Historic Centre of Shaki with the Khan’s Palace, World Heritage Site in Azerbaijan

Located at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains, Shaki is a city rich in history. It is lined with traditional houses with gabled roofs built around the 18th century. The Hahn Palace on the north side of town was built in the late 18th and 19th centuries through the silk trade, and is a symbol of the town’s former prosperity.

Here, a World Heritage enthusiast explains why the Historic Center of Shaki and the Palace of the Khan are World Heritage Sites in an easy-to-understand manner. Read this and you will definitely learn more about the Historic Center of Shaki and the Palace of the Khan!

What is the Historic Center of Shaki and the Palace of Khan?

Shaki is a city located approximately 330 km northwest of the capital, Baku. Located in a valley in the eastern Caucasus Mountains, Shaki has a long history dating back to the 6th century B.C. In the 18th century, the town was thoroughly destroyed by floods. The traditional townscape that remains today, with its gable-roofed mansions, beautiful gardens, and magnificent palaces, was built between the late 18th and 19th centuries.

Shaki, which prospered through trade, has welcomed a variety of cultures, with Christianity introduced in the 1st century and Islam in the 7th century. Later, it was ruled by great powers such as the Safavids, Ottomans, and Ghajar (Iran). In 1743, the city became independent as the Shaki Khanate, and remained an independent state until the Russian rule in the 19th century. Shaki has welcomed many different cultures, and this influence can be seen in the town’s remaining architecture. The caravanserai is decorated with interior furnishings collected from all over the country.

Since ancient times, the economy of Shaki has been supported by sericulture and the trade in raw silk and the production of handicrafts. The high roofs of traditional houses were built to raise silkworms.And elaborate water distribution systems were networked throughout the city, from houses to gardens.

And the most magnificent building in Shaki is the Palace of Shaki Khan, which served as the summer residence of Shaki Khan, who ruled Shaki in the 18th century. The Venetian glass windows are a symbolic architectural feature of the building.

For what reason are the Historic Center of Shaki and the Palace of the Khan on the World Heritage List?

The Historic District of Shaki and the Khan’s Palace were evaluated according to the following

Registration Criteria (ii)
Shaki has been the cultural and commercial center of the Caucasus, particularly influenced by Safavid, Ottoman, Ghajar and Russian influence. And that Shaki has also influenced the culture of the surrounding Caucasus region.

Registration Criteria (v)
That the center was a planned “rural city” with a hydraulic system.

Conclusions and impressions of a World Heritage enthusiast

Anyway, no city has been ruled by as many different dynasties as Shaki. It is also an example of how the mixture of various cultures, such as Christianity and Islam, depending on the period, makes the architecture functional and beautiful. Another key point is that while incorporating nature, the city also had a well-developed water distribution system and other features that made it a well-functioning town.

However, it is sad that not many people visit Azerbaijan and it is far from Baku, so it is still unfamiliar to foreign travelers.

*The contents here are considerations derived from research conducted by World Heritage enthusiasts.　As for the data, interpretation differs depending on the media.