Mutso and Shatili: Fortress Villages, History & Route

Shatili, Mutso, and the entire Khevsureti region, which contains the remains of numerous settlements, are part of the Khevsureti Protected Area, which was established in 2014 to preserve and conserve its ancient, distinctive architecture.

Shatili, the largest village and center of the Khevsureti region, is located in the outer part of Khevsureti, at the mouth of the Argun and Shatiltskali (Shatilur) rivers, on a rocky outcrop.

Khevsureti is a border region bordered to the north by Chechnya and Ingushetia, from which Georgia was subjected to hostile raids for centuries. For centuries, the Khevsurs reliably defended their borders from external enemies. This constant readiness for combat determined the unique architectural appearance of Khevsur villages: each settlement is a unique complex of fortifications that also served as dwellings. The village of Shatili serves as a clear example of this unique architecture.

On the rocky slopes, residential buildings are arranged in a continuous row in terraces: fortress-like houses with high verandas, dwellings with towers, "sapikhvno" (a one-story building where village men gathered to confer and decide various matters), women's buildings ("samrevlo"), and a brewery. The buildings are arranged so closely together that their flat roofs serve as courtyards for the buildings above. The houses are connected by narrow staircases carved into the rock. A person entering the village can walk around the entire village unseen. Thus, the entire village is one continuous fortress.

Most of the buildings are four stories high, although three- and five-story structures are also common. The building materials used were crushed stone, cobblestone, and slate. The walls are built so tightly that not even a ray of sunlight penetrates between them. The varying shapes and quality of the building materials indicate that the village was built over several centuries. This is evidenced by the 17th-18th century houses with numerous loopholes.

The residents of Mutso considered the image of St. George on the Broliskalo clearing to be their protector and patron. He was their primary object of worship. Villagers gathered at Broliskalo for the New Year and for the celebration of "Atengenoba" (a feast in honor of the Greek martyr Athenogenes of Sebaste).

The village of Mutso (1880 meters above sea level), located 12-15 km northeast of Shatili, is a unique defensive fortification. This is one of the oldest villages in Pirikita Khevsureti. Around 40 residential and defensive structures and ruins dating from the 10th to 18th centuries have survived here.

Mutso is a fortified settlement. The village is protected by Torgvai Castle to the north, fortified houses to the south, and steep cliffs to the east and west. The village is arranged in three terraces connected by narrow streets. The buildings are constructed of slate. The structures are connected by walkways. On the upper terrace is a small clearing, the so-called Broliskalo, where a small chapel with an icon of St. George, a prayer house called "Sapikhvno," and a fortress have been erected. The local community council met here to decide important matters. A rock-cut chair, a "khevisberi," for the community elder, still remains. The fortress houses a church and defensive towers.

The middle terrace contains adjacent residential buildings. Most of the houses are four or six stories tall. Typically, the ground floor housed a winter barn for cattle, the second a sheepfold, and the third and fourth floors were used for living quarters. The top floors were used as storage rooms and pantries for weapons and food.

There were two ways to enter the village of Mutso. A narrow, descending road ran along a rocky slope. On the river side, the village was surrounded by a wall with a limestone gate. In the evening, the gate was locked and guarded. Late travelers or hunters were forced to spend the night near the wall.

Tourists should thoroughly prepare before traveling through the mountains of Georgia. The steep cliffs, while very attractive, can be dangerous for an inexperienced traveler. Use our expert advice, which we post on madloba.info. We strive to provide informative reviews and bring you the latest news.