The Tslik Amram Fortress – Tavush, Armenia

The medieval Tavush Fortress (also often called Tslik Amram) is lying on the outskirts of the town of Berd, Tavush Province, Armenia.

Historical sources mention that since the beginning of the 15th century, this fortress has served as the residence of the governors of the Armenian king Ashot the Iron. In the 10th-11th centuries, the fortress belonged to the Kyurikyan dynasty. In the 12th-13th centuries, it belonged to the Armenian Vahramyan-Gagetsi princes.

The Tavush Fortress consists of a citadel on a rocky cliff and a lower fortress. The height of the fortress walls reached 12 meters. The lower fortress was located on the eastern slope of the hill – now, only the ruins of its huge walls, churches, residential, and utility rooms remain.

Currently, the fortress is in poor condition because it has been abandoned since the 14th century. Fragments of ancient pottery and other small items are still being found in the territory of the fortress. And notably, the fortress was one of the few local fortifications with an established water supply system.