Upper Svaneti

Upper Svaneti
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Upper Svaneti is known for its architectural treasures and picturesque landscapes. The famous Svanetian towers erected mainly in the 9th-12th centuries, make the region’s villages more attractive. In the province are dozens of Georgian Orthodox churches and various fortified buildings.

The region is inhabited by the Svans, an ethnographic group of the Georgian people.



Year Decision Comments
1996 Inscribed Reasons for inscription
1994DeferredBureau - better definition of proposed area

Reviews

Natela Popkhadze (Sakartuelo//Georgia (a Republic)):
Searching for an additional material for my report that I intend to read at the 55th Rencontre Assyriologique in Paris at the College-de-France in July, 2009, I typed the word Lileo at www.google.ge search engine. This blog appeared, popped up. Nice photoes and interviews. Do you know that a round bread with chopped beef inside is called Kuptari and that very bakery with that very name is metioned on millennia-old tablets in cuneiform script called by the ancients themselves 'Emegir' and 'Emesal//Amasil"? Both have many common words with modern Suan Kartuli and Megruli//Margali Kartuli? Kuptari is mentioned in Tischler's Vocabulary of the Sumerian(that's wa name chosen by Jules Oppert of Paris in 1860-ies for Emegir and Emesal). 'Vazhi mare' is 'a man' both in modern Suan Kartuli and in ancient Emegir('Sumerian'. Mare was used for 'a man' in Megruli Kartuli also-a century ago. It is attested by the dictionary printed in 1898 in Tbilisi.Lileo performed by your hosts at Ushguli is a modern relic of the 'Sumerian' supreme god En-Lile( en here is simply a synonym of 'the lord'. Another Sumerian song sung to this day by ethnic Kartuels( Suans, Megrels, Lazes and the rest)is 'Erekheli voreq//Erekheli var( I am from the kingdom of Erekhi//Erech). That Erechi stretched to the Ocean of Karduniash//Kartu millennia ago. Sincerely, Natela Popkhadze in Tbilisi-center, Sakartuelo//Republic of Georgia
Date posted: March 2009
sandro aragona (Italy):
I have travelled lots of places around the world but i have never seen something such a beatiful as SVANETI.
honestly, I can say that this is the Worlds Most Beatiful part. GO to Svaneti!!!
Date posted: June 2008
Jeff (USA):
Upon entering Upper Svaneti, I did not know what to be more impressed by: the towers, the landscape, or the people.
Of particular interest was Ushguli (I was told this is the highest village in Europe at 2300 meters, but have yet to officially verify this). Wandering its narrow streets amid 1000 year old watchtowers, I could not help but feeling as if I had been transported back to middle earth. The entire view is dominated by Mt. Shkhara (I think around 5,000 m), one of the most impressive sights I have ever seen. I got the chance to hike above Ushguli to a watchtower that was commissioned to be built by Queen Tamar (a very famous Georgian queen) and watch the sunset. An amazing experience!
There is a guest house run by a local family (I believe that Ratiani is their surname) that offers the best accomadtions (complete with excellent Svan cuisine), all at a modest price.
I have traveled a bit, and there is no where in the world quite like this. I would recommend it to anyone as an absolutly AWESOME place.
 


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