Doğubayazıt Castle, Medieval fortress in Doğubayazıt, Turkey.
Doğubayazıt Castle sits atop a steep rocky ridge and features six large towers connected by thick stone walls that form a rectangular defensive structure. The fortress shows clear military design with narrow passages, sturdy ramparts, and multiple levels built into the hillside itself.
The fortress has roots in ancient times, with settlement evidence extending to the Urartian period, while later rulers from Seljuk and Ottoman times made their own changes. The structure witnessed multiple occupations that each left their mark on the buildings and walls.
The fortress served as a crucial checkpoint along the ancient Silk Road trade route, connecting merchants from the Black Sea ports to central Asia.
The fortress lies about 7 kilometers southeast of the city center and is reached through original entrance gates and preserved stone staircases. The climb demands sturdy shoes and steady legs, as the paths are steep and the terrain has rough stone surfaces throughout.
The fortress displays stone cutting techniques that shift noticeably between different building phases, reflecting craft evolution across centuries. These shifts in how stones were shaped and fitted are visible to the eye and show the hands of different peoples who built here.
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