Mutso Fortified Village (Region of Khevsureti)
Mutso Fortified Village (Georgian: მუცო) – Formidable Citadel of Khevsureti (Georgian: ხევსურეთი). One of the oldest settlements in Georgia, which has come down to us in such a distinct form, is located at an altitude of 1880 meters above sea level, in the valley of the Ardoti River (Georgian: არდოტი). Initially, it served as a fortification – it guarded the roads leading from the north to Georgia. Mutso flourished during the reign of Queen Tamar, when Georgia was experiencing its Golden Age. At that time, the high-mountain village-fortress was of great importance in the defense of Georgia. The road connecting Khevsureti and the neighboring region of Tusheti (Georgian: თუშეთი) passed through Mutso. It was also possible to get to Chechnya through the side gorges. So the significance of this fortress was defense against neighbors. Life in Mutso ceased in the 19th century, and there were several reasons: both a hard life and an outbreak of plague. Plague burial grounds still exist around the fortress.
The highland village-fortress of Mutso is much more impressive than other fortresses of Khevsureti. In terms of scale, views and steepness. There is a lot to say about Mutso and its history goes back centuries. At first glance, it seems that this village is trying to climb a mountain, very steep and inaccessible. It is interesting how they managed to build so many towers in such a hard-to-reach place, and not one of them collapsed during an earthquake or landslides, which are quite common in the mountains. The fortress consists of three parts located at different heights, like steps. In the center of each part is a battle tower, around it are houses. Houses and towers are made of dry masonry without cement from flat slate. The structures, made in a strange architecture and construction technique, seem to be an extension of the rocks. The buildings are tightly pressed against each other, forming a battle fence from the outside.
Mutso village (Georgian სოფელი მუცო), Municipality of Dusheti (Georgian დუშეთის მუნიციპალიტეტი)
