Hüseyin Cavid Museum and the Mausoleum

Whether you are interested in literature or not, the Hüseyin Cavid Museum is a special stop in Nakhchivan that one should not miss. Here, you will step into a real home where a poet’s life unfolded, rather than some typical museum building.

Hüseyin Cavid was born in Nakhchivan on October 24, 1882, and is a poet and playwright, one of the founding figures of romantic drama in modern Azerbaijani literature. His works, such as “The Demon,” “Sheikh Senan,” “The Prophet,” and “The Mother,” describe humanity, freedom, interfaith tolerance, and the destruction of war. The museum is designed as a house-museum, so you will feel like you are in Cavid’s world of thought and personal life.

Just a few steps from the museum, you can visit Hüseyin Cavid’s white-stone mausoleum, which was constructed in the 1990s in a style inspired by medieval Nakhchivan architecture. Here rest Cavid and his close family in a tall, multi-faceted tower that has become one of the city’s visual symbols. Visiting the mausoleum right after the museum allows you to feel the poet’s intellectual and emotional legacy in a single route.

The museum is situated in the Alihan neighborhood, just 10–15 minutes away from the center of Nakhchivan city. You can reach it within a few minutes by city taxi. Its location is very convenient for cultural routes within the city. You can easily include it in your itinerary for the same day as other historical sites.

In accordance with the official cultural institutions of Nakhchivan, the museum is open from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. It is free to visit. You don’t have to buy an individual ticket. For school groups or large groups, especially on public holidays, it’s administratively convenient for the museum to know your schedule in advance.

Upon entrance, you notice the personal belongings of Hüseyin Cavid, some family photographs, manuscripts of his works, newspapers of the period, and theater posters. The panels chronologically tell about the life of Cavid: from his childhood through education, works, and his time.

The museum also highlights Cavid’s most important works. The themes of “Iblis” are the source of evil and war; “Sheikh Senan”, love despite religious differences; “The Prophet” addresses humanity; and “Ana” explores the themes of family and compassion. This selection helps you understand why Cavid was not only a playwright but also a humane and peaceful intellectual.

An average visit takes 30–40 minutes. If you’d like simply to explore the halls, you can finish in less time; if you’d like to read the panels and examine the manuscripts closely, you’ll want to allow a little more time. The museum is compact and easy to visit with a family, a group of students, or on your own.

The museum is affiliated with a governmental institution, and staff will provide information. The language of the instruction is Azerbaijani Turkish, which is very close to Turkish Turkish; if you are from Turkey, you will easily understand it without needing additional translation. You can ask for Russian explanations, too. For group visits, you can arrange the content and duration in advance with the museum.

The primary principle concerning photography is the preservation of the artifacts. Photography is allowed in the open areas; flash usage is not allowed inside, particularly inside the display cases where the manuscripts are laid out for display. You are supposed to notify the museum personnel and get permission if you want to take professional photos.

The museum provides brochures and printed materials that outline the life and works of Hüseyin Cavid. These will enable you to support your observations with written sources. By the time you leave, you will know not just a name, Cavid, but also his thoughts, family, and the times he lived in. In such a way, the Hüseyin Cavid Museum and his mausoleum together become a stop that adds both emotional and cultural depth to your Nakhchivan trip.