(რუსთავი) is the capital of the district and the third largest city in the country with almost 120,000 inhabitants. It is believed that Shota Rustaveli was born here, and the Rustavi channel, the author of the "pink revolution", was born here. With all this, the city has a persistent image of an uninteresting place. Really, modern life city began in 1941 in connection with the construction of a large metallurgical plant. Rustavi received city status only in 1948.
Now Rustavi is a strange city, not like other Georgian cities. It is flat, modern, without buildings of the 19th century and without ancient temples. There is a very special atmosphere here.
Story
People began to settle in the territory of Rustavi quite a long time ago. In the era of the Trialeti culture, there were still tropical swamps, unsuitable for life, but already in the Late Bronze Age, there must have been something here. On Mount Yagludzha, archaeologists have found settlements of the Hellenistic period. The foundations of a 5th-century building have now been excavated near the Cathedral. Apparently, civilization came here when irrigation canals began to be built here. One such canal exists to this day near the fortress. The fortress itself was built at the beginning of the 5th century. There is even a link to the name of King Trdat (395-406), who would have dug a canal and built a fortress. It is difficult to say what came of this, because after three or four years the Georgian kingdom temporarily ceased to exist under the onslaught of the Persians.
Vakhtang Gorgosal founded the episcopal chair here and the city became the center of the Kukheti region - until the 12th century, this word was used to call the entire space from the Kura to the Gombori Range.
In 736 the city was burned down by Mervan the Deaf, but survived. During the invasion of the Seljuks, he was burned again, and again survived. In the era, Rustavi begins to flourish, but the Khazar invasions and Mongol raids gradually destroy the city. In the post-Mongolian period, Rustavi no longer plays any serious role and turns into a small village. Interesting events took place here at the time when the right wing of the 11th army was advancing on Tbilisi through Rustavi. On February 17, 1921, the Red Army stormed the heights of Yagludzh and installed artillery there. The bombardment of Tbilisi was planned from here, but the Georgian armored trains managed to drive the Soviet artillery from the heights.
In the city
Now Rustavi exists as if from two parts. One part on the left bank is older, built up with Stalin-style buildings. The Right Bank is the Khrushchev era. There are high-rise buildings painted in cheerful colors. Everything is very lively, cheerful, cute. It's not bad to live here.
Interesting things are located in the old part of the city, this is a fortress, a museum, a cathedral and something else.
The main street of old Rustavi is Merab Kostava street, which starts from the bridge over the Kura (there is an iron pyramid with a hint of the Louvre) and rests on the metallurgical plant. 1600 meters long, in the middle of the central square. Moreover, if from the bridge to Kostava Square it is a street and casing along the edges, then from the square to the plant it is an alley in the center and streets from the edges. The whole life of the city is concentrated on Kostava.
central square. It is also Freedom Square, it is also Lenin Square earlier. Here stands the official building of the former city committee. Lenin had already been removed from the square, he was standing where a composition of stones is now opposite the city committee. Now on the square you can find "Liberty Bank" with an ATM and a boring expensive cafe "Giorgiy".
If you walk from the square to the bridge, there will be several markets and near the bridge on the left side there is a good cafe where you can find khinkali (50 tetri), khachapuri, three types of beer, meat and something else. Well, and the ubiquitous Rkatsiteli at 3 lari per liter.
Leaves Freedom Square to the north Rustaveli street(where without it), which after 1500 meters rests on the Station Square and the Station. Goes south from Freedom Square Pirosmani street, which is slightly bent to the left and there is also a nice park, also in the form of an arc. Along Pirosmani you can go to the theater, then to two clinics and the intersection with Levan Iosebidze Street. Someone clever thought of dividing it into three parts and assigning different names to each part ... Here you can turn right and go along Iosebidze to the local history museum.
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Regional Museum of Rustavi city I recommend a visit, although it will be of interest mainly to historians and archaeologists. The museum has a number of advantages. The first is that it already works. Secondly, there is quite a lot of archaeological material here, which is valuable against the background of the closing of the historical museum in Tbilisi. Here you can see ceramics, glass, bronze swords, coins of the 12th-13th centuries and several stones with inscriptions on. All this is on the first floor. On the second, as usual, gray modernity.
Coordinates: 41°32"17"N 45°0"31"E |
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The museum is open from 11 to 17, a break from 14 to 15. Entrance fee is 2 GEL. Photographing - 5 GEL. There is a tour guide. The exhibits are not signed, only small texts with general information- in Russian and Georgian.
Near the museum, Iosebidze Street turns into Odisharia Street, goes another 180 meters and ends in a park. This is a nice park, although very run down. I even found an aviary for birds there... Through the park you can go straight to Kura. Almost immediately there will be a bridge across the Rustavi Canal and behind the canal on the left you will see the towers of the Rustavi Fortress.
Rustavi fortress. This is a strange multi-layered structure built of stones and bricks, and there is also one tower made of unbaked bricks. The perimeter of the walls is 450 meters. Some foundations have been excavated in the northern part, but it is difficult to say what was there. Explicit temples are not noticeable, which is strange.
Rustavi fortress Coordinates: 41°32"6"N 45°0"14"E |
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But if you leave the museum to the park and turn left, then on the right side there will be thickets of the garden of the city hospital, and on the left - the garden of the Rustavi Cathedral. This is a newly built cathedral named after King Vakhtang Gorgosal, strangely ascetic in appearance, as if built in the 5th century. A little to the north is a small Annunciation Church.
Near the cathedral there is another interesting place - across the street, to the east. There, in the middle of the wasteland, you can see a canopy. In that place, archaeologists found the foundation of a house from the 4th century and a cemetery of a later period. It was there that steles with inscriptions on were found.
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New Rustavi. This is a settlement that stretches 4 kilometers from the highway to the river (along the line of Megobroba Avenue). It is built up with the architecture of the late Soviet era. Buildings facing the highway and the main streets are painted in joyful colors. Buildings in the depths of blocks look a little gloomier. As in the old town, there is a lot of greenery here, especially pine trees. The new Rustavi has a certain modest charm of modernism, it is not boring here and there is no sleepy lull, as it happens in the Georgian provinces. There is some symbolism in the fact that the Rustavi-2 TV channel was the informational author of the Rose Revolution.
Yet New Rustavi is even less Georgian in spirit than Old Rustavi.
Infrastructure
Food in Rustavi is available in the form of street sales of shawarma, khachapuri, etc. Prices are approximately Tbilisi. With cafes, everything is more modest. Right on Freedom Square there is one, but boring, and there is also a "beer bar" near the bridge (to Kostava), where it is already more fun.
I didn’t notice any hotels in the city at all, although there are probably some. I'm not sure that someone will go here with an overnight stay, although there is some sense in this.
The rest of the shops are about the same as in Tbilisi - they cluster on Kostava and nearby.
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Rustavi minibuses originate in the Didube market, go through the whole city along the embankment, then along Gorgosali, pass away from the Ortachal bus station and then arrive in Rustavi in 20 minutes, passing along Kostava past the city hall, where you can get off. They cost 1 lari 30 tetri, although the journey is only 10 kilometers.
Minibuses to Tbilisi must be caught on Kostava, at the bridge or at the exit. They will conveniently go through the center of Tbilisi.
Neighborhood
Of the interesting things in the vicinity of Rustavi, I would name the Rustavi forest and the Yagludja ridge. The rest is abandoned air defense bases and the Vaziani military airfield.
Rustavi forest (რუსთავის ტყე).
This forest starts from the fortress and stretches along the river for 4 kilometers. a rare case of a large tract of forest on a plain. Now it is somewhat spoiled by roads and incomprehensible buildings, but potentially it is a good park or even a semi-reserve with magnificent views of the Yagludzha ridge. At the moment, this is the best place in the area for setting up a tent.
Ridge Yagludzha (იალღუჯის ქედი).
The Yagludzha Ridge begins somewhere above Lake Kumisi and stretches east for 10 kilometers, practically rests on New Rustavi and bends along the bank of the Kura, where it forms beautiful cliffs that are clearly visible from the Rustavi forest. These cliffs are very seductive in terms of archaeological and geological interest.
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| City | |||
| cargo. რუსთავი | |||
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| 41°32′ N. sh. 45°00′ E d. | |||
| The country | Georgia | ||
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| Region | |||
| Municipality | |||
| Chapter | Mamuka Chikovani | ||
| History and geography | |||
| Founded | 4th century | ||
| City with | 1948 | ||
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| Center height | 350 m | ||
| Timezone | UTC+4 | ||
| Population | |||
| Population | ▲ 126,000 people (2015) | ||
| National composition | Georgians, Azerbaijanis, Russians, Armenians, Ossetians | ||
| Confessional composition | Orthodox, Shiite Muslims, Sunni Muslims |
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| Official language | Georgian | ||
| Digital IDs | |||
| Telephone code | +995 341 | ||
| Postcode | 370 | ||
| rustavi.gov.ge (cargo) (English) |
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Rustavi(Georgian რუსთავი) - a city in the southeast, located on the banks of the river, 11 kilometers southeast of.
Population
As of January 1, 2016, the population of the city as a municipality was 126,000 inhabitants, as of January 1, 2014 - 122,900 inhabitants, as of January 1, 2005 - 115,500 inhabitants.
According to the All-Union Population Census of 1989, 158,661 people lived in Rustavi. According to the 2002 census, the population of the city was 116,384, at the beginning of 2008 - 117,300 people, at the beginning of 2011 - 120,800 people.
| Georgians | 114819 | 91,78% |
| Azerbaijanis | 4661 | 3,73% |
| Armenians | 1965 | 1,57% |
| Russians | 1459 | 1,17% |
| Ossetians | 545 | 0,44% |
| Ukrainians | 315 | 0,25% |
| Yezidis | 239 | 0,19% |
| Greeks | 166 | 0,13% |
| other | 934 | 0,74% |
| Total | 125103 | 100,00 % |
Story
Rustavi (“the beginning of the irrigation canal” in Georgian) is one of the oldest cities that played a significant role in its history. Georgian historian of the 11th century Leonty Mroveli mentions Rustavi among the fortresses that opposed the troops of Alexander the Great. This allows us to date the founding of Rustavi to the 5th-4th centuries. BC e.
In his work The Life of the Kings, Leonty Mroveli writes that King Trdat, the 28th king of Kartli (late 4th century BC), built a church and a canal. Academician Nikolos Berdzenishvili writes that since then Rustavi has been regarded as an important administrative center.
During the reign of Vakhtang Gorgasali (5th century), Rustavi plays a prominent role in the political life of Georgia. A bishopric is established in Rustavi, which existed until the 13th century, when it was destroyed by the Mongols. Then the bishopric was transferred to Martkopi, however, Bishop Martkopi bore the title of Rustavi (Rustaveli).
The political significance of Rustavi is also confirmed by archaeological research in the Rustavi fortress; ruins of structures dating back to the 4th and 5th centuries were discovered. n. e.
In 1068, the Seljuk Turks invaded Georgia under the leadership of Sultan Alp-Arslan.
In 1097, David the Builder stopped paying tribute to the Seljuk Turks. In 1104 he united Kakheti-Hereti. In 1105 he defeated the army of the Emir of Ganja. Only Tbilisi, Rustavi, Samshvilde, Somkhiti and Agarani remained in Muslim hands. In 1110 David took Samshvilde, in 1115 - Rustavi, in 1122 - Tbilisi.
In 1265, the troops of Berk Khan, the ruler of the Golden Horde, invaded the Caucasus. Georgia fought simultaneously with two enemies - Iran and the Mongols. Rustavi was again destroyed to the ground by the troops of Tamerlane.
During the industrialization period, Rustavi became an important industrial center. There were metallurgical enterprises, chemical plants, as well as an important railway station on the Tbilisi-Baku branch. About 90 large and medium industrial enterprises were built in Rustavi.
Rustavi Metallurgical Plant, built in 1941-1950, became the main industrial center. for the purpose of processing iron from neighboring Azerbaijan. The workers were gathered from all over the republic, including the poorest agricultural regions of Western Georgia. Not only metallurgy developed, but also the production of cement, chemicals and synthetic fibers. On August 30, 1944, the first local newspaper appeared - "Metallurgiisatvis" (translated from Georgian - "For Metallurgy"). In 1948, new streets appeared, the first of which was named after the Komsomol, the second - in honor of the builders of Rustavi, and the third - after the ancient settlement of Bostan-Kalaki.
On January 19, 1948, by a decree of the Supreme Council of the Georgian SSR, Rustavi was given the status of a city of republican significance. On April 27, 1950, the whole city celebrated the production of the first industrial steel in Georgia. German prisoners of war also took part in the construction of the city.
Modern Rustavi is divided into two parts - Dzveli Rustavi (Old Rustavi) and Akhali Rustavi (New Rustavi). The former is dominated by Stalinist architecture, while the latter is dominated by Soviet block building. Soviet Union in 1991 became a catastrophe for Rustavi, as it destroyed the integration into Soviet economy that provided the activity of city-forming enterprises. Most industrial enterprises were closed and 65% of the population lost their jobs, which led to an increase in crime and poverty. The number of inhabitants dropped from 160,000 in the mid-1990s to 116,000 in 2002.
New York-based artist Greg Lindquist has documented the destruction of the Rustavi cement plants in his paintings and installations (Nonpasts, 2010).
The last of the stationary tracks built in the USSR for ring racing. The first races took place at the end of 1979. The stages of the USSR championships were held at the Rustavi circuit 11 times (1979-1989). After the collapse of the USSR, the track was not reconstructed, the road surface fell into disrepair. In 2009, a piece of land with a ruined grandstand and a dilapidated road surface was purchased at a public auction by the private company Stromos, which is reconstructing the complex in accordance with the requirements of Category II FIA.
culture
The Georgian State Academic Ensemble "Rustavi" was founded in 1968. For 35 years he has held more than 3,000 concerts and successfully performed in more than 50 countries around the world.
Economy
In August 2007, the first supermarket of the national network "Populi" was opened in Rustavi.
The city is home to the Wagon Building Holding, which includes the Electric Wagon Repair Plant, which is mainly engaged in the repair of wagons, the Wagon Building Company, a new enterprise mainly focused on the construction of wagons, and the Rustavi Metallurgical Plant, mainly producing parts for wagons.
Also in the city is the largest automobile market in the Caucasus, which is a key point for the re-export of cars from Georgia to neighboring countries, as well as many enterprises for the repair, maintenance and tuning of cars.
Transport
A trolleybus system operated from 1971-2009. Now public transport is represented by fixed-route taxis.
Climate
| Month | Jan. | Feb. | March | April | May | June | July | August | Sept. | Oct. | November | Dec. | Year |
| Average temperature [°C] | 6 | 7.7 | 12,9 | 18,2 | 23,4 | 27.5 | 30.8 | 30.8 | 26.0 | 19.8 | 12.9 | 7.5 | 18.7 |
| Rainfall (mm) | 19 | 26 | 30 | 51 | 78 | 76 | 45 | 48 | 36 | 38 | 30 | 21 | 498 |
twin cities
Chapters
- Mamuka Chikovani
Gallery
Notes
- Population of municipalities and regions of Georgia at the beginning of the year in 2000-2016. National Statistical Service of Georgia. Retrieved April 29, 2016.(English)
- Demoscope Weekly - App. Handbook of statistical indicators.
- Ethnic composition of Georgia according to the 2002 census (English)
Links
- City official website
- Rustavi - a short guide.
- // Dictionary of modern geographical names/ Rus. geogr. about. Moscow Centre; Under total ed. acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. Institute of Geography RAS. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria, 2006.
- Motorsport in the USSR. Rustavi race track
- Professional Motorsport World, April-June 2011
Rustavi is probably the youngest Georgian city, it was formed practically from scratch as a working settlement. It received a full-fledged city status only in the middle of the last century, when mass industrialization began. In Soviet times, mechanical engineering, heavy industry and metallurgy were actively developing here, and after the collapse of the USSR, all this collapsed, and, like in most small towns, post-Soviet space, there was a serious crisis in Rustavi. However, everything is gradually returning to normal, and the city is waiting for its second heyday, which, they say, is not far off.
It is precisely because of the industrial past that Rustavi does not have many sights, and compared to other Georgian cities there is nothing to see here - it certainly does not claim to be a popular tourist center. But it is precisely with its dissimilarity and originality that it is interesting.
How to get there
Rustavi is located 25 km from Tbilisi. The most convenient way to get there is by minibus, which departs from the Didube metro station, but you can also “slow down” them along the way - they follow the whole city (first along the embankment, then along Gorgasali Street and through the Ortachal bus station). The journey takes 20-30 minutes, the fare is 1.50-2.30 GEL. Minibuses run frequently throughout the day, you do not need to come to the station at a specific time. Prices on the page are for November 2018.
It is most convenient to look for minibuses from Rustavi to Tbilisi on Kostava Avenue, near the bridge or at the exit from the city.
Search for flights to the city of Tbilisi (nearest airport to Rustavi)
Weather in Rustavi
The climate in Rustavi is temperate, in the coldest months in this Georgian city the air temperature does not rise above 6-8 °C. Already in April, the air begins to warm up rapidly, in April-May it is about + 19-22 ° C, and in summer - up to + 35 ° C. Thus, the best time to visit Rustavi is spring, early summer and early autumn, when there is no strong heat.
Rustavi Hotels
Tourists rarely stay overnight in Rustavi, as the city is located very close to Tbilisi: many come here for a walk during the day and leave in the evening.
Therefore, the choice of tourist accommodation here is small, but there are several hotels. The most popular hotel is "Rustavi" 3 *, located near the entrance to the city in its new part. The cost of living is from 20 USD per day for a double room. There are several other small 2 * hotels (or without "stars" at all) - everything is rather ascetic there, but it will do to spend the night: there is a bed, shower, Wi-Fi, and in some places breakfast. The most expensive hotel in the city is Grand Vejini, located next to the Rustavi International Motorpark race track. The level of service corresponds to 3-4 *, and the high price by local standards is due to the location. Staying here for the night will cost at least 70 USD per day for a double room.
Cafes and restaurants Rustavi
With cafes and restaurants in Rustavi, everything is rather modest. There is a lot of street food here - shawarma, khachapuri, etc., there are several khinkali in the city center, the prices there are about the same as in Tbilisi: khinkali from 0.50 GEL apiece and homemade wine from 3 GEL per liter jug.
The most famous cafe is "Giorgiy", located on Central Square (former Lenin Square), but it is rather boring and unreasonably expensive. Not far from the bridge on Kostava Avenue there is a good beer bar.
Attractions and entertainment Rustavi
The city of Rustavi is conventionally divided into two parts by the Kura River. Historically, the right bank began to be built up a little earlier and now it is an open-air monument of Soviet reality. The left bank was developed later, relatively new buildings prevail in this part of the city. The few guests of Rustavi usually make “excursions” in the southeastern part of the city, more precisely, in the southeastern suburbs, where most of the architectural heritage of the early Middle Ages is located.
A few tens of kilometers from Rustavi there is a complex of monasteries called David Gareji. In total, there are about 20 cave monasteries today, some of them are still active. The main one of the entire monastery complex is considered to be the most monumental - St. David's Lavra. All cells are carved directly into the rocks, and ancient frescoes with images of saints of royal blood are still preserved on the walls, for example, Queen Tamara, with whose reign Georgians still associate the best years of their native state.
Rustavi neighborhood in winter
Bolnisi Zion is another major architectural heritage site from the era of early Georgian Christianity. This is the oldest temple on the territory of modern Georgia, built at the end of the 5th century AD. e., perfectly preserved to this day. It is this temple that the majority of the indigenous population of Georgia revere the most and rightfully consider it the main one in the heritage of their ancestors.
The highest point of Rustavi is located at an altitude of 762 m, you can get to it by climbing a unique building of Georgian engineers and architects - the Rustavi Cross. The entire ascent occurs without any special means, takes about 40-50 minutes and is quite within the power of an adult healthy person. From above, you can see the panorama of the Yagludzh ridge, large plains near the city and attractive Georgian landscapes.
natural attractions
The most interesting in the vicinity of Rustavi is the Rustavi forest and the Yagludja ridge. Rustavi forest starts from the fortress and runs along the river for 4 km. Today, the views spoil the roads and strange buildings a little, but in general, this is a good park where you can come with a tent and enjoy nature.
The Yagludzha Ridge begins above Lake Kumisi and stretches east for 10 km, “rests” on New Rustavi and bends along the bank of the Kura, where it forms beautiful cliffs that can be observed from the Rustavi Cross. This ridge is a kind of natural observation deck from which you can see the whole city, as well as Tbilisi airport, Kumisi lake and even a little Azerbaijan.
Between the Yagludja Ridge and Lake Kumisi there is an abandoned military unit, where old military aircraft and other objects remained. It is forbidden to go there: there is an active shooting range, but you can try to see these places from above from the observation deck.
Rustavi is a relatively small Georgian city. At the same time, it occupies the third position in terms of population in the country. The population of the city is a little over one hundred thousand inhabitants. Almost the entire population is Georgians. A small part of the population are Azerbaijanis, even fewer Russians live here. Where is ?
Rustavi has long been a major industrial center. There was a large metallurgical plant here. However, in the 90s of the 20th century, most of the enterprises were destroyed and are not currently used.
The modern city is divided into two parts: Old city(Dzveli Rustavi) and New City (Akhali Rustavi). The first is represented, as a rule, by the buildings of the Stalin era.
At present, Rustavi is a flat city with modern buildings. There are no ancient buildings and architectural monuments in the city, so Rustavi is not a tourist city.
How to get to Rustavi
Tourists rarely come to Rustavi, so the transport network is poorly developed here.
There is no airport in Rustavi, just like railway stations, so the city can only be reached by highways car networks. They come from many cities of the country. The best way to get to Rustavi is through Tbilisi. First get to it by plane, and then transfer to a minibus or bus. It costs less than a dollar. In addition, you can get to Rustavi by taxi, which costs about 400 rubles.
Buses run around the city, as well as fixed-route taxis at a relatively inexpensive price. A taxi ride can cost no more than 200 rubles.
Shopping and hotels
The Rustavi Hotel is located not far from the New City. The cost of living in it is approximately 1000 rubles. In addition to it, there are two more hotels in the city, in which the cost of living is slightly higher. Since the city is close enough to Tbilisi, many visitors do not stay long in Rustavi and leave in the evening.
Rustavi has neither large shopping centers nor boutiques of famous brands. Therefore, shopping in the city is limited to grocery stores and essential goods.
Georgia is famous for its feasts and Georgian wines. Rustavi, of course, is no exception. There are many places where you can have a good time and taste traditional Georgian dishes. Various bars and restaurants of the city offer traditional Georgian cuisine to everyone at affordable prices.
What to see in Rustavi
Most of the sights of the city are located in its old part.
Not far from the city there is a complex of cave monasteries. He is called David Gareji. About 20 monasteries, carved from the rocks, stretched over many kilometers of caves.
In the village of Bolnisi, not far from Rustavi, there is another ancient monument. This is a basilica temple, or Bolnisi Zion. It was built in the 5th century and has been well preserved to our time. The temple is made of stone, has many columns and arches. It is now recognized as a cultural heritage of the country.
In Rustavi there is a museum of local lore, where many archaeological sites. Most of the exhibits date back to the founding of the city. These are all kinds of household items, coins, weapons, as well as inscriptions in Georgian.
Another attraction is the old Cathedral of Vakhtang Gorgasali. Its foundation dates back to the 4th century, but the building was destroyed. The cathedral was reconstructed at the end of the 20th century.
One of the oldest buildings in the city is the Rustavi fortress. It is located in the Rustavi Cultural Park. This is a multi-layered stone structure, or rather its ruins. The multi-layered structure of the fortress suggests that it was destroyed and rebuilt many times.
The Park of Culture is a great place to spend your leisure time. There is a small lake and many beautiful landscapes.
Not far from the city is Mount Yagludzha. It offers a wonderful view of the city, lakes, as well as the airport of Tbilisi. There is a large cross on the mountain, which can be seen from anywhere in Rustavi.
One of the new attractions is the local House of Justice. Here, residents are provided with services related to state activities.
Racing fans should visit the Rustavi race track. The track was built in the Soviet era, but began to be actively used only in 2011, when the country's racing championships began to be held here.
Rustavi has the largest car market in the entire Transcaucasus. Here you can buy a car of any class. In addition, on the territory of the car market there are a hotel, shops, various cafes, as well as maintenance services.
Georgia captivates its guests immediately, upon their first visit to this hospitable land. But in its entirety, its charm is revealed to tourists gradually.
There are many places in Georgia that have a modest charm. They do not occupy the first lines in excursion guides, but visiting such corners allows you to create not a glossy, but a genuine image of a beautiful country.
One of these places is Rustavi in Georgia, the uniqueness of which is revealed to attentive tourists.
It is not difficult to find Rustavi on the map: it is not far (about 20 km) from.
To get here, you can choose one of two main ways:
- By road
Numerous fixed-route taxis will quickly and inexpensively take you from the Georgian capital to Rustavi.
- By rail
The train is another way to get to the place of interest.
City with great history
The city of Rustavi in Georgia is an amazing place. An ancient fortress in the flat part of Georgia was founded in the 4th-5th century BC. Since that time, events related to the names of great people have taken place on the banks of the Kura.
- Before the new era, the ancient Greek commander Alexander the Great with his troops could not overcome the opposition of Rustavi.
- In the 13th century, the Asian conqueror Tamerlane captured and completely destroyed the fortress.
Rustavi is a witness to the real resilience and courage of the Georgian people. The city was raided by Arabs, Persians and Turks, Mongols and Red Army soldiers. It was destroyed and burned out, but time passed, and it was restored again, although sometimes decades or even centuries passed between destruction and restoration.
Between creation and destruction, the fortress saw personalities legendary for the Georgian people: King David the Builder, the famous poet, author of the famous poem “The Knight in tiger skin» .
Another page in the history of Rustavi appeared in post-war years 20th century. Then the creation of the largest metallurgical plant in the Soviet Union began, thanks to which the small village turned into the third largest city in modern Georgia.
Rustavi for tourists: strange, intriguing, unforgettable
Rustavi is not a typical Georgian city. It will not be possible to find buildings of the 19th century in it. But, once in Rustavi, tourists can make real journeys between times and eras. To do this, they just need to go from the Old City to the New. The Kura became the border between these parts of the city.
The old city is located on the left bank of the Kura. Quarters of residential buildings - "Stalinka", built after the war by German prisoners of war, are decorated with interesting decorative elements, retain character traits architecture of the 20th century and give the city a European look.
When visiting the Old City, you should pay attention Special attention to its southeastern part. It is here that architectural and historical monuments are located.
The right bank of the Kura occupies New town. Typical for many cities of the Soviet Union residential buildings: "Khrushchev" and "Brezhnevka" in Rustavi look unusual. The facades of all these buildings are painted in different colors, which makes the residential areas bright and attractive, depriving them of boring dullness.
A touch of history
Not only lovers of antiquities, but all tourists have the opportunity to touch the Georgian history.
- Museum of Local Lore
On the stands and in the showcases of the local history museum, the pages of a student of history come to life. Next to household items of previous generations (swords and utensils, axes and jugs, sarcophagi and jewelry), with a small amount of imagination, it is easy to imagine the life and life of people who were the ancestors of the modern inhabitants of Rustavi.
Although modern building Cathedral in honor of the King of Iberia Vakhtang Gorgasali was reconstructed in the 20th century, its foundation was laid 16 centuries ago, back in the 4th century.
Another historical site is the Rustavi Fortress, located in the Park of Culture and Leisure. From the 4th century, 430 from the fortress wall, which sheltered the inhabitants of the city from raids, have survived to this day. The tower and the foundations of buildings preserved on the territory of the fortress allow modern tourists to walk along the streets laid out in the distant 4th century.
Visiting Rustavi with a schoolboy will allow him to boast to his classmates while studying history that he touched the walls, which are 1600 years old.
In addition to historical sites, the city has many interesting objects. Let's get acquainted with the sights of Rustavi that tourists need to visit.
- Freedom Square
Located in the very center locality Freedom Square is the most big square available in Georgian cities. Once here, you can not only relax in one of the cafes, but also get to a street concert, festival, other holidays and entertainment, and sometimes see a Georgian rally.
- Park of Culture and Leisure
Rustavi Park of Culture and Leisure is famous not only for the historical fortress, which is located in its southern part. A selfie on the Alley of Umbrellas will be a great reminder of an interesting journey. And also the city park of culture and recreation is the venue for the annual international symposiums of sculptors. With luck, tourists will be able to see creative process performed by masters from Spain, Egypt, Georgia, France and other countries.
You can take a photo of the created sculpture even after the end of the forum, the works are exhibited in the park and on city streets.
- Yak-40 in kindergarten, or Kindergarten in airplane
So far, no one has guessed to combine a real plane and a kindergarten. And in Rustavi, such a kindergarten, the only one in the world, exists!
Neighborhoods to visit
When planning a trip, it will be useful to find sights in the vicinity of the city on the map in advance in order to include them in excursion routes.
- Cave Monastery David Gareji
Not far from Rustavi, almost on the border between Georgia and Azerbaijan, there is a unique place - several cave monasteries. The most famous among them is the Lavra of David, which was founded in the 4th century by the preacher David. He came to Georgia from Syria to preach Christianity here.
Caves with murals, frescoes, amazing landscapes open up to visitors of the complex.
- Bolnisi Zion
Another iconic building is Bolnisi Zion. This is the oldest and one of the largest Georgian temples, having a rectangular shape - a basil. Everything in the temple of the 5th century impresses: the greenish color of tuff, chosen for wall cladding, the first temple stone carving in Georgia, floral ornaments, inscriptions in the ancient Georgian language, the remains of frescoes.
Residents of Georgia consider Bolnisi Zion to be truly sacred and one of the most revered places.
- Rustavi cross
Against the background of the plains, one cannot but pay attention to the long Yagludzha ridge, to which the New City adjoins. The landmark of the green ridge is the Rustavi Cross.
On the unique building there is a ladder to climb it. Tourists with sports training can do this. Approximate rise time - up to 40-45 minutes.
Having climbed the stairs, travelers find themselves on the very high point Rustavi, whose height is 762 m. Everyone who climbs the cross experiences unforgettable sensations, sees the extraordinary Georgian landscapes from such a height, and saves them in a photo.
Much more can be said about Rustavi. Motorists will appreciate its car market and race track, there are many places for gourmets where you can enjoy real Georgian cuisine, lovers of original souvenirs will not be able to pass by souvenir shops.
Rustavi cannot yet be called the main route on a trip to Georgia, but those who have visited one of the most ancient and at the same time young Georgian cities can say with confidence that they were lucky to get to know the diversity and beauty of many-sided Georgia.