Monuments
The Shirvanshahs Palace Complex
The Shirvanshahs Palace Complex
The Shirvanshahs Palace Complex is a magnificent architectural monument inherited from the powerful Shirvanshahs state with a thousand-year history and a symbol of the statehood of the Azerbaijani people. The Shirvanshahs Palace Complex is the only palace that has survived to our time from dozens of palaces belonging to the Shirvanshahs in Azerbaijan.
The palace consists of three inner courtyards surrounded by strong walls. The first courtyard houses the Residential Building and the mausoleum built for Farrukh Yasar himself. The Dervish Mausoleum, the remains of the Bayil Castle, the foundation of the now defunct Key Gubad Mosque, and the Eastern Portal are located in the middle courtyard. The lower courtyard houses the Shirvanshahs' family mausoleum and the Palace Mosque. The Palace Bath and Ovdan are located in the lowest part of the Complex.
The two-story residential building is the oldest building in the complex. The palace once had 52 rooms. 27 of them were on the first floor and 25 on the second floor. The lower floor with narrow windows in the form of a storeroom was intended for servants, household chores and warehouses. The Shirvanshahs lived in the rooms with wide windows on the upper floor with their close people.
The latest building of the complex is the East Portal. The East Portal, known as the Murad Gate, was built much later than all the monuments of the complex, in the 16th century.
The entire area of the middle courtyard is covered with stone slabs with inscriptions and images. These stones are the remains of the Bayil Fortress, one of the most interesting architectural monuments of the middle ages, which was submerged in the Baku Bay for many centuries.
The Dervish Mausoleum and the remains of the Key-Gubad Mosque are also located in the second courtyard.
The memorial tomb of the Shirvanshahs and the Shah Mosque are located in the lower courtyard.
The palace bath and Ovdan are located in the lowest part of the complex.