Shaki Castle

Sheki, Azerbaijan

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Shaki Castle, often referred to as the Sheki Fortress, is an 18th‑century citadel that once served as the main stronghold of the Sheki Khanate on the northern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains in present‑day Azerbaijan.

Enclosed by thick stone walls stretching over a kilometer in length and reinforced with defensive towers and gates, it was built to protect the khan’s residence and the surrounding town from invasions, especially from the north. Inside the fortress were around forty buildings, including a palace, administrative offices, residential quarters, and service structures that supported the khan’s court and military.

Today, the best‑known surviving structure within the castle is the richly decorated Palace of the Sheki Khans, with its colorful stained‑glass windows and painted interiors, and the site forms the core of the UNESCO‑listed historic center of Sheki, illustrating the city’s former importance as both a political center and a stop on Silk Road trade routes.