Koshoy Korgon, Medieval fortress ruins in At-Bashy District, Kyrgyzstan
Koshoy Korgon is a medieval fortress in At-Bashy with a rectangular layout measuring approximately 245 by 250 meters. Its perimeter was once lined with around 60 defensive towers, while the remaining walls reach heights between 4 and 8 meters.
The fortress emerged in the 7th century as a key settlement along the Silk Road trade routes. It later experienced conquest by Mongol forces and subsequent reconstruction under Amir Temur.
The site draws its name from Qoshoy baatyr, a legendary general featured in the Kyrgyz epic of Manas, showing how deeply this location connects to traditional storytelling. Visitors can sense how this place remains woven into the cultural identity of local communities.
The site sits about 15 kilometers southwest of At-Bashy town, close to the village of Kara-Suu. An on-site museum displays objects recovered from excavations, which helps orient visitors before exploring the ruins themselves.
The walls were built using large clay blocks and long bricks arranged in a clever construction method, with a base thickness of 7 to 9 meters. This width tapers to just 3 or 4 meters at the top, showing practical engineering choices of the builders.
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