| National Youth and Children's Palace | |
|---|---|
მოსწავლე ახალგაზრდობის ეროვნული სასახლე | |
 National Palace in September 2023 | |
 Interactive map of National Youth and Children's Palace | |
| Former names | Viceroy's palace; Pioneers' palace |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| Location | 6,Rustaveli Ave.,Tbilisi,Georgia |
| Current tenants | Tbilisi National Youth Palace |
| Completed | 1818; 207 years ago (1818) |
| Renovated | 1st renovation – 1847; 178 years ago (1847) 2nd renovation – 1869; 156 years ago (1869) (current façade) 3rd renovation – 1941; 84 years ago (1941) |
| Renovation cost | 3rd renovation: up to 15 millionrubles 4th renovation: 56.4 millionGEL[1] |
| Renovating team | |
| Architects | 1st renovation – Nikolay Semionov 2nd renovation (current façade) – Otto Jakob Simonson 3rd renovation – Archil Kurdiani 4th renovation – Merab Bochoidze[2] |
| Website | |
| youthpalace nationalpalace | |
| Official name | Youth Palace |
| Designated | October 1, 2007; 18 years ago (2007-10-01) |
| Item Number in Cultural Heritage Portal | 4976 |
| Date of entry in the registry | October 11, 2007; 18 years ago (2007-10-11) |
National Youth and Children's Palace (Georgian:მოსწავლე ახალგაზრდობის ეროვნული სასახლე), sometimes referred to asPioneers' Palace,National Palace, or by its original name,Viceroy's Palace, is a historic building located onRustaveli Avenue inTbilisi, Georgia.
The original building, constructed in 1802 after the establishment of the Imperial Russian rule in Georgia, served as the residence of theCommander-in-Chief of the Caucasus inTiflis. After several reconstructions a new palace was built in 1818, designed by architect Braunmiller. The palace was reconstructed in 1847 by architect Nikolai Semyonov, who gave the palace aclassical look and constructed a garden on the left side of the palace. It underwent a second renovation in 1869, led byOtto Jakob Simonson, a German architect working in Tbilisi. He enlarged the palace and gave it a renaissance look.[3]
During the various periods ofRussian Imperial rule in Georgia, the palace was sometimes the residence and palace of the Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasus, and sometimes of theViceroy.
Following theRussian Revolution of 1917, the palace housed the government of theTranscaucasian Democratic Federative Republic. On May 26, 1918, the federation announced its dissolution and theNational Council of Georgia, convened at the palace on the same day, declaredGeorgia's independence at 5:10 p.m. Two days later, the independence of theDemocratic Republic of Azerbaijan and theFirst Republic of Armenia was declared in the palace. Following the declaration of independence, the palace housed the government of theDemocratic Republic of Georgia and the National Council, which, following the1919 parliamentary elections, was replaced by theConstituent Assembly of Georgia. On February 21, 1921, the palace hosted the adoption of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic by the Constituent Assembly.
After theSovietization of Georgia the palace housed the Georgian Revolutionary Committee, and then the governments of theTranscaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic andSoviet Georgia.[4] In 1937, the soviet government decided to open aPioneers Palace; anonformal educational institution for children. After reconstruction, on May 2, 1941, the palace reopened, operating as an educational institution for children. Since 1941, the palace has housed Tbilisi National Youth Palace.[5]
The Palace is listedCultural Heritage Monument of Georgia.[6]
Prior to the 19th century, the area of present-dayRustaveli Avenue,Freedom Square,Orbeliani Square and Tchanturia Street lay outside the city walls of Tiflis and was calledGaretubani, meaning peripheries.[7] This area was cultivated with gardens and vineyards that belonged to theGeorgian Royal Family.[8]
After theRussian conquest of the Caucasus and the annexation of the Georgian Kingdoms, Russian imperial authority was established in Georgia.Russian Empire appointedKarl Knorring theCommander-in-Chief of the Caucasus.[3] In 1802, inGaretubani, Georgian architects constructed a two-building complex[7] for the Commander-in-Chief, serving as his residence and office. This complex was demolished and a newclassical building was constructed in 1807.[9]
In 1818, the previous buildings were demolished, and architect Braunmiller constructed a new palace on the same site.[10] Later, the building was expanded, with the small rooms replaced by larger ones. The expansion included private apartments for the commander-in-chief, study rooms, abilliard room, clerks' rooms and a Winter Garden.[3][11]
In 1844,Petersburg architect Nikolay Semionov significantly altered the palace's appearance. He gave it a classical look and installed sculptures ofHercules andMinerva on the facade.[12][3]
By the end of 1850, there was a proposal to construct a new, larger and more representative building for the Viceroy on theGunib Square, where the present dayParliament building stands. The project was never realizes, and it was decided to remodel the old one.[3]
In 1865, German architectOtto Jakob Simonson, who was invited by theViceroy of Caucasus to work under his administration on several projects, started the reconstruction of the palace.[13]
Simonson expanded the palace, moved its side wings forward and made minor alterations to the main façade. He enlarged the central reception, designed a large foyer, a grand staircase and a large dining room with a portico and a salon in the north part of the palace and designed a working office of the Viceroy, reception, living room and an exhibition hall with a terrace and a wide, open staircase to the garden in the south part of the palace. He also constructed entertainment areas and dedicated quarters for staff.[13] Simonson remodeled the palace with a Renaissance-style facade and enriched the interior with ornatestucco work. He designed the ballroom in thePersian style, adorned its ceilings withstalactite vaulting, encrusted and curved its walls with ornamental mirrors, installedstained glass windows and hung gilded chandeliers. He also added marble chimneys in halls, living rooms, reception, foyer and the lobby.[14] Simonson finished the reconstruction in 1869.[15]
Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the palace welcomed several distinguished guests. In the 1830s, it was visited byNicholas I of Russia. In 1858, theCaucasus Viceroy, PrinceAleksandr Baryatinsky, hostedAlexandre Dumas andJean-Pierre Moynet [fr] at a New Year gala held in the palace.[16]In August 1873, during his tour of Europe,Naser al-Din Shah Qajar was received at the palace by the Commander-in-Chief of the Caucasus,Grand Duke Michael Nikolaevich. The Shah spent several days at the residence and later recorded his impressions in hisdiary.[17]
On March 15, 1917, after receiving a telegram fromPetrograd about theabdication of the Tsar,Noe Zhordania, a leading social-democratic politician, along withIsidore Ramishvili visited the palace to inform the Viceroy about the latest political developments in the imperial capital.[18] On March 20, 1917,Grand Duke Nikolay Nikolayevich, the last Viceroy in the Caucasus, left Tiflis for Petrograd.[19] TheSpecial Transcaucasian Committee, authorized by theprovisional government to govern the Caucasus, took over the palace.[18] Following theOctober Revolution and the subsequent dissolution of the provisional government in October 1917, the committee immediately lost its authority to govern the territory.[18]The governance of the territory was handed to theTranscaucasian Commissariat, composed of three Georgians, three Azerbaijanis, three Armenians and two Russians.[20]
On February 3, 1918, in the White Hall of the palace, Evgeni Gegechkori, the chairman of the commissariat, opened a meeting of deputies elected from Transcaucasia to theRussian Constituent Assembly to discuss the convention of a legislative body.[21] Later that month, on February 23, the Commissariat convened theTranscaucasian Seim —a representative and legislative body of state power in the region. On March 26, the Seim approved the composition of a new government proposed by Gegechkori, thereby abolishing the Commissariat.[22] Subsequently, on April 22, 1918, the Seim declared the independence of theTranscaucasian Democratic Federative Republic.
On May 26, 1918, the Transcaucasian Seim held its final meeting in the same White Hall of the palace. At 3:00 PM, it declared the dissolution of the Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic. Shortly after, at 4:50 PM, theGeorgian National Council, chaired byNoe Jordania, convened in the palace with 42 members and 36 candidate members. Jordania delivered a speech and read aloud theDeclaration of Independence. The National Council unanimously approved the declaration and also defined the structure and composition of the new government.[23][24]
Two days later, on May 28, 1918, the White Hall of the palace again became the site of historic events, as both theAzerbaijani National Council and theArmenian representatives declared the independence ofAzerbaijan and Armenia, respectively.[24][25] Following Georgia's declaration of independence, the National Council and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Georgia used the palace as their seat for a year.
In March 1919, Georgia heldelections to the Constituent Assembly, which replaced the National Council and confirmed the legal validity of the Georgian Declaration of Independence. The Assembly, continuing its work in the palace, formed a Constitutional Commission tasked with drafting a new constitution.[23][4]
In November 1919, the palace hosted a conference of heads of governments of Transcaucasian republics. On November 23, through the mediation of Georgian Foreign MinisterEvgeni Gegechkori, British High CommissionerSir Oliver Wardrop and Acting allied High Commissioner, US Army Colonel James C. Ray, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed apeace treaty[26][27]
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The drafting of the constitution took over a year. However, after the RussianRed Armyinvaded Georgia in February 1921, the Constituent Assembly was forced to expedite the adoption process. On February 21, 1921, an extraordinary session of the assembly was held in the palace, where the Constituent Assembly unanimously adopted the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Georgia.[28][29]
Following theSoviet occupation of Georgia, the palace became the headquarters of the Georgian Revolutionary Committee. From 1922, it housed thecentral executive committee and theCouncil of People's Commissars of theTranscaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic.[4][30] From 1922 until her death,Keke Geladze,Stalin's mother, also lived in the palace.[4]
In 1937, the Central Committee of theCommunist Party of Georgia decided to establish aPioneers Palace, anonformal educational institution for children. Georgian architectArchil Kurdiani [ka] began the reconstruction of the palace to accommodate this purpose.[31][32]
Following its reconstruction, the interior of the palace was equipped with study rooms, science labs, workshops, sport areas and entertainment halls. Other facilities included a lecture hall, apuppet theatre, and a reading room. The reconstruction project cost approximately 15 millionrubles.[32] The Palace of Pioneers and Students was officially inaugurated on May 2, 1941. Later, the brick fence bordering Rustaveli Avenue was replaced by a metal fence mounted on granite columns adorned with traditional Georgian ornaments.[32]
Over time, the palace underwent significant expansion. On the day of its opening, the institution accommodated around 1,800 children across 24 classrooms in six departments. By 1981, enrollment had increased to approximately 10,000 children participating in activities within 11 departments.[33]
Throughout its history, the palace received visits from several prominent political and public figures, includingDolores Ibárruri,Indira Gandhi,Jorge Amado,Ted Kennedy,Ivan Papanin and others.[34]
Several Georgian movies, includingKeto and Kote,Data Tutashkhia,Once Upon a Time There Was a Singing Blackbird,Don't Grieve and others were shot in the palace.[35][36] In 1996,Nana Jorjadze used the palace as a main filming location for herAcademy Award nominee movieA Chef in Love.[37][38]
In September 2005, the Tbilisi city government announced plans to establish a state choreographic school within the palace,[39] appointing renowned ballerinaNino Ananiashvili as its director. As part of this initiative, the existing institution and its students were to be relocated to a different site. The decision sparked public protests in Tbilisi,[40] over displacing the institution and repurposing the palace. Following the public outcry, the government ultimately reconsidered and altered its decision.
In 2019, theTbilisi city government decided to undertake a comprehensive rehabilitation and restoration of the palace.[41] The project, managed by theTbilisi Development Fund, began with the preparation of restoration plans and was officially launched that year. Initial works included updating heating, cooling, and electrical systems, followed by structural reinforcement and restoration of the building's facade, roof, and interior decorative halls such as the Mirror, the Marble, and the White Halls.[42] Rehabilitation proceeded in phases, with Block B completed in 2021, including restoration of underground communications, internal spaces, and the facade. By late 2024, the restoration of Block A's halls and educational spaces was nearing completion, along with improvements to the courtyard and surrounding fences.[43] Overall, the works included full rehabilitation of engineering networks, strengthening of the building’s foundation and auxiliary structures, replacement of roof and drainage systems, restoration of historical furniture, and conservation of artistic and decorative halls. The palace garden fence and wrought iron gate were renewed, and the surrounding courtyard was improved. The full rehabilitation project was completed in 2025 at a total cost of 56.4 million GEL. The renovated palace was officially reopened on September 22, 2025 byTbilisi MayorKakha Kaladze,Prime MinisterIrakli Kobakhidze, andMinister of CultureTinatin Rukhadze.[1]
The palace is situated on elevated ground alongRustaveli Avenue, resting on a stoneplinth. Due to the sloping terrain, the facade facing April 9 Street varies in height. The building is composed of individual blocks that protrude outward, forming distinctrisalits. On the opposite side is a palace garden with a terrace. The main facade is symmetrical, while the first floor features entrances within prominently raised risalits. Above these entrances arebalconets with moldedbalustrade railings. Flanking the balcony openings are roundCorinthian pilasters that add to the risalits' grandeur, which are supported by Renaissance-style arches. A similar architectural motif appears on the risalits facing April 9 street.[44][6]
The central entrance is located in the middle of the building and is topped by a row of windows. Between the risalits, arched galleries span both floors, giving the facade a rhythmic, solid appearance. Along April 9 Street, the facade is divided into several sections. The rear part is more modestly decorated, with minimal ornamentation—mainly a singleDoric pilaster between rectangular windows supporting a series of arches. The garden-facing facade follows a similar design. In contrast, the rear and inner courtyard facades are plainer, with significantly fewer decorative elements.[45][46]
While the exterior is relatively restrained, the palace's interior—especially the central foyer and ceremonial halls—is richly decorated.[45][46]
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Media related toYouth Palace, Tbilisi at Wikimedia Commons
Geographic data related toNational Youth and Children's Palace atOpenStreetMap41°41′46″N44°47′57″E / 41.6961°N 44.7991°E /41.6961; 44.7991
