Length of the embankment in Baku. Secrets of Baku: The Long History of Primorsky Boulevard. Sights of the embankment in Baku

How to get there, what to see, where to stay, take a walk and have an inexpensive but satisfying meal - these are the main questions that arise in your head when you are planning a train trip to this or that corner of the world, and Baku is no exception. Having visited the capital of Azerbaijan, I prepared short guide for those wishing to visit Baku, the largest city in the Caucasus, with a short 2-3 day visit.

Visa issue and registration

A visa to Azerbaijan is not required for Russian citizens for a stay of up to 90 days. To cross the border, you only need to have a foreign passport valid during your stay in Azerbaijan. Mandatory insurance to enter the country is also not needed, but out of habit I took it through the Cherehapa service, God protects the safe.

The question often arises on the Internet about the mandatory registration of foreigners in Azerbaijan and the possible extortion of money by border guards on the way back, in the absence of it. According to State Migration Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan – Foreign citizens or stateless persons, if they plan to stay on the territory of Azerbaijan for more than 10 days, must be registered at their place of stay during this time; registration is not required for those staying for less than 10 days. Registration is free, no state fee is charged.

In order to protect yourself from possible problems When leaving Azerbaijan, I took a couple of screenshots from the official website of the State Migration Service, but they were not useful, the border guards did not have any questions.

How to get to Baku?

By plane. The easiest and fastest way to get to Baku. Aeroflot (from Sheremetyevo), S7 (from Domodedovo), Utair (from Vnukovo) and Azerbaijan Airlines - AZAL (Azerbaijan Airlines; from Domodedovo, Vnukovo) operate flights from Moscow to the capital of Azerbaijan. The flight duration is about 2.5 hours. From Saint-Petersburg, Mineralnye Vody and Kazan an Azerbaijani carrier flies.

Minimum cost of air tickets Moscow ↔ Baku and St. Petersburg ↔ Baku

Moscow - Baku - MoscowSt. Petersburg - Baku - St. Petersburg

By train. Every Saturday from Kursky railway station Train 055Ч Moscow - Baku departs from Moscow to Baku, travel time is 2 days 5 hours. You can get from Rostov-on-Don by direct train Rostov-on-Don - Baku 392C or passing Kharkov - Baku 390O. Travel time is 1 day 9 hours and 1 day 8 hours respectively.

By bus. Direct official bus routes there is no connection between Moscow and Baku. But you can get there with a transfer in Stavropol (Moscow - Stavropol, Stavropol - Baku).

Baku Airport. How to get to the city center?

Baku international Airport named after Heydar Aliyev is located 25 km east of Baku and is connected to the city by a modern highway. All international flights arrive at the new modern terminal, opened in 2013. The airport does not serve many flights, so customs procedures upon arrival will not take much time. Free Wi-Fi is available at the airport. Smoking rooms were in the departure area, but disappeared in 2017.

Upon arrival, at the Baku airport after leaving the clear zone, there is an exchanger where you can buy manats, but the rate, not surprisingly, is not very good. Here you will also find at least 2 ATMs. On my last trip in April 2017, one did not work, and the second took a commission - 1 manat; in 2016 there was none.

There are two ways to get from Baku airport to the city center: by taxi and by bus.

By taxi. When leaving the arrivals area, they will immediately come up to you and offer you a taxi into the city; these are the most cunning taxi drivers, since according to the rules they are prohibited from entering the terminal. If you refuse, you go out into the street, and there are already many more of them here, and everyone considers it their duty to come up and offer their services. Reviews about taxis from Baku airport to the city, and in general about taxi drivers in Baku, are not very good and boil down to the fact that each of them is trying to scam tourists out of as much money as possible. Therefore, if you are planning to take a taxi from the airport, then go to the KiwiTaxi.ru website and check out the prices for the official transfer, and upon arrival you can already bargain with taxi drivers based on a certain amount. Or more simply, book a taxi in advance online, and the driver will meet you at the exit from the arrivals area with a nameplate and take you to the place indicated on your voucher.

Upon arrival at Baku airport, you can also order a taxi via the Internet (Wi-Fi available) Uber. To use this service, you need to download the Uber application to your smartphone (if it is not installed, of course) on Google Play for Android or in iTunes for Apple devices, install and register by linking it to your account bank card. Currently, the cost of an Uber ride from Baku airport to the 28 May metro station (express route, which is discussed below) is 15 manats, according to calculations on the official website.

By bus. The bus from Baku airport to the city center (route H1) leaves every 30 minutes during the daytime, and every hour at night from the stop opposite the exit from international terminal(on the left, before reaching the parking lot) and follows with one stop at the Koroglu metro station (Azerbaijani: Koroğlu) to the 28 May metro station (Azerbaijani: 28 May), which is located near the Baku railway station. Starting from 2017, the bus from the 28 May station towards the airport does not have a clear schedule - it arrives, drops off, picks up and goes back.

BakiKART machine and bus schedule from Baku airport to the city

How to pay for travel. To travel by bus, you should purchase a BakiKART from a specialized machine (plastic card, price: 2.00 manat) or BakiKART for temporary use (paper card, price: 0.20 manat) and immediately top it up with the cost of travel on the shuttle - 1.30 manat. Vending machines are located to the right and left of the airport exit. The maximum bill they accept when purchasing 1 temporary card with a trip from the airport to the city worth 1.5 manats is 5 manats, change is given in coins. You can top up your temporary card for 2 trips at once (round trip), thereby saving 20 qepiks.

Where to stay in Baku?

Today we received an email from Booking.com with a personal referral link. When booking using it, both you and I will receive a bonus of 1000₽. The promotion itself is only valid for 10 bookings, so hurry up and take advantage. Well, here's the link itself: https://www.booking.com/s/35_6/d5f6d311. If reservations are still available, you will see at the bottom of the screen:

The best option for a tourist is, of course, an inexpensive hotel in the center of Baku near the seaside boulevard, one might say this is a dream, because budget options with this arrangement there are quite a few and they are quickly snapped up. I was lucky, I got it on Booking.com three star The hotel Empire Hotel, located almost immediately behind the local parliament building, and offering a significant discount on accommodation. Before booking, I checked the cost of staying at this hotel through the price comparison service RoomGuru.ru and made sure that Booking.com offers the best option. 4 nights of accommodation cost 140 manats. The Empire Hotel is not a wow hotel, despite its name, and three rubles is below average, but the location is good.

Another thing I want to say about choosing a hotel in Baku, if there are 2 approximately identical hotels in quality and cost and one is located near or inside Icheri Sheher (Old, Inner City), and the second is in the parliament area, choose the first one.

The further the hotel is located from the boulevard, the higher the price-quality ratio, if you do not take the distance into account. And, if there is a bus stop near such a hotel that goes to the center, or a metro station, then you can safely book a room there.

Didn't find a suitable hotel? Look at apartments, apartments on Airbnb service, there are quite a lot of interesting offers in Baku. And if you don’t have an Airbnb account yet, then register using the link www.airbnb.ru/c/226361. This will bring both you and me 1500₽.

Transport in the city

Public transport in Baku:

• The metro is very similar to the Moscow one. To pay, use BakiKART, the fare is 0.20 manat;
• BakuBus buses, new and modern, ply around the city. To pay, use BakiKART, the fare is 0.20 manat. Route maps and detailed information are available at official website;
• old buses that connect the capital with the suburbs. We are ready to pick up a voting passenger on any part of the route, payment in cash to a specially trained person. detailed information according to routes on the website (site is currently unavailable);
• Taxi. They are everywhere, you won’t go missing, but they really like to make money from tourists. I recommend using Uber wherever possible.

Uber tariffs in Baku

Where to eat tasty and inexpensive in Baku

I can admit right away that I didn’t visit many places and didn’t look for local flavor. The task was to find a cafe in the center where the waiters speak Russian, there is Russian menu, and, of course, tasty and not very expensive.

The first place I was advised to go to was Cafe Eriste(Gazanfar Alizadeh Street, 6/8) was located in the basement near the old city and Fountain Square. It’s immediately obvious that the cafe is for locals, the food is tasty and inexpensive, the waiter speaks Russian, but the small room and the lack of a menu in Russian predetermined my choice not in his favor, although it may have been influenced by fatigue or something else.

The next day after a walk around the city I went to cafe Araz, which was recommended on the Vinsky forum. This establishment is located on Fountain Square. If you are facing KFC, then to the right is the City Fountain cafe, and even further to the right is Araz. Most of the waiters speak Russian, the menu is in Azerbaijani, Russian and English, there is a large selection of dishes for every taste, in good weather they set up tables outside, there is Wi-Fi, the hall is divided into smoking and non-smoking, they work around the clock, payment by card is possible. I chose this cafe.

If you compare the prices in these two establishments, the difference is minimal; in Araz it is about 1 manat more expensive, plus they charge 60 qepiks (kopecks) for bread, which you can immediately refuse and it will not be brought or included in the bill. As for the food, it’s delicious both there and there. In terms of atmosphere and surroundings, Araz noticeably wins, since the room itself is not a basement and is larger in area, plus most of the visitors at the neighboring tables speak our language, you can pay by card.

If you want to eat and at the same time enjoy an amazing bird's eye view of the “city of lights”, visit Telequlle restaurant located indoors TV tower. The very platform on which this establishment is located rotates, so during the meal the entire city will float in front of you. The minimum check amount per person is 30 manat. Unfortunately, I was not here myself, as I learned about it after my trip. I would be very glad to hear feedback from those who visited this restaurant.

Where to drink beer in Baku?

The local most popular beer, Xirdalan (Khirdalan), is brewed at the Baltika - Baku plant near the capital. You can try it in all cafes, it costs 1.5 - 3 manats.

Several Irish pubs line the side streets near Fountain Square. Imported beer is poured here: Efes, Krombacher, Blanche de Bruxelles and others at 7 - 8 manats per half-liter mug, and bottled Magners is also available (0.33). Unfortunately, after the devaluation of the manat, Guinness and Kilkenny disappeared from taps.

From these establishments I chose the oldest pub in Baku - Finnegan's Pub(Abdulkerim Alizadeh, 8). The main role in choosing this pub for spending time in the evening was played by the waiter Orkhan, who was excellent at maintaining a conversation, but the bartenders did not lag behind - there was never a dull moment. If you prefer to drink a foamy drink at the counter, then here it is comfortable, wide and long - there is room. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, Finnegan’s Pub hosts live music concerts, and on Thursdays until 22.00, I’ll tell you a little secret, all drinks are 4 manats.

Another place that cannot be ignored when discussing beer in Baku is Brewery Restaurant(Istiglaliyet street, 27). Finding it is quite simple, exit the Icheri Sheher metro station, cross the street along the underground passage, go left and a little down the street. You will see it in 20-30 meters. The Brewery constantly has 3 types of beer on tap, which are brewed here, these are Light (Helles), Red - Medium (Marzen) and Dark - Dark (Bavarian G`Mischt), sometimes they also brew a seasonal variety, but... Due to poor pouring (absence from the menu), this beer stagnates and turns sour, so they plan to abandon this idea. I liked the first two varieties, especially Light, it goes great after a long walk, the offered dark one is not my thing. The cost of a glass of beer is 4 manats. But, if you come on Sunday from 17.00 to 20.00, then every second mug will be free. The staff of the establishment - the waiters, the bartender, the cook - are very friendly - they will treat you, tell you, show you, as they say. Food in a restaurant is much more expensive than in the cafes mentioned above.

What to see in Baku and the surrounding area

Sights of Baku

There is enough information on the Internet about the sights of the capital of Azerbaijan, so I will briefly outline the route and list the main ones.

Baku seaside boulevard- an embankment with a length of about 6 km, if you count from the White House to the Palace aquatic species sports, although Wikipedia talks about some mythical 16 - 25 km.

Primorsky Boulevard in Baku. View from observation deck.

Arriving along Primorsky Boulevard to Carpet Museum, you can cross Neftyanikov Avenue and take the funicular (travel is free) or walk up the stairs to the hill - Nagorny Park, where there is an excellent observation deck, Alley of Shahids and Flame Towers. By the way, you can book a room in five-star Fairmont Baku hotel, located in one of the three Flame Towers. The observation deck offers a wonderful view of the whole of Baku, including the old city, seaside boulevard and Square national flag (speaking of the square, you cannot go up to the flag itself; there is a guard on duty on each of the stairs).

Alley of Martyrs or the Alley of Honorary Burials - most of those who died during the tragic events of “Black January” of 1990 are buried here, when on the night of January 19-20 the Soviet army was brought into the city to suppress protests by the political opposition.

Let's go down to Icheri Sheher(Old, inner city), we go inside and see a small square where a monument to the poet Vahid is erected. We move to the right along the fortress wall and find ourselves right next to the house, where was The Diamond Arm filmed in Baku, or rather the famous episode “damn it” (Kichik-Gala str., 8/1, Icheri-Sheher).

The place where an episode of the film “The Diamond Arm” was filmed in Baku.

We continue our walk along the wall and at the moment when the route should close we go to the palace of the Shirvanshahs. Ticket price is 4 manats for adults and 20 qepiks for children.

After visiting palace complex It's time to go inside the old city and wander through its narrow streets.

Icheri Sheher - Old city Baku

If you move up to the right from the Icheri-Sheher metro station, you will come to Fountain areas.

Another one of the main attractions of Baku is Cultural Center Heydar Aliyev, designed by the famous architect Zaha Hadid. You can see this unusual structure on the very first day of your stay in Baku, if you travel from the airport to the city center by bus.

Ateshgah temple of fire worshipers

The Ateshgah temple complex is located in the village of Surakhani, which is only 10 km from the Baku metro station Korogly. The temple was originally built on this site because it was here that fire burst out of the ground, which was associated with the natural release of natural gas. At the moment, Ateshgah is an architectural complex in the shape of a hexagon with a jagged outer wall and an entrance portal. In the center of the courtyard stands a quadrangular altar, which was a place of pilgrimage for fire worshipers. Here and now, fire bursts out of the ground, but thanks to specially supplied gas. The word “Ateshgah” means “House of Fire”, “Place of Fire”. The Temple of Fire Worshipers in the village of Surakhany is a State Historical and Architectural Reserve.

Quadrangular high altar and place of sacrifice from the 18th century

On me this place did not make any impression, perhaps due to large quantity tourists and museum workers who constantly follow you. The complex has been completely restored and therefore looks like a new building. In the cells located in the wall, mannequins are placed (as in the museum in Gobustan), depicting various actions from the life of the local inhabitants, from which one can understand what this or that room was intended for.

How to get to the temple of fire worshipers Ateshgah from Baku. On the Internet it is recommended to go to Surakhani from the Nariman Narimanov metro station by bus 184. A website containing information about bus routes in Baku,(unfortunately, does not work now) confirms this information. But I was unlucky, maybe that day there were some renovation work or some other reasons, but this bus did not go from the specified metro station. Traffic officer public transport, sent me to look for this route to the Udluz station. But I decided to go straight to the metro station Koroğlu (Koroğlu) and I was right. Bus number 184 stops under the first bridge towards the airport. In 2017 with bus stops Order has finally been restored in the Korogly metro area. Now the boarding point for each bus is known not only to locals, but also to tourists, thanks to information stands and markings on the asphalt. The bus we need, 184, leaves from platform No. 2.

Travel time to the temple of fire worshipers Ateshgah is about 25 minutes, the fare is 20 qepik. From the final bus you need to go railway and turn left. So, if you need to get to the Ateshgah Temple, I recommend taking bus 184 from the Korogly metro station.

Rock paintings and mud volcanoes in Gobustan

Gobustan is a village and reserve of the same name 60 km south of Baku. Here, 13 km from each other, there are 2 attractions: the petroglyph museum, consisting of two objects: the museum building and the rocks themselves, on which you can see the drawings of ancient people, and mud volcanoes. He described these places in detail, and also told how to get to Gobustan from the capital, in a separate article - Gobustan Nature Reserve in Azerbaijan.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to say that Baku is a great city, with nice people and interesting places, in which it is worth spending at least a few days. You will not regret it! I hope mine personal experience visiting the capital of Azerbaijan, described here, will help you in preparing your trip.

If you notice any inaccuracies or just want to supplement the material, welcome to the comments!

Have fun with your travels and unforgettable experiences!

The pearl of Baku and one of its calling cards - Primorsky Boulevard was not born immediately. Once upon a time there was a city wall at this place, protecting Baku from attacks from the sea.

In the 60s of the 19th century, the wall turned out to be unnecessary - there was no one to raid Baku, and they decided to demolish it. The wall was dismantled, the city government sold the stone for 44 thousand rubles - a huge amount of money at that time. On them, the authorities created a 30-meter space along the shore - a prototype of the future embankment. Around the same time, original buildings in the Moorish style began to grow there - after all, at first it was decorated mainly with warehouses with goods and the piers of shipping companies. All this was intended for trade with Persia. Thus began the long and eventful history of the Baku Primorsky Boulevard.

Today it is compared to the world famous Copacabana Boulevard in Rio and the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. But Primorsky Boulevard in Baku is unique. This is an embankment that stretches for 5 kilometers along the seashore, and literally tomorrow its length will increase five times more! Today the embankment starts at the foot of the Nagorny Park and runs along the shore of the Caspian Sea, past Icheri Sheher - the Old Town to the Seaport. The most picturesque part of the boulevard is located between Nagorny Park and the Governor's Garden (Azneft Square). This is not a dull strip of asphalt under the scorching sun. Throughout the entire boulevard, cozy shady alleys are planted, canals akin to Venetian ones are dug, flower beds are laid out, open-air cafes are set up, where it is so good to drink a glass of mineral water with the strongest coffee brewed in Azerbaijani style in the heat and play chess. Here, on this boulevard, no one is in a hurry, especially in the evenings. But in the evening, when the heat of the day subsides a little, the boulevard blossoms. It seems that all of Baku has gathered here. Families walk, loving couples roam, everything is here. Particularly interesting is the Carpet Museum, where samples of ancient Azerbaijani and Iranian carpet weaving are collected and carefully preserved.

Near the Carpet Museum there is a pier where pleasure ships and boats moor, they set off on their daily journey along the picturesque canals, and at some point it seems that you are no longer in Baku, but in Venice, especially since the banks of the canals are built the houses are in the Venetian style, and there are openwork bridges across the canal. Another shock awaits in the Old Town. The symbol of Baku, glorified by poets, overlooks the embankment here. Primorsky Boulevard in Baku is of national importance. Like Red Square in Moscow, Khreshchatyk in Ukraine or St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. By decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev dated January 10, 2008, taking into account the importance of Primorsky Boulevard for the history, culture and ecology of the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Primorsky Boulevard Office was created under the Cabinet of Ministers. In accordance with the same document, the Primorsky Boulevard began to be thoroughly improved and reconstructed. The money was allocated by the Baku City Hall.

When the plan is fully implemented, the territory of the Primorsky Park will be increased fivefold. It will stretch from the Marine Station to the village of Zykh and from the Palace of Hand Games to the Bibi-Heybat Mosque - 25 kilometers. Today, on the boulevard in the National Seaside Park located next to it, major reconstruction continues, the green area is expanding, new musical fountains are being built, and the coastline is being modernized. All work is planned to be completed by 2015, and then we will all be able to see the updated Primorsky Boulevard. He will appear in all his splendor from the Bayylov Heights to Zykh. Construction of new ultra-modern hotels is already underway here. It is worth noting that all industrial facilities located along the construction route will be moved outside the city. Undoubtedly, this will improve the environmental situation in Baku - just as the demolition of the fortress wall once gave access to the city to fresh sea wind.

Where is:

Article by O. Bulanova about the history of the creation of Primorsky Boulevard in Baku

According to numerous polls, the majority of Baku residents believe that the face of the city is definitely Primorsky Boulevard. This is truly the sea facade of Baku, which for almost two centuries determined the face of the capital of Azerbaijan.

The history of Primorsky Boulevard, including the embankment, which bore different names over the years, is incredibly interesting. In 2009, the centenary of the boulevard was solemnly celebrated, but its history is much longer.

Conversations about the need for an embankment in Baku have been going on for a long time, various options were discussed.

According to the original version of the project, between the fortress wall that surrounded Icheri-Shekher from the sea and the buildings behind it, it was planned to lay a street of unprecedented width for that time - 18 m. On one side, the street would be limited by the fortress wall, on the other side by the rear facades of the buildings . With significant elevation changes new street would not be able to play a significant role in the city and would be architecturally inexpressive.

Therefore, in 1865, the Baku military governor and manager of the civil part, Lieutenant General Mikhail Petrovich Kolyubakin, submitted a petition for the demolition of a section of the old fortress wall that separated Icheri Sheher from sea ​​coast and “by its uselessness hindered the free movement of air.” Permission was obtained and the wall was demolished.

However, after the demolition of the wall, the need for architectural design embankment. Therefore, the proceeds from the sale of the stone of the demolished wall (44 thousand rubles) were “used for the construction of a pier,” newspapers of those years wrote, “and an elegant stone embankment, which was soon decorated with a number of beautiful private houses.”

Baku owes its first improvement to the architect Karl Gustavovich Gippius, who, by the way, defended the Palace of the Shirvanshahs when they tried to adapt it as a city prison. K. Gippius participated in the formation of a number of streets and in the design of the first houses on the embankment. Connoisseurs and historians are well aware of his watercolor of 1867, which depicts the embankment and the houses on it, including the governor’s house (later it housed a medical workers’ club with an attached third floor, and now the Four Seasons Hotel stands on this site).

The remarkable Azerbaijani architect Gasymbek Hajibababekov (1811-1874) took on the construction of the embankment. The ancient Maiden Tower - the symbol of Baku - then played the role of a lighthouse, and it is difficult to say whether this amazing monument would have survived to this day if not for this circumstance. G. Hajibababekov carried out significant engineering and planning work on the improvement of the embankment, was involved in its construction and issues of supplying fresh water.

In 1867, according to his design, a water fountain (also visible in the watercolor by K. Gippius) and other structures were built on the future Azneft Square, a wide sidewalk lined with trees was planned, and between the plots of private property there were alleys 13 m wide. Through them from the embankment there were views of the expressive architecture of the Baku fortress - Icheri Sheher.

After this, the embankment received the status of a boulevard, which, according to contemporaries, became a decoration of the city. It must be said that the embankment was the object of close attention of the city authorities also because the governor’s house was located on it. In 1882, it was planned to build a boulevard on the embankment, designed by the architect A. Koshkin.

But despite all the efforts, the embankment still remained not the most attractive and comfortable part of the city, because it housed numerous private piers of trading firms and shipping companies with warehouses and other buildings that were so cluttered and polluted Coast that even the measures taken to improve it were reduced to nothing.

For example, the shipping company "Caucasus and Mercury" built a pier and a number of other structures on the embankment, dividing the coastal strip into two parts: Aleksandrovskaya embankment (in honor of Emperor Alexander II) was located along Icheri-Sheher approximately from the future Azneft Square to the future Theater dolls, which, of course, did not exist then, and Petrovskaya, who was walking to east direction further along coastline. Therefore, in 1897, a barrier was built that separated a 50 m wide area from the sea, clearly marking the boulevard as an integral architectural structure.

In 1900, the city's Garden Commission decided to build a large nursery for ornamental trees on the embankment, and from that moment on, active landscaping of the boulevard began. A detailed landscaping project, taking into account the width of the alleys and their length, types of trees, shrubs, etc., was drawn up by civil engineer (architect) Kazimir Skurevich, a Pole in the Russian service, together with the city gardener Vasiliev.

In the first years of the twentieth century. The boulevard already had a rather attractive appearance, the embankment continued to be captivated by piers and berths. The mayors began transforming the embankment into an excellent transport route, as well as into a place of recreation and a city park only in 1909, and this date is considered the official year of the “birth” of the Baku Boulevard. As the Caspian newspaper reported in issue No. 77 of 1909, “The Duma allocated 10 thousand rubles for the construction of a boulevard on the embankment.”

The talented engineer Mamed-Hasan Gadzhinsky (not to be confused with Isabek Gadzhinsky, the owner of the beautiful house to the right of the Maiden Tower) took up the noble task of improvement; The talented German architect Adolf Eichler also took part. Projects were drawn up for large pavilions on the embankment in the Art Nouveau style under the loud names “Olympia” for the cinema and the Eldorado restaurant, fountains and gazebos, as well as stairs leading to the sea.

The boulevard did not yet turn out to be very long: the plans of the organizers very quickly collided with the interests of big capital - there were few people willing to sacrifice their docks, warehouses and marinas. Therefore, at first the coastal area was landscaped, located between the pier of the Caucasus and Mercury society and the house of Seid Mirbabaev, i.e. Alexandrovskaya embankment itself. No one dared to encroach on the interests of the Caucasus and Mercury society.

Subsequently, the amount of allocations was increased to 600 thousand rubles. Baku patrons also provided material support. The city authorities announced a competition for the best project, in which about thirty specialists took part, among whom were prominent architects and civil engineers. Territories were cleared, trees and shrubs were planted, and flower beds were laid out.

In addition, a competition was announced for the design of a bathhouse with a restaurant, as well as for thirteen kiosks for various purposes. The project of the civil engineer and at the same time the city (chief) architect of Baku Nikolai Grigorievich Bayev (1878-1949) won, and in 1914 the Alexander Bath was built. The wooden bathhouse on stilts, according to contemporaries, “attracted attention with its original architecture,” looked like a fairy tale summer palace, on the roof of which there was a comfortable solarium with a shower. This bathhouse completely transformed the appearance of the boulevard.

By the way, this bath is not the first. Before it there was another, also called Alexandrovskaya. It was built in 1884 according to the design of the civil engineer and city architect in 1881-1886, Mikhail Dmitrievich Botov (1855-1886). The Botovskaya bathhouse was incomparably simpler in architecture, and it had fallen into disrepair over thirty years.

The Baevskaya bathhouse was demolished in the early 60s, due to rising water levels in the Caspian Sea and partial reconstruction of the boulevard. Although old Baku residents still regret the lost beauty...

The embankment was a wide spatial composition; in combination with the boulevard, the greenery of numerous trees (which, by the way, were selected very thoughtfully - taking into account not only the survival rate, but also taking into account the shading they create, which modern landscape designers do not think about at all), this section of the city was very picturesque and represented the busiest part of it. It is no coincidence that contemporaries noticed that the most brilliant part of Baku is its embankment.

By the beginning of the 50s. the length of Primorsky Boulevard was already 2.7 km - from the ship repair plant. Paris Commune to the new passenger sea terminal. In the 60s, after the construction of a new seaport, the boulevard was extended to the current Azadlig Square in front of the Government House. At that time the square was named after Lenin. The author of the project was the architect M. Guseinov.

In 1966, according to the project of this architect, on Primorsky Boulevard, in the area of ​​​​Azadlig Square, an area open to the sea was created, which ended with descents to the coastline, decorated with parterre greenery, flower beds and a cascade of fountains. In 1967, M. Guseinov prepared a new project for the reconstruction of the entire Primorsky Boulevard.

Due to a significant decrease in the level of the Caspian Sea, which reached its lowest level in 1977, as a result of which a wide strip of the former seabed was exposed, work was undertaken to create a second lower terrace of the Primorsky Park, where alleys, lawns and fountains were built.

At the same time, the boulevard grew in width: due to the drop in the level of the Caspian Sea, a wide, shallow strip was formed, above which its lower terrace was erected. But it soon became clear: the sea had not retreated forever. The rise in the level of the Caspian coincided with the political and economic unrest of the 90s. The lower terrace of the boulevard - a walking overpass, as well as the boat pier and yacht club were flooded, trees began to die from the salt water, and in some places even reeds appeared. As a result of the reconstruction work, the lower terrace of the boulevard was raised by several meters.

Stretching for several kilometers, the Primorsky Boulevard has been a favorite place for many generations of Baku residents to relax, walk, and meet with friends. Its green spaces included wide range representatives of the flora that it was rightly called a national treasure.

Today, the Baku embankment in its former form lives only in the memory of the older generation of Baku, but the Primorsky Boulevard, updated in the spirit of modern requirements, which, by the way, received the status of a National Park in 2007, will continue to remain the pride of the residents of the capital of Azerbaijan.

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Probably every city located on the banks of a river or sea has an embankment of its own. business card. And every city tries to embellish it, to show everyone that “we have the best.” Baku is also no exception.

The Baku embankment opens its history in late XIX century, when in 1865 it was decided to dismantle the fortress wall, which was preventing air from entering the city, and the stones from the wall were partially used to strengthen the coastline and create a pier, and partially sold (the proceeds were used for the same needs).

But the date of birth of the Baku embankment is considered to be 1909. It was in that distant year that the talented engineer M. G. Gadzhinsky, together with the architect Adolf Eichler, developed a project for the Baku embankment combined with the boulevard, and then brought it to life.

The trees of the boulevard provided the desired shade and coolness, and the sea provided wonderful air. Then it was called “Alexandrovskaya Embankment”.

Much water has flown under the bridge since that time. Rulers changed, the sea changed... But the embankment survived all the changes, periodically changing itself, but remaining a favorite place for the townspeople.

And in 1998, the Azerbaijani government awarded it the status of a National Park.

The embankment underwent its last changes in 2010. Now its length is about 5 km. And they gave her a very simple name - “Boulevard”.

But the story of the embankment does not end there. The project has already been adopted, and not only accepted, but its implementation has also begun, according to which it will grow to 25 km.

Well, personally, I really liked the embankment. Wide, spacious, elegant.

It combines, as in the old days, open space along the coast and a shady boulevard.

A neat park area with flower beds, intricately trimmed bushes and many beds with roses and other flowers.

It's really nice to relax here. On the boulevard there is a cafe where you can have a good time, and a carousel swing area for all ages.

No wonder they placed on the embankment best hotels Baku: Hilton, Absheron.

Now all major city holidays are held on the Baku embankment. They also hold international competitions on boats with beautiful name"Flame on the Water"

And on summer evenings, Baku residents enjoy strolling along the embankment, enjoying the views of the Caspian Sea...

Beautiful city. Sea, flowers, fountains...

Not every city can boast such an embankment, right?

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When coming to Baku, you should definitely visit Primorsky Boulevard. Guests of the city will find many attractive places here: museums, attractions, parks, cafes, restaurants and much more. The boulevard itself is incredibly beautiful and diverse. His central part amazes with the richness of greenery and flowers, and the steps of the coastal strip end right at the sea water.

Main attractions

In terms of its importance for the country, Primorsky Boulevard in Baku can be compared with Red Square in Moscow or St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. Unique objects of history, culture, and architecture are literally at every step here.

Color-musical fountain

Created in 2007, the color and music fountain is now considered the main attraction of Primorsky Boulevard. It is located in the Primorsky Park. Its intricate water jets, soaring into the dark southern sky to the beat of the music, attract many people every evening. There are simply no analogues to the Baku fountain in the world.

Seaside Park

Seaside Park is an example of a creative approach to arranging a green oasis within the city. It began to be created simultaneously with the boulevard - in 1909. Now it deservedly bears national status.

Dozens of tree species, countless shrubs and ornamental plants thrive in the park. From the exotic - an alley of giant cacti and blooming baobabs.

The 75-meter parachute tower in the form of a drilling tower, erected in 1936, is of interest. It was recently restored and now shines invitingly with its original lighting. Another popular park attraction is Little Venice, a system of artificial water channels with real gondolas delivered from Italy.

Azerbaijan Carpet Museum

The area occupies 60 hectares, and in its center there is a flagpole 162 meters high. The dimensions of the flag are 35 by 70 meters. The total weight of the structure is 220 tons.

The square also contains other state symbols - the coat of arms, anthem and map of Azerbaijan, made of gilded bronze. The State Flag Museum is also located here.

Old city

Most of the remarkable places along the embankment were built relatively recently. But there is one place where the atmosphere of the old city still lives - Icheri-Sheher, in common people - the Fortress. This is the oldest residential quarter in the city, which is still surrounded by fortress walls. In the 1970s, it was recognized as a historical and architectural reserve of Baku.

Maiden's Tower - ancient fortification old town, clearly visible from the embankment. The height of the tower is 28 meters.

Flame Towers

Opening from the seaside boulevard of Baku beautiful views not only to the Caspian Sea, but also to the main city attractions. One of them is located near the embankment, and is visible from almost any point on it - these are the 182-meter Flame Towers. The architecture of the tallest buildings in the city follows the shape of flames, similar to those immortalized on the coat of arms of Baku.

Behind the skyscrapers you can see the main city landmark - the Baku TV Tower, 310 meters high.

Entertainment and relaxation

You can stay here all day, but it will fly by like a minute. Any person who finds himself on Primorsky Boulevard will definitely find entertainment to suit his taste. Lovers of a relaxed lifestyle walk along the wide, landscaped promenade, sit in cozy cafes and tea houses. Tourists flock to the Ferris wheel to explore the city's features from a 60-meter height.

Even at night you can see lovers on the boulevard mind games“There are huge chess pieces right on the paving slabs. It has become a tradition to hold various street exhibitions. There is a train ride for children, which adults would also like to take a ride on.

Tourists who are interested in history will definitely turn to the ancient palace of the Shirvanshahs, wander through the narrow streets of the old city, and find time to look at the ancient building of the Puppet Theater. Fans of an active lifestyle will be interested in the large Water Palace and boat trips. The Mugama music center awaits music lovers.

For those wishing to have fun and go shopping, a variety of entertainment centers, including the largest shopping and entertainment center in the capital, Park Boulevard.

A developed infrastructure has been created in the area of ​​the boulevard: shops, catering establishments, hotels, entertainment establishments. Travelers, like local residents, will find here everything you need for a comfortable and interesting pastime.

History of creation

Once upon a time, a wall stood near the shore of the Caspian Sea, protecting the city from enemy raids from the sea. But in 1909, the Baku City Council, after long discussions, allocated a fantastic sum of 600,000 royal rubles for the construction of a new boulevard on the coast. Philanthropists also contributed. The best architects and builders took part in the construction competition, and in the end they chose the project of G. M. Temirkelov.

The first attraction of the new boulevard was the summer bathhouse, more like a palace from a fairy tale, surrounded by luxurious flower beds and green trees.

Due to fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea, the coast was periodically flooded. Therefore, from the 1940s to the present day, the embankment has been repeatedly reconstructed and expanded. As a result, every year the Baku Boulevard became more beautiful and larger, although it lost some of the buildings, including the summer bath.

Today, the coastal boulevard stretches from the maritime terminal to the State Flag Square. City planners plan to increase the length to 25 kilometers.

Panorama of the alley near Sahil station - Google Maps

How to get to Primorsky Boulevard in Baku

• Metro to Sahil station (see map of the Baku metro).
• By bus, routes No. 88, 120, 124, 207 to the Park Boulevard stop (see list of public transport routes)
• By taxi. It is convenient to order a car through an application on your smartphone: Uber, Taxify, Maxim, etc.

Route from Baku Airport to Primorsky Boulevard - Google Maps

Baku Boulevard on video - YouTube