Department of the Historical and Architectural Reserve of Icherisher

The Charter of the State Department of the Historical and Architectural Reserve of Icherisher under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan was approved by a Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on May 16, 2007, and the Department has been operating since that time. The Department was established with the aim to develop a unique management system, combining the functions and powers of central and local executive authorities in order to preserve and maintain the monuments located within Icherisheher and the entire architectural and urban complex for future generations.

Rights and responsibilities of the Department

The main responsibilities of the Department are to: i) preserve the architectural monuments and urban complex of Icherisheher which has existed for thousands of years; ii) ensure the rehabilitation and maintenance of monuments existing in its area and promote the social and economic development of the city; iii) implement a long-term strategy on the transformation of Icherisheher into an international tourist centre meeting modern standards, and iv) pursue the state policy in Icherisheher.

In order to fulfill its duties, the Department has the power to: prepare regulatory and legal acts concerning the reserve area or participate in the preparation of such acts; ban the execution of any renovation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, regeneration and construction repair works not authorized by the Department; issue mandatory instructions; stop transfer for use, including the leasing of monuments under state (municipal) ownership where such transfer has not been approved by the Department; suspend archeological and excavation works in the Reserve area; set up structures and facilities providing services on a temporary and permanent basis and generate income from their operation in compliance with legislation, etc.

Structure and functions

Housing and Communal Repair Service is responsible for construction repair works in the Reserve area of buildings including residential and non-residential stock, pavement and infrastructure systems. In addition, the Department carries out sanitary,cleaning and planting works and housing maintenance and public services.Scientific Production and Restoration Workshop is responsible for the organization and development of rehabilitation, repair and regeneration projects for historic architectural and cultural monuments located within the Reserve territory; diagnostic studies of the causes of deformation and destruction of architectural monuments; scientific studies of the history of architectural styles and monument rehabilitation practices.

Scientific and Cultural Centre is responsible for scientific, historical and cultural studies of Icerisheher architecture, historical and cultural monuments in the Reserve territory, and the organization of cultural and public events aiming to encourage the development and promotion of national culture. The studies conducted by the Centre help to provide for the transformation of the Reserve area into a tourism centre of international importance by helping to open tourist routes and to attract a wide tourist network. To that end, proposals and programs are drafted and relevant works are completed to implement the strategies in the studies. .

Icherisheher historical museum is responsible for raising public awareness about the collection and protection of national artifacts reflecting the centuries-old history of the Icherisheher, a UNESCO World Heritage site.“Shirvanshahs’ Palace Complex” State Historic-Architectural reserve museum carries out a complete set, preservation, studying, mass demonstration and propagation of the is material-cultural monuments reflecting history, architecture, culture, trading and a cultural contact of the medieval feudal state Shirvanshahs.