Caucasus Mountain Center to be built in Svaneti

The construction of the Caucasus Mountain Center, one museum in a network of such institutions developed by world-renowned mountaineer Reinheold Messner, is scheduled for the beginning of next year. 

The Messner Mountain Museums themselves are not conventional art or natural science museums. They have an interdisciplinary design. Each of the museums occupies a unique location, which helps relate the museum’s theme to the collections and architecture. The geographical location, relics and works of art combine to form a whole.

Project details were discussed by the Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and the Reinhold Messner today. According to PM Kvirikashvili, the building of the museum will be open from all sides so the visitors will have possibility to see the mountain views from any point. The center will be located in high mountains and will be reachable by rope of car.

Messner, 73, had made a name for himself mainly through climbing achievements in the Alps winning the reputation of one of the best climbers in Europe. He is the first mountaineers in the world to have ascended Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen and technical equipment in 1980, and to have ascended all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters.

He decided to establish the Caucasus Mountain Center in July 2017, after his meeting with PM Kvirikashvili. For years, Messner has been developing a network of mountain museums in the Italian Alps, and the Caucasus Mountain Center is conceived as part of this network.

One of the Messner Mountain Museum - The Museum in the Clouds, located on Monte Rite (2181 m) between Pieve di Cadore and Cortina d’Ampezzo in the heart of the Dolomites.

"It is a very good opportunity for the further development of tourism in Georgia. We are excited about launching this project, and I strongly believe that it will be one of the exemplary destinations in Georgia and in the wider region,” PM Kvirikashvili said at today’s meeting with Messner.

Last year, the acclaimed mountaineer visited Georgia on the invitation of Giorgi Kvirikashvili to familiarize himself with Georgia’s mountains in the company of experts for spatial planning and representatives of the Mountain Resorts Development Company. 

This time, Messner visited Svaneti and the site allocated for construction  with prominent architect Werner Tscholl.

"The Caucasus Mountain Center will relate to the world the story of relations between mankind and the mountains. Most likely, we will start building next year,” Messner added, describing the Svanetian landscapes as "some of the most beautiful in the world”.

"Your mountains are perfect for mountaineering and hiking. I believe that the Caucasus will be as strong as the Alps as an attraction for hikers, mountaineers from all over the world,” the celebrated mountaineers said after meeting with the Prime Minister.