22/11/2025 FTS 04.30 In Georgia, several experts are making efforts to preserve Ushguli, an ancient village surrounded by medieval stone towers.
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00:00And in Georgia, several experts are making efforts to preserve Ushguli, an ancient village surrounded by medieval stone towers built in their way day to protect the Span people from invaders. Let's see more.
00:13Here are the houses of the village of Ushguli, a neighborhood surrounded by imposing buildings, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. But many of them are now in ruins, with stones crumbling after centuries of harsh weather and minimal funding for maintenance.
00:37Many fear that rapid and poorly regulated development could alter the character of the city.
00:48It's part of our identity. This is how they lived. Our ancestors likely came here, settled, and began building. They lived alongside these towers, they struggled, and they developed. I don't know, it's their history. Their adventures are reflected in these towers, that's why we try so hard to preserve them.
01:07According to experts, the city of Ushguli is considered one of the most important places in Europe, as it is the highest permanent settlement in the continent, with an altitude of 2,200 meters above sea level.
01:25In recent years, for the past 4 or 5 years, the authorities have been funding the restoration of the towers. Unfortunately, the process is very slow, because only small amounts of money are allocated each year.
01:43And besides the towers, we also have traditional Svin houses, the Machubi that are damaged and need attention as well. They are gradually collapsing. Every year some more walls fall apart. So, overall, there isn't as much support as we wish there was.
01:57The defensive towers, or Koshki, are a defining part of the landscape of Svineti. Originally built to protect Svinns from invaders, they have survived for centuries due to the isolated nature of the region.
02:19Merkmeli is one of the most damaged villages in Ushguli. Many of its towers and traditional stone houses, the Machubis, lie in disrepair.
02:30It's damaged. It probably can't withstand the centuries on its own. The stones crumble naturally, but it needs care. It must be maintained in time. Should help us, they promised us, and hopefully they will fulfill this.
02:50Various activists have contacted the National Agency for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage of Georgia to seek its opinion on the lack of a development plan and residents' concerns about insufficient funding, but no response has been received.
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