Red Settlement (Qırmızı Qəsəbə)
Qırmızı Qəsəbə
A mountain Jewish town across the river from Quba city, often called the largest all-Jewish community outside Israel. Its synagogues and old red-brick houses are distinctive.
Red Settlement lies on the north bank of the Gudyal River, separated from Quba city by a single bridge. In the 18th century, the Khan of Quba allowed Mountain Jews (Juhuro) to settle here. Today, about three to four thousand people live here. It is considered one of the few all-Jewish towns outside Israel and the United States. Walking the old red-brick streets, you can see synagogues still in use, including one with six domes, traditional bathhouses, and ornate private homes. The Mountain Jews Museum, opened in an old synagogue in 2020, presents the history and customs of this community. Visitors to the synagogues should dress modestly, and men must cover their heads to enter (hats are available on site). Getting there: walk across the bridge from central Quba in about 15 minutes. You can spend a half day here, combined with Quba's Friday Mosque and the city's carpet shops.
Opening hours
Open all day; halls and museums open by day; many closed on Saturdays
Nearby sights
- Mountain Jews Museum
- Juma Mosque, Quba
- Quba Genocide Memorial Complex
- Gachrash Forest
- Tengi Canyon
- Afurja Waterfall
- Shahdag Mountain Resort
- Laza Village & Waterfalls