Kaqavaberd fortress in desolate situation

Tert.am
11:32 ~U 01.10.11

The Armenian youth initiative No Silence continues its campaign to
protect the deserted sites and monuments that form part of Armenia’s
cultural heritage.

This time, the activists have voiced concerns over the desolate
situation of Kaqavaberd, a fortress in the south-western region
of Ararat.

“The Armenians like talking incessantly about the forlorn Armenian
monuments on the enemies’ territory, but they fail to notice the
problem right under their nose. The peculiarity of the cultural
heritage on the territory of the Republic of Armenia is that it can
be rescued” they say in a statement, calling for an immediate action
to rescue the Kaqavaberd.

Kaqavaberd is a fortress located upon a ridge overlooking the Azat
River gorge at the Khosrov Reserve in the Ararat Province. The
fortified walls of Kakavaberd are well preserved and crown a ridge
within the Khosrov Reserve. It is inaccessible from three of its sides
because of the steep terrain. Towers at the northeastern side are 8
to 10 meters tall. Within the fortress are the ruins of a church and
other structures.

The fortress was first mentioned by Hovhannes Draskhanakerttsi (John V
the Historian) in the 9th-10th centuries in his History of Armenia as
being controlled by the Armenian noble Bagratuni family. He wrote that
in 924, after losing a battle at the island of Sevan, the commander
and chief Beshir went on to attack the fortress of Kakavaberd. He was
later beaten by Gevorg Marzpetuni. The same event is recorded in the
book “Armenia and the Armenians” (1874) by James Issaverdens.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress