Chazhashi Village, Upper Svaneti

Preserved as a museum, the village of Chazhashi has over 200 medieval houses made of stone blocks or local slate set within lime mortar. Used as a defence against invading marauders, the houses have the distinct addition of towers with three to five storeys. The thickness of the walls tapers giving the tower a slender profile. The houses were two-storey with humans and animals living on the ground floor and the upper floor used as a dwelling place in the summer and a storage area for tools and fodder. Set amongst the backdrop of the mountains and two castles, this is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.