Winter Palace, Sheki

Most people rush off to see the Palace of Sheki Khans in the Sheki Fortress, and the Winter Palace (aka Shekikhanovs' House) is easily forgotten. However, despite being a little less lavish, it is still an architectural gem in its own right. You'll find it tucked away in a maze of cobblestone alleys behind two old caravanserais on Akhundzade Street, which links old and new Sheki. The Winter Palace was a residence for the Sheki khan's family back in the when Sheki was a semi-independent khanate. The rooms on the second floor are feature stunning frescoes of flora and fauna, as well as scenes from famous 12th-century poet Nizami’s Five Treasures. Other highlights include local architectural elements like the 'bukhara' fireplace and 'shebeke' stained-glass windows. Plan to visit Winter Palace and other customer-reviewed, writer-recommended Sheki attractions using our Sheki vacation planner.