Chazhashi Fortress in Ushguli: History, Legends & Route
The Chazhashi Lower Fortress complex is located in the northwestern part of Svaneti, in the village of Zhibiani (Mestia Municipality). Chazhashi is home to the Ushguli community, one of the highest mountain settlements in Europe.
Locals have nicknamed this fortress "Tamari's Forge." This architectural complex is often listed among the most beautiful places in Georgia, and after reading this article, you'll understand why.
Fortress
The fortress is part of a single defensive fortification, overlooking all four settlements of the Ushguli community. Dating back to the 10th-11th centuries, the fortress originally included four towers and several churches. Only a few have survived: a tower, a church, and the ruins of the other two towers.
Georgian landmarks often have many legends, and the ancient structures of the Chazhashi Fortress are no exception. Legend has it that it was once the winter residence of Queen Tamar.
Tower
At the highest point on the eastern side stands the Zurab Nizharadze Tower, built on a cobblestone pedestal, the main part of which is composed of exquisitely crafted thin slate masonry. The tower is a wide, cylindrical, four-story structure with carved windows. On the western side, the remains of balconies can be identified by the presence of beam nests and doorways.
The tower features mishikul-style embrasures—special overhead loopholes designed to fire upon an enemy storming the tower.
Church
The Chazhashi Lower Fortress complex includes a miniature church. The temple is a rectangular, hall-shaped building, resting on a stone plinth, tapering to a point and ending in an apse—a semicircular extension with a concha. The apse rises one step, and light streams in through a carved window, illuminating the church space.
The building material is slate, a local rock. The roofs of the concha and the church have not survived to this day; they were reconstructed using the same material of which the building is composed—slate, or more precisely, a slate block that forms the flat roof covering. An iconostasis is located in the center of the church, dividing the space into two parts.
The church can be entered through the western entrance, which is arched. The interior walls are plastered, with low steps running along the bottom.
The village of Chazhashi carefully preserves the spirit of traditional Georgia. If you're looking for something to see in Georgia and are interested in unique mountain landscapes and ancient buildings, you'll find it here.
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