The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designates World Heritage Sites of outstanding universal value to cultural or natural heritage which have been nominated by countries which are signatories to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, established in 1972.^[1] Cultural heritage consists of monuments (such as architectural works, monumental sculptures, or inscriptions), groups of buildings, and sites (including archaeological sites). Natural features (consisting of physical and biological formations), geological and physiographical formations (including habitats of threatened species of animals and plants), and natural sites which are important from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty, are defined as natural heritage.^[2] Georgia ratified the convention on 4 November 1992.^[3]

Gelati Monastery

Mtskheta

Upper Svaneti

Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands

Location of World Heritage Sites in Georgia. The Colchic Rainforests comprise seven sites, Grigoleti is shown.

As of 2020^[update], Georgia has four sites on the list and a further fourteen on the tentative list. The first two sites inscribed to the list were the Historical Monuments of Mtskheta and the site comprising Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery, in 1994. However, due to major reconstruction detrimental to its integrity and authenticity, Bagrati Cathedral was put to the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2010 and then delisted as a World Heritage Site in 2017. Upper Svaneti was listed in 1996 and the most recent site listed was the Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands, in 2021. The latter is the only natural site of Georgia, the other three are of the cultural type.^[3]

UNESCO lists sites under ten criteria; each entry must meet at least one of the criteria. Criteria i through vi are cultural, and vii through x are natural.^[4]

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World Heritage Sites

Site	Image	Location	Year listed	UNESCO data	Description
Historical Monuments of Mtskheta		Mtskheta-Mtianeti	1994	708; iii, iv (cultural)	Mtskheta was the capital of Georgia from the 3rd century BCE to the 5th century CE, and is still the centre of the Georgian Orthodox Church. It was the place where Christianity was proclaimed as the official religion of Georgia in 337. The Jvari Monastery (pictured) dates to the 6th century while the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral and the Samtavro Monastery were built in the 11th century upon the site of earlier churches. The monuments represent different stages in the development of medieval religious architecture in the region.[5]
Gelati Monastery		Imereti	1994	710; iv (cultural)	Gelati Monastery, a masterpiece of the Georgian Golden Age, was built in 1106 by King David IV and was one of the main cultural and intellectual centres in Georgia throughout the Middle Ages. It had an Academy which employed some of the most celebrated Georgian scientists, theologians, and philosophers, many of whom had previously been active at various orthodox monasteries abroad, such as from the Mangan Academy in Constantinople. At the time of inscription, the World Heritage Site also included the Bagrati Cathedral. Between 2010 and 2017, it was listed as endangered due to the cathedral undergoing major reconstruction detrimental to its integrity and authenticity. In 2017, Bagrati Cathedral was removed from the World Heritage property and Gelati Monastery was delisted from the endangered list.[6][7]
Upper Svaneti		Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti	1996	709; iv, v (cultural)	Upper Svaneti is a valley along the Enguri river between the Caucasus and the Svaneti Range. The Svan communities adapted to the life in mountain regions. The most prominent architectural feature of the villages are the medieval stone towers which had both defensive and residential functions. More than 200 towers and houses have been preserved in the village of Chazhashi.[8]
Colchic Rainforests and Wetlands		Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Guria, Adjara	2021	1616; ix, x (natural)	The coastal region of Georgia (the historical Colchis) is covered by wetlands, forests, peat bogs, lakes, and sandy dunes. Some areas are protected as Ramsar sites. They are important biodiversity spots and serve as a stop on the migration routes of birds such as the black stork, common crane, and great egret. The World Heritage Site comprises seven properties: Kintrishi-Mtirala and Ispani in Adjara, Grigoleti and Imnati in Guria, and Pitshora, Nabada, and Churia in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. They are administered in Georgia as parts of the Kolkheti National Park (pictured), Kintrishi Strict Nature Reserve, Kobuleti Protected Areas, and Mtirala National Park.[9][10]

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In addition to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, member states can maintain a list of tentative sites that they may consider for nomination. Nominations for the World Heritage List are only accepted if the site was previously listed on the tentative list.^[11] As of 2020^[update], Georgia maintains fourteen properties on its tentative list.^[3]

• Tourism in Georgia