Baku: A Dazzling Blend of Luxury and History

Discovering Baku: The Paris of the Caucasus

Baku, one of the oldest and largest cities in the East, stands as the biggest and arguably the most opulent city on the Caucasus. By the early 20th century, the capital of Azerbaijan earned the nickname “Paris of the Caucasus” due to its vibrant social and cultural life. After visiting the charming capitals of neighboring countries like Tbilisi and Yerevan, Baku’s luxury is truly breathtaking.

Exploring Baku’s Rich History

Baku has frequently appeared in rankings of the most expensive cities in the CIS for business travelers and tourists alike. This comes as no surprise, as the city has always been a hub of wealth. Since the Middle Ages, Baku has been renowned for its oil production, trade, and hospitality services catering to travelers along the Great Silk Road. The caravanserais of that era have now transformed into premium-class restaurants in the old city. During a stroll, you can enter any of these restaurants and ask the staff to show you the halls and rooms decorated in the corresponding style. They will gladly provide a free tour, showcasing where merchants slept, servants stayed, and camels were housed.

Icheri-Sheher: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

In the Middle Ages, Baku served as the capital of the Shirvanshah state. The fortress walls, palace, mosques, baths, and other preserved buildings form the Icheri-Sheher quarter, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Almost the entire city center, now home to embassies, hotels, and restaurants, is a historical and architectural reserve where each building is an exhibit. A full day is needed to explore this area, and in the evening, the illumination of Icheri-Sheher takes on a magical appearance.

Architectural Marvels of Baku

The grandeur of the medieval rulers is matched by the impressive architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this period, industrial development of oil fields began, attracting foreign capital to Baku. Numerous millionaires competed to build their residences with the help of the best European architects. They also invested heavily in cultural buildings, including theaters, casinos, shops, and restaurants. Most of these buildings have been preserved.

Must-See Attractions

Seaside Boulevard

The Seaside Boulevard is not just another beautiful street; it is a 20-kilometer park along the waterfront featuring an ancient mosque, a carpet museum, musical fountains, sculptures, flower beds, cafes, restaurants, theaters, cinemas, a parachute tower, a Ferris wheel, a yacht club, and even a “Little Venice” with a system of canals and bridges. While strolling along the Seaside Boulevard, you will see the Crystal Hall, which hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2012, and the State Flag Square with the world’s tallest flagpole. In the evening, you can enjoy the stunning illumination of the Flame Towers, recognized as the best in the world. These skyscrapers are fully covered with LED screens displaying the movement of fire.

Along the Seaside Boulevard, you can take a boat ride or sunbathe on the shore. However, swimming within the city limits is not recommended.

Palace of the Shirvanshahs and Maiden Tower

The Palace of the Shirvanshahs complex was built between the 12th and 15th centuries and includes the palace itself, a court building, a mosque, a mausoleum, a tomb, baths, an underground well, and gates. The palace is located on a hilltop with three levels, descending like steps towards the sea. The main material used in the complex’s construction is Absheron limestone, a white stone with a unique golden hue. The palace houses a permanent exhibition dedicated to the rulers of the Shirvanshah dynasty, featuring multimedia and interactive displays.

In the same Icheri-Sheher district, near the palace, stands the Maiden Tower, built in the 12th century or possibly earlier. Some scholars believe it was a temple of fire worshippers, while others suggest it served as a defensive fortress and later became a lighthouse. Legend tells of a beautiful girl who did not want to marry an unloved suitor and used the construction of the tower as an excuse to delay the wedding. Sadly, when the tower was finally completed, she had no more arguments and threw herself from the top into the sea.

Today, the Maiden Tower serves as a viewing platform and a museum.

Yanar Dag

The word “Yanar Dag” translates from Azerbaijani as “burning mountain.” Here, the phrase “burning with a blue flame” takes on a literal meaning. Visit in the evening to witness the natural eternal fire emanating from the ground. The natural gas creates a beautifully mesmerizing sight. For Zoroastrians, this place has been sacred since ancient times.

Surakhany

One of the largest and oldest Zoroastrian temple complexes is located near Baku in the village of Surakhany. It functions as a museum where archaeological finds are displayed, and the lifestyle of fire worshippers is reconstructed. In the past, flames erupted from the ground in each of the caves, serving as natural heating and hearths. For safety reasons, the fire is now only maintained in the main cult buildings, which serve as a pilgrimage site for believers worldwide.

Gala Reserve

The Gala Historical and Ethnographic Reserve is a complex of three museums: a medieval fortress, an open-air ethnographic museum, and an exhibition of valuables, jewelry, and samovars. Near Baku, a collection of hundreds of Russian samovars from different masters and factories is displayed. The territory also houses a small zoo with mainly hoofed animals, from donkeys to camels. In the pottery workshop, you can learn sculpting, and in the bakery, you can bake traditional bread.

The entrance ticket to the reserve also grants you free access to the Museum of Modern Art, which features artworks made from recycled materials.

Fountains of the “Seven Beauties”

The “Seven Beauties” fountain complex is located in the National Park and covers an area of 4 square kilometers. It is one of the largest light-dynamic and musical fountains in the world. In addition to the “Seven Beauties,” Baku has an entire Fountain Square where laser shows are held during holidays. The fountains are considered a visiting card of Baku. The fountain in the Baku bay shoots a jet of water 120 meters high—one of only three such fountains in the world. There is also a crystal musical fountain near the “Koroglu” metro station and dozens of unique fountains in the city’s parks.

Museums to Visit

Museum of Miniature Books

The world’s only Museum of Miniature Books consists of a single hall displaying several thousand tiny books, ranging from pre-revolutionary to the most modern. The collection includes poetry, prose, religious books, art albums, and communist brochures. Each country is represented by a separate display case. The Belarusian stand mainly features publications from “Harvest”: volumes by Kupala, Kolas, Gilevich, and Lipsky. The museum’s founder, Zarifa Salahova, was awarded the F. Skorina medal.

The museum is located in the Icheri-Sheher quarter, and admission is free.

Carpet Museum

The world’s first Carpet Museum, which also serves as a museum of applied arts. Here, you can see carpets from all regions of Azerbaijan and watch masters weaving on looms. The museum’s three floors display hundreds of carpets and carpet products (such as bags and horse blankets), embroidery, dishes, weapons, jewelry, musical instruments, and national costumes. The oldest and most precious exhibit is a fragment of a carpet woven in the 17th century. The museum building, located on the Seaside Boulevard, is shaped like a carpet.

Heydar Aliyev Center

The postmodernist building of the Heydar Aliyev Center is an attraction in itself. Inside, numerous exhibition halls await visitors. The most historically significant is the “Masterpieces of Azerbaijan”: coins, ancient books, national costumes, jewelry, carpets, and musical instruments. In the hall of national instruments, each display case has a red circle where visitors can listen to the sounds of the exhibited instruments.