Shusha city

The foundation of Shusha city was laid in 1752 by the founder of the Karabakh khanate Panahali khan Javanshir (1748-1763). In 1756/57, Panahali khan moved the capital of the Karabakh khanate from Shahbulag Castle to the newly built city-castle. The city was originally named Panahabad after the name of its founder and after his death it was named Shusha according to the relief it is located. After the annexation of the Karabakh khanate to the territory of the Russian Empire since 1806, a new era in the history of Shusha city - the era of Russian power began.
With the establishment of Soviet power, Shusha lost the function of becoming an administrative centre of Karabakh. Khankandi city was identified as the centre of Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region established in 1923.
Shusha was called “Little Paris”, “Art Temple of the Caucasus”, “Cradle of Azerbaijani Music” and “Conservatory of the Transcaucasia”. The historic part of this city with a mysterious beauty was declared a historic and architectural reserve in 1977.
Historical and architectural monuments of Shusha occupied by Armenian armed forces were destroyed on May 8, 1992 and continue to be destroyed today.