Chirag Gala ( az, Çıraqqala), also spelled Çiraq Qala or Çirax Qala, which means ''lamp castle'' in
Azerbaijani is a ruined ancient fortress overlooking the
Caspian Caspian can refer to:
*The Caspian Sea
*The Caspian Depression, surrounding the northern part of the Caspian Sea
*The Caspians, the ancient people living near the Caspian Sea
*Caspian languages, collection of languages and dialects of Caspian peopl ...
coastal plains north of
Baku in
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of t ...
. It is located on the top of a mountain, in the Guba Forest. It was constructed by the
Sassanid
The Sasanian () or Sassanid Empire, officially known as the Empire of Iranians (, ) and also referred to by historians as the Neo-Persian Empire, was the last Iranian empire before the early Muslim conquests of the 7th-8th centuries AD. Named ...
Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
ns in the 5th century, it was used as a defense for the khanate of
Quba
Quba () is a city and the administrative centre of the Quba District of Azerbaijan. The city lies on the north-eastern slopes of Shahdag mountain, at an altitude of 600 metres above sea level, on the right bank of the Kudyal river. It has a po ...
in the 18th century.
Today the Chirag Gala is a historic site and is frequently visited by tourists. Because of the large rocks and rough road, the Chirag Gala is almost impossible to reach with any vehicle. Most tourists and people travel by foot to the top of the mountain.
History
Chirag gala was built in 4-5th century AD and its function is stated as a lookout post.
The location allows to easily warn if sudden enemy invasion occurs by lighting the torches. That's why it's called "Chirag Gala" which means "lamp fortress". Chirag gala was part of the Gilgichay defensive system, which also included Baku and Derbent fortresses.
Chirag gala has stopped its defensive functions in the 18th century. In the middle of the 20th century, the fortress was partially renovated.
Building plan
One of the main advantages of Chirag gala is the terrain.
Fortress has a form of an irregular rectangle. In the north east of fortress deep cliffs adjoin the main complex.
The fortress consists of 17 towers, 1 big and 16 small towers.
The towers allow the observation of the surroundings for a few tens kilometers.
Gallery
Çıraqqala (23).jpg
Çıraqqala (21).jpg
Çıraqqala (20).jpg
Çıraqqala (17).jpg
Çıraqqala (25).jpg
Çıraqqala (29).jpg
Çıraqqala (33).jpg
Çıraqqala (14).jpg
Notes
Buildings and structures completed in the 5th century
Sasanian castles
Castles and fortresses in Azerbaijan
Tourist attractions in Azerbaijan
Monuments and memorials in Azerbaijan
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