DERBENT –DERBENT –the Southern Gate to the Southern Gate to

DagestanDagestan

Ancient CityAncient City

More than 5000 Years Old.More than 5000 Years Old.

Coat of Arms of Derbent

Panorama of the CityPanorama of the City

The oldest town in The oldest town in Dagestan is Derbent Dagestan is Derbent which is more than which is more than 5000 years old 5000 years old according to recent according to recent excavations done by the excavations done by the European and European and Dagestani Dagestani archeologists. The city archeologists. The city is situated on the is situated on the western coast of the western coast of the Caspian Sea in the Caspian Sea in the place where the place where the mountains come close mountains come close to the coast leaving a to the coast leaving a narrow stripe of a narrow stripe of a seaside valley three seaside valley three kilometers wide. kilometers wide.

In ancient times In ancient times there lay a famous there lay a famous Caspian tract – the Caspian tract – the only road from the only road from the steppes of South steppes of South East Europe to the East Europe to the Near East. Namely Near East. Namely in this place the in this place the most important most important strategic point strategic point there appeared the there appeared the first settlement first settlement many centuries many centuries ago.ago.

The name of the city goes back to the VI century and has the Persian Origin which means “The

knot of the gates”. According to the Greek historians it was known in Europe in antique

period as Caspian or Albanian Gates.

For many centuries it has been the border For many centuries it has been the border fortress of the states of the Near and fortress of the states of the Near and Middle East in their fight against the Middle East in their fight against the nomad tribes from South east Europe the nomad tribes from South east Europe the Scythians, the Sarmats, the Alans, the Scythians, the Sarmats, the Alans, the Huns, the Avars, the Khazars, etc.Huns, the Avars, the Khazars, etc.

The Rulers of the Eastern Countries tried The Rulers of the Eastern Countries tried to fight with them most of their raids into to fight with them most of their raids into the steppes failed. They were looking for the steppes failed. They were looking for ways to prevent the nomads’ invasions and ways to prevent the nomads’ invasions and decided to build in this narrowest place a decided to build in this narrowest place a fortress, the construction of which began fortress, the construction of which began in the VI century A.D. The citadel was in the VI century A.D. The citadel was situated on a hill near the mountains and situated on a hill near the mountains and the walls. the walls.

The North and South walls went deep into the sea and high into the mountains. The distance between the walls was 450 meters. So in this way they had managed to make a reliable obstacle on the nomads’ way. The fortress got the name Narynkala.

It has been rehabilitated It has been rehabilitated recently and there are usually recently and there are usually a lot of tourists there.a lot of tourists there.

The Plan of the Fortress

The Main Entrance to the The Main Entrance to the FortressFortress

The Gate to the FortressThe Gate to the Fortress

The Western Gate.The Western Gate. Ancient Masonry. Ancient Masonry.

The Western WallThe Western Wall and the Gate and the Gate

The Western WallThe Western Wall

The Eastern WallThe Eastern Wall

The Eastern Wall and theThe Eastern Wall and the Eastern Tower Eastern Tower

The Eastern TowerThe Eastern Tower

The Ruins of the Khan’s The Ruins of the Khan’s PalacePalace

The Khan’s OfficeThe Khan’s Office

The Water SpringThe Water Spring

Khan’s Water ReservoirKhan’s Water Reservoir

Extra Water ReservoirExtra Water Reservoir

The Inner Yard of the The Inner Yard of the FortressFortress

The GuardroomThe Guardroom

Ancient Grave Ancient Grave InscriptionsInscriptions

Ancient AnchorsAncient Anchors

The Stone The Stone AnchorsAnchors

The Stony MillstoneThe Stony Millstone

Khan’s DungeonKhan’s Dungeon

The Ruins of the Persian The Ruins of the Persian BathsBaths

The Steps (X century) and The Steps (X century) and the Loophole.the Loophole.

A Restaurant Near the A Restaurant Near the FortressFortress

Nowadays it the second largest city in Nowadays it the second largest city in Dagestan and the southernmost city in Dagestan and the southernmost city in the Russian Federation. It is economic the Russian Federation. It is economic and cultural centre of Southern and cultural centre of Southern Dagestan.Dagestan.

It is one of the main centers of It is one of the main centers of viticulture, wine-making and canning viticulture, wine-making and canning

in the republic. There is a fruit-in the republic. There is a fruit-canning combine, a winery, an electric canning combine, a winery, an electric equipment plant there. Derbent is one equipment plant there. Derbent is one of the carpet making centers in of the carpet making centers in Dagestan. Here are situated the Dagestan. Here are situated the carpet-weaving mills whose wares are carpet-weaving mills whose wares are well known in Britain.well known in Britain.

The Gate to the CityThe Gate to the City

The Central StreetThe Central Street

The SquareThe Square

Lenin SquareLenin Square

Monument to the VictimsMonument to the Victims of World War II of World War II

Armenian TempleArmenian Temple

The Building The Building of the Railway Stationof the Railway Station

The Old City WallThe Old City Wall

The Yard of theThe Yard of the Dzhuma Mosque Dzhuma Mosque

Entranceto the Mosque

The Century Old Paine The Century Old Paine Trees in the Yard of the Trees in the Yard of the

Mosque.Mosque.

The Old CityThe Old City

The Old MosqueThe Old Mosque

Kirkhlyar Cemetery. Kirkhlyar Cemetery. VIII Century.VIII Century.

The Local Carpet MarketThe Local Carpet Market

The Caspian SeaThe Caspian Sea

The City BeachThe City Beach