The Chazhashi architectural complex in Ushguli, Svaneti is a landmark of Georgia.
Tamari Forge is one of the names of the Chazhashi fortress in Ushguli. According to one of the legends, the Chazhashi fortress was the winter residence of a popular queen in Georgia. A small church is located on the territory of the fortress complex. And at the highest point on the east side, a tower with hinged loopholes was built...
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The complex of the lower fortress of Chazhashi is located in the northwestern edge of Svaneti, in the village of Zhibiani (Mestia municipality). In the village of Chazhashi there is a community of Ushguli – one of the highest mountain settlements in Europe.
The locals nicknamed this fortress "Tamari forge". This architectural ensemble is often ranked among the list of the most beautiful places in Georgia, after reading the article you will understand why.
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Fortress
The fortress is part of a single defensive fortification, with a view of all four settlements of the Ushguli community. The time of construction dates back to the X-XI centuries, initially the fortress included four towers and several churches, only a few have reached us: the tower, the church and the ruins of the other two towers.
The sights of Georgia often have many legends, the ancient buildings of the Chazhashi fortress are no exception, there is a legend that it used to be the winter residence of Queen Tamara.
Tower
At the highest point on the eastern side, the tower of Zurab Nizharadze rose, built on a pedestal of cobblestones, the main part of which consists of a surprisingly executed masonry of thin slate. The tower is a wide cylindrical structure of four floors with carved windows. On the western side, you can determine the remains of balconies: by the presence of nests of beams and door openings.
The tower has a finish in the form of micelles – these are special hinged loopholes designed to fire at the enemy storming the tower.
Church
The complex of the lower fortress of Chazhashi includes a miniature church. The temple is a rectangular building in the form of a hall, which is based on a stone pedestal, narrows and ends with an apse – this is a semicircular extension with a conch. The apse rises one step, the light penetrates from the carved window, illuminating the space of the church.
The material for the construction is a local rock – slate. The roofs of the conches and churches have not been preserved to this day, they were reconstructed with the same material that the building consists of – slate, or rather a slate block that formed a flat roof overlap. In the center of the church there is an iconostasis, which divides the space into two parts.
It is possible to get to the church through the western entrance, which is decorated in the form of an arch. From the inside, the walls of the church are covered with plaster, low steps run along the bottom.
The spirit of traditional Georgia is carefully preserved in the village of Chazhashi, if you are looking for something to see in Georgia and you are interested in unique high-mountain landscapes and unique ancient buildings, then here you will find it.
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