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“Icherisheher” Architectural and Urban Planning Complex

State Historical-Architectural Reserve State Historical-Architectural Reserve "Icherisheher"

Located on the southwest of the Absheron Peninsula on the shores of the Caspian Sea, on the slope of a hill, Icherisheher is the historical center of Baku. With its appearance reminiscent of a fortress-creamery and a residential area at the same time, Icherisheher is one of the largest “inner cities” in the world. Surrounded by fortress walls, Icherisheher has been a reserve-museum since 1977, and in 2000, together with the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Icherisheher is a city within a city, a living organism with residential areas and a fairly complex infrastructure. Currently, 1,300 families live in Icherisheher, which covers an area of ​​22.1 hectares. Hundreds of historical monuments are concentrated here, of which 4 are of world importance, 28 are of national importance, several museums, about twenty hotels, hundreds of catering and commercial facilities operate. At the same time, it is a city within a city. As a result of archaeological research conducted in the 20th century, a city was discovered under it. The country's leadership has always paid great attention to the protection and development of historical and architectural monuments located in the territory of Icherisheher. On February 17, 2003, the national leader of Azerbaijan, President of the country Heydar Aliyev signed an order "On the protection and restoration of the historical and architectural reserve Icherisheher". On February 10, 2005, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on the establishment of the "Administration of State Historical-Architectural Reserve "Icherisheher" under the Cabinet of Ministers". The main goal of the department is to implement state policy in the direction of the protection, study and restoration of material and cultural monuments in the territory of Icherisheher, to ensure the socio-economic development of the reserve, and to turn it into an international tourism center that meets modern requirements. In order to achieve these goals and to preserve and pass on to future generations the historical monuments and the entire architectural and urban complex concentrated in the Icherisheher, the Administration was granted the powers of central and local executive authorities in the territory of the reserve.

Master Plan and its importance Master Plan and its importance

However, there is also an unpleasant page in the recent history of Icherisheher. In 2003, Icherisheher was included in the “black list” of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. This list is called the “List of World Heritage Danger”. There were several reasons for this. The first is the result of the devastating earthquake that occurred in Baku in November 2000; the second is the uncontrolled construction work carried out in Icherisheher, which caused great damage to the reserve, as well as the illegal and unauthorized demolition of objects and structures of architectural and historical significance; the third reason is the lack of a unified management system and a long-term development concept in the territory of the reserve.

Removing the reserve from the UNESCO “black list” was not easy and would not have been possible without the attention of the country's leadership to this problem and the above-mentioned orders.

In addition, in parallel with the establishment of the Administration, serious measures were taken to stop illegal construction in the territory of the reserve. As a result, the demolition of buildings of historical significance was stopped. At the same time, with the participation of foreign experts and Azerbaijani specialists, a “Master Plan for the Conservation of Icherisheher” was prepared and a buffer zone was defined around Icherisheher. This zone also became a protected area. This is because the face of the old city is not limited to the protection of historical monuments located on its territory, but is also determined by the view from the buffer zone of Icherisheher.

The main goal of the Master Plan is to ensure the systematic conservation of the architectural heritage of the Icherisheher and its future planned development that meets international principles. In accordance with the plan, it is intended to study the history of each building in Icherisheher; analyze their functional use, study their condition; determine their historical and architectural value; and also determine the feasibility of restoring the mentioned buildings. As a result of the research conducted, future steps were determined. At the same time, the state of the utility and communication infrastructure of the Baku Fortress was analyzed. The Master Plan is the most important document in determining the urban planning concept in Icherisheher. This document can be called a master plan for the conservation and development of the old city. It was a very complex, difficult task, and was developed over several years by a group of international experts with the involvement of Azerbaijani specialists.

Master Plan and its importance
International experts' assessment

International experts' assessment International experts' assessment

The work carried out by Azerbaijan in this direction has been highly appreciated by international experts. In addition, the UNESCO expert mission that visited the Reserve recommended using the management method of Icherisheher as an example for other reserves included in the World Heritage List, especially those facing danger.

The decision to remove Icherisheher from the “black list” was made at the next annual session of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Committee held in Seville, Spain, on June 25, 2009. The participants were informed about the work done and came to the conclusion that there is no threat to the preservation of Icherisheher as a unique value.

The name of the historical center of Baku as Icherisheher is associated with the expansion of the city from the walls of the Citadel in the middle of the 19th century due to the oil boom. The Baku Citadel is located in the center of Baku, on the banks of the Caspian Sea, on hills and is surrounded by citadel walls. The walls are 8-10 meters high and 3.5 meters wide.

Unique historical monuments and a wide range of tourist offers have made it the most suitable place for tourism. This is the most romantic place to relax, where you will travel to the ancient and medieval era and be charged with positive energy.

Religious policy of our country Religious policy of our country

In his speech at the IV International Humanitarian Forum held in Baku on October 26, 2018, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said: “Representatives of different peoples and religions have lived as one family in Azerbaijan for centuries in peace, tranquility, and friendship. The state policy pursued in this direction in Azerbaijan yields good results. Our historical past and culture confirm that representatives of different religions have always lived together and peacefully in Azerbaijan. Our historical and religious monuments testify to our ancient history and confirm that Azerbaijan is a native land, a native place for representatives of other religions. The stability and civic solidarity that exist in Azerbaijan today are based on these values.”

Religious policy of our country