Sheki city located on the cross of Silk Road

According to archeological evidence, Sheki City, which is 380 kilometers to the west of Baku, is one of the Caucasus region's oldest settlements. Many artifacts discovered there date back more than 2500 years. Since ancient times, Sheki has earned a reputation as a city of artisans and skilled workers. From all over the world, traders and merchants came here from the nations along the Great Silk Road.

Sheki was known as "Azerbaijan's Lyon" and received a medal for its silk at the 1872 World Exhibition in Lyon. Elegant embroidery and silk were displayed together as a work of art at comparable shows around the globe. Tekelduz chain-stitch embroidery's center of production is still Sheki (plant patterns on velvet, woolens or goatskin). Dumas the Father purchased two embroidery saddles for 24 roubles while he was at Sheki. To be completely honest, you can't buy them for any price, not even 2000 Franks.

In Sheki, the construction of caravanseraises received special attention in light of commercial scales. The Upper and Lower Carabinerais, which were constructed in the 18th century, are the only two that remain today. The Upper Caravanserai continues to serve its original role. It serves as an accommodation complex.

A multitude of early Albanian architectural monuments, ancient castles, mosques, minarets, middle-age baths, bridges, etc. can be found around the city. The majestic Palace of Sheki Khans, built in the 18th century and featuring lavish wall paintings and filigree windows, is thought to be the pinnacle of Sheki and all of Azerbaijani architecture. It was built without the use of a single nail (!).