In Pictures: Russia's Oldest City Built by Persians
Independent Aggregator of Iran-related News, Events, Kodoom.com: Home to some 120,000 people, Derbent is the southernmost city in Russia, and the second-most important city of Dagestan occupying the narrow gateway between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains. Derbent claims to be the oldest city in Russia with historical documentation dating to the 8th century BCE. The Citadel, Ancient City and Fortress Buildings of Derbent were part of the northern lines of the Sasanian Persian Empire, which extended east and west of the Caspian Sea. The fortification was built in stone. It consisted of two parallel walls that formed a barrier from the seashore up to the mountain. The town of Derbent was built between these two walls, and has retained part of its medieval fabric. The site continued to be of great strategic importance until the 19th century.
Due to its strategic location, over the course of history, the city changed ownership many times, particularly among the Persian, Arab, Mongol, Timurid, Shirvan and Iranian kingdoms. In the 19th century, the city was taken away from Iran by Russians through the 1813 Treaty of Gulistan.
UNESCO has listed Derbent on its world heritage list.
Despite its Islamic heritage, the city has a cognac plant producing famous Derbent cognacs, and a sparkling wine plant - the only plant in Russia producing sparkling wine in souvenir and even crystal bottles.
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