Nakhichevan fortress

The Old Fortress, known as Kökhna-Gala or the Fortress of Yezidabad, is an ancient medieval fortress located in the southeastern part of Nakhchivan city. It is believed that the fortress was commissioned by the Sasanian ruler Yazdegerd III (632/633 – 651/652). The present city expanded from the outskirts of this fortress. The settlement at this location has existed for no less than 4,000 to 5,000 years and, at the beginning of our era, served as the suburb of the Armenian Astapat, the center of the Nakhidjavan region, which is now the site of the satellite city of Babek.

In the mid-7th century, Yazdegerd III, the last Shah of Sasanian Iran, built this fortress, having long struggled with Byzantium for control over Armenia while simultaneously facing the onslaught of Arab invaders from the opposite direction. In 705, the Arabs destroyed Astapat, burning its Armenian nobility alive, and under their rule, the fortress of Yazdegerd quickly became the center of the entire region, soon being referred to simply as Nakhchivan rather than Yezidabad.

From the 11th century onwards, this site served as the residence of the Atabek (governor) of the new rulers—the Seljuk Turks, who arrived from the sandy expanses beyond the Caspian Sea. When their empire began to crumble, in 1136, Atabek Shamsaddin Ildaniz declared independence in its Persian remnants. Like many nomadic peoples, they had several capitals, and Nakhchivan shared this role with Tabriz. Ganja remained the cultural center of the Atabek state, where the poet Nizami was active during this period.

The Turkic state of the Ildegizids constructed numerous fortresses, roads, and even massive bridges across the Araks River. However, their demise was not brought about by Armenians or Persians, but rather, by what we would now classify as Uzbeks—specifically, the Khwarezmian prince Jalal al-Din Manguberdi, who, with an army composed of the remnants of defeated forces, sought revenge against Genghis Khan. As he steadily retreated westward under the onslaught of Khan’s horde, Manguberdi managed to dismantle the Atabek authority in 1225, subsequently fortifying himself in Ganja. He soon fell from power, fled westward, and ultimately met his end at the hands of bandits in the mountains. Not long after, the Mongols reached this area, destroying the fortress and burying Nakhchivan in the dust of the steppes for centuries.

The remnants of that ancient Nakhchivan can be found in the Büyük-Gala (Great Fortress), which appears as a sprawling, almost indistinguishable site on the ground, measuring an impressive 200 by 400 meters. Inside its walls, following another war with the Turks—approximately 1,000 years after Yazdegerd—was constructed the Persian Small Fortress (Narin-Kala), whose gates and walls were fully restored in 2013.

It is believed that the gates of Narin-Kala were located at its western corner along with a tower. The western part of the fortress retains walls that once surrounded the city of Nakhchivan. In the northeastern section, round towers still stand today. In the southwestern part of Narin-Kala, there is a cave refuge capable of sheltering up to 300 people. Holes were made in the cave’s ceiling for light and ventilation. A hidden underground passage, thought to lead from Narin-Kala to the Nakhchivan River, can also be found. The flowing waters beneath Narin-Kala provided two wells within the fortress. One of these wells is located in the cave. A unique feature of the fortress is the narrow corridor, measuring 22.5 meters wide, situated between the Büyük-Gala and Narin-Kala, known as the “stone trap.”

Within the Great Fortress, plans are underway for the construction of a massive mosque, and nestled between it and the Small Fortress is perhaps the most unexpected monument in Nakhchivan—the tomb of Noah.

The Small Fortress is a square with sides measuring 150 meters each. The circular building at its center functions as a museum.

Entrance to museums throughout Nakhchivan is free of charge, making it accessible for all visitors. However, the exhibition itself is rather conventional and somewhat lacking in depth; it features traditional folk costumes, local carpets, embossed metalware, and fragments of structures from the Ildegizid capital, which may leave those seeking a more comprehensive historical experience wanting more.

From the walls of the fortress, a stunning view unfolds! The Araks Reservoir lies approximately 5 kilometers away, providing a picturesque backdrop to this historical site.