Iravan Gate, Historical gate at Shusha Fortress, Azerbaijan
The Iravan Gate is the western entrance of Shusha Fortress and features pointed arch vaults with two symmetrically placed combat towers. The structure sits at approximately 4,705 feet (1,434 meters) elevation and served as one of the main access points to the fortified city.
The gate was built around 1700 under Panahali Khan, who expanded the fortress as a key defense system against attacks. It was one of three main gates commissioned by the Khan to protect the mountain city from invasion.
The gate served as a main passage for trade caravans and travelers moving between the lowlands and this mountain city. Its western location made it a gathering point where merchants and local people regularly passed through.
The gate is located on the western side of the fortress and remains accessible to visitors exploring the historical structures of the mountain city. Clear paths lead to the combat towers, offering views across the surrounding landscape.
The two combat towers are built in an unusually symmetrical arrangement that sets it apart from other fortress entrances. This particular design may have represented an early innovation in regional defense architecture.
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