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Lahij

Lahic, one of the oldest settlements in Azerbaijan, lies deep in the southern foothills of the Great Caucasus on the slopes of the Niyal mountain range. The barren surroundings of the village, 1,200 to 1,500 meters above sea level, are not particularly fertile, which is why the locals had to find alternatives to agriculture early on in order to secure their income. And so Lahic developed more and more into a center of craftsmanship. Located about 3 hours’ drive from Baku via a geologically spectacular canyon, the pretty little village of Lahij woos visitors with its antique cobbled streets, stone houses, souvenir shops and incredible crafts heritage. In the past over 40 different crafts were practised in this historic village, which dates back 2,000 years and is now a historical and cultural reserve. They included hat making, leather production, blacksmithing and carpet weaving. However, Lahij is best known for its stunning copperwares, which in the past were sold all over the Caucasus and today examples of them can be found in some of the world's top museums. 

The inhabitants of Lahij are ethnic Tats who speak their own language and have an interesting local cuisine which is well worth trying. The cool mountain air makes travelling here especially appealing in summer, when in addition to exploring the village you can head up into the mountains along a number of scenic hiking routes.