GeorgiaOfficial tourism
Mukhuri Bridge

Where kings once crossed the Rioni

Mukhuri Bridge

Why go

This 18th-century triple-arch stone bridge carries the weight of Georgian history in its mortar. Built under King Solomon I of Imereti, it anchored the vital east-west trade route through Kutaisi, the ancient capital. Mukhuri Bridge survived Ottoman incursions, Russian annexation, and Soviet industrialization—its limestone arches still bearing cartwheel grooves from centuries of traffic. Stand mid-span at dawn: mist rises off the Rioni, egrets lift from reed banks, and the Caucasus foothills frame a scene unchanged since Persian caravans crossed here. It is not merely photogenic; it is a palimpsest of Georgian resilience, where every stone remembers sovereignty.

On the ground See

  • The original 18th-century carved stone parapets and weathered arch keystones on the central span
  • Morning light on the Rioni floodplain from the bridge's midpoint, with views toward the Motsameta monastery ridge
  • The adjacent 19th-century brick factory ruins, a ghost of Soviet-era textile production

Practical Know before you go

Best visited March–June or September–October; reachable by marshrutka from Kutaisi's central market to the Mukhuri village stop, then 10 minutes on foot.

Last reviewed 25 August 2026 · reviewed quarterly