26 Dec 2022
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Azerbaijan Tourism Board and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) have been cooperating to prepare publications about the German heritage in Azerbaijan in both German and English languages.
Among these publications, a brochure called “Tracess of the Germans in the South Caucasus” outlines the German legacy in Azerbaijan along with Georgia.
There are also 2 leaflets designed to inform in detail about 2 locations where the influence of Azerbaijan’s German colonists is clearly seen. One of them is Goygol, which was formerly called Helenendorf. Not only did this place become a hub of German culture in the Caucasus, but it was also famous for its burgeoning wine industry that sold wine and spirits throughout the Russian Empire. The Goygol Winery still operates and the German presence continues to be felt in the town’s old streets with German houses as well as Azerbaijan’s first Lutheran church.
The other leaflet is about Shamkir, which began life as the German colony of Annenfeld in 1819. Here one can find a Lutheran church dating back to 1909, and a German park with café, paths and benches. At the same time, the Excelsior hotel, located in the centre, serves authentic craft beer homebrewed according to a German recipe.