THE ROTHSCHILDS & BATUMI

It is always a pleasant surprise for the majority of tourists fascinated by the unique nature of Ajara and beauty of Batumi to learn that the development of Batumi is connected with Baron Alphonse Rothschild, a French oil tycoon of Jewish origin, In the Nobel Brothers Technological Museum. The name of the Rothschild family was connected to the history of Batumi in the 1880s, when Batumi became more and more famous as a port marked on the world map. The most important thing for the economic development of Batumi was the railway, which would connect Batumi with Tbilisi and Baku and make the transportation of oil from Batumi even more profitable. Baron Rothschild understood the importance of the railway well, that’s why he financed the construction of the railway line for transporting oil to Baku in 1883 with 10 thousand US dollars.

“Caspia - Black Sea Oil Industry and Trade Organization” - was the name of Alphonse Rothschild’s company, which initially had an oil can factory in Batumi, and then the company expanded its activities and even had its own berths in Batumi harbor in addition to the factory.

In 1906, the first pipeline of 883 kilometers along the railway, the so-called “Oil pipeline” appeared. During the First World War and its aftermath, the South Caucasus became the site of international conflicts in order to influence oil extraction and transportation. Then there was the Soviet period, during which, in particular, by 1941, Baku produced three-quarters of Soviet oil.

It should be said without exaggeration that the family influence not only extended on its economy but also beautiful architecture. One of the most beautiful and impressive buildings in terms of architecture and design in Batumi was built by Alphonse Rothschild at the end of the 19th century. To build the house, the baron brought building materials as well as workers from France. This beautiful building stood near the boulevard and overlooked the sea and the boulevard. The two-story house looked luxurious and still does. Rothschild’s house has withstood many tests of history and is still standing today in Batumi, on Rustaveli Street, where the Ioseb Charkvian Maternity Hospital of Batumi is currently located. (N39 of Rustaveli).

In the book “Reports of French authors about 19th century Georgia” we read the travel notes of Jules Napoleon Ney, where he also provides information about Batumi at that time.

“It was a wonderful view when leaving Batumi. The area of the city was given a very lively appearance by important oil refineries, a large box factory of the Rothschild house and many white-painted cisterns, numerous red- brick barracks and a large square for maneuvers. - written in the reports. The Rothschild house mentioned here is the building standing on Rustaveli today. As we learn from the book, the Batumi-Baku railway line and oil pipeline were opened in 1883 (1897-1907), which led to the growth of the city. During this period, industrial magnates worked in Batumi - the Swedish brothers Alfred, Robert and Ludwig Nobel and Baron Alphonse de Rothschild. In the house where the Nobels had an office, there is now a technology museum named after the Nobel brothers (Tamari settlement, Leselidze 3a), and if you visit the museum, you will learn very interesting stories about the life and work of the millionaire oil tycoon, who left an invaluable treasure to the city in the form of the mentioned building.

Tamari Settlement, 3a Leselidze st. ( Batumi)