🎶 Alexander Melik-Pashayev House Museum in Shaumyani — an exhibition in memory of the great conductor, family history and rare exhibits

📘 Quick Guide: What is this article about?

• 🏛 What is unique about the Melik-Pashayev Memorial Museum in Shahumyan
• 🖼️ What exhibits, documents and personal belongings can be seen
• 🕰️ Opening hours, who has free admission, features of the visit
• 🏠 The history of the house itself and the fate of the Melik-Pashayev family
• 🌍 Why this address is important for Armenian and Georgian cultural traditions
• 💡 Tips and life hacks for independent travelers
• Answers to frequently asked questions

🏠 The Melik-Pashayev family's house and history

The memorial museum in the village of Shaumyani is dedicated to the legendary conductor Alexander Shamilevich Melik-Pashayev, one of the most famous musicians of the USSR. It appeared in a house built in the 19th century by the village elder Kalantarov, which is itself a valuable architectural monument.

Over the decades, descendants lived here, and the maestro himself spent his childhood within these walls. After the revolution, the house became a village council, then a library, and finally a museum. Now part of the house is occupied by an exhibition, and in 2018 the mansion itself was officially awarded the status of an immovable cultural monument of Georgia.

👤The conductor who united cultures

Alexander Shamilevich Melik-Pashayev (1905–1964) was a Soviet conductor, composer, pianist, teacher, and People's Artist of the USSR.

• 🎼 He was born into an Armenian family - according to some sources in Tbilisi, according to others - in Shahumyan itself.
• 🎹 The first Soviet conductor to perform in the West. Laureate of the Stalin Prize, winner of many international awards.
• 🏆 He headed the Bolshoi Theater (1953-1962), staged the best operas and ballets of the 20th century.
• 📚 For many years he worked with young musicians, was a mentor to new stars of the stage.
• 🇦🇲🇬🇪 He became a symbol of dialogue between Armenia, Georgia and Russia, made a great contribution to the world musical tradition.

💡 During the war, together with the Bolshoi Theater, he donated the Stalin Prize to the Defense Fund - the maestro's name is immortalized in the memory of fans of the classics.

🖼️ Collection and atmosphere

The museum contains more than 340 unique exhibits:

• 🎼 Personal belongings of the conductor: baton, tailcoat, musical instruments, household items.
• ✉️ Original manuscripts, letters, posters, rare documents related to work in Moscow and Tbilisi.
• 🏆 Photos from tours, awards, concert programs, music notebooks.
• 📚 Archives dedicated to the creation of legendary productions and collaboration with composers of his time.

The exhibition helps to find out how the musical culture of the USSR developed and how Armenian and Georgian artists influenced the art of the 20th century. Many items are accompanied by stories from tour guides - this is a rare chance to feel the spirit of the times.

🏛 What makes the museum in Shaumyani unique

This is the only memorial center of such scale in Georgia, where you can not only see the maestro's personal relics, but also feel the atmosphere in which his worldview and talent were formed. Here is kept the memory of the man who glorified the region on the stages of Moscow, Paris, New York and many other cities of the world.

The museum intertwines the destinies of Armenia and Georgia. The conductor who brought fame to both countries was born here, and this house became a symbol of respect for musical tradition, historical memory and cultural dialogue between peoples. Today, this place attracts researchers, descendants of the family and all who appreciate art without borders.

💬 Quotes and reviews from visitors

“I didn’t expect that a small museum in the village of Shaumyani could touch me so much. The atmosphere is very homey, and the exhibition tells not only about the conductor, but also about the life of an entire era.”
— Marina, Tbilisi

“Impressed by the house: very authentic, you can feel the history. The guide told a lot about the Melik-Pashayev family and the maestro’s contribution to music.”
— Gevorg, Yerevan

“We visited with the children — interesting artifacts, friendly staff, and most importantly — everything is free! We learned a lot about Armenian-Georgian ties.”
— Anna, Marneuli

🚗 How to get there

🗺️ Route:
The museum is located in the village of Shaumyani, Marneuli municipality, about 50 km south of Tbilisi. You can get there as follows:

🚌 By public transport:
From Ortachala or Didube bus stations to Marneuli there are regular minibuses (buses), travel time is about 1.5 hours.
🚕 From Marneuli to the village of Shaumyani is another 8-10 km, you can get here by taxi or local minibus.

🚙 By car:
The Tbilisi-Marneuli road is paved and convenient, but you should be careful on turns and in rural areas - there may be sections with repairs or without markings.
🅿️ Parking near the museum is usually free.

🥘 Where to eat and stay nearby

If you plan to stay in Shahumyan or Marneuli region for a few days, choose one of the local guest houses or small hotels - they are both in the village and in Marneuli itself. This is a great way to get acquainted with traditional cuisine and life.

🍲 In small cafes and canteens you can try home-made dishes of Armenian and Georgian cuisine - khachapuri, shashlik, vegetable snacks and fresh bread.

🏡 For budget accommodation, guest houses are suitable, and for greater comfort - mini-hotels or apartments for rent.

☕ In the morning, be sure to visit the local bakery - they bake fresh lavash and flatbreads that the whole family will love.

Tip:
Book accommodation in advance, especially if your trip falls in the summer or on major holidays - there are often a lot of guests in the region!

Travel Tips

🌦️ Madloba team recommendations for season and clothing:

• In spring and autumn the road is picturesque, but short-term rains are possible - take waterproof shoes and a light jacket with you.
• ☀️ In summer the region is hot, choose light, comfortable clothes and a hat.
• ❄️ In winter snow is possible, it is better to wear warm shoes and a jacket.
• 🧥 The museum is cool even in summer - take a cape, especially if you are traveling with children.
  

🔎 Useful tips:

• ⛽ When traveling by car, fill up in advance - there are not many gas stations on the highway.
• 🥤 Take water and a light snack: there are few cafes and shops.
• 📱 For independent tourists - download offline maps: there may not be stable Internet in the village.

🗨️ The floor is yours!

If you have already visited the museum or are just planning to visit it, tell us about your impressions! Your reviews, advice and comments will help other travelers make their trip more interesting and convenient. Don't hesitate to share emotions, photos and recommendations - every opinion is important!