Abkhazia: Cave, Monasteries and Alpine Landscape

• The coastline is more than 195 kilometers long; the climate is warm, humid, and subtropical.
• At the New Athos Cave, a 1.4-kilometer walking path passes viewpoints.
• The New Athos Monastery was built in several phases from 1877 to 1911 and consists of two parts.
• A route from Auadhara leads to Piw Pass, which lies above 2,000 meters in the alpine meadow zone.

Abkhazia is characterized by its coastline of more than 195 kilometers and its warm, humid subtropical climate. The New Athos Cave adds an underground perspective to the landscape. This gives you a range of landscape themes to consider when planning your trip without having to combine them into a single excursion.

At the New Athos Cave, a 1.4-kilometer walking path runs past viewpoints. Artistic lighting and sound are part of the design in every hall. The cave contains hundreds of thousands of crystal formations from more than 100 different varieties, in a wide range of shapes and colors. The path, lighting, and crystal formations offer different aspects to focus on during your visit.

The history of the cave railway is also connected with this place: in 1975, a train carrying tourists first traveled through the artificial tunnel leading to the New Athos Cave.

The New Athos Monastery took shape in several construction phases between 1877 and 1911 and consists of two parts. The upper complex has a quadrangular layout. It was built from 1884 to 1896 and comprises five churches. The construction period of the upper complex is therefore a distinct, more narrowly defined phase in the monastery’s building history.

Church buildings from different periods and architectural styles have been preserved in the Pitsunda area. Pitsunda Cathedral was built in the late 10th or early 11th century on the ruins of an older cathedral. If you are interested in architecture, you can connect information about several periods and styles here with the specific building history of the cathedral.

The old Pitsunda lighthouse is no longer in operation and is considered a local landmark of Abkhazia. Its significance today is therefore not related to navigation, but to its role as a landmark. Together with the church buildings, it offers another cultural point of interest in Pitsunda.

A route from Auadhara leads to Piw Pass, which is more than 2,000 meters high and lies in the alpine meadow zone. The Abkhaz name for the pass is Tschcha or Antschcho. The elevation and landscape zone describe the route’s destination; no distance or walking time is specified. This lets you distinguish between the cave and church sites and this explicitly alpine landscape theme when planning your trip.

At the traditional Likhnashta festival in Likhni, visitors have the opportunity to try traditional Abkhaz dishes. If regional cuisine is important to you, this event offers a special connection with Abkhaz food culture.

The regional overview also includes pages on Alakhadzi, Kheivani, Gulrip'shi, Baglani, Dranda, Babushara, Abgara, Ashitsra, Gudauta, Ochamchira, Aatsi, Sukhumi, Akhali Atoni, Pizunda, Merkheuli, Gagra, Gantiadi, Dacha, Leselidze, Lidzava, Likhni, Machara, Miusera, Otradnoe and Pʼsirtsʼkha.

How long is the walking path in the New Athos Cave?

The walking path is 1.4 kilometers long. There are viewpoints along the path, and artistic lighting and sound are provided in every hall.

When was the New Athos Monastery built?

It was built in several phases from 1877 to 1911. The upper complex was built from 1884 to 1896 and comprises five churches.

Is the old Pitsunda lighthouse still in operation?

No. The old lighthouse is no longer in operation and is considered a local landmark of Abkhazia.

Where can you try traditional Abkhaz dishes?

At the traditional Likhnashta festival in Likhni, visitors have the opportunity to try traditional Abkhaz dishes.

For the overarching travel overview: Georgia.