The Caravanserai is a historical monument in Sheki,

Azerbaijan Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...

. A part of building is now used as a hotel.

Historical information

Swift development of trade in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

enhanced the importance of

caravanserai A caravanserai (or caravansary; ) was an inn that provided lodging for travelers, merchants, and Caravan (travellers), caravans. They were present throughout much of the Islamic world. Depending on the region and period, they were called by a ...

s in the territory of

, favoring the construction of new ones. Generally, caravanserais were built in form of fortified structures with a single gate. During dangerous incidents the gate could be closed, rendering the building impregnable. The “Caravanserai” historical complex in Sheki consists of two magnificent caravanserais, traditionally named “Yukhary” and “Ashaghy” caravanserais, which in Azerbaijani signify the "Upper" and "Lower" Caravanserai, respectively. Construction of these caravanserais is dated to the 18th–19th centuries AD.

Lower caravanserai

The "Lower" caravanserai has a rectangular shape with a large inner courtyard, in the centre of which is a pool. The total area of the caravanserai is and its dimensions are . Four entrances lead to the yard from the four corners of the building. There are 242 rooms. Historically, there were merchant shops and storage rooms in the

coaching inn The coaching inn (also coaching house or staging inn) was a vital part of Europe's inland transport infrastructure until the development of the railway, providing a resting point ( layover) for people and horses. The inn served the needs of t ...

, but the first floor was intended for guests to whom the rooms were leased. Each room had a hole which was connected to the ground floor with a stepladder, which made it easier for merchants the monitor the security of their goods. Since 1988, the lower caravanserai is used as a hotel complex for tourists, guests of the city and local residents. There is a restaurant of national cuisine that seats 100 guests. There are luxury suites in compliance with international standards in the hotel.

Upper caravanserai

The "Upper" caravanserai is located on more uneven terrain as the Gurjan River runs nearby. It has a trapezoidal floor plan with a total area of . The front façade of the building overlooks the street and has a height of , but the inner façade is tall. There are about 300 rooms and store rooms in the upper part of the caravanserai. Unlike the lower caravanserai, the upper caravanserai isn't used as a hotel. It attracts tourists as a historical and architectural monument and local sightseeing.

References

External links

Detailed recordings from the caravanserai
Caravanserais in Azerbaijan 19th-century establishments in Azerbaijan Silk Road Monuments and memorials in Azerbaijan Tourist attractions in Azerbaijan Hotels in Azerbaijan {{Azerbaijan-struct-stub