Göygöl

Göygöl is a town just south of Ganja in Ganja Region of Azerbaijan.

Understand

An overview of the trip from Germany to Azerbaijan

Göygöl is famous for its German founders that came here in the hope of a better life. Formerly named Khanlar (Xanlar) and Helenendorf, if was founded by German farmers from Bavarian Swabia. Today, the town remains an old German neighbourhood in excellent conditions. A local museum shows the finds (e.g. bronze weapons, jewels, pottery, etc.) extracted from a large cemetery excavated in 1990.

Get in

• 1 Central Bus Station (Göygöl Mərkəzi Avtovağzalı). Buses go forth and back from Ganja's Southern Bus Station, 0.30 manat. There is a toilet behind the bus station, charging 0.20 manat. (updated Oct 2019)

Get around

Walking is the preferred method, otherwise you will miss all the interesting sights.

However, there are 1-2 local buses running between the hospital and the bus station.

See

• 1 St. John's Lutheran Church (Müqəddəs İohann kilsəsi). Collude with the local security guarding the church, they have a key and can let you in. (updated Oct 2019)
• 2 Regional Museum. (updated Nov 2019)
• 3 Police Station. Inside of an excellent example of the local architecture. (updated Oct 2019)
• 4 Hummel Street. Named after a German, find the silver plate, which explains the streets origins. (updated Oct 2019)
• 5 Old Stone Bridge. Erected by the German settlers. However, already heavily transformed from its original state. (updated Oct 2019)
• 6 Local school. Checkout the school, which has access to the Lutheran church's backyard. Also, the English teacher that lives across the main road will be happy about chatting with you. (updated Oct 2019)

Do

• Walk along Sebuhi Haciyev (former Kirchenstraße) by the Lutheran church, Heydar Aliyev Street or along Hummel street, and see the nicely renovated houses and remains of Göygöl's former settlers.

• Along Sebuhi Haciyev you will find many plates/signs with the names of the former German settlers on the archway above the gate to the houses backyards. Check out different names.

• Checkout the ruins southeast of the town. You will find them in your personal OpenStreetMap.

• Climb the 1 Flagpost Hill for a great view of the region.

Buy

• 1 Market. The bus station coincides with the local produce market. (updated Oct 2019)

Go next

• Göygöl National Park – About 20 km from Göygöl and near Toğanalı, this hiking and leisure destination can be found. Its lake was formed during a strong earthquake in 1139.