Tigranakert
Occupied in the 2020 Azeri-Turkish aggression. Status unknown.
This fortress lies immediately at the base of the mountain, where Tigranakert, one of four cities built by the most famous Armenian king, Tigran (Tigranes) the Great is situated. The palace itself is attributed to Panah Knan of the 18th century, but there are theories that older buildings have existed on the spot. After the site of Tigranakert was discovered in 2005, the authorities of the Republic restored the run-down palace and turned it into a museum for Tigranakert (see Museums section.)
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T
he hill above the fortress has concealed for centuries the site of one of the four towns of Tigranakert. Opposite the white stone strip on the hill in the middle of the picture, not seen on this photo, are the recently unearthed ruins of the citadel of the ancient city that was built in the same white stone, typical of the Hellenistic architectural style of that time. To the left of the fortress the foundations of a basilica church have been unearthed. The little white spot in the far left corner of the photo, on the top of the hill, is a small 7th century church, called Vachagan’s Church after the Armenian king Vachagan the Pious. He has reportedly built one church for each day of the year. A popular hero, the King himself is buried in a monastery church in an inaccessible part of the Mrav mountain range. The mountain in this picture is called Vankasar, which means “monastery mountain”.
