Western Georgia

Introducing Western Georgia

Site of the ancient kingdom of Colchis, and famous as the destination of Jason and the Argonauts in their search for the Golden Fleece, western Georgia has always acted as a conduit for influences from the west into the Caucasus, from the Greeks to St Nino to the Ottoman Turks.

For long periods ruled separately from eastern Georgia, this region was also where the great united Georgian kingdom of the 11th and 12th centuries got its start. Georgia’s two largest cities after Tbilisi – Kutaisi and Batumi – are here, and the country’s lovely semitropical Black Sea coast and the border with Turkey ensure a steady stream of visitors. The coast, especially vibrant, charming Batumi, has become a dynamic holiday and commercial area since Georgian independence. There’s still a standoff in Abkhazia, where civil war and secession have caused enormous tragedy and suffering.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009