Travel tip for Georgia: Ushguli
In the Caucasus, at 2200 meters, lies one of the most famous villages in Georgia. Ushguli has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. It is a destination for tourists, especially in the summer.
Transcript
00:00 At an altitude of 2200 meters, Ushguli is one of the highest settlements in Europe.
00:07 Here in the foothills of Georgia's highest peak, Mount Shkara, time stands still.
00:12 Although it's one of Europe's most remote villages, more and more tourists are flocking
00:16 here.
00:17 We want to know why.
00:18 Hi, I'm Leila Chatelani and this is my son Mamuka.
00:23 Hello.
00:25 We live here in Ushguli.
00:27 Come along with us to have a look around.
00:32 Ushguli lies in the Svaneti region, nearly 400 kilometers northwest of Georgia's capital
00:37 Tbilisi.
00:38 A nearly 10-hour car journey will get you here.
00:42 The village is one of a number of settlements.
00:44 Its skyline is dominated by these medieval towers that date back to the 9th century.
00:50 Around 30 are still standing.
00:51 Some of them and other parts of the village earned UNESCO status in 1996.
00:57 And like many families here, Leila and Mamuka's family have their own tower.
01:06 The main purpose was defense.
01:08 When the enemy came, they would lock the doors in the tower and climb up to the top floor.
01:14 There's a special window on the top floor and they used to throw stones at the enemy
01:17 from there.
01:21 These towers connect us to our forefathers.
01:25 They connect us to our past, history and even the architecture.
01:33 And now the old towers and the landscape are attracting flocks of tourists.
01:38 From horseback riding to exploring the natural landscape, tourism has opened up this once
01:43 isolated community.
01:45 In the past, inhabitants lived off agriculture.
01:49 Now almost every family in Ushguli offers guest rooms to tourists.
01:55 Leila's family runs a small guest house with views of the mountains.
02:05 We were the first to do tourism in Ushguli.
02:12 We always try to warmly welcome guests.
02:15 We love guests, both fellow Georgians as well as foreign tourists.
02:23 Tourists travel long distances to see attractions like the La Maria Church.
02:29 Built in the 10th century, you get a feel for the local spirit.
02:34 I've wanted to come to Ushguli for ages, just to see the incredible mountains, the kind
02:39 of Spanetti culture.
02:41 We also love the food, which is delicious.
02:44 I'm here for a second time and I really love this place.
02:47 It has spectacular views.
02:50 We are hikers from Czech Republic and it's our first time in Georgia.
02:54 And it's amazing.
02:55 It's like a quiet desert environment, so I just wanted to have refreshment, so I just
03:01 came for that.
03:04 A typical day for a local like Leila starts by milking the cows and then preparing traditional
03:13 Spanetti dishes like koupdari, a meat-filled bread.
03:17 Temperatures drop to minus 15 in the winter months, so hearty meals are especially important
03:23 for locals in the harsh mountainous climate.
03:26 And?
03:27 Very tasty.
03:29 Thirty years ago, love brought Leila to Ushguli from the neighboring town of Mestia.
03:34 She had a rough start.
03:38 Back then, we didn't have electricity or water, so in the beginning it was very difficult.
03:47 But now I've fallen in love with this place and I can't even stay in Mestia for two days.
03:55 In Ushguli, you'll find one school, two shops, four churches, some cafes and a special museum
04:02 run by another local family.
04:05 Here visitors can hear stories about how people lived in this medieval town centuries ago.
04:11 Fatsia, one of Ushguli's oldest residents, is a local storyteller.
04:17 In ancient times, babies were put into this kind of cradle.
04:22 The women knitted next to it and put the baby to sleep by rocking the cradle and singing
04:27 a lullaby.
04:34 And if you're lucky, Fatsia will play the Svanetian lute, the chanuri.
04:39 She's one of only two people in the village who can do so.
04:51 When you live in Ushguli, you fall in love with this place and it's hard to leave.
04:57 The journey to Ushguli may be long, but the breathtaking views, the historical charm and
05:02 friendly locals definitely make it worthwhile.
05:05 [MUSIC PLAYING]