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Castles in Azerbaijan

46 landmarks in the Castle Map atlas — every one mapped with a photo and its story, 34 with sourced founding dates, ranked by Wikipedia coverage and real readership.

The most famous castle in Azerbaijan is Palace of the Shirvanshahs, ranked #460 of 9,079 in the world — followed by Palace of Shaki Khans and Shusha Fortress.

The Castle Map atlas charts 9 castles, 19 fortresses, 10 palaces & châteaux and 8 ruins in Azerbaijan. They span more than 14 centuries — from Chirag Gala (founded c. 450) to Palace of Zeynalabdin Taghiyev (1893). Every one is plotted with its photo and story on the interactive castle map of Azerbaijan.

How many castles are there in Azerbaijan?

Map of castles in Azerbaijan

On the map they cluster thickest around Ganja — 17 within a 100 km day trip, then Baku (13). The northernmost is Chingizgala, the southernmost Zindan Fortress — about 374 km apart.

Planning a visit? Day-trip guides: Castles near Baku · Castles near Ganja.

See them on the map →

When they were built

Of the 46 landmarks mapped in Azerbaijan, 34 carry a sourced founding date. Most were founded in the 18th century — 9 of them. 19 predate 1500 and 12 were built after 1700.

All 46 castles in Azerbaijan

Palace of the Shirvanshahs
Palace & château · 15th century · #1 in Azerbaijan
The Palace of the Shirvanshahs is a 15th-century palace built by the Shirvanshahs and described by UNESCO as "one of the pearls of Azerbaijan's…
Palace of Shaki Khans
Palace & château · 18th century · #2 in Azerbaijan
The Palace of Shaki Khans in Shaki, northwestern Azerbaijan, is a historic monument that once served as the summer residence of the Shaki khans.
Shusha Fortress
Fortress · 18th century · #3 in Azerbaijan
The Shusha fortress or Shushi fortress is a fortress surrounding the historical centre of Shusha.
Alinja Tower
Fortress · #4 in Azerbaijan
The Alinja Tower, also known as Alinjagala, Alinja-gala or the Armenian fortress of Yernjak up to the 14th century, is a tower located to the west of…
Əsgəran Fortress
Fortress · 18th century · #5 in Azerbaijan
Askeran Fortress is a fortress in the town of Askeran. Located on the banks of the Qarqar River, its current structure was built in the 18th century…
Fortress of Baku
Fortress · 12th century · #6 in Azerbaijan
Baku Fortress is a medieval building in Baku, Azerbaijan, the largest of Absheron fortresses.
Shahbulag Castle
Castle · 18th century · #7 in Azerbaijan
Shahbulag Castle is an 18th-century fortress near Aghdam in Azerbaijan, built by the Karabakh Khan Panah Ali.
Ramana Tower
Castle · 14th century · #8 in Azerbaijan
Ramana Tower – is a historical architectural monument located in the Ramana village of the Sabunchu district in Baku.
Sabayil Castle
Castle · 13th century · #9 in Azerbaijan
Sabayil Castle is a submerged medieval fortress on the coast of the Caspian Sea near Baku, Azerbaijan.
Quadrangular castle
Castle · 13th century · #10 in Azerbaijan
The Quadrangular Mardakan Fortress or the Great Mardakan Castle is a historical and architectural monument located in the Mardakan settlement of the…
Kachaghakaberd
Fortress · 9th century · #11 in Azerbaijan
Kachaghakaberd is a mountain-top fortress located between the villages of Kolatak and Khndzristan, in Khojaly District of Azerbaijan.
Chirag Gala
Ruin · 5th century · #12 in Azerbaijan
Chirag Gala, also spelled Çiraq Qala or Çirax Qala, which means lamp castle in Azerbaijani is a ruined ancient fortress overlooking the Caspian…
Palace of Nakhchivan Khans
Palace & château · 18th century · #13 in Azerbaijan
Palace of Nakhchivan Khans is historical and architectural monument of the 18th century located in Nakhchivan.
Round Tower (Mardakan)
Castle · 13th century · #14 in Azerbaijan
The Round Mardakan Fortress or the Small Mardakan Castle is a historical and architectural monument located in the Mardakan settlement of the Khazar…
Nardaran Fortress
Fortress · 14th century · #15 in Azerbaijan
Nardaran Fortress is a historical and architectural monument located in the Nardaran settlement of the Sabunçu district in Baku.
Yezidabad Castle
Ruin · 7th century · #16 in Azerbaijan
The Yazdegerd Castle is a pre-medieval Sassanid castle in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan. It is constructed solely of mud.
Galarsan-Gorarsan
Ruin · 12th century · #17 in Azerbaijan
Galarsan-Gorarsan is a fortress in Azerbaijan, built in the Middle Ages, ruins of which remain on the coast of the Kish River, about 4 kilometres…
Ganja Fortress
Fortress · 16th century · #18 in Azerbaijan
Ganja Fortress is a fortress in Ganja, Azerbaijan. The remains of walls of the fortress can be seen in the territory of the oldest park of the city,…
Baku Khans' Palace
Palace & château · 18th century · #19 in Azerbaijan
Baku Khans' Palace is a complex of several houses that belonged to the members of the ruling family of the Baku Khanate.
Palace of Zeynalabdin Taghiyev
Palace & château · 19th century · #20 in Azerbaijan
Palace of Zeynalabdin Taghiyev – Baku, H.Z. Taghiyev Street 4, previously owned by Baku millionaire Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, and now the palace building…
Gulustan Castle
Castle · 9th century · #21 in Azerbaijan
Gulustan Fortress or Castle is a medieval castle dating back to the 9th-12th centuries located in Shamakhi District of Azerbaijan.
Panah Ali Khan’s Palace
Palace & château · #22 in Azerbaijan
Panah Ali Khan’s Palace or Imarat Panah Ali Khan is the residence of the Karabakh khan Panah Ali Khan Javanshir, situated in the city of Aghdam.
Pir Huseyn Khanqah
Fortress · 13th century · #23 in Azerbaijan
The Pir Huseyn Khanqah and Mausoleum lies along the left bank of Pirsaat River, 126 kilometers to the southwest of Baku.
House of Shakikhanovs
Palace & château · 18th century · #24 in Azerbaijan
Shakikhanov's house or Shakikhanov's palace, is a monument of Azerbaijani architecture, located in the Sheki preserve area.
Parigala
Fortress · #25 in Azerbaijan
Parigala is considered one of Azerbaijan's lesser-known archeological treasures and historical mysteries.
Palace of Ganja Khans
Ruin · #26 in Azerbaijan
The Palace of Ganja Khans was the palace of Javad Khan, the last ruler of the Ganja khanate.
Handaberd
Fortress · 9th century · #27 in Azerbaijan
Handaberd, also known as Lekh Castle or Lev Castle, is a 9th-century fortress located in the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan, near the villages of…
Melik Haykaz Palace
Palace & château · 15th century · #28 in Azerbaijan
Melik Haykaz Palace is a 15th-century palace in the village of Hüsülü in the Lachin District of Azerbaijan.
Palace of Seyid Mirbabayev
Palace & château · #29 in Azerbaijan
The Palace of Seyid Mirbabayev is a palace in Azneft Square, Baku, Azerbaijan.
Hajigulular Palace
Palace & château · 19th century · #30 in Azerbaijan
Haji Gulular Palace is a historical and architectural monument located in the city of Shusha.
Zindan Fortress
Fortress · 18th century · #31 in Azerbaijan
Zindan Fortress or the Round Fortress is a part of the Lankaran Fortress built in the 18th century.
Shaki Fortress
Fortress · 18th century · #32 in Azerbaijan
Shaki fortress is a medieval fortress located in the center of Shaki in northern Azerbaijan which served as Shaki Khan Haki Celebi's citadel.
Quadrangular Tower (Baku)
Fortress · 14th century · #33 in Azerbaijan
Quadrangular Tower, or Keeper of the Fortress of Baku, is a stone keep built in the 14th century. It is part of the Old City in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Maiden Tower
Fortress · #34 in Azerbaijan
Maiden Tower or Namerdgala is a medieval defensive tower located in Azerbaijan Republic, Gadabay rayon, Soyudlu village.
Shagan Castle
Ruin · 12th century · #35 in Azerbaijan
Shaghan Castle is one of the 12th - 13th century Absheron castles located in Shaghan settlement.
Gulustan Fortress
Fortress · #36 in Azerbaijan
Gulustan fortress is an ancient Armenian fortress in Goranboy region of Azerbaijan.
Khokhanaberd
Fortress · 9th century · #37 in Azerbaijan
Khokhanaberd, also known as Khanabert and Tarkhanaberd, is a 9th-century mountaintop fortress near the village of Vank, in the disputed region of…
Galeyi Beygurt
Ruin · 13th century · #38 in Azerbaijan
Galeyi Beygurt, also known as Galey-Bughurt or simply Bughurt fortress is a historic monument located 20 km north-east of the center of Shamakhi city.
Jraberd
Ruin · #39 in Azerbaijan
Jraberd or Chileburt is a village located in the Aghdara District of Azerbaijan, in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Jinli Qala
Fortress · 7th century · #40 in Azerbaijan
Jinli Castle or Jinli-Gala is a fortress located near the village of İlisu in the Gakh region of Azerbaijan.
Fortress of Goyazan
Fortress · #41 in Azerbaijan
Goyazan; or Gavazan is a medieval Armenian fortress on the slopes of Mount Göyəzən, 15 km west of the town of Qazax and 1 km north-west of the…
Chingizgala
Castle · 16th century · #42 in Azerbaijan
Chingizgala or Jingozgala is a tower located in the Jar village of the Zagatala District of Azerbaijan.
Fortress ruins in Ilisu
Ruin · 19th century · #43 in Azerbaijan
Fortress ruins in Ilisu is an archaeological fortress located in the village of Ilisu in the Qakh district of Azerbaijan.
Didivan Castle
Castle · #44 in Azerbaijan
Didivan Castle is located five km from the town of Qazax, on the western slope of Mount Dədəban, near the village of Xanlıqlar in Azerbaijan.
Torres de Katej
Castle · #45 in Azerbaijan
The Torres de Katej are towers registered as a historical-architectural monument, located in the village of Katex, in the Balakan district.
Tigranakert Fortress
Fortress · #46 in Azerbaijan
Tigranakert Fortress is the fortress of one of the four cities named Tigranakert built in Greater Armenia by King Tigranes the Great; it stands by…

Frequently asked questions

How many castles are in Azerbaijan?

The Castle Map atlas maps 46 landmarks (9 castles · 19 fortresses · 10 palaces & châteaux · 8 ruins) in Azerbaijan — a curated selection of well-documented landmarks from Wikidata, not a count of every fortification ever built.

What is the most famous castle in Azerbaijan?

Palace of the Shirvanshahs, ranked #460 of 9,079 worldwide in the atlas's fame ranking, founded in the 15th century.

What is the oldest castle in Azerbaijan?

The oldest dated landmark in the atlas in Azerbaijan is Chirag Gala, founded c. 450. Earlier structures may have existed — this is the oldest with a documented founding year.

Where are most of the castles in Azerbaijan?

They cluster thickest around Ganja — 17 of the atlas's landmarks within 100 km, then Baku (13).

Which castles in Azerbaijan are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?

Per Wikidata, 1 of the mapped landmarks holds a UNESCO World Heritage designation — inscribed in its own right or as part of an inscribed ensemble: Palace of Shaki Khans.