Derbent Fortress Biography

Today, this place attracts thousands of tourists from around the world. Here you can enjoy the special monumentality and beauty of the ancient fortress for a long time, contemplate the stunning surrounding views of the Caucasian mountains and the city of Derbent, get acquainted with the amazing history of this region. They can be used when traveling by personal vehicles, just drive the numbers into the navigator.

The citadel was built with the aim of protecting Derbent and Front Asian lands from the raids of nomadic tribes from the north, and subsequently served as an important defensive outpost in the Caucasian region. The fortress enters the complex of the defensive wall of Dag-bar, which stretched at a distance of 42 km, passed through groves and hills and went into the mountains, which made it almost impregnable.

Nature here, as if on purpose, created ideal conditions for the construction of a protective structure. On three sides, the citadel is surrounded by mountain cliffs, and the sea served as natural protection below. Double, monumental walls, 2.5–3.5 m thick, descended to the Caspian Sea itself, formed a comfortable harbor for ships and protected the fortress from penetration from the water.

Thus, the fortress of Naryn-Kala and the Dag-Bara wall helped organize complete control over the narrow coastal passage from the Caspian to the south. The length of the fortress is m, the walls can reach up to 20-25 m in Vysya. The structure is located at a height m above sea level. The structure occupies a territory of 4.5 hectares. The material for the construction was the local mountain shells of large and medium sizes.

Stones were laid on a clay solution or covered with earth. In the walls at a distance of 25 meters from each other, forts were arranged with turrets to observe the surroundings. In small towers, up to 15 soldiers were placed, up to 50 in medium, and in large ones - to a person. Inside the citadel, all conditions were created for a heavy and long siege, including an impressive supply of water, which was supplied using a very cunning water supply system.

There were also baths in the internal territory, the Ruins remained from it now, perhaps there was an ancient early Christian church of the 4th -V centuries. History of the Fortress of Naryn Cala is built in a strategically important place. Here, Caucasian mountains are almost close to the sea, leaving only a small strip of land. It was according to the shallow water that nomads and various steppe tribes attacked the inhabitants of a more prosperous southern Dagestan.

The fortress and walls of Dag-bars were supposed to close this path for barbarians. The exact age of the citadel is difficult to name. According to historical documents and archaeological excavations, defensive systems around the city began to be built in the VI century AD. The beginning of construction is associated with the name of Khosrov I Anushirvan, a famous Persian ruler. True, some archaeologists believe that at that time more ancient strengthening structures that were either destroyed, or became the basis for the future citadel, were already on this earth.

The second period of mass construction took place from the 7th to the X century. The fortress also received significant changes in the reign of Shirvanshahs in this region in the XIV-XV centuries. Each civilization, which is the rules in this region, made its additions to the construction. Today, according to these changes, it is possible, as at the cut of the tree trunk, to study the history of the Caucasian states.

Around the clock on the walls of the fortress, sentinels were on duty, which warned of the appearance of the enemy. But over time, defensive functions have faded into the background, and Derbent and the surrounding lands became a significant trade, cultural and administrative region of the Arabic caliphate. Scientists believe that it was from here that Islam began to spread to the Caucasian region.

Despite the high protective possibilities, there were cases of defense in the history of the Naryn Kala fortress.

Here, there were even a “gates of shame” the western gate or dag-capa, presumably, unsuccessful commanders and rulers ran through them. So, in the year, the citadel was captured by the Russian army within the framework of the Caspian campaign of Peter I. In the next 30-50 years, the fortress was rebuilt more than once - at first it was changed, and then the Khan's palace was dismantled, a guardhouse and other objects of military importance were built.

Legends of Derbent and the surrounding lands over the millennia of existence have overgrown with numerous legends. One of the most confusing and conflicting myths is associated with the name of Alexander the Great. In some medieval manuscripts of travelers and merchants there are records indicating that the walls of Derbent and the fortress of Naryn-Kala were built by Iskander Zulkarnine, that is, Alexander the Great.

Zulkarnanine is a bicarry called him in these land for a bizarre helmet with horns. But, alas, this legend has no scientific evidence. Alexander the Great, indeed, passed through the Caucasian lands, and more than once, but most likely he did this as part of a campaign from Persia to India. There are only weak legends that on the way he founded cities, none of the contemporaries of the Macedonian mentioned these events in his works.

But this does not detract from the historical significance of the fortress.Many historians came to the conclusion that the first defensive structures appeared here years ago, and maybe earlier. Interesting facts of the Naryn-Kala fortress are located on a hill, and is clearly visible from all the nearest environs. You can drive the main gates by car buses do not go here, but it is much more atmospheric to climb up the slope on foot.

From the city to the citadel they lead ancient steps, which themselves will be remembered for a long time. The fortress and walls of Dag-bars are often called the "Great Caucasian Wall." For the scale, monumentality and antiquity of building it is sometimes even compared with the Great Chinese wall. It is interesting that from the materials that went to the construction of the walls and the citadel, you can build as many as seven pyramids of the Cheops.

What to see the Naryn-Kala fortress attracts a large stream of tourists to Derbent. The tourist infrastructure is well developed here - there are cozy cafes and souvenir shops, hotels. In addition, lush and interesting events-Novruz-Bayram, the ethnocultural holiday “Commonwealth” are also held here. The fortress is part of the well -known railway cruise "Tea Express". A very interesting tourist route covering the sights of the Krasnodar Territory, Ingushetia, North Ossetia, Chechnya, Dagestan and other picturesque regions of the Caucasus.

A huge impression will leave a walk in the citadel itself. You can climb the fortress wall with the help of stairs. Here, along the observation loopholes, there is a pedestrian parapet, sometimes so narrow that you have to be especially careful. Walking along the walls, you can imagine yourself as an ancient warrior committing a patrol. On the territory of the Naryn-Kala fortress, there is a museum archaeological complex with the same name.

The main observation object is considered to be the citadel itself. An extensive exposition “Ancient Derbent” is also presented, where you can see the unique artifacts of the distant past - female figurines and tools from the Stone Age, ceramics of the Sassanid era, copper coins of the Arab kingdom and much more. There is also buildings on the territory of the complex where an art gallery with an exposition dedicated to the history of the city and country is open.

So, recently there was a photo exhibition “Portrait of the era”, opened in honor of the summer anniversary of Rasul Gamzatov, the author of the well -known poem “Cranes”. In addition, here you can find several even more interesting and old ruins. Nearby, the ruins of the Christian Church of the 4th century were preserved. Interestingly, the church is considered the first Orthodox church in the region.

In order not to get lost, it is better to immediately study the large map of the complex, and navigate it in the future. How to get the fortress of Naryn-Kala is located in the city of Derbent, a few kilometers from the west coast of the Caspian Sea. You can get to the Republic of Dagestan by plane. Air transport arrives at the Makhachkala airport, from here there will still be a km to Derbent.

You can overcome this path by taxi, the bus, but first you need to get from the airport to Makhachkala itself to the northern or southern bus station. Also from Moscow there is a direct train Moscow - Derbent. On the way you will have to spend almost two days. The museum complex is open with the entrance paid. You can use the services of the guide. You can visit the citadel at any time of the year, in the spring along the fortress roses bloom abundantly, and in winter snow falls on the walls, giving them even greater mystery.

On the Big Country website you can order a tour to the Naryn-Kala fortress with a visit to other attractions of Derbent and Dagestan.