The Colchis Fountain is the calling card of Kutaisi and one of the most striking structures in Georgia. It stands in the centre of the city, on David Agmashenebeli Square, where Queen Tamar Street meets Shota Rustaveli Avenue. The fountain opened in 2011 to a design by the architect David Gogichaishvili and is still called the most expensive fountain in the country. The round, cascading fountain is decorated with about 30 gilded figures. These are enlarged copies of ancient Colchian gold and bronze items found by archaeologists in Vani and other parts of Colchis, with the originals kept in the Georgian National Museum. The figures tell the story of ancient Colchis and the myth of the Golden Fleece: at the top are the horses of the Colchian king Aeëtes, lower down on different tiers are animals, and in the centre is the tamada with a wine horn, a symbol of Georgian hospitality. The famous golden lion, a copy of which appears on the 5 GEL banknote, also comes from here. By day the gilding shines in the sun, and in the evening coloured lighting comes on, making the fountain especially striking. A curious detail: before the fountain, an equestrian monument to David the Builder stood here; it was moved to the railway station to free up the square. Heavy roundabout traffic makes it hard to get close, so it is easier to admire from the park side. The fountain is a convenient place to start a walk around the centre.
💰 Free or paid
- Free access; the fountain works all year, around the clock.
👀 What to look for in the figures
- The horses of King Aeëtes at the top
- The tamada with a wine horn in the centre
- The golden lion (a copy is on the 5 GEL banknote)
📜 Facts
- Opened in 2011, architect David Gogichaishvili
- About 30 copies of ancient Colchian artifacts
- Considered the most expensive fountain in Georgia
💡 Tip
- Lighting comes on in the evening, the best time for photos
- Roundabout traffic makes it hard to get close, easier to view from the park side
Read on the blog: the history and myth behind the fountain
