Tetritskaro Municipality
Tetritskaro in Kvemo Kartli: Manglisi cathedral, Samshvilde, Birtvisi fortress, Algeti National Park and Asureti. History and routes.
Tetritskaro Municipality — overview
MunicipalityHistory
Tetritskaro Municipality lies in the north of the Kvemo Kartli region, on the southern slopes of the Trialeti Range, with the town of Tetritskaro as its administrative centre — about 57 km from Tbilisi at roughly 1,180 m above sea level. The municipality covers about 1,175 km² of mountains, plateaus and deep river gorges. Its main rivers are the Algeti, which rises near Mount Kldekari, the Khrami and the Vere. Tetritskaro borders Kaspi and Mtskheta to the north, Gardabani and Marneuli to the east, Bolnisi to the south, and Tsalka and Dmanisi to the west.
The municipality is one of the richest in Georgia in medieval heritage, with around 475 historical monuments. Manglisi Cathedral stands on the site of one of Georgia’s earliest churches, founded in the 4th century; the present building dates from the 6th–7th centuries and was restored in the early 11th century. On a cliff above the Khrami and Chivchavi rivers lie the ruins of Samshvilde, an ancient city-fortress whose Sioni church was built in 759–777. Nearby, on the left bank of the Khrami, stands the Pirghebuli Monastery (late 12th–early 13th centuries).
The gorges of the Trialeti Range were guarded by powerful fortresses. Birtvisi, in the rocky Algeti gorge, is first mentioned in 1038 and was taken by Timur in 1403; it is one of the most spectacular fortress sites in Georgia. Kldekari, on a rocky peak of the Trialeti Range near Manglisi, was built in the 9th century and was the centre of the powerful duchy of Kldekari until the early 12th century.
The town of Tetritskaro was originally known as Garisi; after it was abandoned it was resettled under another name and in 1940 was renamed Tetri-Tskaro (“White Spring”), receiving town status in 1966. The Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway, opened in 2017, passes through the town. The village of Asureti preserves the heritage of a former German settlement, and Manglisi is known as a mountain resort.
For nature lovers, Algeti National Park — a reserve since 1965 and a national park since 2007 — protects the easternmost forests of Caucasian spruce and Nordmann fir, with hiking trails starting near Manglisi Cathedral. A day in Tetritskaro can combine Manglisi, Algeti forests and Birtvisi, or Samshvilde and Pirghebuli in the Khrami gorge — all within easy reach of Tbilisi.
FAQ
1) Where is Tetritskaro Municipality located?
In the north of Kvemo Kartli, on the southern slopes of the Trialeti Range.
2) What is the administrative centre?
The town of Tetritskaro, about 57 km from Tbilisi at roughly 1,180 m.
3) What does Tetritskaro mean?
“White Spring”; the name was given in 1940.
4) Is Manglisi Cathedral in Tetritskaro Municipality?
Yes. A church stood here from the 4th century; the present building dates from the 6th–7th centuries.
5) What is Samshvilde?
An ancient city-fortress above the Khrami and Chivchavi rivers, with a Sioni church built in 759–777.
6) What is Birtvisi?
A medieval fortress in the Algeti gorge, first mentioned in 1038.
7) What does Algeti National Park protect?
The easternmost forests of Caucasian spruce and Nordmann fir.
8) What is Kldekari?
A 9th-century fortress on the Trialeti Range, centre of the duchy of Kldekari.
9) When did Tetritskaro become a town?
In 1966.
10) Where can I find official municipal information?
On the municipality’s official website, tetritskaro.gov.ge.