Bodbe Monastery
Updated: November 6, 2026
Kakheti · 2 km from Signagi
Bodbe is the convent of St. Nino, 2 km from Signagi, and one of the main pilgrimage sites in Georgia. It holds the relics of St. Nino, who baptized Georgia in the 4th century.
The monastery stands among cypresses on a steep slope above the Alazani Valley, with views of the Greater Caucasus.
The present church was built in the 9th–11th centuries and rebuilt many times, especially in the 17th century. 3 km below is St. Nino's spring with a chapel.
- WhereKakheti, 2 km from Signagi
- Churchthree-nave basilica, 9th–11th centuries
- Bell tower1862–1885
- Todayan active convent
- From Tbilisiabout 110 km, 2 hours
Tours that include Bodbe Monastery
9.6793 reviewsKakheti Day Trip from Tbilisi
9.2291 reviewsSighnaghi excursion from Tbilisi
9.6793 reviewsKazbegi + Kakheti in 2 days
9.6382 reviews3-day Georgia tour — 2026 route
History of the monastery
According to tradition, after baptizing Georgia St. Nino withdrew to the Bodbe gorge, where she died. By order of King Mirian III, a small monastery was built over her grave.
In the late Middle Ages the kings of Kakheti were crowned here. In 1615 the monastery was plundered by the troops of Shah Abbas I and was restored by King Teimuraz I. In 1924 the Soviet authorities closed the monastery and turned it into a hospital; in 1991 it became a convent again.
What to see
- Church — a three-nave basilica of the 9th–11th centuries; the small church over St. Nino's grave is built into the larger one.
- Bell tower — free-standing, three-tiered, built 1862–1885.
- St. Nino's spring — 3 km from the monastery, with a chapel from the 1990s.
How to get there
- By car: about 110 km and 2 hours to Signagi, then 2 km to the monastery.
- On a tour: Bodbe is part of the one-day Kakheti tour — more details in our article about Kakheti in 1 day.
Tips
- It's an active monastery: women need a headscarf and skirt, men need long trousers.
- Easy to combine with Signagi: the town is 2 km away.
Bodbe Monastery photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons
What's near Bodbe Monastery
St. Nino's spring≈ 3 km, a 1990s chapel
Sighnaghi2 km, a fortress town
Bodbe Monastery on the map
Bodbe Monastery FAQ
Where is Bodbe Monastery?
In Kakheti, 2 km from Signagi; about 110 km and 2 hours from Tbilisi.
Who is buried at Bodbe?
St. Nino, the 4th-century enlightener of Georgia; her relics are kept in the monastery.
How old is the church?
The basilica was built in the 9th–11th centuries and rebuilt several times, especially in the 17th century.
What is St. Nino's spring?
A spring 3 km from the monastery which, according to tradition, appeared in answer to Nino's prayer; a chapel was built over it in the 1990s.
How should I dress for the visit?
Women — a headscarf and skirt, men — long trousers.
Are there tours to Bodbe?
Yes — tours to Kakheti and Signagi from Tbilisi and multi-day tours. They're listed above on this page.
Photo sources
- Bernard Gagnon, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kober, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- Pagarizantali, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Paata Vardanashvili, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bernard Gagnon, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Bernard Gagnon, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Avisadehh, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
- Jelger Groeneveld, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Alexxx1979, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
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