Melik Haykaz Palace

Melik Haykaz Palace is a two-story structure with rooms connected by colonnades, housing both residential quarters and a grand throne room on the upper level. The building incorporates fortified walls and towers that still stand around the complex, demonstrating how the site combined practical defense with formal governance.

The palace was built around 1480 by Melik Haykaz I and functioned as the administrative center for a regional principality across several centuries. The site gradually lost its political importance by the 18th century as power structures in the region shifted and changed.

The structure shows how local rulers expressed their authority through architecture, blending practical living spaces with grand reception areas. The way rooms are arranged reflects both the daily life of the residents and their need to host important visitors and conduct official business.

The palace was fully renovated in the late 1980s and early 1990s, making most areas accessible to visitors today. Plan to spend time exploring both the lower residential spaces and the upper rooms, as the site offers multiple levels to discover.

The palace shows an unusual blend of military defenses and refined interior spaces, suggesting the ruler needed both security and a place to conduct formal business. This balance between fortress and residence remains visible today and reveals how governance was conducted in a mountain region where protection mattered as much as ceremony.