Baku, March 29, AZERTAC

If Baku is the heart of Azerbaijan, then Ganja - a city famous as birthplace of legendary Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi and the first capital of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) is its soul.

The city has impressed travelers, not only with the wealth of its shops, the works of its skilled craftsmen, the perfection of its palaces and mosques and its impenetrable city walls, but above all, with the breadth of its resident’s views, the independence and courage of their judgment, their high culture and bravery.

Ganja, which is the second largest city of Azerbaijan and the fourth largest one in the Transcaucasus, is located at the north-eastern foot of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, in one of the most beautiful corners of the country.

Lying on ancient trade routes and caravan ways, the city has played an important role in the history and culture of Azerbaijan.

Along with its economic significance, Ganja and its environs are distinguished by a rich historical and natural heritage, which makes the city the largest tourist center of Azerbaijan.

Interesting facts about the city

From 1804 until 1918 under the Russian Empire, the city was renamed from Ganja to Elisabethpol in honour of the wife of Alexander I of Russia, Elisabeth.

Ganja was the European Youth Capital in 2016, the first EYC outside of the European Union.

The city also became the cultural capital of the Commonwealth of Independent States for 2017.

The reference to Ganja city can be found in the famous “Kitabi-Dada Gorgud” epic - the common heritage of the Turkic world, which has more than a thousand-year history reflecting the heroism, wisdom, and historical past of the Azerbaijani people, spiritual values, customs and traditions of the Oghuz Turks, and Azerbaijani toponyms.

Ganja’s Bottle House

One of Ganja's most unusual building, the Bottle House is a curious two-story building worth visiting and sharing with a picture.

The most unusual building in Ganja is the Bottle House, a two-story building completed in 1967 by Ibrahim Jafarov as a shrine to his brother who went missing during World War II. The walls are adorned with 48,000 bottles of different sizes and colours. During the construction of the building, colored stones brought from the Russian city of Sochi were used.

Walking and relaxation in the largest park in the Caucasus

Heydar Aliyev Park, one of the symbols of modern Ganja, is a unique place where you can experience a variety of activities, from active recreation to just a walk in the greenery.

The park, covering an area of 450 hectares, offers interesting entertainment for everyone from children to adults. Visitors can enjoy various activities such as walking, picnics, an amusement park with fun rides, cycling and even horseback riding in summer.

Passing through the Triumphal Arch, visitors enter a wide alley, almost 2 km long, which stretches to the end of the complex. The park has a total of 16 fountains, made in a modern architectural style and lined with granite. The amphitheater, the museum of modern art, a waterfall and an artificial lake give a special attraction to the park. The complex has a cafe, entertainment center, recreation centers, bike rental, and various children's attractions.

Due to its diverse cultural and natural heritage, the city offers the opportunities for intercultural and inter-religion dialogue among various communities and civilizations, where, even today Christians and Muslims live in peace and in tolerance side by side.