Heritage Agency clarifies rockfall mitigation measures and access restrictions at Vardzia Cave Complex

“Periodic rockfalls occur across the territory of the Vardzia Museum-Reserve as the medieval cave monastery complex is situated in a seismically active zone,” reads an official statement released by the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia.

The agency highlighted that protective netting is now in place across high-risk sectors as part of ongoing preventive efforts, backed by continuous monitoring from specialists on site.

“Earlier this year, intensified rockfall activity near the so-called ‘Secret Tunnel’ damaged a pedestrian footbridge and protective handrails. To guarantee the safety of museum staff and visitors, this specific section was temporarily cordoned off.

Agency experts and geologists from the Georgian Technical University have now fully surveyed the Secret Tunnel area. Their assessment indicates a minimal risk of further rockfalls. As a result, work to clear debris, fit protective netting, and repair the damaged handrails will begin in the coming days, after which full visitor access across Vardzia will be restored.

It is worth noting that Vardzia is a cultural heritage monument of national significance; therefore, any structural intervention or mitigation measure is carried out strictly based on preliminary specialist studies and certified methodologies, which inherently require time to execute,” the agency statement reads.