Akhaltsikhe is a small city in southwestern Georgia, Province of Samtskhe-Javakheti with a population of 46,134. It is situated close to the border with Turkey on the both banks of a small river Potskhovi, which separates the city from the old city in the north and new in the south. The name of the city translates as "new castle". Akhaltiskhe is a historical city, mentioned in the chronicles since medieval times.

From the touristic and economic point of view Akhaltsikhe has a strategic location. The city is a good starting point for visiting sites (like Vardzia – cave city, Khertvisi Catsle, Tsunda, etc.) and resorts (like Bojomi, Bakuriani, Abastumani, etc.).

Rabati is a district of old city. It is situated on a hill on the left side of the river and is surrounded with the castle which was built in the 12th century. There is a great view over the city and the nearby hills.

This castle houses Ivane Javakhishvili Samtskhe-Javakheti History Museum.

Ivane Javakhishvili Samtskhe-Javakheti History Museum was established in 1923 as an archive-museum. In 1937, it was transformed into a Local Museum, combining its archive collection with a wider range of collections representing the history and culture of the region.

In 1972 Museum moved to two buildings at the Rabati territory in Akhaltsikhe and it was named after Ivane Javakhishvili. Today, the Museum houses the significant part of the region’s cultural heritage. Totally it preserves over 25,000 objects. They include manuscripts and old printed books (parchments dating to the XI, XII, XV, and XVII cc.), photos, archaeological, numismatic, and ethnographic collections, etc. The Museum’s textile collection (rugs and carpets of the verge of XIX-XX cc.) as well as collection of ancient inscriptions cut on stone are of high importance.

Since December 2004 Ivane Javakhishvili Samtskhe-Javakheti History Museum is a part of the Georgian National Museum.

Apart from two main buildings that display permanent exhibitions - the Castle that surrounds it, Administrative building, Mosque built in 1752, Ruins of a medresa (Islamic school) - belong to the Museum.

Total size of the Museums open air territory is 27.500 square meter. From this territory 3.978 square meters is occupied by buildings, 23.522 square meters is a yard inside the citadel.