House-museum of the Japaridze family in Khreiti – the history of legendary climbers

🏔️ In the very heart of Imereti, in the village of Khreiti, there is a modest but historically rich House-Museum of the Japaridze Family. This is the place where three legendary Georgian mountaineers grew up – Alexandra, Alyosha and Simon Japaridze. They not only conquered the peaks of the Caucasus, but also made a huge contribution to the development of mountaineering in Georgia.

📜 The history of the Japaridze family is a story of courage, perseverance and love for the mountains. The sister and brothers were drawn to heights since childhood and soon became the first professional mountaineers in Georgia. Their fate was intertwined not only with the Caucasus Mountains, but also with the scientific research they carried out as part of their expeditions.

🏛️ The museum was founded in 1981 to perpetuate the memory of great mountaineers. Here you can see personal belongings, awards, photographs, manuscripts and mountaineering equipment that tell the story of this family's difficult but exciting journey.

🏡 The house where the museum is located was the ancestral estate of the Japaridze family. This is an ancient building with a rich history, surrounded by picturesque mountains, where the future great climbers spent their childhood. It was here that the Japaridze brothers and sister first became interested in mountains, research activities and dreams of conquering peaks.

📜 In 1981, at the initiative of local residents and the mountaineering community, the house was turned into a memorial museum dedicated to their outstanding achievements. The exhibition included personal belongings, letters, photographs and rare archival materials telling about the difficult path of the conquerors of mountain peaks.

🔨 In 1990, the museum was completely restored and expanded - new exhibition halls appeared, dedicated to the research of the Bethlehem Cave, where Alexandra and Alyosha Japaridze carried out large-scale work. The cave, located at an altitude of over 3,700 meters, was considered inaccessible, but Dzhaparidze's researchers made an invaluable contribution to its study. Here are rare shots of these expeditions, maps, photographs and tools that climbers used in their scientific research.

🏅 Today, this museum not only preserves the memory of its heroes, but also serves as a meeting place for climbers, researchers and tourists inspired by the stories of legendary ascents. Exhibitions, lectures and educational programs are regularly held here, as well as meetings with famous travelers. Any visitor can feel the spirit of adventure, explore archival materials and even take part in the discussion of new climbing routes!

👩‍🚀 Alexandra Japaridze (1895–1974) – the first Georgian female mountaineer

📌 She went down in history as the first female mountaineer in Georgia and one of the first women to conquer the most difficult peaks of the Caucasus.

🏆 Honored Master of Sports of the USSR - an incredible achievement for a female mountaineer at that time!

📚 In addition to climbing, Alexandra actively participated in scientific expeditions, including the study of the Bethlem Cave, located at an altitude of 3,700 m.

🔬 Thanks to her work, important discoveries were made in the field of geology and climatology of the region, and her name is forever inscribed in the history of Georgian mountaineering.

⛰️ Alyosha Japaridze (1899–1945) – leader of Georgian mountaineering

🔝 He made the first Soviet ascent of South Ushba (1934) together with his sister Alexandra – this ascent became an epochal event in the history of Georgian mountaineering.

📖 He kept detailed expedition diaries, which became an invaluable source of information about the development of mountaineering in the USSR.

🏆 He trained a new generation of Georgian climbers and made a huge contribution to the popularization of mountain tourism.

🎥 Subsequently, footage of his expeditions became the basis for documentaries about mountain conquerors.

🎖️ Simon Japaridze (1897–1929) – a talented climber who died too early

⚡ He was considered one of the most promising climbers of his time, demonstrating outstanding abilities in the most difficult ascents.

🧗‍♂️ Simon dreamed of conquering all the main peaks of the Caucasus, but his life ended tragically - he died while climbing Tetnul'd in 1929.

💭 His brothers and sister dedicated part of their work to the memory of Simon, considering him not only a family member, but also a true legend of Georgian mountaineering.

🔹 Can I take photos in the museum?

📸 Yes, but without flash.

🔹 Are there guided tours?

🗣️ Yes, by appointment.

🔹 How long does a visit to the museum last?

⏳ On average, 1 hour, but you can stay longer.

🔹 Can I buy souvenirs?

🎁 There are no souvenirs in the museum, but there are shops with local products in Chiatura.