Restoration works give new life to medieval Geguti Palace ruins

Georgian specialists are attempting to restore the ruins of the medieval royal Geguti Palace, which was constructed under the rule of Queen Tamar, Georgia’s first Queen.

The Palace was built in the 12th century and was used as the summer residency of Georgian Queen Tamar, who ruled the country from 1184 to 1213.

Today, the Geguti Palace lies in ruins near the city of Kutaisi. The ruins of the Palace complex occupy an area of more than 2,000m2 along the Rioni River.

The National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia announced restoration work would officially begin in May, although foundation work already started last year.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia said this latest restoration project aimed to develop the existing infrastructure and promote future archaeological works by encouraging international experts to get involved in the restoration process. The Georgian side hoped outside experts would be able to offer their opinion as to how to best preserve the monument.

The Palace ruins are the only remaining monument in Georgia that boasts architecture from the time when Georgia was a united kingdom. The main complex of the Geguti Palace was constructed during the period considered as Georgia's medieval ‘golden age’.

The earliest structure of the Palace was believed to be a plain, one-room building with a large fireplace that dated back to the 8th to 9th century.

Ruins of Geguti Palace constructed in 12th century and was summer residency of Queen Tamar. Photo by Jaba Labadze.

This year’s works will be fourth time experts attempt to give new life to the site.

Last year the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation lead restoration activities to rebuild the most destroyed parts of the Palace. At the time a lighting system was installed at the monument.

Previously extensive fieldwork was held between 1954 and 1962, which allowed specialists to protect the principal archaeological layers and reconstruct the architectural form and decoration of the bulk of the medieval edifices, which date back to the 12th century – the period when the first written mention of Geguti appears in the Georgian Chronicle.

Earlier, in 1937 as a result of an archaeological campaign, several facilities of the Palace were partially cleaned and a detailed plan for future restoration was developed. During this excavation process, archaeologists discovered about 60 artifacts from different period of time.

The Geguti Palace frequently featured in Georgian records as a beloved place of rest of the Georgian royalty. During the reign of Queen Tamar, who was referred to as King, the Geguti Palace was the place where her first husband Prince Yuri Bogolyubsky, led a coup against the Queen in 1191.