Khandzta, Medieval Georgian monastery in Artvin Province, Turkey
Khandzta is a medieval monastery complex in Artvin Province in northeastern Turkey, made up of several interconnected stone structures. These include a main church, a separate chapel, a water installation, and a bell tower, built over the course of several centuries.
The monastery was founded in the 8th century when Gregory built the first wooden structures on the site. A Georgian nobleman later ordered stone buildings to replace them, giving the complex the form it still holds today.
Khandzta was a center for Georgian monks who wrote and copied religious texts within its walls. Visitors can still walk through the spaces where this scholarly work once took place.
The complex sits in the village of Pırnallı and can be reached by the main road between Artvin and Ardahan. The buildings stand on a raised terrace, so be ready for a short climb to reach them.
The chapel was modified so that its eastern wall could serve as a water source for the community. Combining a sacred space with a practical supply like this is rare in medieval monastery buildings.
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