Shaki brings together protected urban history and craftsmanship whose techniques can be seen up close. The historic centre of Sheki, including the Palace of the Khans, has been protected since 1967; the historic centre of Shaki is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A look at the palace, mosque, crafts and cuisine reveals different sides of the city. This way, you can get to know Shaki through its architecture, methods of production and local specialities.

City and landscape

The historic city of Shaki lies at the foot of the Greater Caucasus. The Gurjana River divides it into two parts—two striking features that define the place both in terms of landscape and layout. A trip to Gurjana Waterfall can also be planned around a well-known landmark: the route there starts at the Palace of the Khans of Shaki. Including the city’s history and this route in your plans gives you a specific starting point, without assuming a particular walking time.

Palace, mosque and historic buildings

The Palace of the Khans of Shaki stands at one of the highest points in the city. Built at the end of the 18th century as an administrative building for the Khans of Shaki, it is also a monument from the era of the khanates. Its Shebeke windows offer a particularly clear example of this craftsmanship: the glass windows are made without glue or nails. You can also discover the technique at the Shaki fortress, where a Shebeke workshop displays mosaics made of tiny pieces of glass held together in wooden lattices.

Another way to explore the city’s history is to visit the Khan Mosque. It dates from the 18th century; a museum in its courtyard displays artefacts and cultural objects from the time of the Shaki Khanate. The palace was built more specifically toward the end of the same century and served an administrative purpose. Taken together, these buildings tell the story not only of an era, but also of the different functions and forms of its cultural heritage.

The Yuxarı Karvansaray also dates from the 18th century and comprises up to 300 rooms and cellars. Its scale provides a different point of interest from the palace windows, described in detail for their craftsmanship: here, the focus is on its size and rooms; there, on a distinctive building technique. Visitors interested in Shaki’s architecture can therefore explore different aspects of the city.

Crafts and silk production

The Sheki Museum of Applied Arts is located in the Yukhari Bash State Historical and Architectural Reserve. Its four halls display around 600 examples of applied or decorative art. For a further insight into local production, a visit to the Shaki Silk Factory offers the opportunity to observe silk production. Crafts and silk thus offer two distinct ways to learn about handiwork in Shaki.

Discover halwa and dolma for yourself

Halwa is Shaki’s best-known sweet and a local variety of pakhlava. Its layers of rice-dough lattice contain ground nuts, syrup, spices and saffron. If you are interested not only in the ingredients but also in how it is made, you can attend a halwa-making masterclass at a traditional sweet shop. Local confectioners share family recipes that have been passed down through generations. The sweet thus becomes a way to explore how craftsmanship and culinary tradition come together.

You can also learn about Dopu-Dolmasi in Shaki as part of a masterclass. This distinctive variety of dolma is prepared in a clay pot. The VIP Karvan Restaurant in the centre of Shaki offers such a class; advance booking is required to take part. Halwa and Dopu-Dolmasi thus offer two different culinary insights: one is a well-known sweet with layers of ingredients, the other a distinctive cooking method using a clay pot.

Discover more destinations

Sheki, Bideyiz, Baku, Sumgait, Oghuz, Siazan, Absheron and Qabala.

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