Gori Travel Guide

  Stalin's museum
by JLBG
 
  • Stalin's museum
      Stalin's museum
    by JLBG
  • Wounded warriors
      Wounded warriors
    by JLBG
  • Uplistikhe (the fortress of Uppli)
      Uplistikhe (the fortress of Uppli)
    by JLBG
  • Church of Ateni Sioni
      Church of Ateni Sioni
    by JLBG
  • The park in front of Stalin’s museum
      The park in front of Stalin’s museum
    by JLBG
 

Explore Gori

Things to Do  

Stalin’s armored train

Stalin’s armored train, Gori

 JLBG Says:  Outside the museum stands Stalin’s train. It is heavily armored and has eight pairs of wheels to because of its heavy weight !It was in this train that he went to the famous meetings in Yalta and Potsdam. You must pay an additional fee to visit the train. As I felt that I... 

Stalin’s death mask

Stalin’s death mask, Gori

 JLBG Says:  At first, I felt that this was Stalin’s grave but actually, it is standing in Moscow. The impressive display shows only Stalin’s death mask, on a small pedestal. It represents Stalin as a shining sun, with beams standing all around, kind of center of the world. 

Museum level

Museum level, Gori

 JLBG Says:  The ground level of the museum is not open for visits and seems to host the administration of the museum. At the first level three very large rooms allow to displays various items. In the first room, documents from the youth of Joseph Djugachvili and of his early political... 

Impressive staircase

Impressive staircase, Gori

 JLBG Says:  Inside, the feeling of grandeur is even greater with a straight staircase that leads to the first level with a statue of the Great Man about twice actual size ! Since it is on top of the staircase and that visitors come from downstairs, it looks even bigger ! Sure that... 

Stalin’s museum building

Stalin’s museum building, Gori

 JLBG Says:  Stalin’s museum itself is a massive two levels building framed by a vaulted gallery with pillars standing in an almost Romanesque style. It looks somehow like the cloister of a seminar, may be a reminding that Stalin was taught several years in a seminar. It was built in... 

Stalin’s birth house

Stalin’s birth house, Gori

 JLBG Says:  Actually, the Greek mausoleum is a shelter for a one story poor brick and wood house. It is not allowed to walk into the porch but two posts, one in Georgian (and in Georgian script), the other in Russian (and in Cyrillic script) tell that this is the house where Stalin was... 

Stalin’s wandering statue

Stalin’s wandering statue, Gori

 JLBG Says:  Stalin’s statue was standing in front of the town hall. After the beginning of the destalinization process, there was a lot of controversy: should it be removed, as it was everywhere in the USSR or left as he was a “local”. Finally, in June 2010 the Georgian government... 

Restaurants  

Intourist restaurant: Intourist restaurant

Intourist restaurant: Intourist restaurant, Gori

 JLBG Says:  On the side of Stalin’s museum stands a large building, the Intourist Hotel and Restaurant. It has a distinctive Stalin architecture look and the inside has the same look. We came into a large dining room, with a tall ceiling, with no other customers. The temperature was... 

Gori Restaurant: Places to eat in Gori

Gori Restaurant: Places to eat in Gori, Gori

 Tobias_Plieninger Says:  In Gori there are not many restaurants in the city center.We ended in a small restaurant with good local kitchen.The drinks are served cold.The meals are quite good.But don't expect to much it is a normal small local restaurant. Sausages and cold beer 

Transportation  

Bus from Tbilisi

Bus from Tbilisi, Gori

 Mittnic Says:  Many busses are running between Tbilisi and Gori. The trip takes one and a half to two hours and the cost is about 4 Lari. 

sometimes you need a car, and nerves

sometimes you need a car, and nerves, Gori

 call_me_rhia Says:  While it is perfectly possible to reach Gori by public transportation - be it by train, bus or minivan - if you want to get off the beaten path and visit Saint George Gori Jvari church you'll definitely need a taxi, a good driver and strong nerves.... because what theey call... 

Shopping  

the Stalin Museum shop: Ever wanted to have a Stalin T-shirt?

the Stalin Museum shop: Ever wanted to have a Stalin T-shirt?, Gori

 Mittnic Says:  The picture shows the complete assortment. 

Local Customs  

Stalin's excesses, successes and extravaganzas

Stalin's excesses, successes and extravaganzas, Gori

 call_me_rhia Says:  In Gori the cult of Stalin i very much alive and kicking... it's not that people are not aware of his killikgs and purges, but they prefer to focus on his successes. Why? Because he belongs to them, which is better than nothing. Gori's Stalin avenue is very likely one of the... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Stalin jokes..and night walks

Stalin jokes..and night walks, Gori

 eponymousone Says:  We were told by the Georgians traveling with us that Stalin is still quite revered in his hometown, and it would be inappropriate to criticize him or make light of him while visiting Gori. So, whatever you may feel about Stalin's legacy, it's probably best to keep it to... 

Tourist Traps  

Stalin's Tour

Stalin's Tour, Gori

 jankenpon Says:  The museum tour was very quick, look theres a picture and another picture of Stalin and his associates, wives, et cetera. The maps of the campaign were the most interesting part of the museum tour. His childhood home was an eye opener to the cramped living conditions of... 

Off The Beaten Path  

Church of Ateni Sioni

Church of Ateni Sioni, Gori

 JLBG Says:  The Church of Ateni Sioni stands on a shelf, between the villages of Patara Sioni (Little Sioni) and Didi Sioni (Great Sioni). It was built at the beginning of the VIIth century. The main paintings inside were painted in 1080. I will build a page on Church of Ateni Sioni and... 

Uplistikhe (the fortress of Uppli)

Uplistikhe (the fortress of Uppli), Gori

 JLBG Says:  The troglodytic city of Uplistikhe stands ten kilometers away from Gori. I will build a page on Uplistikhe and will put here a link.When we visited, in April, it was windy, raining and the temperature was between 2 and 4°C. Not the best time to visit! 

Favorites  

Wounded warriors

Wounded warriors, Gori

 JLBG Says:  At the feet of Goris Tsikhe, on a shelf stand an amazing assembly. Seven wounded Middle-Ages warrior, twice man size, sit on rocks. They are actually VERY wounded : broken chests , at least missing hands or arms,! One of them has lost both arms anf half of his skull. Another... 

St Mary’s Church

St Mary’s Church, Gori

 JLBG Says:  Saint Mary’s church was built as a Catholic church in the XVIIth. At that time, there was an important catholic community in Gori. Local named it “French Church”, “French” meaning “catholic”. In the 90s, it was turned into an Orthodox church. The rain was too strong and I... 

Goris Tsikhe under the rain

Goris Tsikhe under the rain, Gori

 JLBG Says:  It was raining cats and dogs, therefore, we gave up to walk to Goris Tsikhe. One of the main interests of Goris Tsikhe is the view on the Caucasus mountains. It was built in the late Middle Ages on the remains of a former fort that was already mentioned in 65 BC. 

The Place

Plan a Gori vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Gori locals

Experience Gori
  •   42 Tips and Reviews
  •  70 Photos
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Map of Gori
 

The People

 
Our Members Say
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 The castle is very nice.You can walk up and you will have a good view. 

 

Questions and Answers

tashkentgirl profile photo

Q:  Can you tell me date of opening of the museum: was it opened at same time as birthplace and railway car exhibit? Thank you. 

rjaparidze profile photo

A: well i do not know for sure, but what I remember once the guide at the museum telling me was that the railway car was brought there years later, after some director or an... 

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Top Gori Writers

1

Gori, more than Stalin’s birthplace?

JLBG profile photo

 Gori is a 60,000 inhabitants city of eastern Georgia, in Shida Karti province. It has a long history as it was founded in the Xith century by king David IV. However, the name of Gori evokes... 

2

in the name of Stalin

call_me_rhia profile photo

 I've got some interesting experiences in Gori. I'd love to share with you the 7 tips I've written, the 12 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created. 

3

Gori the birth town of Stalin

Tobias_Plieninger profile photo

 Gori is a small city near Tblisi. You have to visit this city! You must have been there! What is so special about this town? It is the birth town of Stalin. The only existant statues of Stalin...... 

4

Gori intro

eponymousone profile photo

 Gori: It's a rough ride, but worth it for those who aren't afraid of dealing with hardship and seeing some anachronisms and odd history 

5

The Birthplace of Stalin

lotharlerch profile photo

  When I was in Georgia in Soviet time I passed also the tiny town of Gori, most famous as the place of birth of Josip Vyssaronovich Dzhugashvili, better known as Stalin. When I was there the Soviet...... 

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