Northwestern Route: Oghuz

OGHUZ DISTRICT lies on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, in the Shaki-Zagatala zone of the country. To the north the district borders Russia. It is so beautiful that it is called the Switzerland of Azerbaijan: forests cover just under half of its territory. There are many waterfalls, sulfur springs and thermal waters coming to the surface through mine workings. Wildlife: hares, bears, wild boar, wild goats, pheasants, partridges, geese; among fish, catfish and trout. Plenty of fruit, nuts and berries grow in the district: apple, pear, cornelian cherry, hawthorn, sweet cherry, cherry plum, currant, raspberry.

Traditional folk crafts have survived: carpet weaving (the village of FILFILLI), metal and wood carving (the village of BASH-DASHAGIL).

People were already living here in settled communities in the Neolithic era. At the beginning of the Common Era this territory was part of Caucasian Albania, and in the 18th century part of the Shaki Khanate. Near the villages of KARIMLI and GARABALDIR archaeologists discovered ancient settlements. Spearheads, bronze weapons, stone female figurines and staffs were found here.

The district has many ancient historical and architectural monuments: the DASHUZ bridge (19th century) on the SARI-SU river not far from the village of Khachmaz; an 18th-century mosque in the village of SINJAN; a 15th-century MAUSOLEUM in the village of KARIMLI; a three-story 14th-century tower in the village of MUKHAS; the GABUR defensive tower (6th-14th centuries) in the village of Khachmaz, on the summit of GALADAG mountain; the GAVURGALA tower (7th century), also on a summit not far from the Galadag tower, but supplied with drinking water; and the SURKHAYKHAN tower (18th century), built of river stone, on the bank of the GALACHAY river not far from the village of FILFILLI.

The TOWN OF OGHUZ is the administrative center of the district. It has a Jewish quarter with an old SYNAGOGUE (1849), an ALBANIAN TEMPLE that now houses the local history museum, and one of the oldest operating schools in Azerbaijan, built in the 19th century (there are similar schools in the villages of PADAR and KHACHMAZ).

There are many spots for fishing and hunting here, starting just 15-20 km from the town. Local guides can be hired in the town and the villages.