Mutso

Mutso (Georgian: მუცო) is a small village in Georgia. One of the former strongholds of the historic Georgian province of Khevsureti (now part of Mtskheta-Mtianeti region), it is located on a rocky mountain (1880 m) on the right bank of the Andakistskali river (ანდაქისწყალი).

Mutso

მუცო
Mutso
Location in Georgia
Coordinates: 42°36′24″N 45°12′28″E
Country Georgia
RegionMtskheta-Mtianeti
MunicipalityDusheti
Elevation
1,880 m (6,170 ft)
Population
 (2014)
 • Total15
Time zoneUTC+4 (Georgian Time)
Mutso
The village of Mutso

Geography
Mutso

The village, almost completely abandoned more than a century ago, is a home to approximately 30 medieval fortified dwelling units arranged on vertical terraces above the Mutso-Ardoti gorge, four combat towers and ruins of several old structures and buildings. Difficult to access, the village retains original architecture, and is a popular destination for tourists and mountain trekkers. Listed, however, among the most endangered historic monuments of Georgia, a project of the rehabilitation of Mutso has been developed since 2004. In 2019, the reconstructed village won the EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award.[1]

Legends
Mutso

A legend has it that the villagers worshiped the Broliskalo Icon of Archangel. They were renowned as fighters and hunters, and considered themselves permanent members of the army of the sacred flags and guardians of fabulous treasury donated to the Icon over the centuries. The legends say the treasury that is still kept in the high mountains around Mutso waiting for the chosen one to come.

As the legend puts it “the Shetekauris dug Mutso”, which indirectly indicates that the family founded the village or the family history started together with the founding of Mutso.

See also

Readings
  • Shorena Kurtsikidze & Vakhtang Chikovani, Ethnography and Folklore of the Georgia-Chechnya Border: Images, Customs, Myths & Folk Tales of the Peripheries, Munich: Lincom Europa, 2008.

References
  1. "Fortified Settlement of Mutso, Georgia". European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards. Europa Nostra. Retrieved 16 July 2019.


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