Çimenli: Monasteries and Historic Grape Varieties

The architectural differences between the two monasteries and their respective connections to the area give this place a cultural and historical focus. Çimenli also has a historical tradition associated with several grape varieties, adding agricultural aspects to the area's profile.

Cmerki Monastery: Layout and State of Preservation

Cmerki Monastery is located in the village of Çimenli. It lies east of the village, near a water source. The monastery includes a church and architectural remains; the complex is largely preserved as a ruin. The church is single-nave, rectangular in plan, and oriented east–west. Some parts of it survive, but not all sections are equally well preserved: the northwestern part is better preserved than the others. The rounded altar area has collapsed, leaving only the foundation. The church's clearly described layout can therefore be considered alongside its highly fragmentary state of preservation.

Cmerki is counted among the monasteries of Tao-Klarjeti mentioned in connection with building activity dating to around 830–840. As a historic settlement, Cmerki belongs to the medieval region of Klarceti.

Daba Monastery and Historic Grape Varieties

Daba Monastery is located in the hamlet of Daba, which belongs to the village of Çimenli. It was built of roughly hewn stones; some sections of wall have survived. This makes the description of Daba different from that of Cmerki Monastery: Daba is described primarily in terms of its building material and surviving wall sections, while Cmerki is also described in terms of the church's layout and the state of preservation of individual structural elements.

Historical information about grape varieties is also part of Cmerki's profile. A description from 1904 identifies Suereki as a grape variety that thrived especially well there. Aheleki was also historically regarded as thriving especially well and was used both as a table grape and for winemaking. White Fındık grapes were grown in Cmerki; they were small-berried and very sweet, and ripened at the end of August.

Artvin as a Wider Travel Destination

Artvin offers other distinct themes for travel planning. The Hatila Valley National Park offers nature walks, trekking, and orienteering. Artvin Castle (Livane) stands on a rocky outcrop rising 70 metres above the bed of the Çoruh River. The castle contains a water cistern and a small chapel; its construction by the Bagratids is estimated to date to the 10th century. The Okumuşlar Monastery complex includes a refectory, a church ruin, and two chapels. Its earliest construction phase is estimated to date to the middle or second half of the 9th century.

The Çayağzı Mosque, also known as the Salih Bey Mosque, is another of Artvin's historic sites. It was built in 1792 (Hijri 1207) by Salih Bey, one of the sanjak beys of Livane (Artvin). For visitors with a different interest, the Artvin Ski Centre has an 800-metre chairlift and slopes of varying difficulty. These examples illustrate the range of the wider destination, while Cmerki and Daba provide the local connection to Çimenli.

Discover more destinations: Borçka, Yusufeli, Avcılar, Şavşat, Hopa, Maralköy, Arhavi, Kemalpaşa

For the wider travel overview: Artvin.