White Bridge
Kutaisi, Georgia
Colchis Fountain, Kutaisi
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Photo: Franzfoto, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- Free
- Hours
- 24/7 — it stands in the middle of the square
- Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 15 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Time needed
- 10–15 minutes, up to 30 with the park next door
- Address
- David Agmashenebeli (David the Builder) Square, central Kutaisi
- Best time
- After sunset, when the lights come on
- Getting close
- It sits inside a busy traffic circle — cross at zebra crossings only
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - From Kutaisi-1 station
- About 20 min on foot along Tamar Mepe Street
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Paying nearby
- Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in Georgia; keep a few lari in cash for minibuses and small kiosks
Key facts
2011the year the fountain opened; one source gives May 2012
4 sourcesi
Eurasia.travelTonkostiSailing Stone TravelOpenStreetMap (World History Encyclopedia: May 2012)About 30gilded sculptures on the fountain’s tiers
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Eurasia.travelTonkostiWorld History EncyclopediaScaled-up replicasof ancient gold and bronze pieces found in Georgia, including at Vani
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Lonely PlanetWorld History EncyclopediaSailing Stone TravelTonkostiDavid Gogichaishvilithe Georgian architect who designed it
3 sourcesi
Eurasia.travelTonkostiWorld History EncyclopediaGeorgian National Museumin Tbilisi, keeps the original figurines
3 sourcesi
Eurasia.travelTonkostiMadlobaHorses on topcrown the fountain; they’re linked to the horses of King Aeëtes of Colchis
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Eurasia.travelTonkostiTamadaa Georgian feast-master holding a drinking horn, copied from an ancient bronze figurine
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Eurasia.travelTonkostikutaisi.travelLion, ram, deer, turanimals ringing the basin (a tur is a Caucasian mountain goat)
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Eurasia.travelTonkostiKing David IVhis equestrian statue stood here before the fountain and was moved to the railway station square
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Eurasia.travelTonkostiKolkhuri Shadrevanithe Georgian name — literally “Colchian fountain”
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OpenStreetMapWikidataMeskhishvili Theatrethe drama theatre right across the road
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Sailing Stone TravelTonkostiOpenStreetMapIs the Colchis Fountain worth seeing?
Yes, for ten minutes — ideally in the evening. It’s free, it’s in the dead centre of Kutaisi, and you’ll pass it several times whatever you do. After dark the gilded figures glow under the lights, which is when the fountain looks its best and the square is at its liveliest.
Keep expectations in proportion: it’s a modern civic fountain, not an ancient monument. If you only have one day, put Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery first, and catch the fountain on your way to dinner.
What the Colchis Fountain is
It’s Kutaisi’s main fountain and the city’s best-known landmark, on David Agmashenebeli Square — named after King David IV, “the Builder”. Designed by Georgian architect David Gogichaishvili, it opened in 2011. Its tiers carry about thirty gilded sculptures: horses, lions, rams, deer, mountain goats and a tamada raising a drinking horn.
Every figure is a blown-up copy of a real archaeological find — small gold and bronze figurines and jewellery dug up across Georgia, including at Vani, an ancient Colchian city about an hour from Kutaisi. The originals are miniatures, kept in the Georgian National Museum in Tbilisi.
In Georgian the fountain is Kolkhuri Shadrevani. Some guides call it the Colchian Fountain — same place.
Colchis Fountain history
The fountain celebrates Colchis, the ancient kingdom of western Georgia that Greek myth made famous as the land of the Golden Fleece, sought by Jason and the Argonauts. Kutaisi is counted among Colchis’s old capitals, so the theme suits its main square.
Before the fountain, the centre of the square held an equestrian statue of King David the Builder. When the fountain went in, the statue was moved to the square in front of the railway station, where it still stands.
Sources disagree on the opening date: most say 2011, one gives May 2012 — possibly the date work was finally completed.
The myth link is loose. Guides say the horses on top are those of King Aeëtes, father of Medea, but the sculptures themselves reproduce specific museum pieces rather than scenes from the Argonaut story.
What do the statues show?
- The horses at the very top — the detail you see from anywhere on the square.
- The tamada with his drinking horn — copied from an ancient bronze figurine of a feast-master; look for him on the lower tier.
- Lions, rams, deer and turs around the basin, enlarged from tiny gold pendants and figurines.
- A large temple ornament — a copy of a gold woman’s jewellery piece, a showcase of Colchian goldsmithing.
- The gilding weathers to a bronze tone in places — easier to notice by daylight than under the lights.
- The jets between the tiers: on a hot evening it’s noticeably cooler by the water than elsewhere on the square.
How to get to the Colchis Fountain
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- White Bridge is about 9 min away on foot.
- Bagrati Cathedral is about 13 min away on foot.
More tips
- The fountain is the centre of Kutaisi: city minibuses (marshrutkas) and taxis all stop around the square, so most trips start or end here.
- From Kutaisi Airport (KUT) — take the airport shuttle to the centre. It stops on Rustaveli Avenue outside the Imereti tourism office (DMO Imereti, No. 9A), a 2–3 minute walk from the fountain. The fare is paid by bank card.
- From Kutaisi-1 railway station — walk about 20 minutes north-west along Tamar Mepe Street, which leads straight to the square. Faster: a Bolt car, the ride-hailing app that works in Kutaisi.
- From the White Bridge — 5–7 minutes uphill from the Rioni through the old streets; the White Bridge and the fountain make one easy evening walk.
- From Bagrati Cathedral — 15–20 minutes down the hill and across the river.
- At the square itself, cross only at the zebra crossings — the traffic circle is busy.
Colchis Fountain at night or by day?
Night wins. Once the lights come on after sunset, the gold stands out against the dark sky and the square fills with people out for an evening stroll. It’s cooler, too.
Daylight is better for details — the animals’ faces, the patterns, the little tamada — so if you pass at noon, slow down for a minute. You don’t need to plan two visits.
In summer the shady park and the cafés around the square make it an easy place to sit for a while.
Things to do near the fountain
- Lado Meskhishvili Drama Theatre — right across the road; behind it, Mari Brosse Street is where minibuses leave for Gelati.
- Kutaisi Central (Boulevard) Park — next to the square, with shade, benches and a colonnade.
- The White Bridge over the Rioni, with its bronze boy on the railing — 5–7 minutes on foot.
- The cable car’s lower station by the river — gondolas climb to a hilltop park with old-town views.
- Bagrati Cathedral on Ukimerioni Hill, Kutaisi’s main church — 15–20 minutes uphill.
- Day trips start here too: minibus or taxi to Gelati and Motsameta Monastery.
Fountain, White Bridge or Bagrati?
| Colchis Fountainyou are here | Modern fountain with copies of ancient figures | Free | 10–15 min | Evening, lit up | — |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White Bridge | 19th-century footbridge | Free | 15–20 min | Evening | 5–7 min walk |
| Bagrati Cathedral | 11th-century cathedral on a hill | Free | About 40 min | Daytime, clear weather | 15–20 min uphill |
Short on time? Bagrati is the one to prioritise. The fountain and the White Bridge are quick stops best done together on an evening walk.
Before you go: checklist
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You are ready for the visit
Kutaisi in a day: Gelati to the fountain
Gelati in the morning, Bagrati on its hill in the afternoon, then the White Bridge and the lit-up Colchis Fountain at sunset. Add them to your route in one tap — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Gelati Monastery1 h · Free
- 97 min walk from the previous stopBagrati Cathedral40 min · Free
- 17 min walk from the previous stopWhite Bridge20 min · Free
- 9 min walk from the previous stopColchis Fountainyou are here15 min · Free
4 places · about 4 h 18 min with walks · 123 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
Bagrati Cathedral
Kutaisi, Georgia
How to do it right
- Come at dusk: the lights come on and the heat has gone.
- Best photo angle is from the park-side pavement, with the horses on top and the Meskhishvili Theatre behind.
- The originals aren’t here — the real Colchian figurines are in the Georgian National Museum in Tbilisi.
- Curious where the designs came from? Vani, the archaeological site an hour away, yielded some of the gold they copy.
- Use the fountain as your meeting point: walking routes fan out from here and minibuses to Gelati leave from behind the theatre.
Questions
Where is the Colchis Fountain in Kutaisi?
In the very centre, on David Agmashenebeli (David the Builder) Square, opposite the Meskhishvili Drama Theatre and next to the central park.
Is the Colchis Fountain free?
Yes. It stands on an open public square — no ticket, open 24/7.
What do the Colchis Fountain statues represent?
About thirty gilded horses, lions, rams, deer, turs and a feast-master with a drinking horn — enlarged copies of ancient gold and bronze pieces found in Georgia, including at Vani.
When was the Colchis Fountain built?
Most sources say 2011; one gives May 2012. It was designed by architect David Gogichaishvili.
Is the Colchis Fountain lit up at night?
Yes, after sunset. There’s no published lighting schedule, so aim for dusk.
Can you walk right up to the fountain?
It’s inside a busy traffic circle. Cross only at the marked zebra crossings and don’t run through the traffic — drivers rarely stop.
Where are the original artefacts?
In the Georgian National Museum in Tbilisi. Some of the models came from Vani, which has its own archaeological museum.
How long do you need at the Colchis Fountain?
Ten to fifteen minutes; half an hour if you also stroll through the park next door.
How do I get from Kutaisi Airport to the Colchis Fountain?
Take the airport shuttle — it stops on Rustaveli Avenue, 2–3 minutes’ walk away — or a taxi. You can also book a transfer in advance.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Eurasia.travel: Colchian Fountain, Kutaisi
- Tonkosti: Colchis Fountain (Russian-language travel guide)
- Madloba: Colchis Fountain, Kutaisi
- World History Encyclopedia: Colchis Fountain in Kutaisi
- Lonely Planet: Colchis Fountain
- Sailing Stone Travel: A Weekend in Kutaisi
- Kutaisi tourism portal kutaisi.travel (Imereti DMO): Colchis Fountain; shuttle buses from Kutaisi International Airport
- Georgia Today and 1TV: Kutaisi airport shuttle launch, stop by the DMO Imereti office on Rustaveli Avenue
- OpenStreetMap: David Agmashenebeli Square, Kutaisi-1 station; Wikidata Q125416702
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