Western Georgia’s 19th century Dadiani Palace to reopen with museum

Western Georgia’s Dadiani Palace complex, one of the major monuments of the country’s 19th century nobility, will soon open after renovation and with a brand-new museum venue.

Located in the city of Zugdidi in Georgia’s Samegrelo-Upper Svaneti province, the complex has been under intensive renovation works since 2015 to save it from disintegration.

The palace is known as the residence for the final regent of the Principality of Samegrelo, as the region’s autonomy was abolished by the Russian Imperial rule in 1857.

The 1880s-built residence is a major monument of western Georgian nobility. Photo: Georgia’s Cultural Heritage Agency press office.

The complex includes a palace for Ekaterine Chavchavadze-Dadiani, the final acting regent of the principality, as well as a residence of her son Niko Dadiani, a monastery and an adjacent botanical garden.

Boasting the largest ballroom in nobility residences across Georgia, it has been described by the National Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation as a European-style palace with "unique architecture”.

Built in 1880s by Russian architect Leonid Vassilyev, the buildings had been neglected to the point where they were closed for visitors due to a danger of collapse.

The three-year restoration project worth around 2 million GEL (around 816,000 USD/701,000 EUR*) has centred around the Niko Dadiani Palace.

It included works for strengthening of its overall construction, replacement of the roof and setting up of modern systems for ventilation, air conditioning and heating.

A view of the yard of the complex. Photo: Georgia’s Cultural Heritage Agency press office.

The renovated Niko Dadiani Palace is set to house the Zugdidi State Museum of History and Ethnography, with collections dated between the Bronze Age and the late 19th century.

Its vaults will preserve memorial items of the Dadiani nobility and exhibits of European cultural heritage.

Set to come to its end in September, the work will be followed by restoration of the main building of the complex — the Palace of Queen Ekaterine.

The regent ruled the Principality of Samegrelo until the Tsarist Russian rule over Georgia effectively abolished the principal rule.

Her son Niko was the formal final regent of the principality, however due to his minor age the functions were effectively carried out Ekaterine.

The noble family also had connections with their European counterparts and hosted distinguished historical figures including pacifist and novelist Bertha von Suttner, the first Nobel Peace Prize-winning woman.

*Currency conversions reflect National Bank of Georgia values as of today.