Chirag Gala, Medieval fortress in Shabran District, Azerbaijan

Chirag Gala is a fortress on the summit of Charag Rock at 1,232 m in Shabran District. Its irregular rectangular plan holds one main tower and 16 smaller towers, of which only three survive, plus a stretch of wall between the 2nd, 3rd and 4th towers. The walls mix rough rectangular stones, small dressed blocks and later fired brick.

The Sassanid Persians built the fortress in the 5th century as part of the Gilgilchay defensive wall system against northern invasions. This structure played a central role in controlling the region during that era.

The name means lamp castle in Azerbaijani, referencing its role as a signal station within the Caspian observation network. This communication function shaped how people understood and used the site across vast distances.

The climb starts near the village of Gala-alty, about 20-25 km south of Shabran town, and ends at 1232 m on the Charakhkaya mountain. The upper part of the fortress was restored in the mid-20th century, but most towers survive only in fragments, so watch your footing along the wall line. The main tower gives a clear view of Beshbarmag mountain.

The fortress's main tower offers a clear view of Mount Beshbarmaq, tens of kilometres away. Researchers including Khalilov suggested a permanent military garrison may have been stationed here. The silhouette and alternating rows of stone and brick make the tower resemble Baku's Maiden Tower.