. It is in the village of Camiryamac. Few frescoes remain visible, and the dome is largely ruined, but the sheer size of the church is still impressive. This is perhaps the most accessible of the churches in the area.
Barhal is a 10th-century Georgian church located near the village of Barhal. The church was converted to a mosque and has been closed in recent years. Plans are to demolish the adjacent elementary school and turn the building into an area museum. The building is generally closed, but a nearby pension has a key. Barhal is 31 km. (and 1 1/2 hours) from Yusufeli, in the Kackar Mountains. Coming from Yusufeli, turn right in the center of Barhal. The church is on the right, a short ways up this road. It cannot be seen from the road, but take the trail to the signposted pension. The church is just beyond, next to a school.
My favorite of the Georgian churches. Dortkilise dates from the 900s and is simply immense in size. It was never converted to a mosque and is more or less intact, though much abused by vandals and graffitti. A few faint, exquisite frescoes are still just barely visible. Dortkilise is somewhat difficult to find. From Yusufeli, go to Tekkale, and turn right on the dirt road in the center of Tekkale. the ruins are about 6.8 km. up this road, on the left. You cannot really see the church from the road, but there is a place to pull off the road, and a orchard that stretches up the hill from the road to the church.
If you climb to mountain by car you may visit to Kafkasor platoo and see bullfight at festival time. You may stay at tenth and cycle or walk at bicyle roads.
Barhal makes a good base for hiking in the Kackar Mountains. Groups of huts cling to the mountainsides between Barhal and Altiparmak.
Karagol is near Georgia border. A beautiful lake covered by a forest. There is a very simple premise that belongs to Ministry of Forests for their own personnel. In the middle of nowhere. Amazing.
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