Alinja Tower, Medieval fortress in Julfa District, Azerbaijan
Alinja Tower is a fortified brick structure in Julfa District, Azerbaijan. The site rises on Mount Alinja and includes multiple levels of walls climbing toward the summit.
The fortification dates to medieval times and served several ruling families as a refuge during periods of threat. Between 1387 and 1401 it resisted numerous attacks and fell only after years of encirclement.
The tower and its surrounding fortifications bear a name that echoes through Azerbaijani oral tradition as a place of resilience. Visitors walking the grounds can sense how people once organized life around defense, storing supplies and maintaining routines in this high mountain refuge.
Access follows narrow paths and rock-cut steps that rise steeply in places. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and allow time, as the climb demands physical effort.
Below the walls run brick channels that once carried spring water from distant slopes to the fortress. This system allowed inhabitants to survive for months without access to outside sources.
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