Olympic Azerbaijan: Gabala

The first European Olympics in the capital of Azerbaijan is a grand event which will take place in Baku in June. Thousands of tourists will visit the country and feel the atmosphere of the festival. Baku has not only renewed its image, but has become a different, new, perfect city which is aiming for the future. The host of the Games hopes that the guests of the Olympics will take the opportunity to study multi-faced, colorful, bright, sunny Azerbaijan – the land of fire, blue sea, snow-white mountains, and other beautiful sights. You can feel the charm of travelling, leaving Baku for a few hours. Vestnik Kavkaza begins a series of materials which will present the cities and towns of Azerbaijan, which deserve to be visited, for tourists who don't have much time.

Gabala is one of the most beautiful places in Azerbaijan, which is situated in the lower part of the Caucasus Mountains in the Bazar-Yurt Gorge 250 km from Baku. The history of the city is about two thousand years, and it still surprises scholars.

Modern Gabala is situated 15 km from ancient Gabala, which was the capital of Caucasian Albania for 600 years. There are the ruins of the ancient city. In the 10th century Gabala was included into the state of the Shirvanshakhs; in the 18th century it was a part of the Sheki Khanate. At that time, the Kutkash Sultanate appeared on the territory of Gabala. It was a small feudal state. When the Shekhi Khanate collapsed, the city was a part of the Nukha Country of the Yelisavetpol Province; being inside the Russian Empire, it was renamed Kutkashen, but in 1930 the previous name was returned.

The city was one of the major centers of developed trade and crafts. People were involved in gardening, farming, pottery, and gold work. Silk culture was especially developed there. The perfect quality of Gabala silk was well-known outside the khanate as well. Many arts and crafts of those days are preserved by Gabala residents today.

There are two ways to reach Gabala – by car or by plane. The modern international airport was built in 2011. It is the pride of the city, its brand. There is a direct flight from Moscow to Gabala, which takes 2.5 hours. Right in the airport a guest can see beautiful landscapes and the former Gabala Radio-Location Station, which was shut down 2013.

It takes you 15 minutes to get from the airport to the city; and you can see various sightseeing attractions along the road – examples of sophisticated architecture, which is a treasure of the city.

The local nature won’t leave you indifferent: majestic mountains, thick green woods, clear fresh air, rivers, and colorful villages. The famous Chestnut Forest is situated here – incredibly beautiful and the pride of local residents.

Gabala has a lot of architectural and historical monuments. Archeological finds which were discovered during the digging of ancient Gabala are exhibited in the city museum. Imam-Baba Mausoleum, the People’s Theatre, and the Defensive Tower are major attractions. There is also the wonderfully beautifully Juma Mosque of the 18th century.

The entertainment infrastructure is developed in Gabala. There are many tourist resorts and recreational areas. One of the most interesting is Lake Nakhur. A waterfall which is situated in the resort of the ‘Seven Beauties’ is also very interesting to visit. You can visit the biggest amusement park in Azerbaijan with your family – Gabaland (an analogue of Disneyland). Children will love it. Moreover, there is the second winter resort in Azerbaijan – Tufandag – with modern ski slopes and facilities for high-class relaxation.

The cultural life of the ancient capital of Caucasian Albania is also rich. The International Classical Music Festival takes place in Gabala annually under the patronage of the first lady of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva. The most famous musicians and orchestras from all over the world participate in it. By the way, Gabala has a factory which produces high-class pianos and fortepianos. One can visit it as well.

We should note an unusual peculiarity of Gabala for Azerbaijani cuisine. Only in Gabala can you try pickled fruits (pickled pears, apples, quinces, cornels, black thorns); only in Gabala are white cucumbers grown.

So, you will remember impressions from a visit to Gabala for a long time.