Old City (Baku)

İçəri Şəhər ( Azerbaijani, Itschäri Schähär, downtown) is the historical, partially enclosed by a wall part of downtown in the center of Baku, Azerbaijan. İçəri Şəhər was taken in 2000 by the UNESCO list of world cultural heritage.

History

Baku was in the Middle Ages in the territory of the Shirvanshahs and was in the 12th century as its capital after Schemacha was destroyed by an earthquake. The ruler Abul Hidsha Manutschechra (1120-1149) rebuilt the city walls on the individual sections still originate from the 11th century. Until the 19th century it was repeatedly rebuilt and expanded. With two consecutive walls they encircled an area of 21.5 hectares.

After the Russian conquest in 1806, the walls were re-amplified. Today, the wall exists only on the northern and western side of the old town. The shape of the city remained until well into the 19th century received, most of the houses in the narrow streets date from the period after the Russian conquest in 1783, many historic buildings are much older.

Monuments

In the center of the old town is situated on the top of the hill the palace of Shirvanshahs, a complex of medieval palaces, mausoleums and mosques. The most famous building is the Maiden's Tower, built between the 6th and 12th century. There are several madrasas, caravanserais and the Haji Gaib Hamami from the time of the Safavids. Two Zoroastrian fire temple originated in the 17th century. From the same period the Kasumbek Mosque and the Kasumbek Caravanserai come. The Muhammad Mosque with the Synyk -Kala Minaret is the oldest among the many Muslim houses of worship in the Old Town dar.

Earthquake of 2000

In November 2000, an earthquake shook the city. In the following years, many historic buildings were demolished in the city, particularly in order to make room for the establishment of representative offices of international companies. The number of inhabitants increased from 5000 from 3200. That's why the World Heritage Committee in 2003, İçəri Şəhər decided to bet on the Red List of World Heritage in Danger.

Were also criticized the responsibilities for the protection and preservation of the buildings and the fragmented city planning that prevent effective management. Therefore, in 2005 a unified administration was established, which has since stopped the construction activities. 2009, the site was re- painted and acknowledged that the buffer zone around the old city now offers a better protection of the Red List.