Shamakhi District

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Shamakhi District (Azerbaijani: Şamaxı rayonu) is a district in eastern Azerbaijan, part of the Mountainous Shirvan region. It covers about 1,670 square kilometers and has around 106,400 people (2020). The capital and largest city is Shamakhi. The district contains 63 settlements and borders Quba, Khizi, Gobustan, Hajigabul, Agsu, and Ismayilli.

Shamakhi has a very long history. Known as Kamachia to ancient geographers, it was an important medieval town and served as the capital of the Shirvanshah state from the 8th to the 15th centuries, and later the Shirvan Khanate. It was on the Silk Road, making it a key economic center. The town suffered many earthquakes; the 1742 quake led to the creation of a new Shamakhi town about 26 kilometers to the west. The Juma Mosque, built in the 8th century, is one of the few buildings to survive several earthquakes. In 1859 a major earthquake struck, and after that Baku became the region’s capital, leading to Shamakhi’s decline in importance.

In the 19th century silk was a major product, with many silk-winding workshops. The area has a strong educational tradition, with historical madrasahs and today’s institutions, including 72 secondary schools, a branch of the Azerbaijan Teachers Institute, and an observatory.

The district is known for its natural beauty: a mild climate, mineral springs, and more than 50 medicinal plants. The landscape includes the Babadagh peak and rivers such as Garachay, Valvalachay, and Girdmanchay. It attracts visitors in both summer and winter.

Wine has long been important here; in August 2019 Meysari village hosted a Grape and Wine Festival to celebrate local grapes and wine history. Culturally, Shamakhi inspired the fictional Queen of Shemakha in Pushkin’s Tale of the Golden Cockerel, which became an opera.