Architecture

From prehistoric rock art to musical stones, the Azerbaijani people’s age-old past is dramatically brought to life in the UNESCO-listed Gobustan Reserve, where an astonishing collection of over 6,000 ancient petroglyphs chart ways of life dating back as far as 40,000 years. The reserve is located among the Boyukdash, Kichikdash and Jingirdagh mountains, about 60 kilometres south of Baku, and is also home to the remains of once inhabited caves, settlements and burial grounds, all reflecting intensive human use from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Middle Ages. What’s more, just a short drive away you’ll find some of Azerbaijan’s astonishing number of mud volcanoes, one of the world’s most intriguing natural wonders.

History enthusiasts shouldn’t miss calling into the village of Chukhur Gabala, 15 kilometres south-west of Gabala, to discover the ruins of the ancient city of Gabala – a major trade and social hub along the Silk Road between about 4BC and 18AD and once the capital of the ancient state of Caucasian Albania. The site has been researched by archaeologists since 1929, revealing many historical treasures including a medieval water supply system, coins and ceramics, burial sites and the remnants of buildings harking back to diverse historical eras. The highlight, though, are two round brick towers and parts of a fortress wall that once formed the city’s southern entrance. After exploring the 25-hectare site’s excavation areas by car and on foot, browse the nearby contemporary museum which tells you all you need to know about the area’s history.

Just five kilometres from Sheki, travel to the picturesque village of Kish to explore Albanian temple, one of our greatest monuments of Caucasian Albania – an ancient state that existed here from about 3BC to 8AD. The core of this beautiful church is thought to date to 1AD, yet archaeologists have discovered evidence that a cultic site existed here as early as 3,000BC! The church now functions primarily as a museum to Caucasian Albania and features a host of Bronze Age ceramics discovered during excavations carried out in the early 2000s by a joint Azerbaijani-Norwegian team, as well as glass-covered vaults displaying ancient graves with two-metre long skeletons.

Shamkir has a rich history long predating the German period. To discover it, step inside the local History and Ethnography Museum located at the back of the Lutheran church that charts the city’s development, beginning with the Persian Achaemenid Empire (550BC). Better still, head 10 kilometres east of the city to investigate the ruins of medieval Shamkir, located north of the village of Muktariyat on the left bank of the Shamkirchay river. Here, a fortress and citadel thrived on the Silk Road between the 8th and 13th centuries, when it was sacked by the Mongols and never fully recovered. Excavations beginning in 2006 have made it possible to see significant chunks of a fortress called Naringala, plus the remnants of streets and buildings considered rare examples of the Arran architectural school.

Baku’s medieval core is a UNESCO-protected site surrounded by 12th-century walls, brimming with history and Eastern architecture. Here you’ll find the Maiden Tower, Baku’s most mysterious site – no one knows for certain what it was originally built for! Meanwhile, occupying the highest spot in the citadel, the Shirvanshahs’ Palace was the 15th-century residence of Azerbaijan’s medieval rulers. Beyond its main attractions, the ‘Inner City,’ as it’s called by the locals, is a labyrinth of narrow alleyways home to some of Baku’s oldest residents, as well as artists’ workshops, souvenir stalls and traditional restaurants serving classic Azerbaijani dishes.

Baku’s extraordinary landscape, rich in oil and subterranean gases, has intrigued travellers since time immemorial and for centuries the Ateshgah Fire Temple in the village of Surakhani has been attracting crowds of thrill seekers. Built in the 17th–18th centuries around naturally burning flames which were previously worshipped by Zoroastrians, the site was then an important place of pilgrimage for fire-worshipping Hindus until the 1880s. Today it houses a well-designed museum and is often coupled with a trip to nearby Yanardag, the Burning Mountain in Mammadli village where a 10-metre wall of flames blazes day and night at the base of a hillside. These natural flames were described by Marco Polo in the 13th century and continue to mesmerise those who visit the site. Today you can learn all about them at the beautifully arranged new museum complex.

Shamakhi’s greatest landmark is Juma Mosque, one of Azerbaijan’s largest and most lavish places of worship. While the current structure was reconstructed in 2013, the earliest version was built way back in 743AD, making this the second oldest mosque in the Caucasus and the oldest in Azerbaijan. Since then it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, most notably during the devastating earthquake that reduced Shamakhi to rubble in 1859 and later by inter-ethnic clashes in 1918. Besides discovering its historical and religious significance, you can enjoy simply basking in the site’s elegance and tranquillity.

Take a break from an itinerary packed with sightseeing and spend a morning or afternoon simply wandering the cobbled streets of Sheki’s historic old town, an area that was recently added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Soak up the bucolic atmosphere, admire the intricate brickwork and hunt for some historical relics. This upper part of the city is made up of 19th-century merchant housing with distinctive gabled roofs, mosques and hammams, reflecting Sheki’s long history as a former hub of the silk trade. You can visit house museums to local literary heroes Mirza Fatali Akhundzade and Bakhtiyar Vahabzade and call into the Sheki Khans’ House. For a Quintessential Silk Road experience in Sheki, stop for tea and sweets or better still spend a night at Karvansaray, an authentic 18th-century caravanserai-turned-hotel.

Azerbaijan’s answer to Machu Picchu? Alinja Castle! A medieval fortress sitting atop a cragged mountaintop in the Julfa region. The site is actually a recent reconstruction of the former fortress used by Nakhchivan’s various ruling dynasties of the Middle Ages, including the Seljuks, Atabeys and Safavids. The castle was famed for being near impregnable, though it was eventually sacked by legendary Turko-Mongol ruler Tamerlane in 1401, albeit only after a 14-year struggle. Legend has it that Tamerlane then used the castle to house his treasury and local tales claim his treasures may still be hidden somewhere in the surrounds. Visit the museum at the bottom to discover this rich history, then climb the 1,500 steps to the summit for the breathtaking views of Nakhchivan’s epic landscape.

This region is also scattered with unique architectural monuments. Nakhchivan city is home to some of the best: the 12th-century Mausoleum of Momine Khatun is a shining example of the so-called ‘Nakhchivan school’ – a medieval form of architecture characterised by its red bricks, turquoise tiles and geometric patterns. It was built by acclaimed architect of the period Ajemi Nakhchivani to honour the beloved wife of powerful local ruler Shamsaddin Eldeniz. On one of the tomb’s 10 sides is written: “We depart but the world stays, we die but leave monuments behind.”

While in Nakhchivan City, history lovers shouldn’t miss visiting the Nakhchivan Khans’ Palace, whose exquisite Oriental style blends almost seamlessly into the region’s orange-hued terrain. Between the mid-18th century and early 20th century, the building was the residence of the rulers of the Nakhchivan Khanate, one of many small independent statelets to appear in the Caucasus and Iran following the death of Nadir Shah in 1747. Formerly a carpet museum, since 2010 the palace’s richly ornamented three floors complete with shebeke stained glass windows have housed a museum devoted to this fascinating period in Azerbaijani history.

Resting in the shade of 500-year-old plane trees at the top of Sheki, the lavishly decorated Palace of Sheki Khans is our most exquisite architectural monument of the khanate period. It was built in the late 18th century as the ruling Sheki Khan’s summer residence in the cool foothills of the Caucasus Mountains. The local rulers clearly had an eye for detail: the palace is laden with intricate details both inside and out, from sprawling frescoes to geometrically patterned tiles. The palace’s windows are also the best place to see one of Sheki’s signature crafts – shebeke, a technique of filling wooden lattices with thousands of pieces of coloured glass fitted together without glue or nails. Take a tour with one of the knowledgeable onsite guides who will help bring the place to life.

When Baku’s oil industry boomed in the late 1800s, a new architectural layer appeared around the Old City. Blending Gothic, baroque, neoclassical and art nouveau, these buildings nonetheless blended harmoniously into the urban landscape, leading visitors to nickname Baku the ‘Paris of the Caucasus’. Largely ignored during the Soviet era, local enthusiasts have since thoroughly researched these oil-boom buildings, shaping their secrets into thrilling architectural walking tours. Many of them were designed by German and Polish architects, lending parts of central Baku a distinctly European feel. For the most prominent example of German architecture in Baku, visit the neo-Gothic style Church of the Saviour on 28 May Street.

Ten kilometres south of Ganja, the story of Azerbaijan’s German colonists began in 1819 with the founding of a village called Helenendorf (now Goygol). Besides becoming a hub of German culture in the Caucasus, Helenendorf was also famous for its burgeoning wine industry that sold wine and spirits throughout the Russian Empire. The Germans may have gone – they were deported by Stalin in 1941 – but the Goygol Winery still functions and their presence continues to be felt in the town’s old German streets lined by towering plane trees. Over 300 distinctly German houses remain, one of which is the Victor Klein House, the former residence of Goygol’s last German and now a museum. Nearby is Azerbaijan’s first Lutheran church which was built in 1854 and today also houses a small museum collection. All the main sights can be discovered with the help of interactive info boards.

Modern Shamkir began life as the German colony of Annenfeld which was founded in 1819 and went on to become a hotbed of winemaking in Azerbaijan. The Germans were tragically deported from here in 1941 but today the city centre has kept a uniquely Germanic feel – think long straight streets with original German country housing, a Lutheran church dating back to 1909, and a German park with café, paths and benches. What’s more, the centrally located Excelsior hotel serves authentic craft beer homebrewed according to a German recipe.

As well as being the home of Azerbaijani classical fine arts, the National Museum of Art also houses masterpieces from Turkey, Iran, Japan, China, Russia and Western Europe. And the museum’s dual buildings themselves are historic monuments dating back to the 19th century. Named after Rustam Mustafayev, an early 20th-century pioneer of theatre decoration, the museum collection chronicles items dating from the 4th millennium BC to the present day. Over 17,000 artworks can be savoured from painted ceramics, copper and bronze engraved wares to ancient carpets, and jewellery. There’s also works of Azerbaijani miniature painters of the 15th – 16th centuries, as well as paintings and sculptures by contemporary artists.

Designed by the illustrious architect Zaha Hadid, since opening in 2012 the Heydar Aliyev Centre’s astonishing curved, wave-like shape and innovative use of space have made it an iconic landmark in Baku and beyond. But besides its extraordinary appearance, inside you'll find a world-class exhibition and museum complex with a great range of permanent and temporary curations exploring the best of local and global art and culture, as well as a stylish cafeteria, state-of-the-art auditorium and even an impressive collection of vintage cars.

Baku nights wouldn’t be the same without the spectacularly illuminated Flame Towers – the trio of flame-shaped skyscrapers that dominate the city’s modern skyline. One of them houses the Fairmont Baku hotel, a luxurious urban getaway with spectacular views over the city centre and Baku Bay. The other two are fitted with apartments and office blocks. Given their elevated location, the Flame Towers are visible from almost anywhere in the city, however for the best views and to get the most ‘Instagrammable’ images head to the Seaside Boulevard and Highland Park. The towers symbolise the eternally burning fires that made Baku an ancient centre of fire worshipping and at night their facades bring the flames to life with the help of some 10,000 LED lights. Don’t miss photographing this marvel of modern engineering!

Baku’s premier business and residential hub, Port Baku, is home to a series of buzzing cafes, restaurants and shops, with plenty of modern architecture to admire here too. The contemporary Port Baku Mall is one of the city’s leading luxury shopping destinations, with an excellent range of high-end international brands including Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Valentino, Alexander McQueen, Michael Kors and Burberry. Located on the ground floor, the Port Baku Bazar supermarket is popular with travellers and expats for its upmarket stock of food and drink. Nearby is one of the city’s top health and sports centres, The Club, which offers a wide range of classes and facilities, including tennis courts, a climbing wall and golf simulator.

The Carpet Museum, situated on the Seaside Boulevard, is another of Baku’s modern architectural wonders – it's shaped like a rolled-up rug! And inside it’s home to the largest collection of Azerbaijani carpets in the world (over 6,000!). There’s simply no better place to begin your journey into the world of Azerbaijani carpet weaving. Strolling around the exquisitely curated exhibits, you’ll discover how our carpets are made through live demonstrations, how they have evolved throughout the centuries and you’ll also be able to compare and contrast hundreds of stunning examples from across our seven regional carpet weaving schools.

Designed by the illustrious architect Zaha Hadid, since opening in 2012 the Heydar Aliyev Centre’s astonishing curved, wave-like shape and innovative use of space have made it an iconic landmark in Baku and beyond. But besides its extraordinary appearance, inside you'll find a world-class exhibition and museum complex with a great range of permanent and temporary curations exploring the best of local and global art and culture, as well as a stylish cafeteria, state-of-the-art auditorium and even an impressive collection of vintage cars.

Baku nights wouldn’t be the same without the spectacularly illuminated Flame Towers – the trio of flame-shaped skyscrapers that dominate the city’s modern skyline. One of them houses the Fairmont Baku hotel, a luxurious urban getaway with spectacular views over the city centre and Baku Bay. The other two are fitted with apartments and office blocks. Given their elevated location, the Flame Towers are visible from almost anywhere in the city, however for the best views and to get the most ‘Instagrammable’ images head to the Seaside Boulevard and Highland Park. The towers symbolise the eternally burning fires that made Baku an ancient centre of fire worshipping and at night their facades bring the flames to life with the help of some 10,000 LED lights. Don’t miss photographing this marvel of modern engineering!

Baku’s premier business and residential hub, Port Baku, is home to a series of buzzing cafes, restaurants and shops, with plenty of modern architecture to admire here too. The contemporary Port Baku Mall is one of the city’s leading luxury shopping destinations, with an excellent range of high-end international brands including Ralph Lauren, Giorgio Armani, Valentino, Alexander McQueen, Michael Kors and Burberry. Located on the ground floor, the Port Baku Bazar supermarket is popular with travellers and expats for its upmarket stock of food and drink. Nearby is one of the city’s top health and sports centres, The Club, which offers a wide range of classes and facilities, including tennis courts, a climbing wall and golf simulator.