Quadrangular castle, Medieval defensive castle in Mardakan, Azerbaijan.
Quadrangular castle is a stone fortress in Mardakan, Azerbaijan, rising about 22 meters (72 feet) over five floors connected by internal staircases. Four semicircular towers reinforce the outer wall, and the courtyard contains a large number of storage wells dug into the ground.
The fortress was founded in 1225 by Akhsitan I ibn Minuchihr III, a ruler of the Shirvanshah dynasty, to guard against attacks coming from the Caspian Sea. At the time, holding the coastal line was central to maintaining power across the region.
The Shirvan-Absheron style is visible in the way the stone blocks are cut and fitted together, creating walls with a precise geometric rhythm. This technique was common across the Absheron Peninsula and gave the region its own building identity, which visitors can observe directly in the coursed stonework.
The castle sits in Mardakan, outside Baku, and is easiest to reach by car or as part of a guided tour. Inside, the staircases are steep and the floors can be uneven, so wearing sturdy shoes makes the visit more comfortable.
Despite its name, the castle's floor plan is not a perfect square but follows the natural shape of the ground it was built on. A deep well near the entrance, dug to supply water during sieges, is still visible today and gives a concrete sense of how the garrison lived.
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