A UNESCO world heritage site, Ushguli is Europe’s highest permanently inhabited settlement. Ushguli is a community of five villages in Georgia situated at an altitude of 2100 meters. The village is famous for its Svan towers, fortified dwellings common in the Georgian historical region of Svaneti. According to folklore, Ushguli served as a summer retreat for the legendary Queen Tamar. For a beautiful view of the village, climb to Queen Tamar’s Winter castle. The 12th century Lamaria church, named after the Virgin Mary, has old frescoes and offers spectacular views of the surrounding area. Ushguli is a great place for hiking and there are several hiking trails. The most popular one is a hike to the Shkhara glacier, the highest mountain in Georgia.