Highlights: Shahdag Tourism Center, Gecresh Village, Chanlibel Lake, Tenqealti Village, and etc.

Quba, Azerbaijan

Quba is one of the largest cities in Azerbaijan, located on picturesque hillsides 170 km (105 miles) to the north of Baku. In the mid 18th century, Quba was the capital of the Quba Khanate, but today, it is famous for its carpets, scenery, and delicious sweets.

The city itself is home to a number of architectural and historic monuments, like the Juma Mosque, Gilgilchay Fortress, and a number of other mosques and mausoleums. Explore historical monuments with a visit to the local hamam, a bathhouse visited by Alexandre Dumas when he was traveling through the region, and a beautiful brick bridge, built in 1894, one of the few to survive to this day.

Many people come to Quba as part of a trip to other parts around the city. Red Town is the world’s last surviving shtetl, a settlement of Mountain Jews with their own language and culture. Khinalug is the highest village in Azerbaijan, 2,350 m (7,710 ft) above sea level. Khinalug was isolated from the rest of the world for most of its history, leading to unique stone buildings and a language spoken nowhere else.

Quba is also popular just as a place to go to enjoy the beautiful nature of Azerbaijan. Winter brings tourists to the nearby Shahdag Ski Resort, a world-class ski resort with excellent ski runs in the winter. In the summer, people from all around Azerbaijan escape the heat by picnicking in the cool shade of the mountains, where there are plenty of forests and running rivers to make for a scenic trip.

Quba carpets also make for an interesting trip. These carpets feature intricate designs that take inspiration from nature and geometric patterns, plus a variety of vivid colors. Each village had signature patterns, though many have been lost to time. However, more recently, carpet workshops have been opening in Quba with the aim of bringing back the art of carpet weaving and reviving the skills and knowledge needed to keep this ancient art alive.