Designing Tourism Infrastructure Around the “Shahbulag” Castle Complex

Information about the project:

The project is initiated by the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan to restore the “Shahbulag Castle” complex, located 5 km from the center of Aghdam city and recognized as a locally significant immovable historical and cultural monument under state protection. The project also aims to design tourism infrastructure around the complex following modern urban planning principles.

Within the scope of this initiative, the preparation of design documents will be carried out with financial support from the Karabakh Revival Fund (KRF).

The following activities are planned under the project:

• Development of a general plan and landscaping design for the allocated 10-hectare area of the Shahbulag Castle project.
• Preparation of appropriate architectural and planning solutions.
• Development of explanatory 3D visualizations.
• Designing solutions for roofing the archaeological zone and the open-air stone museum.
• Preparing working projects for a restaurant, hotel building, children’s playground, and outdoor event areas.
• Designing construction, electrical systems, topography of the area,  on-site communications, and other works.

Scope of Work

For the 10-hectare area:

• Preparation of the general plan.
• Area topography studies.
• Placement of drainage channels for rainwater.
• Designing on-site communication lines (external lighting, water supply, sewage systems, electricity, cameras, etc.).

Working projects for the following facilities (including engineering geological surveys, sketches, 3D visualizations, interior and architectural shop drawings, structural projects, communication  projects, etc.):

• Restoration of the Shahbulag Castle.
• Construction of a parking area.
• Construction of a security booth.
• Construction of a restaurant building.
• Construction of resting pavilions.
• Installation of a metal-structured canopy over the archaeological zone.
• Construction of an outdoor event hall and stage.
• Landscaping (pedestrian and vehicle roads, greenery).
• Construction of a hotel building.
• Installation of a children’s playground.
• Construction of a ticket sales booth.
• Construction of a fire water tank.
• Construction of a potable water reservoir.
• Establishment of a pump station.
• Renovation of the sanitary facility near the fortress.
• Restoration of the historical building around the spring.
• Preparation of documentation for other sections.

About the Monument

According to the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan's decision No. 132 dated August 2, 2001, three local and one national monument in the Shahbulaq village area of Aghdam district were placed under state protection (Residence, caravanserai, tower).

One of these monuments, the residence, the tower built for its protection, as well as the caravanserai, which is now significant only as an archaeological monument, are located in the Shahbulaq fortress, which was founded by Pashaali Khan, the founder of the Karabakh Khanate, in the territory of Aghdam city.

Shahbulaq Fortress (Palace) was built in 1750-1752 at the request of Pashaali Khan, the Khan of Karabakh, near Aghdam city.

The construction work of the architectural monument began in the Shahbulaq area of Aghdam. It is likely that the name of the fortress was derived from the name of the spring – Shahbulaq – located there. Shahbulaq Fortress is the second fortress built in the territory of the Karabakh Khanate.

Shahbulaq Fortress was constructed as the administrative center of the Karabakh Khanate before the Bayat Fortress. Though it was used as a residential site for a certain period, later it served only as a watchtower. In scientific literature, the monument known as the Shahbulaq Palace is actually the inner fortress of a large palace complex.

Next to it was the residence of the khan. This compactly structured fortress is rectangular in shape, and its outer walls are reinforced with circular and semi-cylindrical towers.

Shahbulaq Fortress consisted of the Shahbulaq palace complex, residential houses, a market, a bathhouse, and a mosque. Construction was completed in two years (1750-1752). The khan's palace was located near the protective walls of the complex. The palace was built in a rectangular shape according to the plan. The perimeter of the complex was surrounded by protective walls, with circular and semi-cylindrical guard towers. The height of the walls was 7 meters, and the height of the towers was 8.5 meters. The entrance to the complex was placed in the center of the eastern wall. Around the entrance, there was a two-story tower-like structure on the exterior. To the northwest of the Shahbulaq palace complex, near the spring, a small mosque consisting of a prayer hall and a furnace room was also built, although it was not very large.