About this experience
In the heart of Absheron, you will find its oldest village - a place that is frozen in the past and rapidly moving towards the future! As you stroll along the narrow cobblestone streets with unique decorations, you will feel it. I will tell you about the history of oil production on this land, about the indigenous people, and about the people who have visited Balakhany. A pleasant bonus will be a traditional tea party with jam in an art cafe.
What to Expect
A Small Village with a Big History
Balakhany began to develop rapidly in Imperial Russia thanks to oil production. We will travel back to that era and discover interesting chronicles. I will tell you in detail about the famous personalities associated with the village. Alexander III with his family, Stalin and Yesenin, who mentioned Balakhany in his poems, visited this place. Here, the first Azerbaijani film was shot in 1898. Finally, the family of physicist Landau lived here, and the father of the spy Zorge worked as an engineer on the oil fields exploited by the Nobels.
Houses and Monuments
Through the example of the village, you will get acquainted with the Absheron school of architecture: flat roofs, narrow streets, courtyard system. While strolling in Balakhany, you will see the ruins of medieval baths and a temple, mosques from the 14th and 19th centuries, an underground water reservoir, the first monument in Azerbaijan (to the satirical poet M.A. Sabir), a caravanserai, the mausoleum of Shakir Agha, and the monument to the heroes of the Azerbaijani classic film 'Not That Way—But This Way'. Special attention will be paid to a whole 'forest' of oil pumpjacks, and we will also take a look at the village from a panoramic platform.
Organizational Details
- Transport expenses are included in the price
- The tour can be conducted for a larger number of travelers (4-6 people). In this case, the sedan car will be replaced with a minivan, and there will be an additional charge of 30€ per group.
- Upon request and prior arrangement, you can participate in a carpet weaving workshop (13 euros per person; the tour will be extended by 1.5 hours)
