Qvareli ( ka, ყვარლის მუნიციპალიტეტი) is an administrative-territorial unit in eastern
Georgia
Georgia most commonly refers to:
* Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States
Georgia may also refer to:
Places
Historical states and entities
* Related to the ...
, in the northeastern part of the
Kakheti
Kakheti ( ka, კახეთი ''K’akheti''; ) is a region (mkhare) formed in the 1990s in eastern Georgia from the historical province of Kakheti and the small, mountainous province of Tusheti. Telavi is its capital. The region comprises eigh ...
region. Until 1917, the territory of Qvareli Municipality was included in Telavi Mazra of Tbilisi Governorate; with the administrative division of 1921, the territory of Qvareli Municipality was again assigned to Telavi Mazra. Since 1930, it has been formed as a separate district. Currently, it is a municipality. The city of Qvareli, located at the confluence of the Bursa and Duruji rivers, has been a city since 1964.
Area: 1000,8 km
2.
History
Historical sources and archaeological field investigations have confirmed that there were ancient settlements in the territory of Qvareli municipality. At the State Museum of Academician
Simon Janashia
Simon Janashia ( ka, სიმონ ჯანაშია; July 13, 1900 – November 5, 1947) was a Georgian historian and public figure. He was a professor of history and one of the founding members of the Georgian Academy of Sciences.
Janash ...
, archaeological items found in the area of present-day Shielda and Enisli, which belong to the
Late Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second pri ...
, are preserved, and in the territory of Old Gavazi (now
Akhalsofeli), Balghojiani and
Gremi
Gremi ( ka, გრემი) is a 16th-century architectural monument – the royal citadel and the Church of the Archangels – in Kakheti, Georgia (country), Georgia. The complex is what has survived from the once flourishing town of Gremi and is ...
, household and war items of the ancient era are conserved. Gremi-Necresi area shelters ancient religious structures. The religious centre of this region was
Nekresi
Nekresi ( ka, ნეკრესი) is a historic and archaeological site in eastern Georgian region of Kakheti, between the town of Qvareli and the village of Shilda, at the foothills of the Greater Caucasus mountains. It is home to the still-fu ...
, founded by
King Pharnajom (2nd-1st century BC). In the 4th century, King Thrdat built a church here, where one of the Assyrian fathers,
Abibos, settled in the 6th century. During his time, the episcopal diocese of Nekresi was founded (it existed until the 19th century). Nekresi was immediately given great importance. Nekresi Episcopal Diocese included not only Gaghmamkhari but also part of
Dagestan
Dagestan ( ; rus, Дагеста́н, , dəɡʲɪˈstan, links=yes), officially the Republic of Dagestan (russian: Респу́блика Дагеста́н, Respúblika Dagestán, links=no), is a republic of Russia situated in the North C ...
(Didoeti). The monastery complex of Nekresi combines several monuments of Georgian architecture, of which the small
basilica
In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its name ...
of the second half of the IV century is one of the oldest churches that have survived to this day in Georgia. The large three-church basilica belongs to the beginning of the 7th century. A tower was built for the bishop's two-story palace (8th-9th century, now in ruins) in the 16th century. On the monastery's territory, there are remains of residential and commercial buildings, small chapels and others.
[General description of Qvareli municipality](_blank)
- Official website of Qvareli municipality
In the XV-XVI centuries, the
kingdom of Kakheti
The Second Kingdom of Kakheti ( ka, კახეთის სამეფო, tr; also spelled Kaxet'i or Kakhetia) was a late medieval/ early modern monarchy in eastern Georgia, centered at the province of Kakheti, with its capital first at Grem ...
reached the peak of its power; during this period, its throne city was Gremi. The unique Gremi fortress with the Church of the
Archangel
Archangels () are the second lowest rank of angel in the hierarchy of angels. The word ''archangel'' itself is usually associated with the Abrahamic religions, but beings that are very similar to archangels are found in a number of other relig ...
, ruins, archaeological material and historical sources in the territory of Nakalakari confirm that it was one of the most important trades and economic centres of the feudal age Georgia. Manuscripts have been reproduced here since the 15th century. Important caravan routes passed through Gremi, including the "
Silk Road
The Silk Road () was a network of Eurasian trade routes active from the second century BCE until the mid-15th century. Spanning over 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles), it played a central role in facilitating economic, cultural, political, and reli ...
", which connected China with the
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...
and
Black Sea
The Black Sea is a marginal mediterranean sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bounded by Bulgaria, Georgia, Roma ...
countries.
Though Gremi was the capital of Kakheti, very little information about its history, lifestyle and appearance has been preserved. However, the surviving buildings and archaeological material prove the strength and importance of the city. During the campaigns of Shah Abbas I of Iran in 1614-1616, Gremi was brutally attacked and turned into ruins. Since then, Gremi, as the throne city of Kakheti, existed for a while but could not restore its old glory. In 1667, a safer place for the throne city was identified, and King Archil chose Telavi as the capital of Kakheti, which was relatively safe from the constant attacks of the Dagestan feudal lords.
Areshi, or Arishi, was the name of the village in Qvareli municipality, on the territory of which today's village of Mtisdziri is located. It was a strategic point in ancient
Hereti
The Kingdom of Hereti ( ka, ჰერეთის სამეფო ''heretis samepo'') was a medieval monarchy which emerged in Caucasus on the Iberian-Albanian frontier. Nowadays it roughly corresponds to the southeastern corner of Georgia's Ka ...
, on the trade route that connected
Kartli
Kartli ( ka, ქართლი ) is a historical region in central-to-eastern Georgia traversed by the river Mtkvari (Kura), on which Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, is situated. Known to the Classical authors as Iberia, Kartli played a crucial role ...
and
Kakheti
Kakheti ( ka, კახეთი ''K’akheti''; ) is a region (mkhare) formed in the 1990s in eastern Georgia from the historical province of Kakheti and the small, mountainous province of Tusheti. Telavi is its capital. The region comprises eigh ...
to the interior regions of Albania in the early feudal times. A sheep road that used to take sheep to the mountains of Dagestan passed through Aresh and still passes today. According to "Matiane Kartlisai" at the beginning of the 10th century, the combined army of the Abkhaz king Constanti and Kvirike, the Chorebishop of Kakheti, defeated the army of Hereti, and according to the truce,
Adarnase, the Patricius of Herteti, gave Orchobi to Kvirike, and Gavazni and Areshi to Constanti".
The material remains of the old glory - ancient strongholds and the ruins of carved churches - are preserved in abundance in this area. And to further glorify the name, it is enough that the people of Areshi, together with other nobles of Hereti, contributed to the unification of Georgia. Many sources and archaeological excavations have confirmed that there were essential settlements here.
There are many legends about the foundation and origin of Qvareli. According to one of the legends, the king, while hunting in Duruji swamps, enjoyed its surroundings, especially the place where Qvareli is situated now, and ordered: "This is a favoured place, and a village should be settled here."
Based on historical sources, in the early centuries (IV century), mountainous Pshavis from the village of Kvara settled in the present territory of Qvareli; The settlers from Kvara were called Kvarlelis, and this name was also chosen for the settlement. Subsequently, this name underwent a change, and finally, the toponymal Qvareli was formed.
Administrative divisions and population
There is one town and 21 villages in Qvareli municipality.
* Qvareli administrative unit -
Qvareli
Kvareli (, ) is a town in northeastern in Kakheti Province, Georgia. Located in the Alazani Valley, near the foothills of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, it was the birthplace of Georgian author Ilia Chavchavadze, whose one-storied house is pre ...
* Administrative unit of Mtisdziri - Mtisdziri village
* Balghojiani administrative unit - Balghojiani village
* Akhalsopeli administrative unit - villages:
Akhalsopeli
Akhalsopeli ( ka, ახალსოფელი) is a village in the Ozurgeti Municipality of Guria in western Georgia.Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia
The ''Georgian Soviet Encyclopedia'' ( ka, ქართული საბჭოთა ენ ...
, Tkhilistskaro, Shorokhi, Satskhene, Tivi
* Chikaani administrative unit - villages: Chikaani,
Zinobiani
Zinobiani (), formerly Oktomberi (, between 1938 and 2010) is a village in Georgia. It is located in eastern Georgia, in the Qvareli Municipality of the Kakheti region. It has been one of the main places of compact residence of the Udis since 19 ...
, Chantliskure
* Kuchatni administrative unit - villages: Kuchatani,
Sanavardo
The village of Sanavardo is located approximately east of Tbilisi, the capital and largest city of Georgia (country).
Sanavardo lies in Kakheti region. Most of the families earn their living from wine making, fruit and vegetable harvesting. Th ...
, Tsitskanaantseri
* Gavazi administrative unit - Gavazi village
* Administrative unit of Shilda - village Shilda
* Eniseli administrative unit - Eniseli village
* Sabue administrative unit - villages: Sabue, Almaty
* Administrative unit of Gremi - villages:
Gremi
Gremi ( ka, გრემი) is a 16th-century architectural monument – the royal citadel and the Church of the Archangels – in Kakheti, Georgia (country), Georgia. The complex is what has survived from the once flourishing town of Gremi and is ...
, Shakriani, Grdzhelichala.
Geography and climate
Kvarli Municipality is bordered by three administrative municipalities (
Telavi Municipality
Telavi ( ka, თელავის მუნიციპალიტეტი) is a municipality of Georgia, in the region of Kakheti. Its administrative centre is Telavi. Telavi is an important transportation hub, industrial, agricultural (winem ...
,
Gurjaani Municipality
Gurjaani ( ka, გურჯაანის მუნიციპალიტეტი, ''Gurjaanis municiṗaliṫeṫi'') is an administrative-territorial unit in eastern Georgia, Kakheti region. Until 1917, the territory of Gurjaani municipal ...
,
Lagodekhi Municipality
Lagodekhi ( ka, ლაგოდეხის მუნიციპალიტეტი) is the administrative-territorial unit in Eastern Georgia (country), Georgia, in the Kakheti region. It is bordered by the Republic of Azerbaijan to the east, ...
) and the Autonomous Republic of
Dagestan
Dagestan ( ; rus, Дагеста́н, , dəɡʲɪˈstan, links=yes), officially the Republic of Dagestan (russian: Респу́блика Дагеста́н, Respúblika Dagestán, links=no), is a republic of Russia situated in the North C ...
. The area of the municipality is 1000.8 km². Agricultural fields occupy 80,266 ha (36%), and the total area covered by forest is 58,600 ha (27%).
[About_Qvareli](_blank)
Qvareli_municipality's_territory_belongs_to_the_moderately_humid_subtropical_climate
_region._In_the_lowlands,_at_1000-1200_meters_above_sea_level,_moderately_cold_winters_and_warm_summers_develop;_the_average_annual_air_temperature_is_8-9_°C._At_1700-1800_meters_above_sea_level,_cold_winters_and_long_cold_summers_are_observed,_and_the_average_annual_air_temperature_is_5-6_°C._Above_1800_meters,_the_average_annual_air_temperature_drops_down_to_3-4_°C._The_average_annual_rainfall_varies_from_795_mm_to_938_mm,_depending_on_the_zones._The_maximum_precipitation_occurs_in_May,_and_the_minimum_in_January.
__Education_
There_are_21_public,_one_private_school_and_21_kindergartens,_one_nursery_and_three_alternative_kindergartens_in_the_municipality.
The_number_of_schoolchildren_is_3350.
One_thousand_one_hundred_children_are_enrolled_in_Kindergarten.html" "title="subtropical climate">About Qvareli
Qvareli municipality's territory belongs to the moderately humid subtropical climate
region. In the lowlands, at 1000-1200 meters above sea level, moderately cold winters and warm summers develop; the average annual air temperature is 8-9 °C. At 1700-1800 meters above sea level, cold winters and long cold summers are observed, and the average annual air temperature is 5-6 °C. Above 1800 meters, the average annual air temperature drops down to 3-4 °C. The average annual rainfall varies from 795 mm to 938 mm, depending on the zones. The maximum precipitation occurs in May, and the minimum in January.
Education
There are 21 public, one private school and 21 kindergartens, one nursery and three alternative kindergartens in the municipality.
The number of schoolchildren is 3350.
One thousand one hundred children are enrolled in Kindergarten">kindergartens
Kindergarten is a preschool educational approach based on playing, singing, practical activities such as drawing, and social interaction as part of the transition from home to school. Such institutions were originally made in the late 18th cent ...
.
There are seven libraries (6 rural, one urban), one student youth centre and seven music schools operating in the municipality.
The People's Theater, named after the founder and reformer of Georgian theatre Kote Marjanishvili operates in Qvareli, where amateur actors are mainly staff.
By 2022, the sports school will have nine departments: volleyball, handball, basketball, freestyle wrestling, judo, Georgian wrestling, boxing, karate and chess. About 600 student-athletes are involved in 9 sports departments. World champion
was brought up in Qvareli sports school.
, the main viticulture, is well developed in Qvareli municipality. The main branch of agriculture provides 80% of the income from all agricultural production. Agricultural fields occupy 35,945 ha.
, etc., are also developed in the municipality's territory.
is intensively developing; many wineries are popping up here. Here is the world-famous grape appellation "Kindzmarauli".
In the municipality, firstly, the village of Gremi should be mentioned, located at an altitude of 480 meters above sea level. It is assumed that the population in the territory of Gremi should have appeared in the Late Bronze Age. Gremi was one of Kakheti's trade-economic and cultural centres during the
. In 1466, Gremi became the capital of the Kingdom of Kakheti. An important architectural monument such as the Archangel Church of Gremi has been preserved in the territory of Gremi. It was built in 1565 by King
.
Among the many historical monuments, the ruins of the Church of the Virgin in the village of Shilda, known to the local population as "All Saints" of Bartskhana, are worth mentioning. The old Church of the Virgin of Gavazi (VI century) also exists. The Cathedral of the Resurrection (1574-1605) is located in Eniseli, and Nasoflari Shikhiani is nearby. On the municipality's territory is the historical city of Nekresi (founded by King Farnajom in the 2nd-1st centuries BC).
Other architectural monuments include:
* Dome church "Kvaratskhoveli" in the village Chikaan (XV-XVII centuries)
* Ruins of the Temple of the Sun from the 3rd millennium and a village called "Nelkaris" of the same period and others.
* Money Museum
* Qvareli Public Theater is named after Kote Marjanishvili
* Gremi Museum