Goychay

This model is inspired by the pomegranate, often called the ‘King of Fruits’ and a symbol in various religions and cultures. Goychay, located in the Shirvan valley, is a major center for pomegranate cultivation in Azerbaijan. Founded in the 15th century to resettle people from the Garaman Baylarbaylik area (modern-day Turkey), the city later became a haven for those displaced by the 19th-century Shamakhi earthquake. The name Goychay, meaning ‘blue river,’ refers to the crystal-clear river flowing through the city. Thanks to the region’s favorable climate and fertile soil, pomegranates have been a main source of income for the locals for centuries. Every year, Goychay hosts the ‘Pomegranate Festival’ during harvest time, celebrating its long-standing pomegranate culture.