Fortresses of Artsakh 

Fortresses and fortified structures have occupied a special place in the life of Artsakh Armenians. The high mountains, deep gorges and rich forests make Karabakh a natural stronghold. Adding a few fortifications to these natural defence lines ensured independence and sovereignty for long periods of history, while other parts of Armenia suffered under the yoke of foreign invaders. Even when Artsakh was annexed to one empire or another, it retained semi-independent status and was ruled by its own kings, princes or meliks. These rulers built fortresses, fortified dwellings and fortified entire towns. It is impossible to speak of Karabakh and not mention its history, its wars, its princes and its fortresses. In a land where human presence dates back to many thousands of years, so do also remnants of construction. Fortifications have been built in Artsakh for several centuries and many still exist. Some are still magnificent, others are half in ruins, many are even hard to detect. Almost all of them are in inaccessible locations. Very often the locals point to cliffs and call them fortresses: forts did exist there and knowledge about them has passed from generation to generation but an unskilled eye will hardly be able to tell the stones of a former wall from the stones of the rock itself.  However, the heights on which the fortresses have been built are so awe-inspiring and picturesque, that they may be a subject of special interest on their own. This is only an introduction to a few of its fortresses: a direct link to the history of the land and the freedom-loving character of its people.