Zaqatala is a city in northwest Azerbaijan. With a municipal population of 31,300 inhabitants, it is located northwest of Sheki, by the Tala River and is the main municipality of the Zaqatala rayon. The municipality consists of the city of Zaqatala and the nearby village of Qazangül. The city is populated by a variety of ethnic groups, each speaking their own languages, including Azerbaijani and Tsakhur. The postal codes are AZ6200-AZ6205.
History
Initially this territory of modern Zaqatala was a province of Caucasian Albania,. After that, the region was a separate kingdom within Georgian cultural and political influence. During the medieval era what later became known as Saingilo was mostly controlled by the kingdom of Georgia and Shirvan. In the Middle Ages seven Georgian schools operated in Saingilo which included the courses of theology, philosophy, orthography, church history, and the history of Georgia and for the students. These schools played an essential cultural and educational role. They put a vital contribution in establishing cultural relations among the peoples of the Caucasus. Zaqatala has several sites of historic significance, most of which are centered on its 19th-century town centre. The main square, formerly called Lenin Square, features a pair of 700-year-old plane trees. The city's most prominent feature is a ruined fortress, built in the 1830s by occupying Russian forces during the Caucasian War to defend the city from rebels. In the 1850s, the town was the site of battles between Russians and Dagestani leader Imam Shamil. It was center of Zakatala okrug of Tiflis Governorate between 1860 and 1917. It was part of Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic between 1917 and 1918 and Georgian Democratic Republic between 1918 and 1921 before passing to Azerbaijan in March 1922. In the 20th century the town and its fortress became more famous when the fortress was used as one of the prisons for the mutinous crew of the battleship Potëmkin, whose actions in the failed 1905 Revolution were a precursor to the eventual 1917 revolution. The statue of one of the mutineers erected in the Soviet era still decorates Heydar Aliyev park not far from the fortress. Currently, the fortress still houses a military garrison as well as several Soviet-style apartment buildings. Near the northern part of the ramparts and off of the main square is a beautiful, but abandoned, Georgian church. The town now sports a sizable new mosque.
Overview
It is served by the A315 road coming from Mingachevir and leading to the Georgian border at Lagodekhi as well as by a small airfield. North of the town there is an important wildlife and nature preserve. The Caucasus Mountains provide it with natural protection from the north winds. The wooded mountainsides, with frequent waterfalls offer great hiking opportunities. Due to its climate the town became a mountain health resort. There are several hotels in both Zaqatala and surrounding villages including Ashaghi Tala and Jar, both about from Zaqatala. The city has a professional football team, Simurg. Zaqatala city stadium located in Galaduzu area was inaugurated in 2008 within the Zaqatala Olimpic Sports Complex. It has a capacity of 3500.
Demographics
, Avars, Lezgins, Tsakhurs and Georgians known as Ingiloy inhabit Zaqatala and the surrounding rayon. In addition to the Azeri population, which is the majority here and in most of the rest of Azerbaijan, communities of Dagestani peoples, including the Avars, Tsakhurs, and Lezgins, live in the area. The majority of population are Sunni Muslim and Orthodox Christians minorities.
Transportation
Air
serves the city. The airport is connected by bus to the city center. There are domestic flights to Baku, however currently it is unavailable. Zaqatala Bus station- There are two bus stations in Zaqatala. One is in the center, nearby the Farmer's Market. This bus station serves for only to the villages of Zaqatala. The second bus station is out of center, and this station serves for the other cities and capital. Customers can buy the tickets directly in the bus station. Reaching this Bus station passengers can either take public transports or taxi. Zaqatala Railway station- There is a railway station to Zaqatala and it connects Baku to Zaqatala with 12 hour ride.
