Sachkhere

Sachkhere is located 170 km West of state capital Tbilisi, in the basin of river Kvirila, 500-550 meters above sea level. Total area covers 973 km² a and has a population of approximately 6140 people (2014). The roads of strategic importance connect the town with Gomi Village and to Zestaponi respectively.

Sachkhere Municipality separated from Western Georgia region back in 1939. Today the district comprises 13 administration units with 54,866 inhabitants: Argveti, Gorisa, Sairxe, Merjevi, Sareki, Cxomareti, Chixa, Chala, Koreti, Chalovani, Korbouli, Jalaurta and Sachkhere. From the North it is boarded by Oni and Ambrolauri, from South-by Khashuri and Kharagauli, from the East-by Java and Kareli, and from the West by Chiatura.

Georgian Prince and Cartographer of the 17th century- Vakhushti Batonishvili first mentions Sachkhere in his historical sources, referring to it as a settlement and an important trading center of late feudal era. French traveller Jean Chardin and European missionaries indicate in historical records that Sachkere is situated on the trade route, that starts from Iran and India and leads to the West Georgia, crossing Likhi mountains via Cheratkhevi gorge.

The Poet and King of Imereti Archil II also underlines strategic location of the town in his historical Poem ‘Dispute of Rustaveli and Teimuraz’ (1712), where Sachkhere is represented as the connecting link between East and West.

1830s Sachkhere was owned by the noble families of Tsereteli and mostly inhabited by Georgians and Armenians. By 1926, the community of Sachkhere covered 142,9 km² comprising 15 villages with a population of 8103 people. The settlement was officially declared as a town in 1964. During the Soviet Period food and light industries were developed here. Factories, wineries, canneries, a cotton mill, railway station and various small enterprises were gradually built.

The municipality of Sachkhere has approximately 127 historic monuments and cultural attractions. One of them-Jruchi monastery is of international significance, 26-republic and the rest 100-of local significance:

• Modi Nakhe fortress (Translated in Georgian as Come and See)- a late medieval fortress of strategic importance, situated on top of the mountain, 4km North from Sachkhere. It was built by Papuna Tsereteli in the 30s of the 18th century.

Archaeological excavations discovered the remains of three periods’ settlement here: Early Bronze Age, Late Bronze Age-Early Iron Age and Early Antiquity. Also were found: ancient cemeteries, agricultural tools, bronze weapons, gold and silver jewelry, pottery, Roman coins.

The archaeological monument was almost completely destroyed in the 1991 Racha earthquake and underwent extensive restoration work in 2019. The fortress was given the Category of National Importance in May 11, 2018.

• Jruchi monastery-Georgian Orthodox monastic church founded in the 10th-11th centuries, near the Tskhomareti, Sachkhere Municipality. The monastery is inscribed on the list of the Immovable Cultural Monuments of National Significance of Georgia.
• Nacherkezevi-an archeological monument which belongs to the earliest bronze age.
• Sachkhere Local Museum (1978)-the museum displays objects discovered during archaeological excavations in Sachkhere: III millennium B.C. bronze axes, Gospels and Apostles printed in Sachkhere typography in 1825, stone plates with human images carved on it, necklaces, pins, etc

Working hours: Everyday, except Monday, 10:00-17:00

Ticket price: 0.50 GEL, Guided tours – 1 GEL

• Akaki Tsereteli State Museum in Sxvitori (1939)-the house museum of a prominent Georgian poet of the 19th century-Akaki Tsereteli is situated in the patrimonial palace of Tseretelis. The building houses personal things of the writer and his ancestors: a library, manuscripts written by the writer and other public figures, German, French and Italian furniture of the 1st half of 19th century, accessories, clothes, dishes, etc.

Working hours: Everyday except Monday, 10:00-18:00

Ticket price: Adult -1 GEL, students and schoolchildren -0.50 GEL

• Akaki Tsereteli countryseat in Savane-the place in the village of Savane, where Georgian poet of the 19th century-Akaki Tsereteli spent his childhood years, living with a local peasant’s family.
• Paolo Iashvili Memorial House (2014)-the museum is located in the village Argveti, Sachkhere Municipality and holds artifacts and manuscripts reflecting the life and work of Paolo Iashvili-famous Georgian poet of the 19th century, one of the founders of ‘Tsisferkantselebi’ (blue horns)-the movement of Georgian symbolist poets and writers.

Working hours: Everyday, except Monday, 10:00-18:00

Ticket price: Free admission:

• Muxran Machavariani memorial House in Argveti (2015)-the museum of a famous Georgian poet of the 20th century is located in a family-owned house. The poet’s personal belongings, manuscripts, works are preserved in the museum funds.

The Railway Line in Sachkhere-the railway network was built at the initiative of the famous Georgian philanthropist- Elisabeth Tsereteli in 1904. The station was destroyed during 1991 Racha earthquake, but the government restored it to original form in 2000. Elizabeth Tsereteli's palace is also preserved in Sachkhere.

• Saint George church in Savane-Orthodox single-nave basilica built in 1046. The temple stands out for exquisite decorative masonry details on the exterior façades, ornamented iconostasis and harmOnious proportions. Saint George church is inscribed on the list of Georgia's Immovable Cultural Monuments of National Significance.

There are also these Cultural Heritage Monuments and Historical Buildings in Sachkhere Municipality worth visiting:

• Saint Nino Cathedral in Sachxere-20th century
• Saint Sameba church in Chikha-11th century
• All saint church in Drbo-11th century
• Saint Mary’s church in Exvevi-11th century
• Saint Sameba church in Bajiti-11th century
• Sareki Mother of God Church
• Abashidze Church in Chala
• Tedeleti Mother of God Church
• Makhatauri medieval Church
• Angarouli Church in Merjevi Village
• Two churches of Koreti, one of which has the inscription of the Koreti Church
• Jalaurta Churches
• Museum of regional studies in Koreti
• Itskisi Fortress
• Chikha Fortress and Middle Ages Saint Mary’s church in Chikha
• Jorvila Fortress and two churches

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