Georgia, Svaneti by georgianholidays.com

The mountainous region of Svaneti in the northwestern part of Georgia is one of the most remote and inaccessible regions of the country. Svaneti retains a pristine medieval quality. This sense of time warp, combined with the grandeur of the natural setting, makes a trip to Svaneti well worth the effort no matter how difficult it may be to get there.
The Svans are indigenous Georgians and speak their own language mostly spoken at home and socially. The harsh climate and mountainous landscape of the region are the principal factors behind the Svanetian character. They are proud, laconic people who find the virtue in a certain austerity and stoicism. Hunters and alpinists are the most respected members of the community. Svans in no way remiss in the practice of traditional Georgian hospitality.
Ushguli is the highest permanently inhabited village in Europe, located in Svaneti, at the feet of Shkhara, one of the highest Caucasian summits. About 70 families, approximately 250 people live in the village, which dates back more than 2000 years. For 6 winter months, snow covers the whole place and often the road to Mestia is closed. However, a small school is always open and life goes on.
Over 20 medieval typical Svanetian protective towers are found throughout the Ushguli with goats, pigs and cows happily mingling with the local population on the narrow cobbled lanes. There is an Ethnographic Museum in a tower located in the center of the settlement containing the first-rate examples of medieval repousse work, icons, and processional crosses from churches in this region and other parts of Georgia. A short walk above the village leads to a small hilltop where the Lamaria Chapel is located, dating back to the 12th century. The Chapel is full of magnificent old frescoes. From there a broad valley leads to the foot of Shkhara through flower strewn alpine meadows.
The superb location of Ushguli and the unique lifestyle of the people in the village turn the place into a popular destination to visit. The road from Mestia to Ushguli is rough and requires a 4WD vehicle with a journey time of about 2 to 3 hours. The severe location isolates Ushguli from the rest of modernized Georgia, and as a result, many Svanetian religious and cultural traditions have remained virtually intact. However, in recent years economic pressures have been forcing more and more young Svans into cities and now the future longevity of one of Georgias oldest tribes is fading.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• tourism
• Georgia
• travel
• holidays
• Caucasus high mountains
• adventure
• tours
• trekking
• bikers
• South Caucasus
• Post Soviet Country
• Svaneti
• Ushguli
• Mythology silk road
• eco-tours
• archaeology
• botanical tours
• golden fleece
• Georgian cuisine
• culinary tours
• ethnographical tours
• individual travel
• trip

[GeoTaoKlarjetMoschoi]

Svans are not only Georgians they are oldes Georgians

[ninakias]

@LukaGuido svans-mingrelians or megrels-laz and others are georgians the only thing that they have diffirent is dialects !!! if abhaz and ossetians don;'t like the fact that they are on georgian land then go to russia this is georgian land thousends of years so please stop the crap !!!

[Karlderron]

@GeoTaoKlarjetMoschoi Not only Georgians.. ;) But ancestor of all Japhetic races.. Svans are 92% haplogroup F, it's called a super-haplogroup. It is spread in whole world, except African continent. it's considered the  first white race "out of Africa". That is Sumerian - Atlantean.

They are our parents .. :)

[12valvepower1]

georgia is pretty

[12valvepower1]

Ya3 vans are cool. i like them .like old ford vans .

[Gvsandro]

lukaguido isnt Georgian probebly no Georgian would write that : )

[JoinToLuckyHut]

@LukaGuido Русская дезинформация.

[pixelinstrument]

Hi, how is it possible to go to Svaneti with an helicopter? I know there are from Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Senaki, but I cannot find info about prices, time tables and so. Anyone can help?

[12valvepower1]

i could do it in Ya3 or kama3

[MsDoctorana]

@LukaGuido

sashinelebaa amis wakitxva. grcxvenodet. nutu qartveloba gemarcxvinebat? faqtia, rom es svanis dawerili ar aris, mit umetes nafiqri. samwuxaroa, rom svanad asagebt tavs.