Entertainment and Attractions in Azerbaijan

Entertainment and Attractions in Azerbaijan

According to Wholevehicles, Azerbaijan is a link between Western and Eastern civilizations. First of all, Azerbaijan is interesting as a unique collection of archaeological monuments, some of which are several thousand years old. There are over 130 museums, galleries and their branches, theatres, mausoleums, mosques, fortresses and other unique cultural objects in Azerbaijan.

Baku: the old part of the city is a historical and architectural reserve, often called the Baku Acropolis. 70 km south of the city is the largest in the CIS accumulation of rock paintings Kobystan (Gobustan), which includes more than 4 thousand rock sites, caves, fortresses and burial grounds. 30 km from Baku lies the village of Surakhani with the temple complex of fire worshipers Ateshgah. Also of interest is the Shikhovo balneological resort built on hydrogen sulfide springs. Guba is the capital of the ancient Cuban khanate, 165 km north of Baku. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the country with a 16th century fortress, various mosques and famous Cuban carpets.

Shamakhi is one of the oldest and most interesting cities in the country, located 130 km west of the capital. The main attraction is the fortress of Giz-Galasy (or Gulistan, 11-12 centuries) – the last refuge of the Shirvanshahs. Today it is also a recognized center of winemaking and carpet weaving.

Once one of the main stops of the Great Silk Road, Azerbaijan still fascinates with its sights and beautiful nature.

Sheki is located 380 km west of Baku, near the Georgian border. Many finds on its territory are more than 2500 years old. There are a huge number of historical objects, mosques, there is a local history museum. The city is also known as a center of silk production and a climatic resort.

Lankaran is located in the very south-east of the country, on the border with Iran. This is one of the best balneological resorts in the country. The city itself is interesting for the fortress of the 18th century and the Kichik-Bazar mosque of the 19th century.

Talysh region is located in the south-east of Azerbaijan on the border with Iran. It pleases guests with the most beautiful landscapes of green mountains, cut through by gorges with raging rivers, numerous thermal and mineral springs. The famous Arkevan hot mineral springs flow here near Jalilabad. In the Talysh mountains there is a subtropical zone with mixed and broad-leaved forests. Residents of Azerbaijan love to relax not only on the shores of the Caspian Sea, but also in the Gabala, Guba, Shamakhi regions, where a good tourist infrastructure has been created. There are hotels, boarding houses, and interesting tourist routes.

Nakhichevan is one of the oldest cities in Azerbaijan. Its main attraction are the mausoleums of Yusuf-ibn-Kuseyir (1161) and Momine-Khatun (1186). Also of interest are the Literary and Historical Museums, an art gallery and the Gyaur-Kala fortress of the 12th-13th centuries.

In Ordubad, the Juma and Dilber mosques of the 17th-18th centuries, the madrasah, the Khan’s palace of the 18th-19th centuries and many medieval buildings, united in the state historical and architectural reserve, are worth attention. 60 km south of Ordubad on Mount Gemigaya (Kemchigaya) there is an area of ​​concentration of rock petroglyphs dating back to 3-2 millennium BC. e.

On the Absheron peninsula, you can find a network of abandoned fortresses, ruins of castles, fortifications. There is also a balneological resort Shikhovo, built on hydrogen sulfide sources. The nature of Azerbaijan is unique in that 9 out of 11 climatic zones existing in the world are located in the country at once. It turns out a kind of journey around the globe through rivers, waterfalls, mineral springs, as well as through deposits of medicinal (!) Oil.

Holidays and events

In Azerbaijan, as elsewhere in the post-Soviet space, they love the New Year and celebrate it on a grand scale. Local Santa Claus Mine Baba, dressed in a blue sheepskin coat, congratulates children and adults in the company of Snow Maiden Gargyz. The onset of the New Year is officially celebrated twice: on January 1 and March 21, on the day of the vernal equinox. The “second series” of the holiday, Nowruz, symbolizes the renewal of nature and is accompanied by a number of customs. In the morning, it is customary to wash yourself thoroughly (preferably in a river or stream, if there are any nearby), washing away everything bad from yourself. There should be 7 dishes and products with names starting with “s” on the table: from special wheat porridge “semeni” to vinegar “sirke”.

The obligatory attributes of Nowruz are a candle and a painted egg placed on a mirror: the first symbolizes the protective light, the second symbolizes the globe entering the next year.

Another national celebration is March 8: a holiday that needs no introduction. Flowers, sweets, smiles – everything is familiar, but invariably pleasant. May 9 is Victory Day over fascism: Azerbaijanis defended the USSR not only on the battlefields, but also in the rear, providing the country with priceless oil in wartime. May 28 – Independence Day, June 15 – National Salvation Day in honor of the return of Heydar Aliyev to the presidency. June 26 – Armed Forces Day with a mandatory military parade in the capital.

On October 18, the Day of the Restoration of Independence is celebrated, on November 8 – Victory Day, on November 9, the state flag is honored. 3 days later, Constitution Day picks up the baton, and November 17 is National Revival Day, marking the beginning of the liberation movement in 1988. And December 31 is chosen as the Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis around the world – you definitely cannot refuse the patriotism of this nation. Read more about all the significant events in the country on the page ” Holidays and events in Azerbaijan “.

Attractions in Azerbaijan