Metekhi Church
Updated: 14 November 2026
Tbilisi · Old Town
Metekhi Church of the Assumption of the Virgin stands on a cliff above the Mtkvari, on the left bank, right opposite the Abanotubani sulfur baths. It is one of the best-known views of Tbilisi.
The present church was built by King Demetre II the Self-Sacrificer in 1278–1289, on the site of a church destroyed by the Mongols in 1235.
Next to it stands the equestrian statue of Vakhtang Gorgasali (1967), the king who, by tradition, founded Tbilisi.
- Whereleft bank of the Mtkvari, opposite Abanotubani
- Built1278–1289
- Entryfree
- MetroAvlabari
- Nearbysulfur baths, Narikala, Bridge of Peace
Tours with a stop at Metekhi Church
9.4164 reviewsOld Tbilisi Walking Tour — Hidden Courtyards & 1500 Years of History
9.6793 reviewsTbilisi Churches & Temples Tour
9.6911 reviewsNarikala Fortress Tour — Cable Car, Panorama & the Botanical Garden Waterfall
9.6399 reviewsKura River Boat Walk in Tbilisi — A Sunset Cruise
9.2291 reviewsTbilisi Photography Tour 2026
9.4351 reviewsCorporate Tour in Tbilisi
9.6382 reviewsGeorgia 3-Day Tour 2026
9.6911 reviewsGeorgia 7-Day Tour 2026
History of the church
Tradition says Vakhtang Gorgasali had a palace and a church on this cliff as early as the 5th century, but that is a legend, not a record.
What is certain: the earlier church was destroyed by the Mongols in 1235, and in 1278–1289 King Demetre II built the present Church of the Assumption.
In the 19th century, under the Russian Empire, Metekhi served as a prison, and in Soviet times as a theatre. Today it is a working church again.
What to see
- The church — a stone church right on the edge of the cliff.
- Statue of Vakhtang Gorgasali (1967) — by the church, facing the Old Town.
- Viewpoint by the railing — the Mtkvari, the bath domes and Narikala fortress.
How to get there
- On foot: from Abanotubani across Metekhi Bridge, a few minutes.
- By metro: Avlabari station, then 15–20 minutes downhill to the river.
- With a tour: Metekhi is part of our Old Tbilisi walks and the Tbilisi churches tour.
Tips
- The best view of the church itself is from the opposite bank and from the Narikala viewpoint.
- In the evening the church is lit up and easy to see from the embankment and from the river.
- It is a working church: wear clothes that cover shoulders and knees.
Photos of Metekhi Church
Photos from Wikimedia Commons
What to see near Metekhi
Abanotubani sulfur bathsacross the bridge, on the other bank
Narikala Fortressabove the Old Town, in view from the church
Bridge of Peacedownstream on the Mtkvari
Metekhi Church on the map
Metekhi Church: frequently asked questions
Where is Metekhi Church?
In Tbilisi, on a cliff above the left bank of the Mtkvari, opposite the Abanotubani sulfur baths.
When was Metekhi Church built?
The present church was built by King Demetre II in 1278–1289.
Is there an entry fee?
No, entry to the church is free.
Whose statue stands by the church?
Vakhtang Gorgasali's, the king who, by tradition, founded Tbilisi. The statue was put up in 1967.
How do I walk there from the sulfur baths?
Across Metekhi Bridge — a few minutes on foot.
Are there tours that stop at Metekhi?
Yes, the church is part of our Old Tbilisi walks and the Tbilisi churches tour. The tours are listed above on this page.
Photo sources
- Alexxx1979, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mostafameraji, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Mostafameraji, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Kober, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
- James Emery from Douglasville, United States, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Ken Zuk, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
- This work is created by George Melashvili. You can redistrib, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
- falco, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Best things to do in Georgia
Book everything for your trip with a local team from Tbilisi
