19223_ATB_EA Season Guides_22_V_PREVIEW

Mardakan
Castle
This 12th-century castle is
located in the coastal village of
Mardakan. The quadrangular
stronghold was erected to honour
a victory of Shirvanshah
king Akhsitan I and served as
a shelter, defence and observation
point. The height of the
main tower is 22 metres; you
can climb up and enjoy great
views at the top. This is one of
two castles in Mardakan which
in the past formed part of a
network of observation and
defensive forts spanning the
Absheron Peninsula. Others still
exist in the villages of Ramana
and Gala.
30 | EXPERIENCE AZERBAIJAN
Chirag Gala
Believe it or not, in Azerbaijan
there was once a defensive
wall similar to the Great Wall of
China. It began at the sea north
of the Absheron Peninsula and
stretched for many kilometres
up into the mountains, culminating
at 1,246m at the mysterious
watchtower of Chirag Gala.
Dating from the 4th-5th centuries
AD, this tower, whose name
means “Lamp Tower,” was used
for defence and signalling purposes
and protected the paths
of the Silk Road passing through
Azerbaijan. When an enemy
approached, a fire was lit at the
top of the castle and was visible
for miles around.
Sumuggala
An icon of the historic
village of Ilisu, Gakh
region, this three-storey
defensive tower
was built in the 17th or
18th centuries (sources
differ) when the
village was the centre
of the Ilisu Sultanate,
a semi-independent
khanate. The rectangular
two-toned tower was
used to defend against
imperial Russian forces
during the Caucasian
War. Sumug-gala is also
synonymous with the
popular Soviet film Don’t
Worry, I’m With You!,
an adventure comedy
about two circus performers.
Today it houses
a small museum on the
Ilisu Sultanate which is
open only in summer.
EXPERIENCE AZERBAIJAN | 31