Virtual tour to KarabakhThe land of the creativity

Rich material culture, history, art and music.

Shusha “ Heart of Azerbaijan”Established in the 18th century, it was a capital of the independent Karabakh khanate, and Shusha became a cradle of Azerbaijani Turkic culture, literature and music. In the 1870s, Master Sadigjan developed the first tar (stringed instrument) in Shusha, and its rich musical tradition also influenced Uzeyir Hajibeyov, who established Azerbaijani classical music and opera; also being the birthplace of Bül-Bül, founder of Azerbaijani operatic singing; composers Fikret Amirov and Farhad Badalbeyli; and poetess Khurshudbanu Natavan, amongst others.

“There is an Eastern music culture apart from European music and, as people of the East, if we neglect Eastern music in musical education we will not fulfil our cultural task honourably. The tar is the most important, most valuable musical instrument, allowing us to develop Eastern musical education” (U. Hajibeyov, the great Azerbaijani composer of the first Eastern opera, brilliantly combining musical cultures of East and West).

If Not That One, Then This One (1911) is U.Hajibeyov”s second musical comedy.

Historical Heritage of Shusha

Modern Artist Sayyar Aliyev- Van Gogh of ShushaI spent a significant amount of my life, and which ranks amongst the most picturesque regions of Azerbaijan. I graduated from Shusha Secondary School and thereafter became a teacher. I feel at home in every region of Azerbaijan, but Shusha is a different world for me. It is an ancient, charming town, surrounded by fascinating scenery.

Seyyar Aliyev - Shusha the land of creativity

The Azykh Cave – one of the most ancient protohuman habitations in Eurasia – located in the Azerbaijani village of Khojavend in Nagorno-Karabakh.

The colourful Carpets of Karabakh. The art of weaving !

Gasimushagi Carpets. The territory of Lachin on the development of skills in handicrafts.At the beginning 1750th after erection the city of Shusha, the carpet schools of Karabakh was concentrated in Shusha by the Khan of Shusha, Panakhali Khan. The value of Textile Art of Karabakh resulted in a rapid progress of this art in the region and by expanding in other geographic territories also led to the development knitting and embroidery art in Zangezur and Nakhchivan. At that time, the knitting and embroidery art spread to entire the region Lachin. Because of the absence of specialised textile centers, in many written sources the knitting art of Lachin was related to the Karabakh weaving center. The first samples of carpets "Gasimushagi" are currently kept in Turkey, in the city of Istanbul at the Museum of Topkhana.In 2010 on postage stamps of the Czech Republic the illustration of Gasimushagi carpets was given

The Karabakh horses are a symbol of national heritage and pride. The Karabakh horse is known for its strength, speed and endurance.

Karabakh Horse

Gasimushagi Carpets

Protection Cultural Heritage (NGO):Azerbaijani traditional headwear Kalagayi was included in the list of protected intangible heritages of UNESCO.Kelagayi, known as "chargat" in the western regions of Azerbaijan, has been produced in Azerbaijan since the ancient times. Azerbaijani cities such as Ganja, Shamakhi, Sheki, and Nakhchivan, and Basqal settlement of the Ismayilli region were famous for high quality kelagayi production.

Lavash (yukha - thin flat bread, yayma - spread)It is a kind of bread made of water, flour and salt. Fragile bread is thin than pide. It is used for rolling, too. It is widely consumed in Azerbaijan,