Svaneti

Svaneti is a historic and ethnographic region in northwestern Georgia, in the western Caucasus. It comprises the high valleys of the Greater Caucasus and includes centers such as Mestia and Ushguli, set in a dramatic, rugged landscape with glaciated peaks and alpine meadows. Mount Shkhara, at 5,201 meters, is among the region’s notable high peaks.

The area is inhabited by the Svan people, who speak the Svan language, a branch of the Kartvelian language family. Svaneti maintains a distinctive culture, including traditional polyphonic singing and a long-running practice of building stone defensive towers. From the 9th to the 12th centuries, towers were erected around villages to protect households and signify status; many towers survive in Mestia, Ushguli, and surrounding communities.

Ushguli is one of Europe’s highest inhabited settlements, and the region’s villages collectively form the Upper Svaneti, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated in 1996 for their well-preserved medieval towers, churches, and rural architecture.

Today, Svaneti is a destination for trekking, mountaineering, and cultural tourism. Access is via mountain roads from Tbilisi and other regions, and the local economy centers on tourism, traditional agriculture, and crafts. The area remains a symbol of Georgia’s mountainous heritage and enduring Svan cultural identity.