Meghri Fortress, Medieval fortress in Meghri, Armenia.

Meghri Fortress is a medieval Armenian defensive complex of six towers on separate peaks of a mountain ridge north of Meghri's Mets Tagh district. Four towers are round (southwest, west, northwest, south) and two rectangular (north, east). All are built of rough-cut granite with clay mortar, and the round towers measure 5.5 m in outer diameter with 1 m thick walls.

Meghri Fortress is first documented in 1083, when historian Stepanos Orbelian recorded that it was already standing; its construction is most likely dated to the late 10th or early 11th century, when the Kingdom of Syunik grew stronger. It was completely rebuilt in the early 18th century, during the wars waged by the independent principality of Kapan against Turkish conquerors. Later wars caused repeated destruction and reconstruction, so its original layout is hard to reconstruct.

The fortress is the only defensive structure in Armenian architecture built to withstand firearms, with embrasures angled 30° outward and splayed stone sills. Its towers have arrow slits in staggered rows: the lower row for kneeling fire, the upper for standing. Wooden beams ring the walls as seismic belts, and in the northwest tower the same beam serves as the lintel for the upper row of embrasures.

The site spreads across several hilltops that are reachable on foot, with each tower offering different views depending on where you stand. Wear sturdy shoes and allow time to walk between the towers and explore the varied terrain around them.

Meghri Fortress is the only defensive structure in Armenian architecture built with enemy firearms in mind. Its embrasures are rectangular openings tilted outward at 30°, with stone lintels set in three stepped rows that also deflect bullets. The lower row of openings was meant for kneeling fire, the upper for standing fire.