Old City (Baku) - Character and Legacy

Character and Legacy

For a long period of time, an explicit symbol of the Old City was a mulberry tree located behind the Djuma Mosque. It was believed that the tree was several hundred years old. The tree made its way into many sayings and songs popular in the Old City, and became a local landmark. The place where that tree was located was referred to as Mulberry Tree Square. However, in 1970s the mulberry tree was cut down, because of the nearby construction works.

Another popular landmark of the Old City is the local bookstore that sells mostly second-hand, but also new books. Situated amongst the Bukhara and the Multani Caravanserais, the Maiden Tower, and Hajinski’s Palace (otherwise known as Charles de Gaulle House, because he stayed there during World War II), it is a popular destination of Bakuvian students and bibliophiles, mostly because of its low prices.

The old city of Baku is depicted on the obverse of the Azerbaijani 10 manat banknote issued since 2006.

  • Icheri Sheher
  • Baku's Old City in 1796 (engraving by Sergeyev)

  • A Photo of Baku's Old City (1900s)

  • Maiden Tower

  • North Wall of the castle

  • Walls of the old City

  • One of the gates to the Old City.

  • Palace of the Shirvanshahs in old Baku.

  • Hammam and markets near the Maiden Tower

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