Alinja Castle, Nakhchivan

For Azerbaijan’s answer to Machu Picchu head to Alinja Castle - a recent reconstruction of an ancient fortress sitting atop a cragged mountaintop in the Julfa region. Built sometime between the 6th and 8th centuries AD, the castle was used by Nakhchivan’s various ruling dynasties for many centuries and was famed for its invincibility. One person who did eventually manage to capture it after 14 years of seiges was the feared Turko-Mongol ruler, Tamerlane. It was used variously as a residence, a garrison, a prison and a treasury. There is a museum to visit at the bottom of the mountain, then it's a fairly strenuous climb up about 2,000 steps to reach the fortress at the top. But the jaw-dropping views and peaceful atmosphere up there make it well worth it. Make Alinja Castle a centerpiece of your Nakhchivan vacation itinerary, and find what else is worth visiting using our Nakhchivan day trip planning website.