Lazistan (Lazuri: Lazona) is the historical name for the homeland of the Laz people, stretching along the southeastern coast of the Black Sea from the area west of Trabzon to the Georgian border. This breathtaking region of lush mountains, rushing rivers and dense forests has shaped Laz culture and identity for millennia.

Where Is Lazistan?

Today, Lazistan encompasses parts of the Turkish provinces of Rize and Artvin, and extends into the Adjara region of Georgia, particularly around the border village of Sarpi. The land rises sharply from the Black Sea shore to the peaks of the Kaçkar Mountains, creating one of the wettest and greenest regions in all of Eurasia. This dramatic geography historically isolated Laz communities in deep valleys, helping preserve distinct dialects and traditions from one settlement to the next.

A Land Between Empires

The history of Lazistan reaches back to antiquity. The region formed part of ancient Colchis, the land of the Golden Fleece in Greek mythology, and later became the heart of the Kingdom of Lazica (Egrisi), a Kartvelian state that flourished from roughly the 1st to the 7th century AD. Over the centuries it passed between the Byzantine, Georgian and Ottoman spheres. Under the Ottomans the area was administered as the Lazistan Sanjak, a name that survived into the early 20th century before falling out of official use.

Lazistan Today

Although the name Lazistan is no longer used administratively, it remains central to Laz identity and collective memory. The region is known today for its tea plantations, its tulum (bagpipe) music, the energetic horon dance, and a way of life shaped by the sea and the mountains. For the Laz, Lazistan is not merely a place on a map. It is the cultural and emotional homeland of an ancient people.

Explore Lazistan

  • Geography: the mountains, rivers and climate of the Laz homeland.
  • Maps: the geographic extent of Lazistan and its main towns.
  • History: from Colchis and Lazica to the Ottoman era and beyond.
  • Flag and Symbols: the symbols of Laz identity.
  • Demographics: how many Laz there are and where they live.
  • Human Rights: the struggle for recognition of Laz language and culture.