Surami facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Surami
სურამი
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Borough
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 Surami
Location in Georgia
Surami
Location in Shida Kartli
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| Country |  Georgia |
| Mkhare | Shida Kartli |
| Municipality | Khashuri |
| Elevation | 740 m (2,430 ft) |
| Population
(2014)
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| • Total | 7,492 |
| Time zone | UTC+4 (Georgian Time) |
Surami (Georgian: სურამი) is a small town in Georgia. It is located in the Shida Kartli region. About 7,492 people live here. Surami is known as a popular mountain resort. It also has an old medieval fortress.
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Where is Surami?
Surami sits on the southern side of the Likhi Range. This mountain range is also called the Surami Range. It acts like a natural border, dividing Georgia into its eastern and western parts. The town is only four kilometers from Khashuri. A railway line connects Surami to Khashuri.
Surami's History
People first lived in the area of Surami a very long time ago. This was during the early Bronze Age. Some old writers, like Pliny the Elder, might have called it Surium. They said it was in the eastern part of Colchis, near Iberia.
A Fortified Town
Surami was in a very important spot. It was at the entrance to the Borjomi Gorge. This location helped guard the main road between eastern and western Georgia. Because of this, Surami became a strong, fortified town in the 12th century.
From the 1170s to the late 1300s, the Surami Fortress was owned by a powerful family. They were the dukes of Kartli, which is central Georgia. This family even took the name Surameli, meaning "lord of Surami."
Changes Over Time
Later, Surami became less important, but it remained a busy trading place. The fortress was rebuilt in the 16th and 17th centuries. After one rebuilding, Iranian soldiers were placed there to protect it.
By the mid-1700s, Surami had about 200 families. These families included Georgians, Armenians, and Jews. In the 1740s, a prince named Givi Amilakhvari used Surami as his base. He fought against King Teimuraz II and the Persians.
After the prince gave up in 1745, the fortress was destroyed. However, it was later fixed. Russian and Georgian soldiers used it during a war against the Ottoman Empire (1768–1774).
Modern Surami
In 1801, Russia took over Georgia. Surami then became a military post. Later, it became famous as a mountain resort. In 1926, it was officially named an "urban-type settlement."
Places to Visit
Surami is right next to the Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. This park is famous for its beautiful landscapes and many historical sites. In Surami itself, you can find several interesting places.
- The Mother of God Church: This church complex was built between the 16th and 17th centuries.
- St. George’s Church: This church dates back to the 17th to 19th centuries.
- Kviratskhoveli Church: This church is much newer, built in 1998.
Surami Fortress
No one knows exactly when the Surami Fortress was first built. Its oldest parts might be from the 12th century. However, it has been rebuilt many times since then.
There is a famous local story about the fortress. A Georgian writer named Daniel Chonkadze wrote it down. Later, an Armenian filmmaker, Sergei Parajanov, made a famous movie about it in 1985. The movie is called The Legend of Suram Fortress.
Lesya Ukrainka Museum
The Museum of Lesya Ukrainka honors a famous Ukrainian poet. Her name was Lesya Ukrainka (1871–1913). She spent her last months living in Surami. The museum includes the house where she died. It also has a library and a statue of Ukrainka. The statue was made by a Georgian sculptor named Tamar Abakelia.
