Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument, Gudauri Observation Deck or Monument to the Treaty of Georgievsk is a monument built in 1983 to commemorate the bicentenary of the Treaty of Georgievsk and the continuing friendship between Soviet Georgia and Soviet Russia. The monument, located on the Georgian Military Road between the Gudauri ski resort and the Jvari Pass, is a large circular structure made of stone and concrete overlooking the Devil’s Valley in the Caucasus Mountains.
Inside the monument there is a large tiled fresco that spans the entire circumference of the structure and depicts scenes from Georgian and Russian history. The words of Rustaveli are also given in Georgian and in Russian translation: “A faithful friend will help a friend. He is not afraid of trouble. He will give heart for heart. And love is a star on the way.”
The arch has a panoramic platform from which a view of the surroundings of the “Devil’s Valley” opens from a height of 2384 meters.
The author of the project of the “Russia-Georgia Friendship Monument” is Zurab Tsereteli, the architect is Georgy Chakhava.
The Arch of Friendship of Peoples is an observation deck located between the Gudauri ski resort and the Jvari Pass with stunning views of the mountains and the Devil’s Valley.
