Sanatorium Gruziya
Despite extensive searching I cannot find out when this sanatorium was built, in appearance it is Neoclassicism which could also bring it within Stalinist Neoclassicism from the early 1930's onwards.
The Sanatorium is located on the edge of the town of Gagra at the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains giving it an impressive vista over the coast. In 1919 the Soviet leader Lenin (1870 - 1924) declared Gagra a "workers resort" and it became a popular holiday location for Soviet citizens and post WWII also a site of rehabilitation for wounded soldiers. After WWII state run sanatoriums (health resorts) were built, which may help date Sanatorium Gruziya.
During the war in 1992 - 1993 with Georgia and the "Soviet Riviera" was affected greatly as not only was there heavy combat and considerable loss of life, but the tourism that the area greatly relied on dried up and did not return until after Russia had recognised Abkhazia as a county in 2007.
Sanatorium Gruziya closed during the war years was slowly looted, apparently even the large hall chandelier was stolen, presumably taken for scrap. In 2009 a restoration began with repairs stating on the interior an elderly couple were installed as caretakers and occupied one of the bottom wings of the building. The buildings works stopped in 2010/2011 but until early 2017 there was still a guard in the building (apparently asleep most if the time!).
In Sept 2018 there are again signs of possible redevelopment with a fence being erected around the complex and talk of a full restoration into a hotel/sanatorium, I hope it is successful.
The Sanatorium is located on the edge of the town of Gagra at the foothills of the Caucasus Mountains giving it an impressive vista over the coast. In 1919 the Soviet leader Lenin (1870 - 1924) declared Gagra a "workers resort" and it became a popular holiday location for Soviet citizens and post WWII also a site of rehabilitation for wounded soldiers. After WWII state run sanatoriums (health resorts) were built, which may help date Sanatorium Gruziya.
During the war in 1992 - 1993 with Georgia and the "Soviet Riviera" was affected greatly as not only was there heavy combat and considerable loss of life, but the tourism that the area greatly relied on dried up and did not return until after Russia had recognised Abkhazia as a county in 2007.
Sanatorium Gruziya closed during the war years was slowly looted, apparently even the large hall chandelier was stolen, presumably taken for scrap. In 2009 a restoration began with repairs stating on the interior an elderly couple were installed as caretakers and occupied one of the bottom wings of the building. The buildings works stopped in 2010/2011 but until early 2017 there was still a guard in the building (apparently asleep most if the time!).
In Sept 2018 there are again signs of possible redevelopment with a fence being erected around the complex and talk of a full restoration into a hotel/sanatorium, I hope it is successful.
