GEORGIA ~ Upper Bal Svanati - UNESCO ~

... This region is considered as one of the most beautiful parts of Georgia.... dozens of 5000 meter peaks with huge glaciers tower over this mysterious land... preserved by its long isolation, the Upper Svaneti region of the Caucasus is an exceptional example of mountain scenery with medieval-type villages and tower-houses... there are a great number of places here for trekking and mountaineering... Thank you very much Sini!!【ツ】

From backside postcard:
The commune of Mulakhi (Mulahki combines several villages) lies in Upper Bal Svaneti. The Muzhali commune is frequently united with Mulakhi. Quite a few monuments of medieval Georgian architecture have survived in the villages of Mulakhi: 10th and 11thC curches and remains of a palace at Zhabeshi, and St. Barbara's church at Cholashi. The Lakhiri village of Mulakhi commune is distinguished for having a large number of beautiful towers.

Svaneti region is situated on the southern slopes of the Central Caucasus and made up of two parts; Upper and Lower Svaneti.

Upper Svaneti itself is subdivided into two regions by the Bal mountain range. The people of the Upper Bal have never known a ruler; they have a reputation as one of the proudest and most independent peoples in Georgia.

Upper Svaneti is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996.

Stamp:

Cultural Heritage of Georgia
(Issued 22-12-2014)

GEORGIA ~ Vardzia - UNESCO tentative list ~

...More nice cards sent by Sini who visited  last year several UNESCO WHS sites in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia... the ancient cave city is one of the most interesting monuments... a great tourist attraction if you love history and a bit of adventure... even today, you can see monks making their homes in this sprawling, 13-story cave complex... Thanks Sini!! ❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

Vardzia  is a cave monastery site in southern Georgia on the Turkey Armenian border excavated from the slopes of the Erusheli Mountain. It is a multi-storied complex with streets, tunnels and stairs leading to monasteries, temples, fortresses, baths, libraries, dwelling houses.

The town was constructed in the 12th – 13th centuries during the rule of George III and his daughter of Tamara to protect the southern boundaries of Georgia.

Although this massive cave complex was originally constructed as a fortress, it later became a monastery, and an important spiritual center for Eastern European Christianity.



© Photo: Rainer Kaufmann

Stamp:

Cultural Heritage
(Issued 22-12-2014)

GEORGIA ~Tbilisi ~

Great!! First written and stamped postcard from Georgia...beautiful black and white staircase view (unfortunately I couldn't find of which building it is)...maybe anyone can help??? Many thanks Alexey!!

And thanks to Maick ♥ I now know that this building is the formerly "Hotel London" where the outstanding Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun lived  in 1899 during his visit in Tbilisi...

Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the south by Turkey and Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan.


Tbilisi  is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mtkvari River.

Tbilisi's varied history is reflected in its architecture, which is a mix of medieval, classical, and Soviet structures.




Photo:David Chitaia

Stamp:

Europa 2012 Visit Georgia
(Issued 15-04-2013 [!])