 Oni Synagogue | ||
| Oni - ონი | ||
| Region (Mchare) | Ratscha-Letschchumi and Lower Swanetia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 3000 | |
other value for residents on Wikidata: 2656   | ||
| height | 830 m | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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Oni (Georgian: ონი) is the capital of the Raion of the same name in the Georgian administrative region Ratscha-Letschchumi and Lower Swanetia. The city on the upper reaches of the Rioni is not only known for extensive mountain hikes but also as an important center of Jewish culture in Georgia.
background
The area around Oni was already settled in the Bronze Age; Archaeological finds such as coins could be attributed to the Colchian culture of the 6th to 3rd centuries BC. Be assigned. The first written references to today's Oni date from the 15th century, Oni was mentioned as the capital of the Principality of Ratscha. In 1810 Oni became part of the Russian Empire and in 1846 received city rights as the administrative seat of the Ratscha region. During the Soviet era Oni became the administrative center of a raion.
Oni was one of the most important centers of the Georgian Jews, after Tbilisi and Kutaisi the Semithic community was the third largest in the country. After 1990, however, most of the Jewish residents emigrated to Israel or Western Europe. Today only a few Jewish families live in the city.
The Oni area is at risk from earthquakes and avalanches. The strongest earthquake occurred on April 29, 1991 (magnitude 7.0 on the Richter scale), the city was badly damaged and partially destroyed.
getting there
With Minibuses (Marshrutkas) one reaches Oni from among other things Ambrolauri, Kutaisi and Terdschola.
The Ossetian Heerstrassewhich follows the Rioni upstream from Kutaisi and crosses the Greater Caucasus to Russia via the 2820 m high Mamisson Pass. However, this border crossing is closed today. Another one begins in Oni Regional road to South Ossetia, the above Kwaissi leads to the Transcaucasian Highway. This path has also been impassable since 2008 because of the South Ossetia conflict! The shortest connection from Oni to Central Georgia (via Kwaissi and Tskhinvali to Gori) is therefore not possible, you have to go from Tbilisi coming over the long detour Sestaponi, Terdschola and Ambrolauri drive.
The next train station with passenger service is in Tkibuli, the nearest airport with scheduled service in Kutaisi.
mobility
Marshrutkas, taxis or hitchhiking in the area.
Tourist Attractions
- The ruins of the medieval fortress from the time of the Principality of Ratscha
- synagogue. Erected between 1880 and 1890.
- Several Georgian Orthodox churches
- Ratscha Regional Museum. Archaeological, ethnographic, numismatic, natural history exhibits.
activities
- Hiking in the health resort Schowi
- Rafting and canoeing on the upper reaches of the Rioni
