Tourism in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan has more than 115 museums, galleries and their branches in every city and region of the republic. Among the most unique landmarks are the ancient mausoleums of Momine-Khatun and Jusif, the towers of Absheron Peninsila. Gobustan mountains, Beyuk-dash, Kichikdash, Dzhingirdag, Shongardag and Shihgai have preserved the evidence of Azerbaijani people centuries old past starting from the Stone Age - rock drawings, prehistoric people's sites, rock fortresses, tombs and burial places.
(find more about it in “ the Cities of Azerbaijan”

Baku Tourist Sights

Icherisheher Fortress (12th century);
Shirvan Dynasty Palace (15th century);
Synyk-Kala Minaret (11th century.);
The Maiden Tower (Hys Halasy) (7th -12th century);
“Bail Stones” (13th century.);
Seyid Yakhya Bakuvi Mausoleum;
Caravanserais - Multani (15th century.), Bukhara (15th century), Mollakhan (13th century);
Mosques- Mukhammad ibn Abu-Bakr, Mirza-Ahmed (1345), Molla-Ahmed (14th century),
Djuma (15th – 20th centuries), Lezgi (1169), mosques-madrasah (1646-47);
Baths (15th – 19th centuries);
Merchant Complex (16th – 17th centuries);
House of Baku Khans (18th century);
The Temple of Sacred Wives of Russian Orthodox Church
The city has seven theaters, around 30 museums including the Arts Museum , Azerbaijani Carpet Museum , the Museum of Folk Applied Arts and others.

The vicinities of Baku are well known for such landmarks as Ateshgah - the unique fire worshipers temple complex (17th 18th centuries) - burning natural gas outlets and Gobustan –the open air museum featuring rock drawings of late Stone Age .

“Ateshgah” (the House of Fire), was built from the place of burning natural gas. The temple complex includes the central temple altar, chapels, cells, caravanserais as well as the square pit intended for burning bodies of the dead on the sacred fire (now filled up with stones). In 1975 after restoration works had been completed, Ateshgah was opened for tourists.

Baku Museums

Azerbaijan History Museum

Azerbaijan History Museum is considered the main Museum of the Republic. It is located in one of the most beautiful buildings of Baku - the mansion where Gadji Tagiyev, the oilman, the notorious sponsor and patron used to live. The total number of the Museum collection artifacts exceeds 300,000. The numismatic collection covers the entire coin minting history and monies circulation of Azerbaijan territory.

The Museum's collection includes numerous stone and obsidian tools of paleolith, mesolite, late Stone Age. The museum's pride is the fragment of a 300 – 350-thousand old fossil man's jaw found in Azykh Cave (the city of Fizuli ).

The ethnographic collection consists of the richest variety of carpets. One can also see the collection of the Bronze Age crockery: boot-type vessels, pitchers, ware.

The armory collection of the Museum is regarded as a very significant collection of material culture. It comprises over 600 armory samples from various ages and nations. Oriental armory plays a major role in the collection representing about 300 samples. The central part of the collection is taken by cold arms and firearms from the Caucuses. Among the big variety of the late Middle Ages are chain armors, breast, calf, arm shields, swords, various pole-axes and head-pieces.

The State Museum of Azerbaijani Carpets and Folk Applied Arts.

The Museum was established in 1967. Today the Museum's collection consists of more than 10 thousand valuable artifacts. Among them are ceramic articles from the Bronze Age, 14th- century metal masterpieces, carpets weaved in the 18 th -20 th centuries; skillfully crafted jewelry made silver and gold, national apparel and embroidery. Besides, the collection features the works of modern artists.

Quba's Tourist Sites

16 th -century fortress;
Temple Mosque (19 th century);
Sakina-khanum Mosque (18 th century);
Ardabil Mosque (19 th century);
Middle Ages Towers ;
Museum of local lore ;
The city suburbs are known for Tengi Canyon , the Afurdzhin Waterfall, ( 30 m ), mountain Hebrew village of Krasnaya Sloboda , Shekh Jusif Mausoleum, (16 th – 17 th centuries) in Shykhlyar village, Sheikh Dzhuneid Masoleum (16 th century) in Khazra and picturesque Khudat seashore.

Sheki's Tourist Sites

Sheki Khans Palace ;
Gemsen-Geresen Fortress(8th-9th centuries);
Numerous caravanserais;
House of Sheki Khans;
Djuma Mosque (18 th century);
Minaret of Gileilin Mosque (18 th century);
Middle Ages Baths.

Sheki's suburbs are rich in unique historical places. “Kyumbazi” towers (18 th century) in Kutkashen, Sumug Fortress and mosque (the 18 th century) in Ilisu, Kish fortress and mausoleum, the fortress in Yukhary-Chardakhlar (4 th century BC - 5 th century AD), the tower and temple in Orta-Zeizit, the mausoleum in Babaratma, the fortress in Kakha (16 th century), the ruins of Shamil's fortress near Zakatala

Tourist Sights of Shemakha

Ruins o а Gjulistan Fortress (11th - 12th centuries);
Djuma Mosque (10th century);
Mausoleum "Eddi Gumbez"(15th century).

Tourist Sites of Lankaran

Lankaran Fortress (18th century);
"Kichik-Bazar" Mosque (19th century);
Medieval city Khanege with survived fortifications (12th - 14th centuries), the mosque and tomb of Pir Hussein, the minaret and other ancient structures

Nahichivan's Sites

Mausoleums of Yusuf ibn Kusejir (11th century) and Momine Khatun (12th century ) ;
Gyaur-Kala Fortress (Shahtahty, 2,000 BC);
Hudaferin bridges across the Araks.
Not far from Nakhichivan there is Alindzha-Kala Fortress (11th-13th centuries)

Mingechevir's Sites

Complex of monuments dated from 2,00 BC to the 17th century AD (remains of settlements, ground and mound burials, amphora burials and even Christian temples).
The city has a theatre and local lore museum

Ganja's Sites

Cult complex Gei-Imam (14th-17th centuries);
Djuma Mosque (17th century);

Plenty of picturesque old houses, well-known stone sculptures of horses and other pets abundant in the neighboring mountains;

The Mausoleum of Nizami Gjandzhevi.

In Old Ganja one can still find the remnants of fortifications, towers, bridges (the12th - early 13th centuries), a caravanserai (the 12th century) place of stay for merchant caravans, the building of former Khan's office (17th century ) , mausoleums (14th - 17th centuries), mosques (17th century).

Ordubad's Landmarks

Historical -architectural reserve;
Djuma Mosque(12th century);
Dilber -mosque (18th century).

Gabala's Landmarks

City mosque (19th century);
The mausoleums of sheikhs Badreddin and Mansur (15th century) in Hazra;
Castles of Adzhinne-Tepe (10th-9th centuries BC) and Sary-Tepe (5th-4th centuries BC).

Sea Resorts

Talysh

Right along Azerbaijan - Iranian border stretch the Talysh Mountains (the highest peak - Mount Kyomurkyoj ( 2,477 m ) - one of the most exotic areas of the country. There amidst the mountains, in subtropics, stand magnificent broad-leaved forests - the representatives of ancient hyrkan flora. The beautiful green mountainous landscapes cut by gorges with raging rivers, numerous thermal and mineral springs, the purest air and magnificent nature glorify these places as one of the best resorts of the country. Not far from Dzhalilabad there are Arkevan hot mineral water springs. The Talysh Mountains is one of the most beautiful places in Azerbaijan .

Adzhikend

Adzhikend is a resort sitting at 1,200 m above the sea level. This is a heavenly spot for tourists: picturesque forests and glades, mineral water springs, the purest mountain air. In the vicinities of Adzhikend there is the most beautiful mountain lake Gek-gjol the territory around which was declared a national reserve.

Yalama-Khachmaz Coast

Yalama-Hachmaz Coast is one of the most beautiful places of Azerbaijan . Located there are numerous cities and settlements each of which a landmark by itself. Take for example, the city of Hurdalan , one of the settlements which stood on the ancient caravan route. In local caravanserais the merchants halted in the 14th-15th centuries.

The Khachmaz Coast covered with fruit orchards is very picturesque.

In Khudat where the forest touches the edge of the sea coast is Nabran esort center rich in groundwater sources.

In Nabran there is the largest tourist complex "Khazar". There you will enjoy the view of mountain tops, deep gorges, rough rivers, dense forests, a waterfall, the gentle Caspian Sea with impeccable sandy beaches; take a boat trip, ride water skis, dive and simply lie on the beach.

Naftalan