Old City (Baku)

Old City or Inner City (Azerbaijani: İçəri Şəhər) is the ancient historical core of Baku. In December 2000, the Old City of Baku, including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and Maiden Tower, became the first location in Azerbaijan to be classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

History

It is widely accepted that the Old City, including its Maiden Tower, date at least to the 12th century, with some researchers contending that construction dates as far back as the 7th century. The question has not been completely settled.

During this medieval period of Baku, such monuments as the Synyg Gala Minaret (11th century), the fortress walls and towers (11th–12th centuries), the Maiden Tower, the Multani Caravanserai and Hajji Gayyib bathhouse (15th century), the Palace of the Shirvanshahs (15th-16th centuries), the Bukhara Caravanserai and Gasimbey bathhouse (16th century) were built.

In 1806, when Baku was annexed by the Russian Empire, there were 500 households and 707 shops, and a population of 7,000 in the Old City (then the only neighbourhood of Baku). Between 1807-1811, the city walls were repaired and the fortifications extended. The city had two gates: the Salyan Gates and the Shemakha Gates. The city was protected by dozens of cannons set on the walls. The port was re-opened for trade, and in 1809 a customs office was established.

It was during this period that Baku started to extend beyond the city walls, and new neighbourhoods emerged. Thus the terms Inner City (Azerbaijani: İçəri Şəhər) and Outer City (Azerbaijani: Bayır Şəhər) came into use. Referring to the early Russian rule, Bakuvian actor Huseyngulu Sarabski wrote in his memoirs:

Baku was divided into two sections: Ichari Shahar and Bayir Shahar. The Inner City was the main part. Those who lived in the Inner City were considered natives of Baku. They were in close proximity to everything: the bazaar, craftsmen's workshops and mosques. There was even a church there, as well as a military barracks built during the Russian occupation. Residents who lived inside the walls considered themselves to be superior to those outside and often referred to them as the "barefooted people of the Outer City

With the arrival of Russians the traditional architectural look of the Old City changed. Many European buildings were constructed during the 19th century and early 20th century, using styles such as Baroque and Gothic.

In 1865, a part of the city walls overlooking the sea was demolished, and the stones were sold and used in the building of the Outer city. The money obtained from this sale (44 000 rubles) went into the construction of the Baku Boulevard. In 1867, the first fountains of Baku appeared in the Boulevard.

In this period two more gates were opened, one of them being famous Taghiyev Gate (1877). The opening of new gates and passes continued well into the Soviet period.

Neighborhoods

The Old City was divided into several quarters, which also served as social divisions. Sometimes, the divisions of the Old City were named after theirs mosque: for example, Juma Mosque quarter, Shal Mosque quarter, Mahammadyar Mosque quarter, etc.

List of main neighbourhoods

  • Seyyids, a quarter of clergymen
  • Aghshalvarlilar, a quarter of city nobles
  • Bozbashyemeyenler, a quarter of "those who do not eat meat"
  • Gemichiler, a quarter of shipbuilders and sailors
  • Hamamchilar, a quarter of public bath workers
  • Arabachilar, a quarter of wagoners and cart-drivers
  • Noyutchuler, a quarter of oil workers
  • Juhud Zeynallilar, a Jewish quarter
  • Lezgiler, a quarter of Dagestani armourers and blacksmiths
  • Gilaklar, a quarter of merchants from Gilan

Education

in old Baku.]] .]] The first known madrasa in the Old City was opened in the 12th century, and amongst its popular lectors was Baba Kuhi Bakuvi. Four hundred years later, another distinguished scholar named Seyid Yahya Bakuvi (died in 1403) founded a Darulfunun (the House of Arts and Sciences, a prototype of a modern university) at the Palace of the Shirvanshahs. But with the fall of the Shirvanshahs' state, the education in Baku gradually diminished. By 1806 there remained only twelve mollakhanas (primary and secondary schools, kept by mosques) in the Old City, and only three of them survived into 1900s. Later, all such schools were closed and replaced with modern kindergartens and state secular schools.

World Heritage site

In December 2000, the Old City of Baku with the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and Maiden Tower became the first location in Azerbaijan classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Three years later, in 2003, UNESCO placed the Old City on the List of World Heritage in Danger, citing damage from a November 2000 earthquake, poor conservation, and "dubious" restoration efforts.

In 2009 The World Heritage Committee praised Azerbaijan for its efforts to preserve the walled city of Baku and removed it from the endangered list.

Character and legacy

For a long period of time, an explicit symbol of the Old City was a mulberry tree located behind the Djuma Mosque. It was believed that the tree was several hundred years old. The tree made its way into many sayings and songs popular in the Old City, and became a local landmark. The place where that tree was located was referred to as Mulberry Tree Square. However, in 1970s the mulberry tree was cut down, because of the nearby construction works.

Another popular landmark of the Old City is the local bookstore that sells mostly second-hand, but also new books. Situated amongst the Bukhara and the Multani Caravanserais, the Maiden Tower, and Hajinsky’s Palace (otherwise known as Charles de Gaulle House, because he stayed there during World War II), it is a popular destination of Bakuvian students and bibliophiles, mostly because of its low prices.

The old city of Baku is depicted on the obverse of the Azerbaijani 10 manat banknote issued since 2006.

References

External links

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Rafig Shah
21 January 2017
Another popular landmark of the Old City is the local bookstore that sells mostly second-hand books. Situated amongst the Bukhara & the Caravanserais, the Maiden Tower & Hajinski’s Palace.
Mehrdad Azad
6 February 2018
The city remains stiil ornate and iconic. Walled and fortified for years. Intersections are breath taking
Just Me .. @what_food23
27 January 2019
An amazing monument in the Old City beneath Shirvashah's palace called The Vahid Monument .The writer created many beautiful poems and translated some Azerbaijani classics. I found it so touching ❤️
Nm
5 July 2019
The walled city, The inner city & The old city .. It’s A World Heritage Site by UNESCO !! Explore, Walk, Climb & don’t forget to buy souvenirs !! HISTORY of BAKU ..
Asmaa Almesaeed
19 November 2017
Beautiful place, Good for take a tour .. there are some restaurants and cafes
Just Me .. @what_food23
27 January 2019
If you’re a phone addict you better keep your head up and look where you’re going or you’ll end up on your face ???? Enjoy the view it is very interesting and is a shame if you don’t see it.
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