Korean guests closely got familiar with historic cultural places and tourism sector of Gabala.

The participants of the cultural festival titled “Arirang” – “Inflame Azerbaijan’s heart” held with the joint organizational support of the SEBA (Seoul-Baku) Azerbaijan-Korean Cultural Exchange Association and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in our country have got closely familiar with Gabala city, its historic-cultural monuments, modern infrastucture and tourism potential. Firstly, the delegation members got acquainted with the administrative building of Gabala Cultural Center. There, the Korean guests viewed the exhibition which consists of handcrafts of local artisans, and watched performances of amateur groups of regional culture house with interest. Then the delegation came to the Chukhur Gabala village of the region, and obtained information about the history, culture and ethnography of ancient Gabala which had been the capital of Caucasian Albania for 900 years. They were informed that Azerbaijan-Korean Archaeological Expedition has come into operation in summer of 2009 with the initiation, as well as the financial and organizational support of SEBA (Seoul-Baku) Azerbaijan-Korean Cultural Exchange Association. Since then, the archeological researches at three historical areas of Gabala, which had been the capital of Caucasian Albania, and later a strategically important city in the history of Azerbaijan and the East (from 4th century BC - to 18th century AD), as well as at the suburban areas belonging to the Palaeolithic, Eneolithic or Early Bronze ages. It was noted that, the archeological studies in Gabala have been carried out by the employees of Archaeology and Ethnography Institute of ANAS and by a team composed of experts from a number of Korean Scientific Centers. Examples of material culture found out during archeological excavations allow us to represent the level of ancient urban planning and urban lifestyle in Gabala. The Korean guests viewed those samples at the exhibition hall of the Archeological Center in Chukhur Gabala village. It was said that the necessary conditions have been created in the Center for preserving these memorabilia and for experts to carry out laboratorial works. The guests watched a video covering the process of archaeological excavations carried out in Gabala, and the socio-political development of Gabala region. Demonstrating interest in the tourism sector of the region, the guests got close acquainted with “Tufandag” Winter-Summer Tourism Recreation Complex along with the modern five-star hotels built in the region in recent. It was noted that construction works have been completed at all of the 4 ropeways in the complex and 8 of 10 ski tracks, as well as the restaurants and “Tufandağ” hotel which have all kind of conditions for recreation of tourists have been built, whole mountain ski area trail has been equipped with artificial snow generating system and such a condition to serve 3 thousand people in a day has been created. The guests enjoying their familiarization with this mysterious area where antiquity meets with modernity leaved Gabala region with pleasant impressions.