Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower

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The Walled City of Baku: A Cultural Melting Pot and UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Walled City of Baku, located in the heart of the Azerbaijani capital, stands as a testament to the rich cultural history that has shaped this region for millennia. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, the Walled City offers a unique blend of architectural styles, reflecting the diverse influences that have left their mark on this ancient city.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Built on a site inhabited since the Palaeolithic period, the Walled City of Baku reveals evidence of Zoroastrian, Sasanian, Arabic, Persian, Shirvani, Ottoman, and Russian presence in cultural continuity. The Inner City (Icheri Sheher) has preserved much of its 12th-century defensive walls. The 12th-century Maiden Tower (Giz Galasy) is built over earlier structures dating from the 7th to 6th centuries BC, and the 15th-century Shirvanshahs' Palace is one of the pearls of Azerbaijan's architecture.

UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site

Criterion (iv): The Walled City of Baku represents an outstanding and rare example of an historic urban ensemble and architecture with influence from Zoroastrian, Sassanian, Arabic, Persian, Shirvani, Ottoman, and Russian cultures.

Encyclopedia Record: Old City (Baku)

Old City or Inner City is the historical core of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The Old City is the most ancient part of Baku, which is surrounded by walls. In 2007, the Old City had a population of about 3,000 people. 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 UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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