Distance from Baku

180 km

Population

90,5 thsd person

How to get to

Auto transportation: regular buses Baku – Gusar – 3,5 hours

Called “Northern Gates” due to its geographical location the Gusar city is the last large settlement in the north of Azerbaijan and borders the Republic of Dagestan of the Russian Federation. In this area live Lezgins – a distinctive hospitable people with a rich culture.

Lezgins has a rich national cuisine and the most popular dish is a cake “tskan”. It is cooked in the oven – “hyaryak”. Round balls of the same as for bread dough are kneading with butter, rolled and laid on the bottom of a deep pan. There also put pre-fried in butter minced meat and chopped potatoes. Cover all of it by “yuha” and put into ‘”hyaryak” for about one hour. The ingredients can vary – it is recommended to try also “tskan” of vegetables, cheese and chicken.

At the territory of Gusar district are four out of nine existing in the Republic climatic zones. Favorable natural conditions create a great opportunity for organization of the resorts, recreational and tourist complexes in this area. The recently opened the summer and winter sports and tourist center of the international standards Shahdag gained a high popularity. This is a popular ski resort in winter and a camp site in the lap of the Caucasus mountains in summer.
Not far from the complex is located an ancient village Laza surrounded by mountains and well known for its majestic waterfalls. Competitions on climbing are held at the frozen waterfalls in winter.
Many historical monuments are preserved in Gusar district.

They are: the remains of the fortress walls in the village Enih relating to the XIII century, the tomb built in 1544 over the grave of sheikh Ardabil Sheikh Dzhyuneyda who died after the battle with troops of Shirvanshah Khaliullah I in 1460, rural mosques Kohne Khudat and Khuray relating to the XVIII century, Hil, Gunduzgala and Gasangala relating to the XIX century.

In 1825-26 in exile in Gusar was Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov. The city has a museum-house of the poet.
Cultural life in Gusar is very rich. There are lots of music groups in the city and among them is the folklore ensemble “Lezginka”.

Lezginka is a popular in the whole Caucasus temperamental national dance performing in accompany of accordion and percussion instrument “nagara”. Everybody and everywhere in Gusar is dancing only lezginka.

Among the most popular crafts the most developed is carpet weaving – especially production of non-pile rugs “sumah” woven both at home and in the shop located in the city center. By the way, in the same carpet shop is installed the largest loom in the country, at which at the same time can work up to 10 people.
Today the administrative center of Gusar district is a well maintained clean town.
Any information relating to tourist routes can be obtained in the Tourism Information Center located in “Dostlug parki” (“Park of Friendship”).