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Shamakhi
ℹ️Practical info — Shamakhi
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- The Juma Mosque is one of the oldest in the Caucasus; remember to dress modestly and remove your shoes before entering.
- Visit the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory in Pirgulu at night; clear mountain skies offer great stargazing.
- Winters in the Pirgulu area can be snowy and cold, so pack layers if traveling outside of summer.
- Stop by a local vineyard to taste Azerbaijani wines, as this is a historic winemaking region.
🍽 Food
A traditional sweet pastry you can find at local bakeries.
A hearty lamb stew often served in clay pots at traditional restaurants near the center.
Visit a winery estate in the surrounding hills for regional wine tasting.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
Look for traditional Shirvan style carpets and rugs in local artisan shops.
The mountainous surroundings produce excellent honey, available at the bazaar.
A serene, historic cemetery area overlooking the city.
Great for a quiet walk amidst forested mountains and fresh air.
Water temperature…
Shamakhi sits at roughly seven hundred metres altitude on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus about a hundred and twenty kilometres west of Baku and looks back on over two thousand years of history. From the ninth to the sixteenth century the city was the splendid capital of the Shirvanshah dynasty and a major centre of science, poetry and silk trade. The Juma Mosque of Shamakhi, originally built in 743, is the oldest mosque in Azerbaijan and, after several rebuildings, remains the symbol of the town. Shamakhi has been struck repeatedly by devastating earthquakes, which is why many historic buildings were lost. Today the region is known for its vineyards, whose grapes are processed in modern wineries into rosé wines and sparkling wines. In the nearby mountains lies the famous Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory, home to the largest telescope in the Caucasus.
- Location: Azerbaijan
- Top sights: Rabitə Qulləsi · Yeni Tikili Şamaxı · Şahmat Mərkəzi
- Nearby: Sabirabad (51 km)
- Population: ~29.403 (2026)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is May, Jun, Sep.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 2 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 21 | 15 | 8 | 3 |
| Rain mm | 16 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 20 | 11 | 10 | 25 | 32 | 28 | 17 |
Geography
Facts
- The Juma Mosque was originally constructed in the year 743
- Served as the Shirvanshah capital from the 9th to 16th century
- A devastating earthquake destroyed the city in 1902
- The Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory was founded in 1958
- Located at an average altitude of 800 meters
- Ptolemy mentioned the city as Kamachia in the 2nd century
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Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Shamakhi (6)
Frequently asked questions
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