Vorotnaberd ( hy, Որոտանաբերդ; also Davit Bek's Castle) is an important fortress along a ridge overlooking the Vorotan

gorge A canyon (from ; archaic British English spelling: ''cañon''), or gorge, is a deep cleft between escarpments or cliffs resulting from weathering and the erosion, erosive activity of a river over geologic time scales. Rivers have a natural tenden ...

, between the villages of Vaghatin and Vorotan in the Syunik Province of Armenia. Vorotnaberd is above sea level.Vorotnaberd Altitude and Location
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History

Vorotnaberd was destroyed multiple times by foreign invasions. In 1104 (possibly in 1219 as well) Seljuk-Turks attacked the fortress and the nearby monastery of Vorotnavank northwest. Ivane Zakaryan liberated the structures from enemy hands and gave control of Vorotnavank and Vorotnaberd to Liparit Orbelian of the Orbelyan family. Repairs were made to the nearby monastery during this time to make it functional once again. Other foreign invasions included the Mongol-Tatars (in 1236?) and later Timur Lenk in 1386 where his army lay siege to the fortress. An underground passageway connected to Vorotnavank and the Vorotan River was used during sieges by invading armies. In 1724 Davit Bek took control of Vorotnaberd from Melik Baghri. This incident led people living in the region to call the fortress by the name "Davit Bek's Castle".

Architecture

The fortress is in ruin.

References

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External links

Armeniapedia.org: Որոտանաբերդ (Article in Armenian)
{{Castles in Armenia Archaeological sites in Armenia Castles in Armenia Forts in Armenia Tourist attractions in Syunik Province Buildings and structures in Syunik Province