azerbaijan
Sheki is set in a
picturesque mountain area rich in narrow gorges and green
valleys, springs, purest rivers, water falls and mineral water
springs framed by dense woods and alpine meadows. Not far from
Sheki in one of the most beautiful and picturesque places of the
country is the Markhal Resort.
Archeological data
testify that the city can be considered one of the oldest
settlements in the Caucasus ; many finds on its territory are
dated as old as 2,500 years.
The Palace of Shaki
Khans
Arguably the most
visible landmark of Shaki, The Palace
of Shaki Khans was a summer residence of Shaki
Khans, Constructed in 1762 without a single nail is
one of the most marvelous monuments of its epoch.[9] Displayed
within the palace are Azerbaijani Khanate-era artifacts, as well
as displays of the art scene, considered to be among the finest
in the world.
Measuring thirty-two
meters by eight and a half meters on the exterior, the palace is
a two-story brick masonry structure elongated on the north-south
axis and covered with a wooden hipped roof with long eaves. The
layout of both floors is identical; three rectangular rooms are
placed in a row, separated by narrow, south-facing iwans that
provide access to the rooms. So beautiful the Palace is, that
NazimHIkmet , a Turkish poet, wrote: "If there will be no other
building in Azerbaijan it will be enough to show Khan Palace to
the world".
Gelersen-gerersen fortress
4 km from Sheki on the
bank of the river Kish one can see the picturesque ruins of for
"Gelersen-gerersen" Fortress. The fortress stands on the top of
mount Garatepe. Presumably its foundation was laid in the 15th
century by the ruler of Sheki. For many years the fortress
protected approaches to the city from foreign aggressors. It was
superbly reinforced with several lines of thick walls. The
impregnability of this fortress was even mentioned in written
sources.
The name of the fortress
can be translated as "You come -you'll see". The whole period of
the city's history is connected with it. In the 18th century
when Sheki was attacked by Iranian ruler Nadirshakh , the ruler
of Sheki, GadzhiChelebi, refused to surrender. Enraged
Nadirshakh wanted to find out his hiding place.
GadzhiChelebireplied : "You come - you'll see". The story tells
that in 1744 Nadirshakh with his huge army approached the
fortress, but could not take it by storm and was forced to
retreat. It was then when the fortress got its name "Gelersen-
gerersen".
