Vanis Kvabebi, Cave monastery in Samtskhe–Javakheti, Georgia.

Vanis Kvabebi is a cave monastery with roughly 200 chambers carved into a steep rock face, including churches, living quarters, and underground passages. The layout takes advantage of the cliff's natural structure to create shelter and space for the monastic community.

The monastery was founded in the 8th century as a center for Georgian monastic life. Later it fell under Ottoman rule, experiencing periods of decline and reconstruction across different historical periods.

In the second half of the 15th century, women sheltering in a small church on the complex's top level wrote inscriptions in ink on its walls. They include Gulkani, Ana Rcheulishvili, Tumian Gojishvili and her sister Shaghaban Sultani, who complain of being brought there against their will. The walls also carry verses written from memory, among them two stanzas of Nestan's letter from The Knight in the Panther's Skin and a stanza of Rostomiani.

The site is accessible on foot, but requires sturdy shoes and caution on uneven paths. Plan to spend time exploring the many caves at your own pace, as there is no guided route system.

On the top level, a small rock-cut church keeps ink inscriptions written by women sheltered there in the second half of the 15th century. They include Gulkani, Ana Rcheulishvili and Tumian Gojishvili, who complain of being brought against their will. The walls carry verses, among them two stanzas of Nestan's letter from The Knight in the Panther's Skin.