Lebarde is a climatic and spa resort located in the very heart of Western Georgia, in Martvili municipality. Plunged in the centennial

conifer forest rich with iron, mineral water springs have therapeutic features good for healing diseases of respiratory and alimentary

tract systems. There are several springs with Narzan-type waters coming out on the surface of the ground which like other mineral

waters were discovered by shepherds. In the 40-ies of the XX century, in spite of the fact that road leading to the resort snaked across steep gorge and was dangerous, in holiday season the number of vacationers reached several thousand people. At first holiday makers who came for curing and recreational purposes lived in small shelters – tents and marquees. In 1948-50-ies when automobile road was constructed, health-care centers and rest-houses were built in the resort. In 1980-ies mineral water was bottled, however after developments of 1990-ies resort infrastructure got dismantled. 4 km away from Lebarde, river Lebarde and river Tekhuri merge. Tekhuri river rises on the elevation of 2400 m, on the Western slope of Egrisi range, near Tekhurishdudi peak. Its watercourse is noted with numerous and the most beautiful rocky canyons and caves creating ideal conditions for the lovers of rafting. Rich fish fauna of Tekhuri is also worth mentioning. There are lots of species of fish of commercial importance, like bleak, nase, barbell, European chub, gudgeon… There is trout in rivers as well but trout fishing is banned by Georgian legislation.

 

1. Gochkadili natural monument. Between villages of Inchki and Gachedili (Gochkadili) earlier there used to be impassable

forests where highwaymen arranged booby-traps for travelers. That is why the locals called it Oputskhole, or ‘place to be crossed in a hurry’.

2. The Dadiani clan had wonderful summer residence in Salkhino, on the bank of river Tekhuri. Up to the present on the territory of the residence stands a church built in 1782 and 35m-long and 10m-wide wine cellar where wines produced from red grapes variety Ojaleshi were kept for years. The French son-in-law of the Dadiani family, Achille Murat, set up a farm in Salkhino where along with different grapes varieties subscribed from France, he cultivated local variety, Ojaleshi, which was on the verge of disappearance. Murat

submitted Ojaleshi produced in Salkhino to the International Wine Tasting Competitions held in Paris where it was awarded the highest prize – Grand-Prix.

 

Location: bifurcation of Sothern slope of Samegrelo range, gorge of river Lebarde (tributary of Tekhuri)

Distance: 340 km from Tbilisi (wia Tchorotsku).

Sea level: 1600 m

Landscape: plain

Climate: middle mountain (upper belt) climate, winter cold, mean temperature in January -4 degrees centigrade, solid snow cover from November to May; summer moderately warm and dry, mean temperature in August 15,4 degrees centigrade

Average annual precipitation: 2000-2050 mm

Average comparative annual humidity: 75%

Duration of annual sunny light: 2150-2000 h.

Natural treatment factors: middle mountain upper belt climate and carbonic acid, calcium-sodium (or sodiumcalcium) (of Narzan kind) and iron containing mineral waters with general mineralization 0,4-0,6 g/dm3 .

Discharge of water: 40 thous. l/day

Types of therapy: mineral water drinking, passive climate therapy

Diseases for treatment: diseases of alimentary tract, liver, gall-bladder and urinary system, secondary anemia, respiratory diseases