Black Fortress

The Black Fortress, built in 1834, is one of Gyumri's most famous landmarks. The fortress is a collection of military and architectural structures. The Alexandropol Fortress with three gates lies in the middle, with the St. Alexandra church and the southern and northern fortifications functioning as the General Protection Complex of Alexandropol. Underground roadways were constructed for the Black Stronghold, and pathways connected the fortress to the current Mother Armenia Monument and the Red Fortress. The Black Fortress is one of Gyumri's intangible monuments of history and culture.

The Black Fortress is now on the state's list of historical and cultural sites of national significance.

The history of the castle goes back to Emperor Nicholas I's reign, and the building of the stronghold was finished in 1834. The Russian Empire owned the stronghold, which served as a protective and defensive structure for the city. According to historical records, the demand for a fortification emerged following the conclusion of the Russian-Persian conflict. Given the possibility of conflict with Turkey, the Russians began to focus their efforts on fortifying Gyumri. From the fortification, underground passages leading to the Mother Armenia Monument and the Red Fortress were excavated. The Black Fortress began as a defensive building and later became a military jail. Only after the Russian-Turkish Balkan conflict (1877-1878) did the fortress become a storage facility for guns.

Location: Gyumri