Historical monuments

Azerbaijan has a rich and ancient history. During thousand years rich cultural heritage has been created which has contributed to world civilization. One of the ancient sources of information on people on the territory of Azerbaijan is tools and other things discovered in Azikh cave where ancient people of Paleolith lived. At archeological excavations of this cave a lower jaw of an ancient man and his tools were discovered. Azikh man lived here more than 250 thousand years ago.

Gobustan rock paintings are also unique. People lived here 10-12 thousand years ago. Owing to originality of archeological exhibits monuments of the State historical Protected Area “Gobustan” is of great importance for providing contribution to the world art. This area relating approximately to the middle of the Stone Age and to the beginning of the Bronze Age is a place where a cave man lived. More than 4000 rock paintings depicting animals, labour scenes, collective hunting and dances, demonstrates skill of the ancient people. There are also Latin inscriptions which prove that Rome legionaries stayed here in I century A.D.

Ruins of ancient and medieval cities, trade and cultural centers of the state have remained on the territory of Azerbaijan. They are Gabala, Barda (Partav), Gandja, Shabran, Beylagan,
Shamakha, Khalkhal and others.

Fortresses and towers such as Chiraggala, Javanshirgala and many others were built for defense from raids of nomadic tribes and foreign invaders. Complex of fortresses in Mardakan, Nardaran, Bilga, Ramani, Mashtagi are of great interest. “Maiden Tower” built in Baku in VII century is a unique 28 m high and 5 m thick (at the foundation) circular tower.

There are also a lot of architectural monuments of Caucasian Albania (I-XIV centuries) such as monasteries in Lakit and  Kum settlements (Kakh district), one of the first Christian churches in Kish settlement (Sheki district), ruins of Gabala, the capital of ancient Albania (Gabala district), ancient fortresses of Albanian period, situated in the mountains. In VII century Azerbaijan was invaded by Arabians.  Arabians influenced architecture style of buildings in Azerbaijan. Mosques, khanegi and other buildings designed in oriental style began to appear in Azerbaijan.

Strengthening of states and development of cities took place in XII century. New architecture schools combining local traditions and high professional skills began to appear here. The founder and outstanding representative of Nakhchivan school was a famous architect Ajemi the son of Abubekr Nakhchivani who was extremely popular in the East. One of his masterpieces is 34 m high decahedral mausoleum of Momene Khatun. This Mausoleum is decorated by net of geometrical ornaments and letters made on turquoise glaze.

Besides Nakhchivan there were also Shirvan, Apsheron, Aran and other schools. Architectural monuments created by artists of these schools are spread all over the territory of the Republic. Most of them are fortresses, palaces, mausoleums, temples, towers, bridges, caravan sarays and bath-houses and other buildings.

Mighty fortresses, castles, grand palaces, religious and memorial constructions, etc of XII-XV centuries are perfect monuments of oriental architecture and of great importance among other monuments of Azerbaijan architecture. In addition these monuments were built by such famous architects of Shirvan as Masud son of Davud, Abdul Madjid son of Masud, Zeynaddin son of Abdurashid Shirvani, Muhammad Ali, Murad Ali, Abdul Ali Abdul Azim and many others who created unique patterns of Azerbaijan architecture style.

One of these beautiful medieval palace constructions in Azerbaijan is the Palace of Shirvanshahs built in XV century in Baku. It consists of two-storeyed palace, a burial-vault, a mosque with a minaret and a divankhane used as a room  for reception of guests as well as a mausoleum of Seyid –Yakhya Bakuvi, bath-houses and the gate of Murad (XVI century).

Memorial architecture constructions are represented by mausoleums in Djuga settlement (XIII century) and Karabaglar (XIV century) in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, in Barda city, in Khazra settlement (XIV-XVI centures) of Gabala district and Diri-Baba (XV century) not far from Maraza settlement of Shemakha district.

Khan palaces and fortresses were built on the territory of Azerbaijan during feudal wars.
The most famous of architecture monuments of that period is the Palace of Sheki Khans (XVIII century). The front elevation of the palace is decorated by coloured glass mosaic and interlacing wooden ornaments (shebeke).

The interior of the palace is luxuriously decorated by pictures of plants, animals and birds, various geometrical pictures, scenes of hunting and battles.

Azerbaijan is on the crossroads of important trade ways so lots of caravan-sarays (inns) were built along roads and in cities. 

Such caravan sarays have remained on Apsheron, in Nachchivan Autonomous Republic, in Nagorno Karabakh, in Gandja and Sheki cities, Fizuli and Shemakha districts.

It is necessary to note architecture monuments of Baku relating to XIX century. Since the oil boom in Baku in the nineteenth century the city has developed rapidly. Famous foreign architects built many of these beautiful buildings which still remain the main attraction of the city.