Batumi of the early XX century: oil boom vs revolutionary movement

Chronicles of Babylon of the Black Sea Coast

The poet Osip Mandelstam called Batumi early XX century - "Russian speculative California" and "paradise of gold prospectors." Indeed, since the 80s of the XIX century, Batumi has become an important point of transit transportation of new gold - oil from Baku. The city is flourishing - luxury mansions, casinos, avenues are being built, banks and insurance offices are appearing, the oil terminal attracts hundreds of workers from all over Georgia.

During the promenade along Batumi Boulevard, I will talk about how the industrial revolution changed the way of life in cities at the end of the XIX century, how Rothschild and the Nobel brothers ran their factories, Vladimir Shukhov built an oil pipeline, and Joseph Dzhugashvili organized the first strikes. We will climb on the Argo cable car, look at Batumi from a bird's eye view and I will tell you what global changes Batumi experienced at the beginning of the XXI century and what the city is now living in.

The tour is largely narrative, so if there is bad weather, you can visit the Nobel Brothers Technology Museum or the Fish Market.

Organizational details

Tickets for the cable car are not included in the cost of the tour