Ushguli is a cluster of four villages at the head of the Enguri valley, at an altitude of about 2,100 metres — often cited as the highest continuously inhabited settlement in Europe. The villages are surrounded by Caucasus peaks on three sides, with the Shkhara glacier clearly visible above. The village architecture is essentially medieval: stone towers up to 25 metres tall, stone houses with few windows, narrow alleys, and the general impression that significant change last occurred in the 13th century.
The Svan towers in Ushguli are among the finest examples in Georgia — better preserved and in a more dramatic setting than most. The village of Chazhashi, the highest of the four, has the best concentration of towers still standing. The Lamaria church in Ushguli holds medieval frescos; access is at the caretaker's discretion. The road from Mestia (60 km) requires a 4WD in summer and is often impassable in winter; the mud can be epic even in July. Allow at least a night in the village — arriving as a day trip misses the atmosphere.