About
Fortress on steep cliffs where the Merzimen stream meets the Euphrates; today it is surrounded by a dam lake. Its natural rock walls are reinforced with limestone ramparts and seven rectangular towers. Inside are the Church of St Nerses, the Barşavma Monastery, cisterns and a moat cut into the rock in the 12th century; it came under Ottoman rule in 1516. The Ministry page lists it as closed to visitors.
Who is it for?
- Outdoor
🌿 Guide content — no bookings, no sponsorship. Just go.
Things to see
