German settlements and architectural heritage in Georgia

German settlements and architectural heritage in Georgia - Nestan Tatarashvili

The academic study of the history and architectural heritage of German settlers, who established more then 20 settlements in Georgia –   carried out in 2015-2017years with the financial support of the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Protection of Georgia and  German Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

First German colonists arrived in Georgia in 1817 and named their settlement Marienfeld. The migration of Swabians from Württembergwas precipitated by several key factors, linked directly to harsh socio-economic conditions in that region the and bitter religious conflicts that took place there over many years. By 1820 there were 6 German colonies on Georgian territory: Marienfeld, Neu-Tiflis, Alexandersdorf, Katharinenfeld, Elisabethtal and Petersdorf. In present-day Azerbaijan, the colonies of Helenendorf and Annenfeld were founded. Later established colonies Freudental, Alexandershilf andBlumental and  in Western Georgia – in Abkhazia – Gnadenberg, Neudorf and Linday.Germans in Georgia continued to establish new colonies well into the 20thcentury– Georgstal, Traubenberg, Wiesendorf, Steinfeld, Waldheim, Marnaul, Grüntal, Hoffnungstal, Traubental and Rosental were created.