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Kvareli Lake

Artificial lake below forested hills on the western edge of Kvareli, with a promenade, cafes, boats and an 'I love Kakheti' sign.

Kvareli Lake

Kvareli Lake, officially renamed Ilia's Lake in 2011 after Ilia Chavchavadze, is an artificial lake on the edge of Kvareli in the valley of the Duruji River. It is about 900 m long and 400 m wide, up to 20 m deep, and lies at about 430 m with forested Caucasus foothills rising behind it. One shore is woodland; the other has a promenade with cafes, restaurants and hotels. Big hillside letters reading 'I love Kakheti' look down over the water.

This is a place to slow down rather than sightsee. Walk or cycle the lakeside path, rent a boat, fish, or have lunch with a view before or after a tasting. The lake is also part of the local irrigation system, and Saperavi vineyards of the Kindzmarauli zone surround it. It is busiest on summer weekends with Georgian families and pleasant in autumn, when the forest changes colour.

What to see and do

  • Lakeside promenade with cafes and restaurants
  • Boat rental and fishing
  • Cycling and walking paths
  • The 'I love Kakheti' sign on the hillside
  • Forested foothills of the Caucasus as a backdrop

How to visit

Getting there

The lake is about 2 km west of central Kvareli, a few minutes by car. Allow about 50 minutes from Telavi and about 2.5 hours from Tbilisi.

When to go

May–October. Plan 1–3 hours here.

Local tips
  • Swimming rules change; check signs and ask locally before going in.
  • Combine with the wine tunnel and Ilia Chavchavadze's museum in Kvareli.
  • Summer weekends are crowded; weekdays are calmer.

Kvareli Lake: FAQ

Can you swim in Kvareli Lake?

Rules change, so check the signs and ask locally. Most visitors come for walking, boating, cycling and fishing.

Is Kvareli Lake natural?

No. It is an artificial lake in the Duruji River valley that also serves local irrigation. It was renamed Ilia's Lake in 2011.

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Nearby places

Straight-line distance from Kvareli Lake.

KvareliPhoto: Gaga.vaa, CC BY-SA 4.0
Cities & Towns · 2 kmKvareli

Wine town at the foot of the Caucasus, home of semi-sweet Kindzmarauli and birthplace of writer Ilia Chavchavadze.

Churches & Monasteries · 3 kmNekresi Monastery

Hilltop monastery founded in the 6th century, near some of Georgia's oldest churches, with sweeping views over the Alazani Valley.

Wine & Cellars · 4 kmKvareli Wine Tunnel

A 7.7 km network of tunnels cut into the Caucasus foothills at Kvareli, used to store and age wine at a steady 12–14°C.

Wine & Cellars · 6 kmFamily Qvevri Cellars

Visit a Kakhetian family marani to taste wine fermented in buried clay qvevri, often with a home-cooked supra.

Gremi CitadelPhoto: Sarah Murray, CC BY-SA 2.0
Fortresses & Castles · 12 kmGremi Citadel

Hilltop citadel and 1565 Church of the Archangels, the surviving heart of Kakheti's royal capital, destroyed by Persian armies in 1615.

Tsinandali EstatePhoto: Archil sutiashvili, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wine & Cellars · 19 kmTsinandali Estate

19th-century estate of Prince Alexander Chavchavadze near Telavi, with a palace museum, historic garden and one of Georgia's oldest wineries.