- Type
- Fortress
- Origins
- 1834 · 19th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Coordinates
- 40.7822°, 43.8253°
History
After the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–1829 the Russians saw Gyumri, later renamed Alexandropol, as a key point on the frontier with the Ottoman Empire. The first stones of the fort were laid in 1834 and the whole stronghold took about a decade to complete. Its ring of dark stone walls earned it the name Black Fortress. After the Crimean War it was raised to the rank of a first-class fortress; it was never besieged, and once Kars was taken in 1878 it lost its importance, being downgraded to second class in 1887 and later used, among other things, as an artillery depot. A Russian military base was set up next to it in the 1940s and is still in operation. Since 2012 the fortress has been privately owned, and archaeological work on the site has uncovered much older graves and traces of settlement.
What to see
The fortress stands on a hill at the edge of the city with a wide view over Gyumri; from outside you can best take in the curving black stone wall and the ditch around it. Much of the interior is abandoned, though part of it is sometimes used for concerts and gatherings, and access depends on the private owner and ongoing works. The site adjoins an active military base, which is off limits.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q16400202
Popularity: articles about this site in 14 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).