Shirvanshah Palace

History Shirvanshah Palace – the pearl of the architectural heritage of Azerbaijan, the former residence of the rulers of Shirvan, located in the heart of Baku. In addition to the palace, the amazingly beautiful complex includes the Divan-Khan courtyard, tomb, […]

     

History

Shirvanshah Palace – the pearl of the architectural heritage of Azerbaijan, the former residence of the rulers of Shirvan, located in the heart of Baku. In addition to the palace, the amazingly beautiful complex includes the Divan-Khan courtyard, tomb, mosque in 1441, as well as the bathhouse and mausoleum of court scholar Seyid Yahya Bakuvi.

The palace complex was built for more than a decade, constantly growing with new buildings and courtyards from about the 13th to the 16th century. However, despite such a large variation in time, the ensemble of the Shirvanshah Palace makes a strikingly complete artistic impression. And all thanks to the sensitivity and attentiveness of each next generation of architects: it is clear how cubic and multifaceted architectural volumes are strictly observed, a constantly carved stone pattern, rhythm, and proportionality of architectural forms. This is truly a masterpiece in stone.
The palace complex is located on the top of the Baku hill, in the old part of the city, surrounded by ancient fortress walls. The oldest part of the palace, which was also erected not “once”, but throughout several centuries, is an octagonal hall on the second floor of the end of the 14th century. In general, according to its design, the palace is a fairly complex figure. For example, the western, northern, and part of the eastern facades are an incomplete rectangle; the southern facade consists of two trihedral lanterns and a broken line between them. It is difficult to imagine in words, but in appearance, the building makes a grand impression.

To date, the palace has three narrow spiral staircases and 52 rooms, as well as an octagonal main hall. Inside there is an exposition of finds made during archaeological excavations, in particular, household items, coins of the 12th – 15th centuries, copperware, weapons and decorations of the 19th century, musical instruments of the 15th century. The highlight of the collection is Shamakhi carpets.

Divan Khane

Through a small opening, you can get into the closed courtyard of Divan Khan, in the center of which, on a high stylobate, is an 8-sided rotunda pavilion. There are several versions of the appointment of Divan Khan (late 15th century). Perhaps it was here legal proceedings, the State Council, the emergency rooms or the mausoleum.

You can see how strictly observed cubic and multi-faceted architectural volumes constantly traced a carved pattern on the stone, rhythm, and proportionality of architectural forms. The Shirvanshahs Palace is truly a masterpiece in stone.
Mausoleum of Seyid Yahya Bakuvi
The Dervish Mausoleum (second half of the 15th century) is buried within its walls by the great court scholar, Khalil Ulla I Seyid Yahya Bakuvi, who at one time was engaged in medicine, mathematics, and astrology. In the northern part of the building, you can see the arched opening, which once connected the mausoleum with the ancient mosque.

Kay-Kubad Mosque

The “old” mosque or Kay-Kubad mosque, the one that adjoined the dervish mausoleum, was built in the late 14th and early 15th centuries after the destruction of an even more ancient building, on the foundation of which it was erected. Alas, in 1918 it burned down during a fire.

During the excavations of the 20s of the 20th century, they discovered a crypt with scattered remains of up to twenty human skeletons. It turns out that even earlier there was a cemetery around the mosque and the mausoleum.

Eastern portal

The Murad Gate, or East Portal, led to the territory of the southern courtyard. The construction of this particular fragment completed the formation of the architectural ensemble of the Shirvanshahs Palace. The upper part of the portal is decorated with an inscription in Arabic: “He commanded to build this noble building in the days of the most just and great Sultan, Sultan Murad Khan, the Ulu. Rajab Baba Bakuyi in the year nine hundred and ninety-four. ”

Shrine

The building of the Shirvanshahs’ tomb is also often called the “Turbe”, it is located directly opposite the entrance to the palace. Over it proudly towers magnificently decorated portal.

During the excavations in the tomb, fragments of gravestones were found, as well as a number of graves of members of the Halilullah family. A total of 14 crypts were found with, presumably, the remains of the son of Khalilullah and his mother Khalilullah.

Coordinates

Address: Icherisheher, Palace Lane, 76. Tel .: (+994 12) 492-10-73. Getting there: Art. m. “Icheri Sheher.”

Opening hours: 10: 00-18: 00.

Cost of attendance: 2 AZN, schoolchildren 0.20 AZN, students 0.60 AZN.

Prices on the page are as of August 2018.

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