Kutaissi (dt. also Kutais; ) the second largest city Georgiens and capital of the region Imeretien is Georgian. It has 185,965 inhabitants (census 2002) and a surface of 60 square kilometers. It is in the Kolchi lowlandses because of the bank of the Rioni and is the economical, industrielle and cultural center west Georgiens.

History

In 8. Century v. Chr. was Kutaia was the capital of the Greek Kolchis. The name of the city comes of the Greek word kuata and means stony. In the 3. Century v. Chr. the city in the Poem Argonautika by Apollonios of Rhodos was mentioned.

the abchasische king Leon it made 792 his residence. Of 10. Century until 1122 was Kutaisi the residence of the Georgian kings. In 13. Century, 15. Century and 16. Century was Kutaissi the capital of the westGeorgian Kingdom of Imeretien. 1666 were conquered Kutaissi by the Osmanen. 1769 sold Russian corps the Turks from the city. Starting from 1810 Kutaissi was annektiert by Russia and became capital of the province of the same name.

To the potentiometer Tiflis railway the city was attached 1877. In the Georgian founder years 1880 to 1900 the number of inhabitants Kutaissis grew on 32.500. The duke of Oldenburg, a relative of the Russian Zaren, established a sparkling wine and a Branntweinfabrik, the Russian entrepreneur Iwanowski a Saftkelterei and a mineral water production. 1883 lived 13,000 inhabitants of the trade.

1921 were Kutaissi for 14 days seat of the menschewistischen government of the democratic Republic of Georgien, which had been driven out by the Red Army from Tiflis. To 10. March 1921 was occupied also Kutaissi by the Red Army.

Economics, culture and science

Largest employers of the city are the Akaki Zereteli University of and the technical University of, the Georgian academy of the sciences, the nearby hydro-electric power plant cascade Warziche, auto, tractor, airplane and chemistry factories.

Kutaissi has five theatres, among them a dramatic, a and a mask theatre, an opera house and a college of music.

The created Georgian High School Kutaissi (today Akaki Tsereteli classical High School) personalities of world-wide reputation, like the linguists Nikolai Marr, the psychologist Dimitri Usnadse, the poets Vladimir Majakowski and Grigol Robakidse as well as Georgiens parliament president Nino Burdschanadse brought 1840 out.

Objects of interest

The medieval townscape is this very day visible. Among the objects of interest the Bagrati cathedral ranks, 1003 by the Georgian king Bagrat IIITH delighted and by the Turkish Sultan 1696 blown up. The fronts are received and were restored. They stand today on the UNESCO list of the world cultural heritage. Close ones of the church lie the ruins of the city fortress and the king palace.

For lack of national means different historical objects of interest Kutaissis are ramshackle. In 18. Century delighted white ones bridge over the Rioni river had to be closed in June 2004 because of collapse danger for vehicles.

In the environment are to the city the nature park Sataplia as well as the ruins of several old fortresses, under it celebrations the Tamar and Warziche (dt. rose castle).

The Georgier calls Kutaissi also the city of the roses and May. It is twin city of Columbia, Missouri.

Personalities

• Katie Melua, British-Georgian singer
• Tengis Abuladse, Georgian film director
• Stepan Alawerdjan, poor mixer communist functionary
• Nino Burdschanadse, Georgian parliament president
• Nikolai Jakowlewitsch Marr, linguist and Orientalist
• Sachari Paliaschwili, Georgian composer
• Dimitri Usnadse, Georgian psychologist and university founder

Related links

• History and objects of interest Kutaissis (de)
• Website of the city Kutaissi (EN, ge)
• Akaki Zereteli University of Kutaissi (EN)

Articles in category "Kutaissi"

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