Julfa, Azerbaijan (city)

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Julfa ( also German Julfa of Russian Джульфа; Armenian Ջուղա, Dschugha ) is a town in Azerbaijan and the capital of the district of Julfa in the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic. The city lies on the River Aras on the border with Iran and had about 11,700 inhabitants in 2008. On the other bank of the river lies the Iranian city Dscholfa.

History

In the Middle Ages the town was an important trading center on the road from Persia to Armenia and was populated by Christians and Muslims. From the 15th century, the city lost its importance, especially after the wars between the Ottoman Empire and Persia in the 16th century. But even at the beginning of the 17th century, the city had about 20,000 inhabitants. 1604, the city was burned down but by the Shah Abbas I, because he could not defend against the Turks. The residents were deported to Isfahan, where there is an Armenian community and an inhabited from this and named after Julfa New Julfa district - today.

The city was then largely abandoned and parts of the old Julfa were destroyed at the beginning of the 20th century during the construction of the railway line. The 1848 newly founded town won by the rail link from 1906 again in importance. Starting around 1880 a year went 80-90 caravans with Turkish and Persian goods to the value of 1.6 million rubles by Julfa. It had 200 inhabitants, a post office and telegraph station and 24 mostly lying in ruins churches.

Armenian cemetery

Close to town, at Old Julfa to Armenian cemetery from the 15th and 16th centuries was over 3,000 grave stones. The cemetery of Julfa was divided into three areas. The first sector comprised tombs of the 9th to the 13th century, the second sector, the 14th and 15th centuries and the third sector the 16th century to 1605, he covered 1,600 square meters and originally probably about 10,000 khachkar ( literally Cross Stone, . Typical stelae the Armenian stone carving ). 1903 the construction of the railway between Julfa and Hamadan (Iran) about 6000 cross-stones were destroyed. However, this was from 1998 to 2006 completely destroyed. Mid-December 2005 the Azerbaijani army leveled the plant and converted it into a military training area, which is now inaccessible as a closed military zone. The destruction has been criticized by the European Parliament and referred to as breaking the World Heritage Convention. The Armenian government and spokesman of the European Parliament threw Azerbaijan before a procedure similar to that of the Taliban with the Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan. Azerbaijan rejected the allegations and allowed foreign observers not allowed to enter the area.

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Armenian language Jolfa Armenian cemetery in Julfa Hamedan
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