Renowned Alpinist Messner Back to Plan Caucasus Mountain Center

Last year, acclaimed mountaineer Reinhold Messner visited Georgia at the invitation of Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, to familiarize himself with Georgia’s mountains, in the company of experts for spatial planning and representatives of the Mountain Resorts Development Company. This time, together with prominent architect Werner Tscholl, he visited Svaneti and the site allocated for construction of  the Caucasus Mountain Center, followed by a detailed discussion with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

According to the Head of the Government, the Caucasus Mountain Center will have a significant impact on Georgia’s mountaineering and the country’s further development in this direction.

“The Caucasus Mountain Center project will be designed by the best architects. In his visit, Reinhold Messner was accompanied by Werner Tscholl, one of the best architects in Italy and 2016 Architect of the Year. He will design the museum as a partner facility of Messner’s network of museums. This means that everyone visiting his museums throughout Europe will receive information about Mestia, Svaneti, and Georgia,” the PM stated. 

According to Messner, the project is a great opportunity for placing Georgia in the spotlight of world mountaineering, the potential for which the country certainly has.
“The Caucasus Mountain Center will tell the world the story of relations between Mankind and the mountains,' Messner told the PM. "Most likely, we will start building next year. Your landscapes are some of the most beautiful in the world, especially Ushba, a key mountain in the history of alpinism. Your mountains are perfect for mountaineering and hiking. I believe that the Caucasus will be as strong as the Alps as an attraction for hikers and mountaineers from all over the world."

The PM recalled Messner’s previous visit and praised the Caucasus Mountain Center project as unique.
“I have saved the project’s blueprint drawn by Messner. This museum will be open on all sides to offer unique views in every direction, in perfect harmony with the mountains, notably Ushba. It is located high in the mountains, accessible by cable transport and road. It is a truly unique project, and I am excited about launching it,” Kvirikashvili emphasized.

He then discussed  the details of the Caucasus Mountain Center with the acclaimed mountaineer, the First Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Dimitri Kumsishvili; Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Maya Tskitishvili; Head of the Mountain Resorts Development Company, Alexandre Onoprishvili; and mountain planner Giorgi Gotsiridze. The meeting was also attended by Executive Director of the Georgian Wine Association, Tina Kezeli. Along with Georgia’s mountains, Messner has taken a liking to the oldest Georgian winemaking traditions.

Reinhold Messner is the first mountaineer in the world to ascend Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen and technical equipment in 1980, and to have ascended all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters.

The mountaineer was 13 when he started climbing difficult routes. Together with his brother, 11 years of age at that time, he was recognized among Europe’s best alpinists. Messner is the first to have crossed the Antarctic, Greenland, and the Gobi Desert on foot. He has authored more than 80 books describing his travels an adventures. Messner is a former Member of the European Parliament.