Tugh Village, located in the foothills of the Karabakh mountain range in Khojavend District, is one of the historical settlements that embodies the great past of the Azerbaijani people.
One of the main features of the village is its proximity to the Palaeolithic settlements of Azikh and Taghlar caves, which are of special significance for the history of Azerbaijan and the world. The area also includes several early medieval Caucasian Albanian churches. Tugh Village was, in addition, once also considered a centre of science and culture in the Karabakh region. Many eminent historical figures were educated at Tugh Village School, one of the first modern schools established in Azerbaijan in the 19th-20th centuries. Its founder, a talented writer of his time and author of Kitabi-tarixi-Qarabağ (‘The Book of History of Karabakh’), was Mirmehdi Khazani (1819-1894). The old part of the village features residential houses built in the traditional architectural style of the Karabakh region, structures over natural springs, sarcophagus-type graves and temples. Furthermore, Tugh boasts a rich nature and ecology.
The new face of Tugh
Known for its historical value and great tourism potential, the village of Tugh, like other charming corners of Karabakh, is set to revive and flourish once more.
Although Tugh was occupied by the Armed Forces of Armenia from the night of 30-31 October 1992, it was liberated from occupation on 9 November 2020 as a result of military operations conducted by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. In 2023, Tugh State Historical, Cultural and Natural Reserve was established to preserve the architectural style characteristic of the Karabakh architectural school and to transform the area into a cultural tourism destination.
As Tugh Village is located at the transition point from the lowland region of Karabakh to a mountainous zone, it is an important tourism destination that shows off the beautiful nature of Karabakh along the road to Shusha. In 2023, within the scope of restoration and reconstruction works, the foundations of the first residential and several administrative buildings were laid in the village of Tugh. The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the First Vice President, Mehriban Aliyeva, attended the foundation-laying ceremony. These efforts are part of a larger initiative to revive and preserve the cultural and historical heritage of the region for future generations.
Karabakh wine heritage
Known as a winemaking destination, Tugh is famous for its wines made from the grapes harvested from the vineyards in the districts of Khojavend and Fuzuli. Winemaking in the area is developing further, giving new life to Karabakh wines.
Village had large wine pro - duction factories. After the village was liberated from occupation, the renowned Khindogni grape varie - ty of Karabakh was restored. In 2023, wine made from Khindogni grapes was presented at the local Wine Festival in Shamakhi. There are plans to establish a win - ery and develop the surrounding area into a compre - hensive complex. This will not only be a place for wine production, but also a venue to promote the histori - cal winemaking traditions of the region around Tugh.
Cultural heritages
The village features several Albanian churches dating from the early to late medieval periods, historical bridges, mansions, ancient natural springs and bridges. Rich in ancient constructions, Tugh Village transports visitors to another time.
Saint John’s Church
The oldest of the three ancient Christian churches located in Tugh Village is Saint John’s Church. Registered as a national monument, its courtyard houses sarcophagus-type graves, exquisite exam - ples of stone carving art that feature ethnographic scenes from medieval Karabakh. The church offers a commanding view of the entire village and the surrounding mountains.
Azikh Cave
Azikh Cave, an ancient site that brought Azerbaijan international rec - ognition, is located 5 km from Tugh Village in a scenic part of Karabakh. Archaeological excavations conducted in the cave in 1968 revealed the lower jawbone of an ancient human, dating back 350,000-400,000 years. Azikh Cave, one of the ancient human settlements, is a globally significant archaeological site.
Taghlar Cave
Located 2 km from Tugh Village, Taghlar Cave is a magnificent cave camp belonging to the Mousterian culture. It is a unique archaeological monument in the Caucasus region for studying the Mousterian period. This archaeological site, also of global significance, is more accessible than Azikh Cave due to its proximity to the road.
Arched (Taghli) Bridge
Built over the River Guruchay in the 18th century, the Arched Bridge is a locally significant architectural monument under state protection. It was constructed on the old road connecting Tugh with Taghlar, Azikh and other neighbouring villages. It shares architectural similarities with other medieval bridges found over rivers in the Karabakh region. The bridge is elevated above the riverbed to protect against flooding
Gtishvang Monastery Complex
As an episcopal centre, this monastery was initially controlled by the Aranshahiks, before coming under the patronage of the Dizak branch of the dynasty from the 8th century onwards. In the 13th century, new buildings exp- anded the territory, turning it into one of the most celebrated monastery complexes in the Caucasus. Inscriptions on the walls provide important information about the medieval history of the area. Sources record the monastery’s name as ‘Ktish’, ‘Ktich’ and ‘Gtichavang.