Sanatorium Medea — Attraction in Tskaltubo

With its countless high columns, the facade of Hotel Sanatorium Medea was certainly the most impressive building to look at in Tskaltubo, Georgia. The build of the Stalinist Empire style - Soviet architecture hotel started in 1954 and it was finished in 1962. According to some papers, the architects were F. Focxishvili and A. Intskirveli.

During Soviet times, Tskaltubo was an extremely popular holiday destination, famed among the Russian elite for its unique radon-carbonate mineral waters and grand sanatoriums. Direct trains connected the resort town to the capital Moscow and former Soviet leader Joseph Stalin even kept a dacha nearby.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the declaration of Georgian independence in April 1991, the sanatoriums lost their steady stream of Soviet visitors. As tourist numbers dropped, the sanatoriums were forced to shut down, and the impressive buildings were abandoned.

Hotel Sanatorium Medea is one of several properties in Tskhaltubo that are part-abandoned and part-occupied by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who arrived here as a result of the ethnic-related Georgia-Abkhazia conflict which took place between August 1992 and September 1993.

In the region of 8,000 to 9,000 IDPs were given refuge in Tskaltubo where there was a surplus of empty hotel rooms due to the fall of the town’s spa industry in the early 1990s... The arrangement was supposed to be temporary but nearly three decades on, the makeshift apartments inside the former sanatoriums have become permanent homes for new generations of families.

An investment plans are made and after the renovation, the place should offer 248 rooms for the luxury segment. That's the future issue, but at the moment the building is still decaying and occupied by IDP’s. According to the Deputy Mayor of Tskaltubo, Aleksandre Dadunashvili, 1,759 IDP’s families have already been moved with the remaining 920 families scheduled to be re-homed by end of 2021.

On arrival to the compound, one could immediately got noticed by some kids shouting from the rooftop and some housewives hanging the laundry out... It is discovered that the left side of the building was occupied and the right side was completely abandoned. Some old interesting stairwells that were worth a try...

Some photos courtesy of...

Historical landmark in Tsqaltubo

Hotel Medea’ is an abandoned hotel and sanatorium in the spa resort Tskaltubo, a village in west-central Georgia. The once-grand concrete structure was built in 1954 and abandoned after the Soviet Union collapsed. The sanatorium was originally named ‘Sanatorium Tsekavshiri’ during its first years.

Yes, I had the privilege of visiting this stunning ancient site, which left an indelible mark on my heart. The breathtaking views and intricate architecture evoked a mix of emotions, as I was deeply moved by the beauty and poignant history of the place. It's a popular spot for wedding ceremonies and photography, but I would highly recommend delving into its rich history before visiting. Understanding the context and significance of the site will undoubtedly enhance your experience and appreciation for this incredible piece...

Incredible to visit this old spa from the Soviet time. You can park in front of the stairs and just walk up. There are some stray dogs but they won't bother you.

The whole building is accessible but a lot is just overgrown. Nature is taking back the buildings. Very important to keep in mind, as you will see when entering as well, there are people living in the old rooms. You'll find rooms with bottles of water and other personal stuff. Some doors are also closed. You are basically walking through someone's hallway. Be respectful of the situation and don't go in rooms which are obviously used.

It definitely was one of my favourite spots to visit during my holiday. If you are in the Kutaisi area, definitely...