Kazbegi Municipality
Kazbegi: Gergeti Trinity Church under Mount Kazbek, Gudauri ski resort, Dariali Gorge, Juta and Truso valleys. History and routes.
Kazbegi Municipality — overview
MunicipalityHistory
Kazbegi Municipality lies in the far north of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, in the high valley of the Tergi (Terek) River on the northern side of the main Caucasus watershed. Its administrative centre is Stepantsminda, at about 1,740 m above sea level, at the foot of Mount Kazbek. The municipality covers about 1,082 km² of high mountains, glaciers and alpine valleys. It borders Russia to the north and Dusheti Municipality to the west and south; the Georgian Military Road crosses it from the Jvari Pass to the Larsi border crossing, about 12 km north of Stepantsminda.
Stepantsminda takes its name from the hermitage of a monk named Stephan. In 1925 it was renamed Kazbegi after the writer Alexander Kazbegi (1848–1890), who was born here and whose house is now a museum; the historical name was restored in 2006. Above the town, at about 2,170 m, stands the iconic Gergeti Trinity Church, built in the 14th century, which together with the snow-capped Mount Kazbek (5,054 m), a dormant volcano, has become one of the most recognisable images of Georgia. The first recorded ascent of Kazbek was in 1868.
North of Stepantsminda, the Tergi cuts through the dramatic Dariali Gorge, with walls rising up to about 1,800 m — the historic gateway through the Caucasus. Nearby is the Gveleti waterfall, about 7 km from Stepantsminda. Side valleys offer superb hiking: Juta (about 2,200 m), the highest inhabited village of the municipality, below the Chaukhi massif; the Truso valley with its travertines, mineral springs and abandoned towers; and the Sno valley.
The southern part of the municipality includes Gudauri, Georgia’s largest ski resort, at about 2,196 m, with lifts reaching above 3,200 m. Just above it, the Jvari Pass (2,379 m) is the highest point of the Georgian Military Road, near the Russia–Georgia Friendship Monument built in 1983. Much of the mountain landscape is protected by Kazbegi National Park, established in 1976.
For travellers, Kazbegi is one of Georgia’s top mountain destinations in every season: skiing and freeride in Gudauri in winter; in summer, the hike to Gergeti Trinity, trips to Juta, Truso and Gveleti, and the climb towards the Gergeti glacier and Mount Kazbek. Stepantsminda has many guesthouses and is about three hours’ drive from Tbilisi along the Georgian Military Road.
FAQ
1) Where is Kazbegi Municipality located?
In the far north of Mtskheta-Mtianeti, in the Tergi (Terek) valley on the border with Russia.
2) What is the administrative centre?
Stepantsminda, at about 1,740 m above sea level.
3) Why was the town called Kazbegi?
It was renamed in 1925 after the writer Alexander Kazbegi; the name Stepantsminda was restored in 2006.
4) When was Gergeti Trinity Church built?
In the 14th century; it stands at about 2,170 m above Stepantsminda.
5) How high is Mount Kazbek?
5,054 m; it is a dormant volcano.
6) Is Gudauri in Kazbegi Municipality?
Yes, Georgia’s largest ski resort is in Kazbegi Municipality.
7) What is the Jvari Pass?
The highest point of the Georgian Military Road, at 2,379 m.
8) When was Kazbegi National Park established?
In 1976.
9) Which side valleys are good for hiking?
Juta, Truso and Sno, as well as the Dariali Gorge and Gveleti waterfall.
10) Where can I find official municipal information?
On the municipality’s official website.