Explore Abandoned Spas and Death-Defying Cable Cars in Georgia

Why It Matters

The sites illustrate how post‑Soviet decay can be turned into heritage tourism and investment opportunities, reshaping regional economies while preserving a unique architectural legacy.

Key Takeaways

• Scalbu’s abandoned Soviet sanatoriums attract urban‑exploration photographers from around the world.
• Former military sanatorium now operates as a boutique hotel.
• Chiaura’s historic cable‑car network reflects Soviet mining infrastructure.
• Renovated gondolas offer cheap public transport and tourist views.
• Local residents repurpose decayed sanatoriums as temporary housing.

Summary

The video takes viewers on a tour of Georgia’s forgotten Soviet‑era health resorts in the mountain town of Skalbu and the once‑thriving cable‑car system of the mining settlement Chiaura, highlighting how these sites blend brutalist architecture with post‑industrial decay.

Skalbu once hosted 22 sanatoriums, nine bathhouses and a direct train to Moscow, serving up to 320 patients drawn by mineral‑rich springs. After the USSR’s collapse, the facilities were abandoned, some turned into makeshift housing for displaced families, while one former military sanatorium was refurbished into a 137‑room boutique hotel that juxtaposes restored wings with original decay.

Travel blogger Emily Lush describes the “layers of history” visible in the marble halls and chandeliers, while local resident Nino dubs the rusted gondolas “flying Venice.” Hotel manager Koba Coutilata points out the dual‑wing design that lets visitors compare past and present, and locals recall the cable cars as a lifeline for miners.

The resurgence of selective restoration and the emergence of low‑cost gondola rides signal growing niche tourism and potential foreign investment, but the sites also raise questions about preserving cultural heritage versus commercial redevelopment. For adventure travelers and heritage investors, the region offers a rare glimpse into Soviet modernism poised for revival.

Original Description

If you love urban exploration, forgotten architecture, and the stories hidden in decay, then Georgia should be your next adventure destination. 🏚️🚡

DW’s Anja Koch takes you to two of the country's most haunting lost places: Tskaltubo, a once-grand Soviet spa town with abandoned sanatoriums, and Chiatura, a former mining city where eerie, rusting cable cars cling to the cliffs.

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