The Svaneti Tower in Mestia is a fortress defense structure in the form of a four—sided tower, typical of Svaneti, a historical mountainous region in northwestern Georgia. The towers were built between the 9th and 13th centuries and were used as residential and defensive structures. According to one version, such towers had two goals: defense from neighbors and family accommodation in winter. In addition, they could hide from avalanches. Usually the tower is attached to the residential building of the Svan family on one side, but this tower is free-standing. It has from three to five, less often six floors, separated by wooden or stone floors. The ground floor — without windows and loopholes — is residential. During the siege, not only the family was located here, but also livestock. The floors were connected by wooden stairs attached to a rather narrow manhole. The top of the tower was covered with a gable wooden roof. Each floor has narrow loopholes for shooting and natural ventilation. There is a statue of the Svan Sphinx next to this tower.

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Елизавета Е.

Level 13 Local Expert

A tower by the road. You can't get into it. Just stand next to it. All…

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