Yes, if you travel to Georgia, you will truly discover a little Switzerland in our country.
Over the years, many Swiss visitors have remarked on how similar it is to Switzerland. Many have even said that if I hadn’t known that I had flown and was now in Georgia, I would have thought that I had never even left my country. I have heard this especially often from them in the highlands of Adjara, when I see the villages scattered on the slopes where hardworking Adjarians spend the hot summers, traveling up from the mountains for several months with their cattle and engaged in agriculture and animal husbandry.
You will encounter a huge similarity at every step, which is not only expressed in the similarity of the landscape or architectural buildings. In some ways, even the way of life itself is similar. Just like on the roads leading to the Alps in Switzerland, in Adjara in the spring you will come across decorated and trimmed cattle heading to the mountains. Just like in the Alps, this is a kind of holiday in the mountains of Adjara. In the villages surrounded by beautiful nature, you can taste the famous Adjarian chlechili cheese made by locals, which is the same calling card of the high-mountainous Adjara as, for example, Emmental is for Switzerland. You will also notice similarities between Swiss and Adjarian traditional dishes. In addition to their taste, they also share a primary purpose. After eating them, the peasant would get energy and cope with the cold in the cold winter more easily thanks to the high fat content of these dishes.
BPN Georgia once again visited the beautiful mountainous region of Adjara, specifically the Khulo municipality, to meet with its beneficiaries and provide them with on-site consultations, and during this trip, it once again discovered the great similarities that exist between Georgia and Switzerland.
An observant eye will find similarities everywhere.
This is Georgia, the road to Khulo, the Ajaristskali Gorge. This bridge connects the main road to the mountainous villages of Adjara.
And here we are in Switzerland, in Avegno...
As you know, Adjara is famous for its ancient arched so-called Tamar Bridges. It turns out that bridges of similar architecture were also built in Switzerland at one time, and many of them have survived in their original form.
Furtio, a medieval stone arch bridge
As you can see, the Furtio arch bridge has not lost its purpose even today and in the summer it also serves as a springboard for Adjara youth who want to cool off.
Verzasca Valley, Switzerland
The photographs clearly show the architectural and functional similarities between these centuries-old arch bridges.
In the villages of Khulo Municipality, you will find many beautiful traditional houses, the main building material of which is wood, and in which the first floor was used as a cattle shed in the past, and in some villages it is still the case today.
Village of Zemo Vashlovani, Khulo
Grimentz, a village in Switzerland with traditional houses…
During our visit to BPN Georgia beneficiaries in the villages of Khulo Municipality, we discovered traditional samizdas alongside beautiful traditional houses. Our Swiss expert, who accompanied us during this visit, confirmed the similarity here as well and later provided us with a photo to prove it.
Mundi, canton of Valais
Traditionally, the Swiss stored corn, various grains, and meat in such corn cobs, and sometimes even a special type of bread that retained its nutritional value for a long time.
Adjara village Skhalta
It doesn't take much observation, and the visitor immediately notices the similarity in the landscapes between these two countries. Mountains, rivers, lakes, and villages scattered on the slopes of the mountains delight the heart and eyes of the visitor in Switzerland as well as in the highlands of Adjara.
This is Khulo seen from Tago, immersed in greenery and surrounded by mountains...
This is Adelboden, Switzerland...
It is not possible to climb the Adjarian villages nestled on the mountain peaks only by car. You will save a lot of time, find yourself in a small, beautiful adventure, and at the same time enjoy the beautiful views if you use the Tago cable car. This cable car is the second longest and highest in Europe. The length of the support-free cable car is 1720 meters, and the height is 280 meters.
This transport, which has been operating continuously since 1985, does not only have a tourist purpose, it is the only way to shorten the distance from the center of Khulo to the village of Tago. It is possible to connect to the village of Khulo via the cable car in 8 minutes.
And this is Switzerland again, with the historic cable car in Grafenort...
We can continue to talk about the similarities endlessly, but the most important thing is to emphasize the great potential that this region has, like Switzerland, even from a tourist point of view, with its breathtaking nature, tradition, culture, history, and most importantly, incredibly hospitable people. The only difference is that in Switzerland this potential has been utilized, while in mountainous Adjara it is still ahead. The main thing is the right vision, the right planning, and the right steps, and we will be able to resemble a small, mountainous, successful country like ours, not only in beauty, but also in economic terms - Switzerland.
BPN Georgia is pleased to have the opportunity to cooperate with development-oriented, promising entrepreneurs who are creating a healthy economic future for this region and the country, within the framework of the SME Support Program. BPN Georgia is ready to share Swiss experience with Georgian entrepreneurs in the format of trainings and individual consulting-coaching , and in this way contribute to the sustainable development of their businesses.
Is Switzerland in Georgia?
Yes, we are here –> https://bpngeorgia.ge/home
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