Restoration of Historical Sites Ongoing in Abastumani

Restoration of Historical Sites Ongoing in Abastumani

The Municipal Development Fund of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia is implementing restoration-rehabilitation works for residential houses constructed within the period of XIX-XX centuries, and the astrophysical observatory located in Abastumani. Maya Tskitishvili – Vice- Premier, Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia and Giorgi Shengelia – Executive Director of the Municipal Development Fund were visiting the project site for monitoring rehabilitation works in progress. Works for rehabilitation of historical timber houses, observatory and its adjoining cableway were launched this year and will be completed by the end of the following year. The project provides for overall rehabilitation of the Big Telescope Building. The same space will accommodate visitors’ information center and café, exhibition - work space will be arranged and the existing library will be restored. The project also envisages improvement of the main design building adjacent central residential area, refurbishment of the cableway dating back to 1982, arrangement of public toilets and parking lots. „We have launched projects, which are major assets to development of Abastumani, in addition to overall rehabilitation of historical timber houses and astrophysical observatory, which is prominent for its educational-scientific and touristic value, the Ministry is also implementing road projects and will in the very near future arrange water supply and wastewater systems as well. Before long, Abastumani will recover its historical significance “ – stated Maya Tskitishvili. Abastumani observatory was founded in 1932, by Evgeni Kharadze – academician and it was the very first mountain top observatory in the former Soviet Union. It annually receives about 10 thousand tourists. Rehabilitation works are backed by the World Bank.