Jambakur-Orbeliani Palace

The Structure of the Palace

On the first floor of the palace, you’ll find massive wine presses and qvevris weighing multiple tonnes, while the second floor houses halls and bedrooms. The third floor has a veranda with an amazing view of the surrounding landscape.

At the entrance to this walled compound, you’ll also see the St George Church, while the Church of the Birth of the Virgin lies within its walls. The latter once housed the Anchiskhati (Ancha Icon of the Saviour), which was brought to the Nativity of the Theotokos Church in Tbilisi in 1686.

The History of the Palace

Unfortunately, the palace and all of its grandeur have not survived the years unharmed. In 1924, Bolsheviks took nine cartloads full of books and manuscripts, the black Becker grand piano, a second, white piano, and a great deal of expensive furniture and tableware from the palace. 

The building would act as a commune, an agricultural office, a post office, a dispensary, and a maternity home over the years, while the nearby St. George Church was used to store the year’s harvest.

In 1986, a museum opened with the palace. Among its collection are ethnographic, numismatic, documentary, and photographic materials from the 18th and 19th centuries, along with works of fine art. An exposition on the life and works of the poet Davit Guramishvili, the patrimonial vessels of the previous owners of the palace, and other items are also there.