Ushguli


Ushguli is a community of four villages located at the head of the Enguri gorge in Svaneti, Georgia. Recognized as the Upper Svaneti UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ushguli is one of the highest continuously inhabited settlements in Europe. Compared to somewhat more developed towns like Mestia, Ushguli isn't in an accessible location, which has preserved many of the villages' characteristics.

Location and features

Ushguli is located at an altitude of near the foot of Shkhara, one of the highest summits of the Greater Caucasus mountains. About 70 families live in the area, enough to support a small school. The area is snow-covered for 6 months of the year, and often the road to Mestia is impassable.
Typical Svaneti defensive tower houses are found throughout the village. The Ushguli Chapel located on a hilltop near the village dates back to the 12th century.
The Mikhail Kalatozov silent film documentary Salt for Svanetia was filmed in Ushguli.

Constituent villages of Ushguli

Zhibiani some above sea level;

Chvibiani or Chubiani ;

Chazhashi or Chajashi ;

Murqmeli.