Tsalenjikha Municipality
Tsalenjikha in Samegrelo: Byzantine-painted Cathedral of the Saviour, Enguri Dam at Jvari, Magana canyon and Egrisi mountains.
Tsalenjikha Municipality — overview
MunicipalityHistory
Tsalenjikha Municipality lies in the north of lowland Samegrelo, in the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region, in the valleys of the Enguri and Chanistskali rivers, with the town of Tsalenjikha as its administrative centre — about 22 km from Zugdidi, at roughly 220 m above sea level on the Chanistskali. The municipality covers about 650 km² and rises from the foothills to the Egrisi Range, where alpine meadows begin at around 1,900 m.
Tsalenjikha was an important settlement already in the 10th–11th centuries, and in the 13th–14th centuries it became a residence of the Dadiani, the rulers of Samegrelo; in the 14th century a bishopric moved here. The town received town status in 1964.
Its greatest treasure is the medieval Cathedral of the Saviour (Transfiguration). Its interior was painted under Prince Vameq I Dadiani (r. 1384–1396) by Cyrus Emanuel Eugenicus, a Byzantine painter from Constantinople, as recorded in a rare bilingual Greek–Georgian inscription; further murals were added in the 17th century. The frescoes are among the finest examples of late Byzantine painting in Georgia. Other monuments include the Katskhara fortress and the Jagiri castle.
Near the town of Jvari, in the north of the municipality, stands the Enguri Dam, 271.5 m high and one of the tallest concrete arch dams in the world, built between 1961 and 1987; its reservoir stretches up the Enguri gorge towards Svaneti. The municipality is also known for natural sights such as the Magana canyon, the Intsira waterfall in Chkvaleri, the Koshki gorge of the Enguri and the Skuri mineral springs.
For travellers, Tsalenjikha is an easy detour from Zugdidi or a stop on the road to Mestia: admire the Byzantine frescoes of the cathedral, view the Enguri Dam and reservoir near Jvari, and explore the canyons and waterfalls of the Egrisi foothills.
FAQ
1) Where is Tsalenjikha Municipality located?
In the north of lowland Samegrelo, in the Enguri and Chanistskali valleys.
2) What is the administrative centre?
The town of Tsalenjikha, about 22 km from Zugdidi.
3) When did Tsalenjikha become a town?
In 1964.
4) What is special about Tsalenjikha Cathedral?
Its frescoes were painted in the late 14th century by the Byzantine artist Cyrus Emanuel Eugenicus.
5) Who commissioned the frescoes?
Prince Vameq I Dadiani (r. 1384–1396).
6) Is the Enguri Dam in Tsalenjikha Municipality?
Yes, near the town of Jvari; it is 271.5 m high and was completed in 1987.
7) What is the Magana canyon?
A natural canyon in the municipality, popular for short hikes.
8) What is Skuri?
A source of mineral water in Tsalenjikha Municipality.
9) When did the Dadiani reside in Tsalenjikha?
In the 13th–14th centuries.
10) Where can I find official municipal information?
On the municipality’s official website.