Svan towers

Svan towers (Georgian: სვანური კოშკი, romanized: svanuri k'oshk'i) refers to the tower houses built as defensive dwellings in the Georgian historical region of Svaneti (present-day Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti).

These towers are unique to the region and were primarily built between the 9th and 12th centuries, during the Georgian Golden Age.

The towers usually have 3–5 storeys, and the thickness of the walls decreases with height, giving them a tapering appearance.

The upper floors of the towers are exclusively used for defense, with machicolated parapets and embrasures providing cover when throwing projectiles.

[1] The ground floor is a single hall with a hearth and provides accommodation for both people and animals, with elaborately decorated wooden partitions separating the two spaces.