One of the most remarkable cult monuments of medieval Abkhazia has survived near Gudauta in the village of Mussera . It is the famous Mussera temple (the 10 th – 11 th centuries) known to each tourist who has visited Abkhazia as it is included into the list of excursions. It is indeed worth seeing in spite of the fact that only separate fragments have been left from once magnificent structure.
Mssera Temple is in the centre of Mussera reserve so this fascinating excursion begins long before you approach the ruins. The road winds through entire reserve having rare species of plants and trees: oak, hornbeam and chestnut woods shift to box coppices, thickets of hawthorn, cornel, and hazel twined by lianas. Soon the road reaches a big light glade where you see stone walls grown with ivy and bushes. These are the ruins of ancient Mussera temple the legacy of the gloomy Middle Ages. Its other name is Medieval Ambara (after the rivulet flowing near Mussera). Today the temple is a massive structure from huge semicircular stone blocks; its roof was long gone so rains and winds have ground off the sharp corners. The southern facade of the temple with three entrance arches and six big windows above them is especially impressive. Tree branches hang down inside the ruin. The stone arches of the altar in the big hall and side-altars are still in good shape. The dilapidated stone staircase leads to the top of the temple.
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