|
Fortified village Dartlo The fortified village of Dartlo is a well-preserved and authentically restored Tusheti village located about 15 kilometres north of Omalo. In the village there are several defence towers, pagan-Christian prayer houses, a burial ground and about 60 residential or defence houses built of traditional shale. General Information Region: Tusheti History of Dartlo The defence towers and fortified houses that stand in Dartlo today were built in the 18th century, but there must have been a settlement here much earlier. For centuries the people of Dartlo lived from cattle farming, but Dartlo also had the function of a fortified village. In the 18th century, when raids from the North Caucasus increased, it became necessary to improve the village's defences and the towers were built. The houses were built in such a way that they were very close to each other and could protect themselves effectively and in time in case of a siege. In the 19th century, the religious-political leader Imam Shamil rose to power in North Caucasian Dagestan and brought neighbouring Chechnya under his influence. During this period, raids on Dartlo and neighbouring villages increased, and for a time Dartlo was also under Dagestani control, but after Shamil surrendered in 1859, calm returned to the village and the region. In the 20th century, during the Soviet period, many of Tusheti's inhabitants, including Dartlo, were resettled in other regions of Georgia, but the village was finally abandoned in the 1990s when the political and economic turmoil in Georgia made it impossible to care for the mountain people and the roads in the mountains. The revival of the village began in 2005, after the country began to recover economically. The tourism potential of the region was also recognised and a lot of money was invested in the mountains, roads were cleared and state aid was given to promote life in the mountains. In 2015, with the support of the World Bank, the reconstruction of the village began and after 3 years Dartlo had regained its old, authentic image. Dartlo defence towers In Dartlo there are two defence towers and the ruins of three tower houses. The defence towers have pyramidal structures and pyramidal roofs, and the building material used is ship's stone. The defence towers have six floors with retractable wooden ladders and embrasures on each floor. The defence towers had the sole function of defence, but the massive tower houses, which were wider and sometimes higher than the defence towers, could also be used to live in for a period of time. Architecturally, defence towers are typical of the Georgian mountain regions of Tusheti and Chevuretia, as well as the republics of the North Caucasus: Dagestan, Chechnya and Ingushetia. The ruined church In the 19th century, after Georgia became part of the Russian Empire, a Russian-style basilica was built in Dartlo, but the problem was that the church was built on top of the local prayer shrine. After a few years, the people of Dartlo partially demolished the church to make way for their religious shrine. Today, a small bell hangs on the side of the church, where traditional religious rituals are performed. Courtyard of Dartlo To the west of the church there is a semicircular square with 12 stones next to each other and 2 stones in the middle. This is the medieval court of Tusheti. 12 judges from 12 different villages, including a chief judge, sat on the stones next to each other, the defendant and the plaintiff sat kneeling on opposite stones and the trial began. There was no death penalty in Tusheti, the worst punishment was banishment from the village or the whole region. It is interesting to note that women could be among the judges. In the 18th century, for 10 years, a woman, the daughter of a village elder, was the chief judge of the region. Transport to Dartlo To get to Dartlo, you first have to get to Omalo. The 20-kilometre drive from Omalo to Dartlo takes just under 30 minutes and costs around 50 euros. The road from Omalo to Dartlo is not as bad as the road over the Abano Pass, but you will definitely need a car with four-wheel drive. Hiking in Dartlo Dartlo is often the starting point for a multi-day trekking trip to Shatili or on to Stepanzminda, but you can also take beautiful day hikes or long walks around the village. Very popular is a short walk to the village of Kvavlo, above Dartlo, or on to Dano, also a short and easy walk. A moderately difficult but beautiful day hike is to Diklo, or in the opposite direction to Girewi. Accommodation and Cafes There are several guesthouses in Dartlo that are clean and comfortable. You can also get local food in your accommodation in Dartlo, so you don't have to worry about extra food. A night in Dartlo costs around 40 euros per person, including breakfast and dinner. There is a nice pub at the entrance to the village, with a good selection of local food and drinks. Shopping in Dartlo You can't really shop in Dartlo, but you can get small snacks and alcoholic and soft drinks at the pub. Camping in Dartlo There is no real camping site in Dartlo, but there are plenty of meadows near the river where you can camp. On following trip, you will visit Dartlo Hiking Omalo to Stepantsminda >> from 1,850 EUR
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
