The Bibi-Khanym Mosque in the city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan is one of the largest mosques in Central Asia. It is named after one of the wives of the Turkic-Mongol conqueror Tamerlane. Construction of this important building began in 1399 and was completed five years later, in 1404. The haste with which Tamerlane himself, upon his return from a victorious expedition to northern India, insisted on the work being carried out meant that a solid structure could not be built. Indeed, the mosque began to deteriorate very early on and was permanently damaged by the 1897 earthquake. Today, the restoration and preservation of the mosque are the subject of controversy. In 2024, however, Qatar committed to supporting the restoration of the iconic mosque.

Credits : Tristan Bjalon (France, @tristanbja)

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Located not far from Navoi on the road Between Bukhara and Samarkand in Uzbekistan, Sardoba Rabati Malik is an 11th-century water reservoir. It was probably part of the caravanserai, some ruins of which remain opposite, on the other side of the road.

Credits: Michèle Sibille Bossard, France

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Two stools, a basin and a knife set the scene in the Meros paper factory, in Kunigil, a village near Samarkand. Over a cup of tea, a craftswoman from the factory explains the manufacturing process to visitors: “[…] she removed the bark from the mulberry wood after boiling it and kept the fibres to make paper pulp.” Inspired by a desire to promote traditional craftsmanship, this factory was founded by the Mukhtarov brothers in 1996 with the aim of reviving the ancient tradition of Samarkand paper. Recognisable by its smoothness, achieved by polishing it on a marble slab, Samarkand paper is unbleached and has a much longer shelf life than conventional paper.

Credits : Éloise Boitelle (France, @eloise_boitelle)

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Inside one of Samarkand‘s neighborhood houses, you’ll find the traditional toptchan (a kind of platform where you sit to share a cup of tea or a meal) and antique moldings, but the magnificent suzani hanging on the wall is actually just a waxed canvas.

Credit : Paulinon Vanackère (France)

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While the magic of the site continues to work in the eyes of novices, the many restorations imposed on the necropolis of Shah-i-Zinda in recent years (visible in this photo) are a cause for concern for many connoisseurs.

Credits : Jan Ritter (@janritter10, Austria)

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Photo shoot in wedding attire in front of the Registan in Samarkand. The red velvet symbolises fertility. The accessory that the bride-to-be holds in her hand is traditionally used to hide the lower part of her face.

Credits : Mathilde Ramkissoon (France)

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It is typically frowned upon in Islam to depict living beings or humans in artwork.

The mosaics of Shah-i-Zinda in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, represent symbols that are meaningful to the Muslim religion.

Credits: Ashley and Quentin (France, https://www.enselle.voyage)

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Uzbekistan’s markets are very popular because they are brimming with vitality, from the traders to the stalls. Samarkand ‘Syiob Bozor’.

Credits : Michèle Sibille (France)

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The Registan, located in the heart of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, is one of the most magnificent architectural ensembles in the world. The word ‘Registan’ means ‘sandy place’ or ‘desert’ in Persian, a fitting name for this great square that has witnessed centuries of cultural and commercial exchanges. In the evening, it is brightly illuminated by sound and light shows.

Credits : Matic Pavlin (@matic_pavlin, Slovenia)

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An exchange of good practices: while in Europe, clothing brands are inspired by, or plunder, traditional Uzbek designs, in Uzbekistan, traditional outfits display the unlikely designs of luxury European brands.

Credits : Isabelle Vincent (France)

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This mosaic adorns the wall along Registan Avenue in Samarkand. The wall only dates from 2009 but the mosaics give it, in the eyes of tourists, a Soviet past. Despite criticism, the Uzbek government continues to remodel its tourist sites, such as currently in Bukhara.

Credits : Isabelle Vincent (France)

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A different view of the striking architecture in the center of Samarkand. The heart of the ancient Silk Road, Samarkand city is a blend of the old and new.

Photo: Ashley & Quentin (France)

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The complements of the sandy desert of Uzbekistan and the blue sky reflected in the colors of the Registan’s walls and mosaics. Credit: Ashley and Quentin (France)

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Man carries a heap of naan bread on his head in Siyob Bazaar. Samarkand, July 2009.Credit: Konstantin Novakovic (Serbia)

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An imam talking on the phone at the Hazrat-Hyzr mosque in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Credit: Woudenberg Lindo (France)

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A view of the buildings of the Shox-i-Zinda complex in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from one of the open mausoleums. Credit: Nils Dörling Find all of our photos of the day here.

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A detailed view of a dome in the Shah-i-Zinda complex in Samarkand. The complex is home to some of the most well-restored Silk Road era architecture in Uzbekistan. Credit: Ashley and Quentin (France) Find all of our photos of the day here.

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In Samarkand, Uzbekistan, at a traditional Uzbek-Tajik wedding, a little boy tries to give money to the bride’s parents: throwing or giving money to girls and women during traditional dances shows the status of the family and is a sign of respect. Credit:Anna-Larisa (Germany) Find all of our photos of the day here.

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Samarkand in Uzbekistan is a popular destination for regional tourism in Central Asia. The city welcomes many pilgrims and tourists from neighboring Tajikistan. These women were visiting for the weekend with their family from Dushanbe.Credit: Ashley & Quentin (France) Find all of our photos of the day here.

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The Sherdor Madrasah on the Registan square in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, is bathed in the warm light of the setting sun in the evening.Credit: Akbar Ibragimov (Uzbekistan)Find all of our photos of the day here.

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