Geguti Palace and Golden Chardakhi

The only remaining palace and residence of Georgian royals, today however in ruins, is located in 7 km to the south from Kutaisi, on the bank of river Rioni. Its area is 2 000 sq.m. In VIII-X centuries it was a country retreat– a hunting house - for the Abkhaz kings. From XI century it became a residence of the Georgian kings. According to Kartlis Tskhovreba, in XII century a four-level royal palace hall was built. The main part of the palace had a 14-meter dome above it. It was a 4-nave hall with living quarters on both sides (sleeping room, cash-room, treasury, bathroom). On the west part of the palace is a church (XIII-XIV centuries).

Golden Chardakhi on the right bank of river Rioni, in downtown Kutaisi, between today’s Rustaveli and White bridges was the residence of Imereti kings. First reports on the royal residence belong to European travellers (Italian Ambrozio Contarini in XV century and Russian ambassadors Tolochanov and Ievlev in XVII century). The residence had several constructions: Court church of St. George, Big House, Small House and Dinner Chamber. In the center of a courtyard under plane trees of which one has remained up to nowadays was a table on four pillars for feasts. In the wall of a fence was arranged a belfry and a lookout point for guards of a king’s cash-room and Royal Palace.

In XVII century Royal residence was damaged many times. For XIX century of all constructions of the residence only Small House, Court church and belfry have survived.

Today the only surviving construction of the royal residence is so called Small House. The first level was designed to protect from flooding and is equipped with arches from all sides. The walls of the Big hall on the second level are decorated with combat scene paintings. The constriction was remade in the XIX century and received today’s image in the 1960-ies.

100 Sights of Georgia