Juma Mosque

About this place

The Juma Mosque of Balakan is the main landmark of this city in the far northwest of Azerbaijan, at the foot of the Greater Caucasus. It is known for its towering brick minaret, built apart from the prayer hall and rising above the houses and trees. One press report calls it among the tallest minarets in the Caucasus. An inscription says construction began in 1867 and was completed in 1877, with the minaret built separately from the main building. The museum director told a newspaper that the builder's apprentices finished it after his death. On 2 August 2001 it was listed as a monument of national importance by a decision of the Cabinet of Ministers. The minaret stands 44 m tall according to most sources and 45 m in some. It is octagonal, of baked brick, narrowing as it rises, with floral decoration. The mosque building is of stone, with an arched portico and small domes, surrounded by trees and a red-brick fence. It stands in the city centre, 23 km in a straight line from Zaqatala Fortress. It is a place of worship, so remove your shoes, dress modestly, and women should cover their hair on entering. Come between prayers and avoid Friday prayer time. The best view of the minaret is from the street beside it, as it is hard to fit in a picture from the courtyard.