Shusha Fortress, Mountain fortress in Shusha, Azerbaijan.

Shusha Fortress is a defensive wall of rough river stones in tan and grey, with a flat top and a pointed-arch gateway framed by darker squared stonework, reached by stone steps. A row of small arched openings runs near the base, and large red letters spelling "Şuşa" stand above the wall. The wall has three main gates: Ganja, Iravan and Aghoghlan.

Panah Ali Khan established the fortress in 1752 as a military stronghold for the Karabakh Khanate. Its elevated position provided strategic advantages for defending the territory from distant approaches.

The name Shusha likely comes from the nearby village of Shushakent, whose residents were partly moved into the new fortress along with people from Shahbulag. The gate shown in the wall, framed in darker squared stone, is one of the three entrances recorded in 19th-century town plans: the Ganja, Iravan and Agoghlan gates.

The fortress sits at high elevation in mountainous terrain, so sturdy footwear and water are essential for exploring. Walking through the site involves ascending and navigating uneven paths along the fortifications.

The wall in the photograph is built of rough river stones in tan and grey, with a pointed arch gateway framed by darker squared stonework and a row of small arched openings near the base. Above the wall stand large red letters spelling "Şuşa". The fortress had three main gates, named in historical sources and marked on all 19th-century master plans of the town: Ganja, Iravan and Agoghlan.